"If the F-150 is our heart, the Mustang is our soul, and draws the most passion," said Keith Knudsen, '05 Mustang vehicle engineering supervisor. "One of the great things about working on a car like Mustang, we have a lot of enthusiasts. I think the ratio was 2.1 Mustangs per engineer in my department." This enthusiasm plays a critical role, because, according to Knudsen, engineers totally immersed themselves in all things Mustang. "During the styling and development process, we had every picture you can imagine." We were focused on every aspect of the Mustang, from the interior to the exterior." According to Knudsen, the most notable performance improvement will be the 4.0-liter 60-degree, single overhead cam V-6 engine that manages 202 horsepower. This replaces the current 3.8-liter 90-degree pushrod engine. "The V6 is a big step up. There's a little more power, and improvements in engine sound quality, power smoothness, and a bit more displacement," said Knudsen. "People will be surprised by just how well this car performs." According to Ford officials, that performance will come at a price of less than $20,000. The Mustang will also be offered as a GT, which gets a new 4.6-liter V8 producing 300-horsepower. Both vehicles offer a choice of a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Officials have said that the GT’s pricing will be less than $25,000.
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