For a lot of fans, a part of the Ford Mustang’s enchantment is the super quantity of aftermarket assist that the mannequin advantages from. Whereas third-party corporations will in the end get their arms on the seventh-generation mannequin, the scope of modifications that may be carried out to the four- or the eight-cylinder engine will probably be decreased as a result of Ford has made the automotive’s ECU harder to tune.
Ed Krenz, the Mustang’s chief engineer, informed Ford Authority that the brand new mannequin unveiled in September 2022 will probably be “far more troublesome” to tune than its predecessors. He defined that is because of the Totally-Networked Automobile (FNV) electrical structure that the Mustang is constructed round. This technique allows over-the-air software program updates, amongst different options, nevertheless it additionally complicates the duty of tuning the ECU.
Krenz famous that the Mustang’s electrical system is encrypted, and it is programmed to close down if it detects what’s known as a “break.” If that occurs, it both turns off totally or disables sure elements or features. That is dangerous information for each hackers and tuners.
That does not imply that Mustang homeowners will probably be caught with the inventory output. Ford Authority added that the Blue Oval is open to the thought of letting trusted tuning corporations dial in additional energy. None had been recognized by title, however Shelby is without doubt one of the companies that involves thoughts. And, homeowners who need extra horsepower and torque might be able to get each immediately from the supply when the time comes. For instance, Ford Efficiency simply introduced a calibration package that will increase the two.3-liter-powered Bronco’s output by round 30 horsepower and 60 pound-feet of torque when burning premium gas.
Ford is not an exception to the rule; tuning the eighth-generation Chevrolet Corvette is equally troublesome because of ECU-related constraints.