[Newport]

If you remember back to when we first saw the S550 Mustang in December 2013 there was some speculation egged on by Ford themselves that Mustang could be in line for Hybrid and Diesel powertrains likely tailored for the European market. I want to revisit that quick...

Bob Bascetti, Ford’s global powertrain boss, tokd GoAuto of Australia that the Blue Oval will might be going further in the quest for efficiency with the new Mustang and is now at the stage where it’s considering several alternatives.

“We’re not looking at diesel at the moment, but given where we need to go with fuel consumption we are looking at all our options,” said Bascetti, keenly pointing out, though, that “diesel is one of those options, along with hybrids and electric.”

Staying on the topic, he added that “We are turning the Mustang into a global product now so all of our options are open now… we have great diesels in Europe, we have an EcoBoost line-up in North America… so we can do almost anything.”

Now I get that what Bascetti said was neither out and out confirmation nor out and out denial but the fact that it was mentioned warrants discussion. Becuase If you want the truth there is one Ford Diesel engine that I would adore to see under the S550's bonnet...

Meet the PUMA, Fords inline 5 cylinder diesel that many europeans should already be familiar with in the Transits and Ranger. The I5 diesel can crack out 200 hp and 470 Nm of twist (350 lb-ft). To put that in perspective the BMW 420d makes 184 hp and 380 nm of torque and the 430d makes 258 hp and 560 nm...

Personally I love straight 5's