S650 Mustang EcoBoost Review

[DFB5.0]

Short review on an Australian-spec EcoBoost Hardtop.....................................



That engine comes across as extremely flat, not helped by upshifting at 5800 rpm, even though it was in Track/Drag mode.

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[Deano1978]

Glad I picked the GT.

Throttle House just did a review on the 2025 Dodge Charger Scatpack. I can see why Stellantis fired their CEO, the new Charger horrible.

 

[DFB5.0]

Glad I picked the GT.

Throttle House just did a review on the 2025 Dodge Charger Scatpack. I can see why Stellantis fired their CEO, the new Charger horrible.

So lame! Sounds absolutely ridiculous, no car enthusiast who bought the previous model is going to buy that car.

".............they had to do it because of regulations............"

Hmmm, let's ask Ford about that.

 

[5.0ALM]

I'll wager that the Fratzonic "exhaust" noise generator will have it's volume restricted in some parts of Europe or they won't even get that feature, being the anal retentive capital of the World.

 

[Gregs24]

Short review on an Australian-spec EcoBoost Hardtop.....................................



That engine comes across as extremely flat, not helped by upshifting at 5800 rpm, even though it was in Track/Drag mode.

It's a turbo 4, revving it a bit more may actually be slower as it drops out of the boosted torque. The 2.3 has a very flat torque curve that drops away suddenly. Graph for the similar Focus installation. You can see why a 5800rpm up change is chosen.

 

[DFB5.0]

It's a turbo 4, revving it a bit more may actually be slower as it drops out of the boosted torque. The 2.3 has a very flat torque curve that drops away suddenly. Graph for the similar Focus installation. You can see why a 5800rpm up change is chosen.

We've had two cars powered by the earlier 2.0 EcoBoost with 200 hp. The first was fitted to a 2011 Mondeo and hooked up to a 6-speed Powershift DCT, the second is fitted to a Jaguar XE with the excellent ZF 8-Speed auto. Both the same engine, both very different in character.

The Mondeo was virtually characterless with no exhaust note and only a very muted induction thrash right at the top of the rev range. That flat torque curve and efficient gear shifts from the DCT just made it feel like a non-event when driven with intent. That said, for a front wheel drive vehicle, it was surprisingly capable with excellent steering, brakes and chassis composure.



The Jaguar on the other hand is very different. Naturally, that power curve is the same and there isn't much happening above 6000rpm, but the 8-speed auto and exhaust tuning give the engine some much needed character, it even has some upshift pop. You can also bang the rev limiter where the Mondeo would upshift before getting near the red line.



So, I guess it comes down to gearbox and exhaust tuning. The EcoBoost Mustang would probably benefit from taller gearing, that fat low rpm torque would be better paired with a 7 or 8-speed auto, I think the 10-speed tends to exaggerate the flat sound. The V8 on the other hand needs revs to perform, something the 10-speed caters too. All Australian Mustang's get the Active Exhaust, but it doesn't seem to help the EcoBoost as it does the V8.

 

[DFB5.0]

The very first Mustang I ever drove was a 2016 S550 EcoBoost with the 6-speed auto, finished in that broody Guard Metallic. This was after ordering a GT hardtop, at the time dealers could only register EcoBoost's for demos as all the V8's were spoken for.

I remember loving the ultra-low driving position and looking out across that long hood, especially considering the early S550's had a higher hood line and those lovely, raised ridges. But I couldn't help feel it was lacking something. Sure, it had some grunt, but it lacked character. The fake noise pumped into the cabin didn't light my fire. If it wasn't for the V8, I was left wondering if I would have ordered one because the engine just didn't do it for me.

This isn't a V8 or nothing post, I like all engine layouts, especially inline 6's. But I'm an engine guy first, car guy second. If the engine doesn't get me excited, then I'm generally not going to love the car.

 

[DeluxeStang]

So lame! Sounds absolutely ridiculous, no car enthusiast who bought the previous model is going to buy that car.

".............they had to do it because of regulations............"

Hmmm, let's ask Ford about that.

I mean, love it or hate it, Ford has made it known the V8 mustang only exists because of things like the mach-e. EVs lower the average CO2 outputs of a brands lineup. That means brands like Ford can make v8s and still meet government regulations if they produce enough EVs and hybrids. Dodge didn't make any EVs prior to the charger, so that wasn't an option for them.

 

[Gregs24]

We've had two cars powered by the earlier 2.0 EcoBoost with 200 hp. The first was fitted to a 2011 Mondeo and hooked up to a 6-speed Powershift DCT, the second is fitted to a Jaguar XE with the excellent ZF 8-Speed auto. Both the same engine, both very different in character.

The Mondeo was virtually characterless with no exhaust note and only a very muted induction thrash right at the top of the rev range. That flat torque curve and efficient gear shifts from the DCT just made it feel like a non-event when driven with intent. That said, for a front wheel drive vehicle, it was surprisingly capable with excellent steering, brakes and chassis composure.



The Jaguar on the other hand is very different. Naturally, that power curve is the same and there isn't much happening above 6000rpm, but the 8-speed auto and exhaust tuning give the engine some much needed character, it even has some upshift pop. You can also bang the rev limiter where the Mondeo would upshift before getting near the red line.



So, I guess it comes down to gearbox and exhaust tuning. The EcoBoost Mustang would probably benefit from taller gearing, that fat low rpm torque would be better paired with a 7 or 8-speed auto, I think the 10-speed tends to exaggerate the flat sound. The V8 on the other hand needs revs to perform, something the 10-speed caters too. All Australian Mustang's get the Active Exhaust, but it doesn't seem to help the EcoBoost as it does the V8.

From a sound point of view an inline 4 cylinder is the dullest of the dull and there is not a huge amount you can do to it.

I had Mondeo's like that, one a 2.5 5 cylinder (220PS) and one the Ecoboost 2.0 4 cylinder (240PS). The Ecoboost was quicker and much more economical but the 5 sounded way better.

 

[DFB5.0]

From a sound point of view an inline 4 cylinder is the dullest of the dull and there is not a huge amount you can do to it.

I had Mondeo's like that, one a 2.5 5 cylinder (220PS) and one the Ecoboost 2.0 4 cylinder (240PS). The Ecoboost was quicker and much more economical but the 5 sounded way better.

I loved that Volvo engine, they sound amazing. I got a chance to ride along in a MK II Focus RS, that thing was an animal!

 

[Alan Applegate]

The fall off is indeed true in all modes except Drag mode, where the overboots lasts a bit longer. The evidence are the RPM shift points.

Few drivers give credit to the engineers who program the enjoyment into the vehicles we drive. Even fewer drivers ever get to talk with these same engineers. I've been lucky in that respect as I've managed to do so several times. Until you do, you'll never really know what a gear head talks like!

 

[SweptVolume]

Throttle House just did a review on the 2025 Dodge Charger Scatpack. I can see why Stellantis fired their CEO, the new Charger horrible.

Not to mention "Scatpack" sounds like something horrendous you'd find on the dark web...

 

[Deano1978]

I loved that Volvo engine, they sound amazing. I got a chance to ride along in a MK II Focus RS, that thing was an animal!

I've always like the inline 5's like the Focus and the RS3, they really do have that mini V10 sound.

 

[DFB5.0]

Follow up video of the EcoBoost, pitted against the i30 N..........................



I know pops and bangs aren't to everyone's taste, but the i30 N has had some effort put into making it sound distinctive.

 

[Deano1978]

I like the side by side camera work/editing on this,

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