Not that long ago, a leaked window sticker revealed how much gasoline the Coyote V8 drinks in the 2018 Ford Mustang GT. Now the Blue Oval comes forth with the official figures, including those attributed to the EcoBoost-powered pony from Flat Rock.
Starting with the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, the entry-level Mustang with the 10-speed automatic is EPA-rated 25 mpg combined (21 mpg city, 32 mpg highway). The 6-speed manual transmission fares worse in highway driving, returning 31 mpg instead of 32. As for the Mustang GT, the V8-powered model posts a 5.6-percent improvement over the 2017 model provided that the customer opts for the 10-speed auto known as 10R80.
The numbers speak for themselves: 19 mpg combined (16 mpg city, 25 mpg highway). Curiously enough, the 2018 Ford Mustang GT with the six-speed manual (Getrag MT-82) is rated 18 mpg on the combined cycle (15 mpg city, 25 mpg highway), which is the same as the pre-facelift Mustang with the older version of the Coyote V8. As a brief refresher, the updated 5.0-liter V8 features dual-fuel injection, combining port and direct injection systems.
Other than the 10R80 transmission and the revisions brought to the Coyote V8, the 2018 Ford Mustang features a handful of aerodynamic improvements. The lowered nose is complemented by a larger splitter, while the reshaped rocker panels allow for better airflow underneath the car. Models that aren’t equipped with the Performance Package feature active grille shutters as standard, which reduce drag at speed by completely closing off the grille.
How much of an aerodynamic improvement we’re talking about? In the case of the 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost without the Performance Package, you’re looking at 3 percent. Not bad at all, though the Blue Oval didn’t offer the drag coefficient we’re interested in. The pre-facelift Mustang, meanwhile, boasts a Cd of 0.32, which is similar to the McLaren F1. By comparison, Tesla lists a Cd of 0.23 for the Model 3, which is utmost impressive for a production car.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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