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2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Review

"It's just a V6 Mustang." That phrase, so often spoken with derision and disdain, has haunted owners of Ford's more affordable and economical pony car since roughly April of 1964. Even after Dearborn finally paid some attention to its entry-level muscle car by eliminating telltale V6 features – the company fit dual exhausts in place of the single-exit pipe in 2011, negating the budget offering's biggest visual giveaway – the car was still hard pressed to shake its reputation as a hairdresser's car and rental fleet queen. For the Mustang's 50th year in service, Ford went back to the drawing board, we think with the distinct goal of eliminating the stigma of the non-V8 Mustang. While the V6 is still being offered (your local Avis and Enterprise lots wouldn't be the same without them), it's best to think of the new, four-cylinder, turbocharged Mustang EcoBoost as the entry-level model. But will the addition of forced induction – from an engine that will see action in the upcoming, enthusiast-centric Focus RS, no less – be enough to appease those pony car fans that believe that only Mustangs with eight cylinders are worthy of the galloping stallion badge? After a week at the helm, we certainly think it is. The new Mustang's looks have been covered ad nauseam. Chances are good that you either love the fastback styling, or you think the original pony car now looks a lot like a Fusion Coupe. We'll ignore the bigger styling remarks for the 2015 Mustang, and instead, focus on what's done right with the EcoBoost model. Like the V6 before it, certain boxes are correctly ticked. Dual exhausts? Check. 18-inch alloys? Check. (Our EcoBoost Premium model even shares its wheels with the base GT). HID headlamps? Check. Up front, there's a surprisingly meaty chin spoiler while the muscular lines of the 'Stang's long hood tie in nicely with the fastback shape, which terminates in a neat rear spoiler. There's even a body-colored diffuser at the back, between the chromed exhaust tips. The bottom line is, unless you're a true Mustang aficionado, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference between the turbocharged car and its 435-horsepower brother. Simply sitting in the redesigned cabin isn't enough to give the EcoBoost away, either. The leather-trimmed seats (standard on the Premium trim) are cozy and supportive, with plenty of bolstering to help keep both driver and passenger in place while the 'Stang exhibits its newly enhanced cornering abilities.

2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost

Earlier this week, Ford invited us to Charlotte, NC, to ride in an all-new 2015 Mustang fitted with its turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. It's the first forced-induction, four-cylinder ponycar for the Blue Oval since the sun set on the 1986 Mustang SVO. We jumped at the opportunity, as only a handful of people have ever been in the passenger seat of this new car, and most automotive media won't get as close as we did until this fall.
As we revealed in our Deep Dive, Ford will slot this new turbocharged four as premium powerplant between its naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 and the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. At last mention, the automaker said the direct-injected, all-aluminum engine will develop 305 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque, returning the best fuel economy of the three powerplants in the process. History buffs will note that those figures are appreciably stouter than the 200 horses and 240 lb-ft that the '86 SVO realized out of the same displacement, and the latter's figures were hugely impressive at the time. On paper, the new EcoBoost four looks to be a good fit for most owners who want to balance performance with efficiency - we were eager to see how it felt from the passenger seat.
Riding Notes

Forza Horizon 3 car list keeps on truckin'

We've covered three weeks of car reveals for Forza Horizon 3, and this time we get a better look at the trucks, SUVs and other off-roaders you'll be able to use to explore Australia. This week's list kicks things off with two of the most legendary off-roaders in the world, the Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser and the Meyers Manx. They have different purposes; the FJ40 is for tough trail work and the Manx is for some light-hearted beach fun. But no one could deny the cultural importance of either. And both should be a blast in Horizon 3. In addition to this pair of classics, players will have a chance to get behind the wheel of both a race version of the Ford F-150 Raptor and its closest rival, the Ram Runner. And when traditional vehicles start to get boring, why not take out a full-blown Baja racer such as the Penhall Cholla or the Rockstar energy drink version of the little Polaris RZR XP 1000 side-by-side? Forza Horizon 3 is shaping up to have one of the most diverse car lists in a racing game in a long time. There are still cars left to be revealed, so stay tuned for further installments and see this week's full list below. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth 2013 Ford Focus ST 1973 Ford Escort RS1600 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III 2014 Ford Fiesta ST 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Race Truck 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 1986 Lancia Delta S4 2009 Lexus IS F 1957 Maserati 300 S 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata 1967 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series 1971 Meyers Manx 2012 Mini John Cooper Works GP 1998 Nissan R390 1979 Opel Kadett C GT/E 2011 Penhall The Cholla 1971 Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi 2015 Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS Rockstar Edition 2013 Ram Runner 1993 Renault Clio Williams 1990 Subaru SVX 1979 Toyota FJ40 2005 TVR Sagaris 1990 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton Related Video: News Source: Playground Games / MicrosoftImage Credit: Playground Games / Microsoft Auto News Toys/Games Ford RAM Toyota forza exclusive ford f-150 raptor forza horizon forza horizon 3 toyota fj40 meyers manx