2022 Ford Mustang V8 Loses 10 Horsepower Because of Emissions Regulations

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Beyond a few exceptions, naturally aspirated V8 engines are rare in today's market. With electric vehicles coming out at an alarming rate and emissions getting stricter, it's no surprise to see the number of high-performance sports cars shrink. The Ford Mustang is one of the few sports cars to be offered with a V8 engine, but for 2022, it's being updated to make less power.

V8 Loses 10 Horsepower

As initially reported by Ford Authority, the 5.0-liter V8 engine found in the Mustang GT and Mach 1 will make less power for the 2022 model year. Both engines are down 10 horsepower and 10 pound-feet of torque compared to last year. Those drops are for both the manual and automatic transmission.

Because of the decrease, the 2022 Mustang GT will make 450 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. The 2022 Mustang Mach 1 will be rated at 470 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. The minor change is likely to go unnoticed by the majority of consumers and we're sure some will even find a way to get the extra power back from the V8.

A Ford spokesperson confirmed the change to The Drive. Additionally, the spokesperson provided some information on why it had to make the change. "To meet more stringent LEV III regulatory emissions requirements, horsepower and torque has been reduced by 10 hp and 10 pound-feet for 2022 model year Mustangs with the 5.0-liter V8 engine," said the spokesperson. The spokesperson further commented that the "V8 engine's hydrocarbon traps were modified, with a new mass airflow sensor location and updated engine calibration."

What's In Store For The Future?

Curiously, while Ford had to make changes to the 5.0-liter V8 engine, the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that's found in the Shelby GT500 goes unchanged. The engine is rated at 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. It would be interesting to get more information on why the 5.0-liter V8 had to be updated, but the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is able to survive without any changes.

As far as we know, Ford hasn't made any other changes to the 2022 Mustang. The sports car arrives for the new model year with a new California Special package and a new Stealth Edition package.

With the introduction of the Mustang Mach-E, Ford's decision to stop selling cars, and the automotive industry's move to electrified powertrains, we're interested to see what Ford does with the next-gen Mustang. Rumors speculate that the model is right around the corner and could be available with all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods