Born of a small cadre of Mustang engineers wondering "What if..?," this vehicle was conceived largely as an after-hours, shoestring-budget project. All-in, the EcoBoost High Performance Package only took about 10 months to come together -- an unusually short gestation period -- even for something well short of an all-new model. This being a performance car, the first thing you'll want to know about is the power figures: The 2.3-liter turbo four provides an estimated 330 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque on premium gas. That's relatively close to the existing base Mustang EcoBoost's ratings of 310 hp and 350 pound-feet, but Ford assures that the new engine's character is markedly snarlier, picking up torque lower on the tachometer and sounding significantly more aggressive, to boot.
To that end, a unique turbo with a 5%-larger, 63-millimeter twin scroll compressor has been developed for this application and a larger radiator have been fitted, as well. Furthermore, pedal mapping, transmission shift schedules, ABS, stability control and the standard multi-mode exhaust have all been tuned specifically for this model. The latter pops and crackles liberally on overrun when set to full-angry mode, not unlike a hot hatch.
Zero-to-60 mph is estimated at 4.5 seconds and top speed is limited to 155 mph.
(For comparison's sake, the 5.0-liter V8 GT puts out 460 hp and 420 pound-feet, hitting 60 mph about a half-second quicker. However, GTs weigh about 200 pounds more than EcoBoost High Performance models.)
Stick and move
Of course, Ford didn't just snug the more-powerful engine Focus RS engine in between the Stang's fenders and call it a day, there are visual and suspension mods, too.
From front to back, visually, the EHP picks up the more aggressive splitter and aero-smoothing belly pan from the GT Performance Pack. Other visual telltales include a blacked-out grille with an asymmetric tri-bar pony emblem hewing to the driver's side, as well as model-specific badging and subtle metallic gray stripes that run along the hood's character lines. (Mustang chief engineer Carl Widmann memorably dubbed these accents "whiskers" during a Detroit media preview event). Out back, you'll find a rear lip spoiler swiped from the GT, as well as a faux rear gas cap that's similar to the one on the Ford Mustang Bullitt.
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