Ford reveals new V8

Ford has unveiled the 5.0-litre 'Coyote' V8 for the 2011 Mustang. The new engine develops 307kW of power (412 horsepower) and 529Nm of torque, pipping the figures for the current 5.4-litre V8 in the XR8.

Despite its smaller displacement, Coyote makes the grade for power and torque through the adoption of variable cam timing for its DOHC heads. This new system, which relies on camshaft-supplied oil pressure to rotate the camshafts for advance or retard, is named Ti-VCT (Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing). Ford engineers working on the new engine also developed roller-finger followers for the valves and high-flow ports for the aluminium cylinder heads.

In addition to providing stronger performance from a smaller-displacement engine, the Ti-VCT system aids fuel efficiency, which Ford estimates to be 24MPG (9.8L/100km) on the highway and 16MPG (14.7L/100km) in the city for the new model-year Mustang. A combined-cycle figure for the heavier Falcon fitted with the same engine is most likely to exceed 10.0L/100km.

Also cast from aluminium, the cylinder block has been designed to cope better with the occasional race-track fanging. It provides optimised windage and oil drainback in the larger capacity sump during high engine speeds and lateral (cornering) g-forces. Tubular exhaust headers, piston-cooling jets and upgraded head bolts and main bearings are all adopted for the new engine, to enhance durability and performance in sporting scenarios.

As for Ford Australia, the local arm has confirmed that the 'Coyote' will power the Falcon's V8 variants after July of this year, at which time those variants must comply with the upcoming Euro IV-based emissions standard. Ford President Marin Burela had previously hinted that the V8 sporty sedan variant would remain in the lineup until such time as customers stopped buying it.

The Carsales Network asked Sinead McAlary for an update on Coyote for the XR8 this morning. McAlary, Ford Australia's Communications Manager, responded that she was limited in what she could say at this time, but did confirm that the XR8 models would continue with an engine from the Coyote family.

"You will see engines from that family of engines in our local line-up," she said, but further advised that she was not in a position to provide any additional information. She did however insinuate that the engine(s) for the Australian-built cars -- including the FPV models -- would not necessarily match the Mustang engine in all specs. In other words, power and torque delivery could be different for Australia.

Asked whether the new engine is physically smaller than the current Boss engines powering XR8 and FPV models, McAlary advised that she was expecting a full briefing on that during her sojourn to Detroit for the North American International Auto Show next week. With its aluminium block, the Coyote V8 will undoubtedly be lighter than the current Falcon V8 powerplants, and it may also provide a lower centre of gravity, as well as being easier to service from the point of view of accessibility. All of that taken into account, expect suspension calibration and steering geometry changes for the new engine. Given its development for the Mustang -- a passenger car -- the more compact architecture would seem to be a given. But if the engine is physically smaller, will it lend itself to larger-displacement configurations?

'5.8' would be a nice number for the badge at the rear...

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi