RE: Revo's Mustang 'Ecobeast': PH Videoblog
Friday 16th September 2016
The sheer value for money represented by the 'proper' V8-powered Ford Mustang GT is hard to ignore. After all, civilised and refined for a global audience or not, a muscle car needs a V8, surely?
Revo's Mustang 'Ecobeast': PH Videoblog
The acceptable face of the four-cylinder Ford Mustang? With a little help from Revo Technik Dan makes the case
Truth is though Mustangs have always been sold with smaller engines, and in huge numbers back in their Stateside home market. And with a version of the 2.3-litre Ecoboost engine shared with the Focus RS the 'base' four-cylinder Mustang you can now buy here certainly does the numbers. Whether you're looking at performance or running costs it possibly makes a Mustang a car you can buy with your heart AND your head.
To help make that case stronger still British-based tuner Revo Technik has been branching out from its core business of upgrade packages for VW group cars with a new range of products for both the Focus RS and the Mustang. Here we have the latter with Revo's Stage 1 tuning package that, as you'll see, puts an interesting twist on the comparison between four-cylinder Mustang and its V8 big brother. Enough to make you want one? Full review to follow; for now here's Dan's videoblog with his first impressions...
Watch the video here.
Discussion
Niche filling, and nice enough I suppose.
I'd be more interested to know the numbers behind the stage 2 revo package. It might be closer price-wise to the v8, but I'm guessing it would be quite a bit better in terms of performance. The stage 1 4 cylinder revo package already beats the v8 in torque, so I'm really curious about it.
Downside for me is the size of it. It wont fit a standard UK garage (not much will), and even if you could squeeze it in, those doors may mean escaping through either the sunroof (do they come with them?), or Dukes-of-Hazzard style.
I'd rather the Focus RS with a tweak or two, but then they're different cars aren't they.
I'd be more interested to know the numbers behind the stage 2 revo package. It might be closer price-wise to the v8, but I'm guessing it would be quite a bit better in terms of performance. The stage 1 4 cylinder revo package already beats the v8 in torque, so I'm really curious about it.
Downside for me is the size of it. It wont fit a standard UK garage (not much will), and even if you could squeeze it in, those doors may mean escaping through either the sunroof (do they come with them?), or Dukes-of-Hazzard style.
I'd rather the Focus RS with a tweak or two, but then they're different cars aren't they.
Edited by big_rob_sydney on Thursday 15th September 11:07
The Revo Stage 1 package is pretty darn quick; just look at 5.25 into the video log and watch how the 'stang trips thr light fantastic, and the speed of light, barrelling down the road in less than the blink of an eye...!
On a serious note, I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
The reality is that, other than noise, and perhaps a little bit of immediate throttle response, the Revo car does the job admirably, and it will be interesting when Dan tries a RHD version with a Stage 2 kit, exhaust etc on; I predict that it will be a different kettle of fish and will alter our perceptions of the 'poverty spec' engine....
On a serious note, I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
The reality is that, other than noise, and perhaps a little bit of immediate throttle response, the Revo car does the job admirably, and it will be interesting when Dan tries a RHD version with a Stage 2 kit, exhaust etc on; I predict that it will be a different kettle of fish and will alter our perceptions of the 'poverty spec' engine....
rtz62 said:
The Revo Stage 1 package is pretty darn quick; just look at 5.25 into the video log and watch how the 'stang trips thr light fantastic, and the speed of light, barrelling down the road in less than the blink of an eye...!
On a serious note, I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
The reality is that, other than noise, and perhaps a little bit of immediate throttle response, the Revo car does the job admirably, and it will be interesting when Dan tries a RHD version with a Stage 2 kit, exhaust etc on; I predict that it will be a different kettle of fish and will alter our perceptions of the 'poverty spec' engine....
if you think a 4 cylinder turbo > V8, I think it is you that has been brainwashed !!On a serious note, I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
The reality is that, other than noise, and perhaps a little bit of immediate throttle response, the Revo car does the job admirably, and it will be interesting when Dan tries a RHD version with a Stage 2 kit, exhaust etc on; I predict that it will be a different kettle of fish and will alter our perceptions of the 'poverty spec' engine....
Performance is one thing and i've no doubt the 4cyl lump can be tuned to match or exceed the V8, BUT surely the whole Mustang thing is all about the V8, the noise, the torque, the smell, a taste of State side, being different, and dare i suggest being noticed in a country filled with Euro boxes.
Otherwise arguably without its V8, its USP, its just a wide body, possibly ungainly, not so well built facsimile, with a 4cyl engine like everything else on the road. All the minuses with non of the pluses...
Otherwise arguably without its V8, its USP, its just a wide body, possibly ungainly, not so well built facsimile, with a 4cyl engine like everything else on the road. All the minuses with non of the pluses...
rtz62 said:
I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
Allow me some artistic licence here, and imagine the engine sounds were smells...Mustang V8 = Well executed BBQ with a fine selection of meat
Mustang Turbo 4 = 2.3 litres of fresh steaming cat excrement
SturdyHSV said:
rtz62 said:
I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
Allow me some artistic licence here, and imagine the engine sounds were smells...Mustang V8 = Well executed BBQ with a fine selection of meat
Mustang Turbo 4 = 2.3 litres of fresh steaming cat excrement
One thing we found while back to back "testing" (read: cocking about on a drift circuit) is that there is no option in the sub-menus to turn everything off on the 4 pot (either the TC OR ASC can't be disabled but I cant remember which one it is now). That means you can't slide about in it as the nannys cut in to save you from yourself.
Thankfully the V8 GT comes with the options to turn off both TC & ASC.
Thankfully the V8 GT comes with the options to turn off both TC & ASC.
underphil said:
rtz62 said:
The Revo Stage 1 package is pretty darn quick; just look at 5.25 into the video log and watch how the 'stang trips thr light fantastic, and the speed of light, barrelling down the road in less than the blink of an eye...!
On a serious note, I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
The reality is that, other than noise, and perhaps a little bit of immediate throttle response, the Revo car does the job admirably, and it will be interesting when Dan tries a RHD version with a Stage 2 kit, exhaust etc on; I predict that it will be a different kettle of fish and will alter our perceptions of the 'poverty spec' engine....
if you think a 4 cylinder turbo > V8, I think it is you that has been brainwashed !!On a serious note, I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
The reality is that, other than noise, and perhaps a little bit of immediate throttle response, the Revo car does the job admirably, and it will be interesting when Dan tries a RHD version with a Stage 2 kit, exhaust etc on; I predict that it will be a different kettle of fish and will alter our perceptions of the 'poverty spec' engine....
SturdyHSV said:
rtz62 said:
I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
Allow me some ludicrous hyperbole here, and imagine the engine sounds were smells...Mustang V8 = Well executed BBQ with a fine selection of meat
Mustang Turbo 4 = 2.3 litres of fresh steaming cat excrement
rtz62 said:
On a serious note, I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
The reality is that, other than noise, and perhaps a little bit of immediate throttle response, the Revo car does the job admirably, and it will be interesting when Dan tries a RHD version with a Stage 2 kit, exhaust etc on; I predict that it will be a different kettle of fish and will alter our perceptions of the 'poverty spec' engine....
Both cars are already plenty quick enough for UK road driving*, including occasional derestricted Autobahn-storming. So for a modern performance car buyer the differentiators are:-The reality is that, other than noise, and perhaps a little bit of immediate throttle response, the Revo car does the job admirably, and it will be interesting when Dan tries a RHD version with a Stage 2 kit, exhaust etc on; I predict that it will be a different kettle of fish and will alter our perceptions of the 'poverty spec' engine....
- Sound / 'feel'
- Throttle response
- "Jerk" (the instantaneous kick-in-the-back you get from a high rate-of-change of torque) and sustained physical shove
- Economy
- Purchase cost
Typically smaller, boosted engines major on the last two, and more recently have been closing ground on the middle one. But they still cannot touch big-capacity nat-asp engines on the first two. So it's a score-draw, and depends whether your priorities are a car that ignites the nerve-endings in your soul** or one you can brag about in the pub and crow over the "scalps" you've taken...
* This isn't a track car, let's be very honest here.
** Says the man about to sacrifice one of the finest recent I-4 VTEC engines for a turbo-4 replacement, on the basis of #4 and #5!
If there was another 30 grand coupe, that with a £500 remap would deliver 360 bhp and over 400 lb/ft we would probably quite like it, the GT86 has the "not enough power" thing thrown at it, this has enough power for most.
I would buy the V8 for the difference in price but I bet this is still alright, I suspect Stage two will be nearer 400 bhp, Icurrently drive a V8 but I do like boosty 4 pots.
Moaning about a 360 bhp car, have we ever had it so good if this represents cat excrement ?
I would buy the V8 for the difference in price but I bet this is still alright, I suspect Stage two will be nearer 400 bhp, Icurrently drive a V8 but I do like boosty 4 pots.
Moaning about a 360 bhp car, have we ever had it so good if this represents cat excrement ?
Devil2575 said:
SturdyHSV said:
rtz62 said:
I get what you say about wanting the V8 over the ecoboost, but is that because we are brainwashed into it.
Allow me some ludicrous hyperbole here, and imagine the engine sounds were smells...Mustang V8 = Well executed BBQ with a fine selection of meat
Mustang Turbo 4 = 2.3 litres of fresh steaming cat excrement
big_rob_sydney said:
Downside for me is the size of it. It wont fit a standard UK garage (not much will), and even if you could squeeze it in, those doors may mean escaping through either the sunroof (do they come with them?), or Dukes-of-Hazzard style.
This has become a bit of an issue for me, i ordered my GT version back in April, subsequent measurement of the garage leaves me with around 10cm total clearance of the garage door width and only 25cm total clearance at the narrowest internal point. I can fit my 911 in there no worries but that is a comparatively tiny car, i can just about get out of the E60 touring when that's in the garage but that is 20 cm narrower than the mustang. added to that i don't have much scope for making the garage wider as it's part integrated into the house....i might have to move or the poor 'Stang will have to live outsideEdited by big_rob_sydney on Thursday 15th September 11:07
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