What engine type powered the Ford Mustang SVO?

The Ford Mustang SVO was powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four engine.

Rather than using the Mustang GT’s 5.0-liter V8, SVO engineers chose a smaller Lima four-cylinder and developed it for high-performance use. The engine used electronic fuel injection, a Garrett turbocharger, and an air-to-air intercooler, giving the SVO a technology-focused character unusual among American performance cars of the period.

The four-cylinder layout also helped the engineers manage weight distribution. With less mass over the front axle than a V8, the SVO could emphasize cornering balance and road manners instead of relying solely on straight-line acceleration. It was designed partly as a response to European and Japanese sports coupes.

Output changed during the production run. Early cars produced about 175 horsepower; mid-1985 versions rose to about 205 horsepower, while 1986 models were rated at roughly 200 horsepower. The turbocharged engine, not a V6 or V8, is central to the SVO’s identity.