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Proof That the 2015 Ford Mustang GT350 Will Pack a New 5.2L V8

One of the most hotly contested aspects of the 2015 Ford Mustang high performance model – presumably set to be called the Shelby GT350 – is what will be packed under the hood and new Ford dealership information suggests that the new GT350 will be powered by a new 5.2L V8.
2015 Ford Mustang

Ford Motor Company hasn’t had much to say about the possibility of a higher performance 2015 Ford Mustang than the 5.0L-powered Mustang GT. In fact, Ford really hasn’t officially said anything about the next super-Stang so if not for the spy photos, spy videos and information dug up in the Ford dealership computer system – there really wouldn’t be any proof that there is a new Shelby or SVT Mustang coming. Fortunately, spy photos and videos have confirmed that Ford is working on some sort of new higher performance Mustang and information dug up by the folks at Mustang6g.com has shown that it will likely be called the GT350.

The folks at Mustang6g have done it again – this time digging up information on the 2015 Ford Mustang that appears to confirm that the next GT350 will be powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2L V8. Members have actually found multiple references to a new 5.2L engine, with some components that appear to be specific to this new engine.

Specific Parts for a 2015 Ford Mustang with a 5.2L Engine
While digging through the Ford dealership parts system, a member at Mustang6g.com found a listing for a Quarter Panel Interior Insulator and in the description for that component it reads “5.2L – TIVCT PFI NA HP1 GAS”. That listing also has a similar part schematic that is specifically for models with the 2.3L 4V TIVCT DI TC GAS, the 3.7L 4V PFI V6 NA GAS and the 5.0L 4V Dual Over Head Cam SEFI NA.

A second listing discovered is for a Brake Master Cylinder with “5.2L-TIVCT PFI NA HP1 GAS” in the description, along with another Brake Master Cylinder setup for the 5.0L V8 and the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. Interestingly, the master cylinder description for what is likely the new GT350 model includes “with SVT Performance Pack”. The Mustang Shelby GT500 over the past few years was available with the SVT Performance Pack so the fact that this 5.2L engine is seemingly available with an SVT Performance Pack of its own goes to support the idea that the next generation GT350 will be powered by this 5.2L engine.

Also See: This 2015 Ford Mustang GT350 Rendering Paints a Pretty Picture of Future Ford Performance

In other words, the Ford parts catalog lists a part for models with the three engines that we know will power the 2015 Mustang, but another part is listed specifically for a Mustang with a 5.2L. Either Ford Motor Company has put random, nonsensical line items in their parts system to throw us off…or these resourceful members have found the first proof that the next generation high performance Mustang will be powered by a 5.2L V8.

How Much Power from the GT350 with a 5.2L V8?
There is no way of knowing how much power the 2015/2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 might have, but based on the fact that it is naturally aspirated, we can make some estimates. First, let’s look at the fact that the 5.0L V8 in the Boss 302 makes 440 horsepower. That gives the Boss 302 a ratio of 88 horsepower per liter and a 5.2L V8 with the same ratio would make around 458 horsepower. We should also look at the 5.8L engine in the GT500 which offers 662 horsepower for a ratio of around 114 horsepower per liter. When that is applied to a 5.2L engine, you would have around 592 horsepower.

2015 Ford Mustang Galleries:
A first look at the 2015 Ford Mustang RTR
Live images from the 2015 Ford Mustang Detroit Debut
A look at the similarities in styling across the 2015 Ford Mustang trimlines
The 2015 Ford Mustang in Triple Yellow

The output of 458 seems a little low for a modern Shelby Mustang, but I also don’t expect to see the kind of power ratios from the naturally aspirated 5.2L engine as we do with the supercharged 5.8L GT500 engine, but something a touch better than the Boss 302 could bring about a ratio in the area of 96 horsepower per liter and that would give the GT350 around 500 horsepower.

500 horsepower in the 2015 Ford Mustang would most likely make it one wicked road track performer – which I believe is Ford’s goal with the next generation super-Stang. Rather than going after the likes of the Hellcat Challenger, I expect to see the next Shelby Mustang targeting the Camaro Z28…which happens to have around 500 horsepower.

Source: Mustang6g.com

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Comments

Crackpipe (not verified)    September 8, 2014 - 11:00PM

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The GT500 has nowhere near 114 hp/L. That's absurd. You need to take into account effective displacement from boost. Every 1 bar, or 14.5 psi means doubled displacement. At 15 psi, or 1.03 bar, this means the GT500 has an effective displacement of roughly 11.8 liters (1.03 plus 1 for its constant displacement, 2.03 x 5812cc constant displacement = 11.798 liters). This means that the GT500 has a specific output of 56 hp/L.

Alex (not verified)    October 7, 2014 - 3:22PM

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That is incorrect, hp/L doesn't change because you have turbos or superchargers. Liters are a constant measurement based on combustion space measured. So if you have a 2 liter that puts out 200hp its still 100hp/L whether or not the vehicle is using non-NA forms of aspiration. Turbos and Superchargers effects air intake quantity and fuel not combustion space so 114hp/L is an accurate number. Any way you try and measure the hp its an awesome number on the Shelby GT500.