This year’s Ford Mustang GT will be faster than ever before. Thanks to a new Drag Strip mode, the sporty 2018 model can achieve 0-to-60 mph in under four seconds.
The emblematic vehicle, announced on Monday, offers a 10-speed automatic transition and has a redesigned 5.0-liter V8 engine capable of hitting 460 horsepower, with 420 foot-pound of torque.
That new Drag Strip mode uses the SelectShift automatic transmission to optimise gear shifting, resulting in a 0-60mph speed that bests a Porsche 911 Carrera by almost half a second.
“Gearing matters, and in Drag Strip mode this car launches better than ever off the line,” Mustang chief engineer Carl Widmann says (via Automobilemag). “Typically, when you shift gears, you give up time. In Drag Strip mode, the engine torque doesn’t drop when you’re shifting. You get peak engine torque and horsepower straight through thanks to our new Ford-built 10-speed transmission.”
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The Porsche-beating time was set using a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. You can see it in the video below.
While the GT Edition cracks the 4-second barrier, the EcoBoost-equipped 2018 Mustang also gets a speed boost. With Drag Strip and the Performance Package, it’ll hit 60mph in 5-seconds.
The other driver-selectable modes are Normal, Sport, Track, and Snow/Wet.
This year’s Mustangs are available to pre-order from tomorrow, with a release coming this autumn.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.