Ten years ago, who would have thought a Mustang GT would be a contender against the likes of such supercars as Ferrari, Porsche and even — the Lamborghini. But now Ford Motor Company has pushed a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V8 to a new of level of 526 horsepower and 429 ft-lbs of torque. Even more impressive is the engine’s exceptionally wide powerband – with a redline of 8,250 revolutions per minute. A far cry from previous renditions and furthermore breaking the American Muscle car stereotype, of utilizing clunky low revving, V8, boat anchors. Oh yes. This is a new breed is horse sent to run wild in the fields of supercar territory.

So how did ford punch through the wall and create such numbers.   Well, the biggest difference is the use of a new flat-plane crankshaft design. Most modern supercars utilize a traditional cross-plane crankshaft for their V8 engines, which attach the piston-carrying connecting rods to the crankshaft at 90-degree intervals, therefore creating a “cross” of counterweights when viewing down the axis of the crankshaft.

The all new Ford 5.2-liter V8 uses a design where the connecting rods attach to the flat-plane crankshaft at aligned 180-degree intervals – creating what looks similar to a flat line of counterweights, when viewing down the axis of the crankshaft.

This design not only dramatically changes the output of power, creates a linear and taller power band, it also carries a ruthlessly distinct exhaust note. But this design doesn’t stop there.   Ford states that the flat-plane crankshaft helps improve cylinder exhaust-pulse separation by allowing a firing order that alternates ignition events between the V8’s two cylinder banks. This can vastly improve engine breathing, and subsequently allow the engine to make more power.

Apparently all of the this work is a splash for the new rendition of the orginal 350gt. A work of art. A force to be recon with. A new era. Or just one last push to make solidtuded before newer era of technology runs away with the performance market place. Either way. For now, it’s one bad as machine.