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2011 Mustang V-6: 48.5 MPG and 1,457 Laps on a Single Tank

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After becoming the first car to deliver more than 305 hp and 30 mpg (7.84 l/100km), the 2011 Ford Mustang V-6 set a new record yesterday at Bristol Motor Speedway. As part of the 1,000-Lap Challenge, the car managed to run 1,457 laps while averaging 48.5 mpg (4.85 l/100km).

“To see a Mustang post average fuel economy of 48.5 mpg while running at Bristol is impressive,”
said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “The new V-6 engine along with the advanced six-speed transmission in the car is a key element in delivering both fuel economy and performance for Mustang.” 

The challenge was completed in 17 hours and 40 minutes, over the course of 776.5 miles. This distance is more than the two complete NASCAR Sprint Cup events that take place in Bristol every year.

NASCAR star David Ragan drove the 2011 V-6 Mustang past the 1,000 lap mark, but drivers Tom Barnes, Jonathan Mehl, Carl Ek and Mustang engineer Seong Park also got behind the wheel of the car during the event.

“When we hit 1,000 laps we still had a quarter of a tank of gas left,” said Ragan. “The last driving stint before I passed 1,000 laps I was averaging 43.7 miles a gallon and that is unbelievable.”

The Mustang used in the challenge is, in fact, a stock production vehicle, which means it is the same Mustang V-6 that is available to consumers.

“This is beyond our wildest dreams,” said Tom Barnes, the lead engineer for the Ford Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge. “There have been a lot of people who have done a lot of things in preparing this 2011 Mustang V-6 to run the Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge and have the success we have had today.”

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