Car Guy Magazine Car Guy Magazine Issue 1214 | Page 31

crankshaft, an architecture typically found
only in racing applications or exotic European sports cars. Unlike a traditional V8,
where the connecting rods are attached
to the crankshaft at 90-degree intervals,
this design evenly spaces all crank pins at
180-degree intervals.
The 180-degree, flat-plane layout permits a cylinder firing order that alternates
between cylinder banks, reducing the
overlap of exhaust pressure pulses. When
combined with cylinder-head and valvetrain advancements, this permits better
cylinder breathing, further extending the
performance envelope of the V8.
The result is the most powerful naturally aspirated production Ford engine
ever, at more than 500 horsepower, with a
torque peak above 400 lb.-ft. The track capability is enhanced by the output characteristics of the engine – the 5.2-liter V8 features an exceptionally broad torque curve.
Combined with its highrevving ability, the
flat-plane 5.2-liter V8 gives drivers an enormous amount of performance and flexibility within each gear of the lightweight sixspeed manual transmission. A standard
Fordtuned Torsen limited-slip differential
optimizes cornering grip and straight-line
traction.
“Make no mistake, this is an American
interpretation of a flat-plane crankshaft
V8, and the 5.2-liter produces a distinctive,
throaty howl from its four exhaust tips,”
said Hameedi.
The new Mustang platform is the strongest in the history of the brand, with torsional stiffness increased 28 percent over
the previous model. That stiff structure
ensures the suspension geometry remains
consistent, even under hard driving on
back roads and tracks. Front stiffness is
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