“Dark Horse No More” – 5.0L V8 One Of Ward’s 10 Best

Oct 24, 2023
<2 MIN READ
Coyote team members in attendance to accept the award from Wards Auto for Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems included: Suzanne Robinson, Jim Rauch, Timothy Comer, Brian Lizotte, Marlowe Ma, Robert McWilliams, John Pauli and Chris Barnes. Click to Enlarge

Coyote team members in attendance to accept the award from Wards Auto for Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems included: Suzanne Robinson, Jim Rauch, Timothy Comer, Brian Lizotte, Marlowe Ma, Robert McWilliams, John Pauli and Chris Barnes.

The 5.0-liter V8 built for the Mustang Dark Horse at Ford’s Essex Engine Plant has been honored by Wards Auto as one of its 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems. The 500-horsepower, fourth-generation Coyote V8 is the most powerful naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 Mustang engine ever. Editors said the “brutally powerful” engine is “versatile, sophisticated and affordable enough to keep the V-8 muscle car flame burning.”

Ford engineers tuned this to perfection to provide a monster dose of power and torque across the range, all managed through a thoroughly enjoyable short-throw manual shifter.
Bob Gritzinger
Ward’s Judge
“Jim Rauch addressing the crowd as he accepts the award for the Coyote team.” Click to Enlarge

“Jim Rauch addressing the crowd as he accepts the award for the Coyote team.”

Members of the Coyote engine team recently accepted their award from Wards Auto. The engine was one of only two V8s awarded and also one of only two North America-built engines to earn honors. Ward’s judge Dave Zoia recognized the team’s effort directly: “Huge kudos to the Ford team for bringing one more V-8 blast to the party without resorting to turbos or superchargers.”

Click here to read more of what judges had to say about the power plant.