Just after the current-gen Mustang launched in 2014, Ford said it was “developing custom engine calibrations for the all-new Mustang 2.3-liter EcoBoost, with a product expected on the market by the end of 2015.” Well, Ford pulled an Elon Musk and blew right by that deadline, but now the tune is finally here. Here’s how much power and torque the factory-backed calibration gets you.
Twenty-Five horsepower and 70 lb-ft of torque— that’s what Ford’s new $699 Performance Power Pack adds to the Mustang’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four. That brings power and torque up to 335 HP (an 8 percent increase) and 390 lb-ft (up 22 percent), respectively.
But those are just peak numbers. Ford says at 6,000 rpm, horsepower goes up by 100 ponies, and that between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm, average horsepower and torque go up by 40 HP and 60 lb-ft, respectively.
But while those numbers— especially the torque figures— look impressive, the EcoBoost Ford Mustang community has known for quite a while now that it has a shackled beast under the hood just waiting to be set free with a bit of computer magic.
And while some have waited until they could get a tune from Ford that doesn’t void their warranties, many couldn’t take it any longer, and went to aftermarket tunes like those from Livernois, COBB, Tune+, Unleashed, and lots more. That’s reader K-Roll-PorscheTamer’s EcoBoost Mustang in the topshot getting dyno’d after his tune and larger intercooler (here’s a video showing his dyno numbers).
And while many are getting lots more power and torque gains from their aftermarket tunes than Ford’s new offering, the real value to Ford’s Performance Power Pack is, of course, the fact that it is warranty friendly. And that’s a huge deal for people plopping 30 grand on a new car.
Plus, the tune is 50-state emissions compliant, likely the reason why it took Ford so long to develop— that’s great news for those living in states with strict emissions regs.
You can get Ford’s kit on the company’s performance parts website. It includes a cold-air intake, a Pro Cal 3 calibration interface, and a Calibration voucher to get this thing set up at your local dealership. I’ve reached out to Ford to learn exactly what engine parameters this tune is changing to pull more performance from the little EcoBoost, and I’ll update the post as I learn more.
Either way, with that extra torque, the little four-pot makes only 10 lb-ft fewer than the V8. So, unless exhaust sound is a deal-breaker, you might not have to second-guess yourselves like the poor four-cylinder Mustang buyers in this old commercial:
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