Engineers wring 30 mpg on the highway from the 2011 Ford Mustang V6

First Ford got us excited by making some major engine upgrades to the Mustang for 2011--a 305-hp, 3.7-liter V6 and a 412-hp, 5.0-liter V8. Now it's wooing us with fuel economy, too.

Ford says the V6-powered Mustang has been certified by the EPA to deliver 30-31 mpg on the highway (depending on the transmission) and 19 mpg in the city. Ford says this is the first time anyone has delivered a car with more than 300 hp and better than 30 mpg.

The V6-powered 2010 Chevrolet Camaro carries an EPA rating of 29 mpg on the highway and 17-18 mpg in the city (depending on the transmission).

If you want the extra 1 mpg on the highway from your Mustang, order the six-speed automatic. Ford says it engineered the transmission with close gear ratios and shift programs to maximize highway fuel economy.

The Mustang's fuel-economy program also gets a boost from the use of electric power steering, which eliminates a drag on the engine, and some aerodynamic changes to the body, such as underbody shields, spats for the rear wheels, taller air dam and rear decklid seal.

And how thirsty is the 5.0-liter V8, you ask? So did we. Ford says that certification effort is nearly complete and that we should get the numbers within a couple of weeks.

By Dale Jewett