Ford offers power kit for EcoBoost Mustangs

Ford Performance has announced the development new power kit for the EcoBoost-powered Ford Mustang that’s claimed to give the turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine virtually as much torque as its V8 counterpart.

Available initially to Ford’s US customers for just $699 ($A900), the dealer-fit accessories – which don’t compromise the factory warranty – will hopefully soon be offered Down Under.

Thanks to an ECU tweak and a new cold air intake system, the updates raise power from the current car’s 233kW/432Nm to a much more muscular 252kW/529Nm.

To put that in perspective, the Mustang GT’s 5.0-litre V8 produces 306kW/530Nm.

Ford hasn’t released any performance figures for a car running the new power kit. Nor is it known if it affects the big four-cylinder coupe’s average fuel consumption, which is quoted at 8.5L/100km for manual-transmission versions and 9.3L/100km for automatics in Australia.

On the same day that news of the performance kit was announced, the car-maker also revealed Mustang production at its Flat Rock Michigan plant has ceased for a week.

Ford says idling the plant was necessary as a result of a 32 per cent decline in US sales last month.

According to newswire Automotive News, Ford has sold 87,258 Mustangs in the US so far this year – a decline of 9.3 per cent over the same period in 2015.

Industry commentators say the temporary cessation of production comes because of a growing weakness in the US car market that has been triggered by a new slowdown in economic growth.

Last year the US auto industry sold a record 17.5 million cars and pick-ups.