2011 Ford Mustang's 305 bhp averages 5.82 l/100 km

In 1994, the Ford Mustang V6 was only good for 145 bhp, and 11.3 l/100 km. Its old, pushrod V6 felt under powered, and it would get very loud if you tried to push it. Not a throaty, enjoyable load. Just, annoyingly loud.

For 2011, Ford decided to build upon the success that it has with the twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. Customers love the fact that they can get 350+ bhp, while still getting decent fuel economy.

Ford says that it's "committed to being the fuel economy leader in every segment that it competes in". With motors like the EcoBoost, they may do just that.

Ford's planned domination of the pony car category begins with an entirely new engine. The Mustang's all-aluminium 3.7 litre V6 has Twin-Independant Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT), and a 7,000 rpm redline.

Combined with either a 6-speed automatic, or a 6-speed manual, the 2011 Ford Mustang V6 pumps out 305 bhp (vs. Camaro V6's 304 bhp), while returning gas mileage figures of 9.11 l/100 km on the motorway. Not bad for a car that can hit 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds!

To prove their point, Ford held an endurance race at the Bristol Motor Speedway, in the United States.

5 drivers, including several Mustang engineers, and a NASCAR driver, drove a stock Mustang V6 for 1,457 laps™on one tank of fuel.

It took 17 hours, 40 minutes to cover 1,249.65 km's, at an average speed of 70 km/h. Using economy driving techniques, the Mustang only used 5.82 litres, per 100 km's.

The Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge was designed to prove that a stock Mustang could go 1,000 laps (857km) on a single tank of fuel. Instead, Ford proved that the Mustang could go 1,249 km's™on a single tank. "This is beyond our wildest dreams" said Mustang engineer Tom Barnes.

Too bad a Ferrari isn't as thrifty.