COYOTE 5.0 WEIGHS 430 lbs; RIPS 7,000 R.P.M.; MAKES 412 H.P.

[Get the latest "Truth With Speedzzter" here]

Chevrolet's nightmare is now official. The 2011 Mustang GT will feature a lightweight, high-reving DOHC five-liter V8!

FoMoCo's official announcement of the 2011 Coyote 5.0 does not answer the critical "bore & stroke" or bore spacing questions (the biggest mistake in the design of the Gen I modular V8 was tight, FWD-ready bore centers that prevented aftermarket enlargments to be cube-for-cube competitive with the low-tech Gen III Chrysler Hemi and the antediluvian GM LS V8). But the announcement confirms many rumored advances:

-- Engine weight is reportedly a flyweight 430 pounds!

-- Redline 7,000 (It's not just an old Howard Hawkes movie anymore)!

-- Factory delivered horsepower is 412 (although less than Camaro SS, Mustang's weight advantage should make it a smashmouth competitior straight off the showroom floor.

--"cam-torque-actuated variable camshaft timing."

-- aluminum four-valve-per-cylinder heads featuring compact roller finger followers ("more room for high-flow ports for free-breathing performance")

-- 10,000-mile oil change intervals.

-- Piston-cooling jets.

-- tubular exhaust headers.

Now if we can just have those bore center numbers and more details on the short block . . . .

MAJOR BUZZ KILL UPDATE: Goauto.com.au is reporting that the Coyote will share the too-narrow bore centers of the Gen I modular: "While that's slightly up on the 4.6, with which the 5.0 shares its bore centres and deck height . . . ." Goauto reports the bore is 92.2mm and the stroke is 92.7mm.

If these reports are true, it means that Ford has again ceded the bulk of "hot rod" and re-power aftermarket to GM and missed a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unseat GM as the default engine choice for aftermarket performance builds.