Looking to the future, many felt it was time for Ford to make a change. Not only due to the decline in Mustang sales, but also due to the recent Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was signed into action by President Bush in December 2007.
The act calls for a new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard of 35 mpg by the year 2020. In essence, this means that automotive manufacturers here in the United States, Ford included, will have to achieve a 35 mpg average across all the vehicles in their fleet. The current 2008 GT averages between 15 city and 23 highway miles per gallon.
In compiling this article, Ford was contacted and given the opportunity to provide its take on the new CAFE ruling, as well as the decline in Mustang sales. As of publication, no official response had been received.
That’s not to say Ford is not taking these allegations seriously. In a January 2008 Motor Trend article, titled Future Shock: 2010 Ford Mustang, the magazine speculated that Ford might be working on a plan to add a new twin turbo EcoBoost V6 engine into the 2010 Mustang. The engine is set to debut in an upcoming performance version of the Ford Fusion. Depending on the specifications of the new Mustang's design, the EcoBoost V6 could produce between 340-415 hp with torque that matches the existing V8 Mustang.
As for the competition, the new 2008 Dodge Challenger debuted at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show in February of 2008. With an EPA estimated fuel economy of 13 mpg city/18 mpg hwy, it appears as though Ford is not alone in its need to improve fuel efficiency. The Challenger boasts a 6.1L V8 engine, while the Mustang GT features a 4.6L V8.
