Redesigned Ford Mustang scores high mpg for V8

Completing the fuel-economy story for the redesigned 2011 Mustang, Ford said on Tuesday that the V8-powered pony car is rated at 26 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg in city driving. That compares with a 16 mpg/24 mpg city/highway rating for the 2010 Mustang.

The highway rating was achieved with the six-speed manual transmission. Opting for the six-speed automatic trims the highway rating to 25 mpg but boosts the city rating to 18 mpg.

The V8 in the 2011 Mustang is a redesigned 5.0-liter unit that includes variable valve timing and electric power steering and is rated at 412 hp. The V8 in the 2010 Mustang is Ford's venerable Modular 4.6-liter V8 rated at 315 hp.

In February, Ford said the new 3.7-liter V6 base engine in the 2011 Mustang would be rated at 19 mpg in the city and 29-31 mpg on the highway, depending on the transmission. The new V6 is rated at 305 hp, compared with the 2010 Mustang's 4.0-liter V6 that is rated at 210 hp.

By Dale Jewett