A post shared by Ford Motor Company (@ford) There’s a video of what’s implied to be the new 2024 Ford Mustang. To me, it sounds a lot like the 5.0-liter V8 in the most recent Bullitt Mustang. This isn’t a bad thing as it confirms we’re probably still getting the same 5.0-liter motor and this is a rad sounding engine.
What’s an even radder motor? Why, the Voodoo V8 of course. This 5.2-liter distinguishes itself with the flat-plane crank V8, which is good for 526 horsepower at a relatively high 7,500 RPM. It debuted in 2015 and has sounded great ever since.
What about something a little less modern? The 2000 Cobra R, which took a modular DOHC V8 truck motor as its base and managed to squeeze a then-impressive 385 horses out:
Still too modern? Nothing says ‘there’s no replacement for displacement’ like a 1969 Mustang Mach 1 complete with a 428 Cobra Jet V8 underhood. The one in this video is likely producing around 335 horsepower, though I don’t think it matters because when it gets going you can feel the sound deep in your stomach. If you want to approximate this but don’t have a Mustang nearby you can merely not eat for 48 hours and then walk into a Chili’s and stand there for a while.
This is what comes to me off the top of my head, but I want to hear your suggestions below. Extra points for dropping in a link to the sound.
No, it’s not because I’m hoping a new generation will drop S550 prices and let me upgrade from my S197 GT to a Bullitt, why?
Its sound was from a Ford GT40 (though you can hear the Mustang briefly when McQueen pulls out of the carwash parking lot onto the road), including the cooool needed double-clutching.
For my money, the Mach 1 here is the purest Mustang sound. Others may be better perhaps (the GT350s past and present for sure, and I have a soft spot for the Cobra), but the 428 seems to match the Mustang mojo the best – not a pure race car, not a dignified luxury car, but a pony car.
No matter how much power I have under the hood, I want to be nearly silent. The quieter it is, the more effortless it feels, and it’s much more fun that way to me because it feels even more powerful when you don’t have to get all shouty about it.
A good large displacement rumble is very nice. But once you get underway, I don’t want it to get any louder.
I replaced the stock exhaust on my SN95 Mustang way back with the somewhat rare Ford Racing high-flow system. Few Mustang people seemed to like it (I’ve never met anyone else who runs it), but it hit the sweet spot for what I wanted – she now sounds like I thought she should right from the factory.
Slightly more growl-y tone and increased rumble at idle (stock exhaust barely had any of that), but there’s zero cruising drone, if you accelerate easily, it’s quite quiet/smooth, and it doesn’t really scream “pay attention to me.” Plus solid construction and perfect fit.
Seems to fit the everyday-fun nature that Mustangs represent to me.
I once hit the car rental counter jackpot and got a V8 Mustang instead of whatever boring thing my company travel department booked for me. It definitely brought a smile to my face, but after a few days it got a little embarrassing to make such a ruckus every time it started up.
Your point about the power seeming “effortless” is particularly interesting. Y’know when you’re next to an 18-wheeler at a red light and you hear its engine rev hard just to barely get off the line? That’s the inverse of that effortless power you’ve described. The silent “whoosh” of instant power/torque from a high performance electric car just feels much more high-end.
… oh, you did not go there. ALANIS! WE HAVE A HERETIC ON AISLE TWO!!
(Also, give me 427 SOHC sounds plz.)
