New Mustang Trim Will Compete with Camaro 1LE
Not to be outdone, Ford has a rival to that of the 4-cylinder Chevy Camaro's 1LE package.
HPP Mustang
Ford may be resurrecting the spirit of the SVO Mustang to do battle with the Camaro Turbo 1LE. The SVO was a Mustang trim that was sold from 1984 to 1986 and had a four-cylinder engine that was bolted to a turbo and produced 205 horsepower. It doesn't seem like anything to us in the present, but that output was equal to that of the V8 GT back in the day. The SVO was for those who wanted performance in a lighter package with an upgraded suspension and bigger brakes.
Just enough performance
So what could this modern day SVO be? Well, at the recent New York auto show, Ford showed off a new high-performance 2.3-liter turbo EcoBoost Mustang that has a top speed of 155 mph. The new trim level makes use of parts from the GT such as aero, suspension, and brake system.
It's fits in just fine
Ford has really made a nice Mustang with this new trim level. Take the powerplant of the Focus RS and then toss in some nice aggressive aero and chassis mods from that of the Performance Package 2 trim. In order for this new trim not to cannibalize the sales of other levels, we could see Ford pricing this new SVO right under the base price of the GT but above that of the EcoBoost Performance Pack.
Less time at the gas station
“This is indicative of where the industry is going, the idea of increasing power with smaller engines,” said Karl Brauer, executive publisher at Kelley Blue Book. “It allows you to have more fuel efficiency and power at the same time. It's giving you the best of both worlds. And it's further proof that while you can't break the rules of physics, technology allows you to bend 'em.”
Times and tech change
Jonathan Klinger, spokesman for Hagerty Classic Insurance remarked that “If you back up a little bit, traditionally, a muscle car meant shoving the most powerful engine, which used to mean also getting the biggest engine, into the smallest car you can,” he said. “That's an American muscle car for you. A large engine in a small car. It speaks to just how far the traditional internal combustion engine has come.”
You couldn't ask for more
“But this is a Mustang is for someone who can race it with a helmet on the weekend and drive it to work in a suit on Monday,” Klinger said. “That's the beauty of today's muscle car. That includes Camaro, Hellcat. They're relatively affordable, comfortable, and come with factory warranties. Nobody needs two SUVs, two vans or two trucks.”
This new Mustang trim will be available this fall in both coupe and convertible. Pricing is expected somewhere between $35,000-$40,000.
And, for information on maintenance and repairs for your Mustang, head on over to our How-Tos at MustangForums.com!