For the 2011 model year, the second phase of the S197 introduced the Coyote V8 to the most popular pony car of them all. The aluminum heads and block, as well as the DOHC valvetrain, help with performance and efficiency, but the 5.0-liter plant also happens to be very tunable.
The aftermarket is rife with go-faster upgrades, and on this particular occasion, we’ll be looking at a highly modified 2011 model with a thumpin’ great turbocharger. In addition to the 94-millimeter compressor wheel, this strip-slaying build includes better cooling and induction as well as upgraded heads and a larger throttle body. Of course, the internals aren’t stock either.
10-spoke wheels up front and beadlocks out back are also worthy of your attention, particularly thanks to the super-sticky rubber wrapped around them. The less restrictive exhaust system and stall-converter transmission with a trans brake help the Coyote V8-engined the land missile finish the quarter-mile in 7.5 seconds at 185 miles per hour (298 kilometers per hour).
Based on the wheelies the Mustang pulls off the line, the suspension system has also been modified with the sole purpose of straight-line performance. The brakes aren’t stock either, which is understandable if you take into consideration what kind of stopping power you need from 185 MPH. Obviously enough, the road-legal ‘Stang is fitted with a parachute as well.
“Why doesn’t it have wheelie bars, though?” That’s a good question, dear reader, and the answer boils down to DOT compliance. In other words, two bars protruding past the rear bumper is a big no-no in the eyes of the law.
Turning our attention back to the Coyote, the 5.0-liter V8 has been updated a couple of times since the 2011 model year. The mid-cycle refresh of the S550, for example, has made the free-breathing engine a little more complex with the addition of direct injection. Port injection soldiers on alongside direct injection for two very good reasons. More to the point, it keeps emissions under control on startup and cleans the intake valves from carbon buildup.
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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