While Not Yet Official, Fuel Economy's on the Rise in the Ford Mustang Stable

Those Ford Mustang owners. Obsessed with just one thing — a feverish, burning desire to consume as little gasoline as possible.

No, that can’t be right. Mustang buyers know what they want when purchasing the original pony car, and it usually involves the velocity of wind through one’s hair. Ford Motor Company, however, doesn’t have the luxury of such simple-mindedness. For a number of reasons, the largest of them being regulatory, the automaker requires its newest vehicles to burn less fuel than the previous generation.

The 2018 Mustang is no different. For the coming model year, the massaged and freshened Mustang promises owners less time spent at the gas pump.

While Ford’s just-released fuel economy figures aren’t yet confirmed by the Environmental Protection Agency, but estimates aren’t likely to stray far from the mark, if at all.

For 2018, both four-cylinder EcoBoost models and traditional V8 powertrains receive Ford’s 10-speed automatic, instantly upping the number of gears by 40 percent. Further economy enhancements come in the form of aero improvements. Active grille shutters, a smoother underside, and a controversial squishing of the model’s face all conspire to boost the ‘Stang’s slipperiness.

What does that mean for fuel economy? Compared to last year’s model, a 2018 EcoBoost model with six-speed manual is estimated at 21 mpg in the city, 31 on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. That’s a 1 mpg improvement for the highway and combined ratings.

Springing for the 10-speed brings about larger gains. So equipped, the EcoBoost now boasts a 32 mpg highway figure, 21 mpg in the city, and 25 mpg combined. That’s a 2 mpg increase on the highway, and a 1 mpg overall gain.

The 3.7-liter V6 doesn’t apply in this comparison, as the former base engine disappears from the model in 2018. The 5.0-liter V8, with a manual tranny, returns an estimated 15 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. In other words, the absolutely no change for stick-shift V8s. Adding four more cogs to the Mustang GT’s automatic does bring about a change, however, and it’s the largest of the lineup. City, highway, and combined fuel economy all rise by 1 mpg in the automatic-equipped V8 model, for an estimated rating of 16/25/19.

We’ll have confirmation of the gains once the EPA gets around to posting official numbers on fuel economy.gov.

As for the hottest Mustang variants, don’t expect anything new for 2018. The GT350 and GT350R soldier on unchanged in output, economy, and appearance. With the elimination of the base V6 engine, the Mustang’s entry prices rises, but not by a lot. Getting into a lesser ‘Stang now means paying more for a V8, and less for a four-cylinder.

[Image: Ford Motor Company]