Ford have confirmed the new 5.2-litre flat-plane crankshaft V8 is capable of producing an impressive 526hp and 429lb-ft of torque.
It is the highest-revving production V8 for the company and will be exclusive to the Shelby GT350 Mustang and Shelby GT350R Mustang when they go on sale later in the year.
Jamal Hameedi, Ford Performance chief engineer, explained it was clear the engine for the new Shelby cars had to be perfect and deliver an exhilarating experience for owners.
“Every change we made to this car was driven by the functional requirements of a powerful, responsive powerplant. The high-revving, naturally aspirated 5.2-litre flat-plane V8 delivers on every target we set – high horsepower, broad torque curve, aggressive throttle response and light weight,” explained Mr Hameedi.
The main difference for the new engine is that unlike other more traditional V8s, the 5.2-litre makes use of a flat-plane crankshaft – something usually seen in Ferrari sports cars and racing vehicles.
Designers believe it offers better cylinder exhaust-pulse separation and this has a positive impact on engine breathing – resulting in more power.
Anyone opting for the 5.2-litre engine will only have one choice of gearbox – the Tremec TR-3160. The manual transmission has been created to cope with the high-rpm of the new Shelby Mustangs and has been optimised for weight.
It is expected that the new engine option will excite fans of the Mustang brand, especially as more than 9.2 million Mustangs have been sold since the car’s launch in 1964.
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