By In 2015, Ford released the evolutionary S550 chassis Mustang. It changed everything, with highlights including a longer, lower bodystyle, independent suspension in the front and rear, and a four cylinder option for base cars. Yep, that’s right, we’re calling the standard four-banger Mustang a highlight for a muscle car! Why, you might ask? It’s simple: the Ecoboost engine in the new Mustangs doesn’t suck! With reasonable fuel economy (up to 32 hwy MPG!) the 2.3L Ecoboost turbo-four makes over 300 horsepower and responds very well to modification, like the one in Ford’s new Focus RS.
The real meat of horsepower upgrades on any turbo engine is to replace the stock turbocharger itself. Turbonetics offers a drop-in turbo kit for the Ecoboost that replaces your factory turbo, and can be installed with or without supporting mods like an intake and exhaust. However, you’ll definitely want a tune, and you’ll definitely want to at least consider an intake, exhaust and an intercooler. On a properly set up car, Turbonetics states their kit can put out higher power levels than the 5.0L V8 engine found in the Ford Mustang GT!
Your upgraded turbo is designed for power and efficiency. A bunch of sciencey people got together to figure out how they could make the stock design better, and boy did they deliver. The new turbo uses a divided twin-scroll turbine housing to improve throttle response, a ported shroud compressor housing to keep low-rpm performance on par with the rest of the powerband, and high-efficiency turbine and compressor wheels combined with dual ceramic ball bearings. These things together give you higher reliability for the turbo itself, as well as much better efficiency for both air intake and exhaust flow.
The best part of this whole setup: it’s actually a pretty easy DIY install! Thanks to Turbonetics’ careful engineering and Ford’s careful placement of a small four-pot into an engine bay big enough for a Coyote V8, there’s plenty of room to work. This kit is about a 2-3 hour install if you’re familiar with your tools and following the instructions, and it can be done with standard tools (save for one reverse torx socket you’ll need) in your garage or driveway. There’s no cutting, fabrication, or modification to the stock intake and exhaust required.
90 additional wheel horsepower. You should expect a 25% increase in power with a drop in turbo alongside an intake and exhaust… and this kit is CARB legal! For under $2500, you’re getting increases in torque and horsepower across your entire powerband, and with a few extra mods, you’ll be blowing the doors off of stock Ecoboost cars and Mustang GTs alike. So what are you waiting for? Head over to the Motoroso Marketplace, and turn your Ecoboost into an Ecobeast!
