QOTD: Will You Miss the V6 Mustang?
Hey, let’s give this a try again.
Do you hear that sound? It’s the collective silence of every cheerleader in America not giving a single care to the possible death of a V6-powered Mustang. Even though the automatic, drop-top, V6 Mustang is colloquially called the Cheerleader Edition, do you think Sally McJumpyskirt really cares if four or six or eight pistons are doing battle with physics under the hood? Nope.
But we’re different. We care that the V6 offers a more aurally pleasing soundtrack than the cookie-cutter 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder model. We care that, in the real world, the V6 will likely return fuel economy that’s nearly as good as its smaller, boosted cousin. We care that the tried-and-true 3.7-liter V6 is just that — tried and true.
Yet, I can’t help but not care about its death.
As soon as the new Mustang launched globally, the writing was on the wall for the V6-powered model. Ford of Europe said, “ Nein,” to the 3.7-liter ‘Stang, only importing the EcoBoost and Coyote to the land of M and AMG.
Even before that, in America, Ford was busy culling the aging 3.7-liter motor from the lineups of its other vehicles without barely a whimper uttered from automotive enthusiasts — though, let’s be real, it’s difficult to be enthusiastic about the previous Edge Sport … or the new one for that matter.
Now the six-pot lump’s duties are limited to five vehicles under the FoMoCo umbrella: the Ford Police Interceptor, Ford Transit, Lincoln MKT (which is probably not long for this world considering the fate of its platform-mate, the Ford Flex), Lincoln MKX, and the Lincoln Continental. The Lincoln MKZ will drop the engine in 2017, before the Mustang has a chance to jettison its V6 into the Huron.
I truly believe, and I think the majority of you will agree, what the V6 lacks in performance it more than makes up for in character compared to the now-somehow-premium four-cylinder. No stereo is needed to enjoy the six’s mild-mannered exhaust note, unlike the four-pot that relies on Bose to enhance the experience. Also, turbocharging isn’t a luxury anymore, especially as automakers continue to force smaller and smaller escargots down our throats, with not even the decency to season the force-feeding with garlic butter or cheese. Yet smooth-jazz NA engines are becoming rarer and rarer by the year — and we will lose another.
And yet, I still don’t care, because there still exists eight reasons for me not to care. And when that day comes, the day when Ford has the gall to build a Mustang without a throaty V8, I’ll pick up my pitchfork, walk to Detroit barefoot, and demand that Bill Ford man up.
The six? Auf Wiedersehen.
Do you care about the end of the six-cylinder Mustang? Sound off in the comments and let us know.
[Image: © 2016 Bark M./The Truth About Cars]
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Ford made a big mistake by not bringing the fine Oz Turbo I6 to Murica. The Mustang is still RWD and a long straight 6 would have fit. An I6 would probably also appeal to pick 'em truck buyers.
I may be prejudiced because I just bought a 2017 V6 Mustang. I bought it because it is really better than the EcoBoost or the GT in so many ways. It's really a much more balanced car. While, you can't get premium features, who cares. It's got everything you need and nothing you don't need. Power seat (Extra weight), touch screen ??, leather (uncomfortable in AZ when it's 110, rots quickly). The lack of the performance package means that I can do it right myself. Ford never supported the V6 because they knew that you could make it real world faster than the EcoBoost. Sure, you can make the EcoBoost faster in a drag race, but it's an all or nothing motor that dies at 5.5K. The V6 pulls hard to redline. Put a good suspension and 19" wheels on it and it will beat the EcoBoost for many more years. Turbos are notorious for packing it in after 100K miles and are costly to maintain. An NA motor will last forever. My 1994 stealth Cobra SVT (Lincoln MkVIII) is still on the road. Yes, the Cobra SVT actually has a Lincoln 32V DOHC motor and its IRS. The GT is front end heavy, while the lighter motors have a better front to rear balance that enhances handling. We love drag performance in the USA, but the rest of world looks at road /rally performance as fast. This is where GT or nothing comes from, but the V6 is actually real world quicker. And let's remember that the V6 is actually quicker than most of the historic Mustangs. I actually like the real sound of a good turbo motor, but I don't like the way that they drive. I have owned them (My daughter's VW EOS and a 2006 Rabbit with a Stage 2 turbo conversion). Hence, no EcoBoost for me! The new V6 Mustang is actually the perfect sports car. I'm sad that it is gone, but I will love mine forever. And it will still be on the road when most of the EcoBoosts are sitting in the boneyard.