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Rumormill: Ford reviving Mustang SVO with 300 hp Ecoboost four
by Chris Shunk on Jul 3rd 2008 at 10:57AM 
The original Fox body Mustang SVO was an odd-looking chap with an impressive 205 hp turbo four cylinder and more amenities than the standard pony car. While the light little 'Stang had a decent following, it was expensive and somewhat unreliable in comparison to the cheaper V8 model. The demise of the SVO was cheap gas, which is likely two words we'll never use again when discussing the price of petrol.
The crew over at Garage419 have gotten a tip that the stratospheric climb in fuel prices may spawn another SVO Mustang, but this one could pack 300 ponies. The engine of choice could be the tried and true 2.3-liter four banger with the Ecoboost treatment, and weight could drop by 500 pounds by dropping the massive 4.6L V8 and using higher strength steel. The resulting turbo Mustang would blow away its naturally aspirated V8 brother on the track, while giving back at the pump to the tune of a 20-30 percent fuel economy improvement.
Lets see, a 30 mpg Mustang that weighs less and goes faster than its throaty V8 sibling. This sounds like an absolute no-brainer for the Blue Oval, and something that we wouldn't mind having in the Autoblog Garage for a very long time.
[Source: Garage 419]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
styleguy 11:02AM (7/03/2008)
Oh, so Ford wants to compete with the Genesis coupe! I thought the Mustang was "pure muscle". It better not be wimpy.
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TORR 11:13AM (7/03/2008)
"Oh, so Ford wants to compete with the Genesis coupe! I thought the Mustang was "pure muscle". It better not be wimpy." Its not that they are trying to compete with the Genesis, its an alternative for people who like the looks of the 'stang, but think this would be a better alternative than the V8.
Torrent 11:19AM (7/03/2008)
Yes because that's what Ford does-goes where the competition is....I don't know if that's good or bad.
styleguy 11:34AM (7/03/2008)
Yes, TORR, but the name of muscle cars rides on the Mustang, which may be the only muscle car left if Chevy and Dodge make their models limited editions.
Mobius_1 11:52AM (7/03/2008)
The current 300 hp isn't the most powerful number I've ever seen
And losing weight is the best way to go to improve just about everything
The Red Monkey 12:48PM (7/03/2008)
The best selling Mustang is the 6 cylinder not the 8. Lots of people want the look but do not care about it being an 8. Get rid of the six and use the 4 turbo instead.
Randy 1:01PM (7/03/2008)
Does anything think that something with 300HP would have wimpy anything on it?
RDL 4:20PM (7/03/2008)
Sayeth The Red Monkey @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:48PM:
"The best selling Mustang is the 6 cylinder not the 8. Lots of people want the look but do not care about it being an 8. Get rid of the six and use the 4 turbo instead."
Why can't they use a low displacement Inline-6 turbo engine instead? Why does it have to be a 4 banger? I-6 is way smoother than I-4. Imagine a 2,000cc I-6 turbo that revs to 10,000 rpm and produces 350-400bhp. Mmm, "Pure Sex"™...
TheRaven 11:11AM (7/03/2008)
Sounds like it could be fun, and perhaps steal some sales away from upcoming competitors like the Genesis coupe and the Camaro.
Hopefully they don't price it too high though, because all of the special edition 'stangs have been around $30k. I don't think an SVO would sell as well in that price range.
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1337 11:07AM (7/03/2008)
Build it.
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Mi key 11:09AM (7/03/2008)
At 300hp of much gas would it really save. Also with the Camaro rumored to have a hybrid shouldn't Ford look in something like that more than a turbo four.
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Icon149 11:51AM (7/03/2008)
No... Hybrids are expensive and heavy, turbo 4's are cheaper and lighter. this is a sports car/muscle car not a family sedan. people may choose to use it as a sedan but you can't saddle performance with weight and then raise the cost. besides what good is a me too product, just because the camaro will have a hybrid doesn't mean the mustang and the challenger have to have that option too. they just need to have more fuel efficient yet sporty options.
Dave 4:53PM (7/03/2008)
"At 300hp of much gas would it really save?"
The Solstice GXP is rated 19 city / 28 hwy.
I would be surprised if the new SVO did any better.
Of course, thats a whole lot better than the 15/23 that an '08 V8 gets.
SimbaDogg 8:17PM (7/03/2008)
i guess you didn't really bother to read the article where it said that it would save 20-30 %. Re-read if you need to...
But anyways, IMO this would be a great move. Replace the GT w/ the 2.3 turbo, make a detuned 2.3 turbo model which puts out somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 (to replace the v6) and keep the v8s for any variants above the cobra strictly for enthusiasts. I think if they made a low 200 hp version, w/ direct injection and proper gearing...it could easily get 35 mpg
Joe K. 11:10AM (7/03/2008)
HURRAY!!!
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David(Postal) 11:12AM (7/03/2008)
Build it now please!
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Bungle 11:12AM (7/03/2008)
So why haven't they already built this? It doesn't sound like there are any drawbacks (unless it will cost more?).
Is a V8 really that important to Mustang buyers? I always thought performance came first.
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Mike 11:34AM (7/03/2008)
Yes, as a current 05 Mustang GT owner a V8 is important. The sound of a V8 is part of the Mustang experience. If it wasn't for that I'd probably still be driving my 03 Accord Couple 6-spd.
From what I've read the new 5.0 V8 get's better gas mileage then the current 4.6 and pushed around 400HP. Right now I'm getting around 26 to 28 on the highway so it can only get better! :)
sw 12:16PM (7/03/2008)
The average customer buying a Mustang either wants it for the flash, or it's a cheap dragster. Nowhere in there is there viable room for a 4 banger turbo that actually can decently put down ample performance. I myself would take a 4 banger turbo every single time.
larry 8:35PM (7/04/2008)
Let's stop being EUro-weenies and go back to the V8s. In the WUS we have big distances to cover,it takes power to do that and we don't need screetchy four cyls to do it even if it is putatively rated at 300hp.
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