Enlarge Ford Motor Ford decided to improve the Mustang's engine about two years ago. DETROIT  To those not steeped in Ford Mustang history, the news that the 2011 model will come with the option of a 5.0-liter engine probably sounds like a big, "So what?" But for enthusiasts, the news conjures memories of the 1970s and '80s, when Ford souped up the Mustang with a big engine. PHOTO GALLERY: Muscle car wars DRIVE ON: GM claims edge in Camaro vs. Mustang sales slapdown MORE CARS: Toyota launches new Sienna on bet minivans coming back The news also signals a return to muscle car wars after the reintroduction of the Chevy Camaro earlier this year. "The 5.0 carries with it a connotation of performance and an aura of street cred," says Steve Turner, editor of 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords magazine. "It harkens back to a day when the Mustang was regarded as a performance icon." Turner's magazine, which is named after the 5.0 engine, is preparing a 19-page spread on the engine for its March edition, due out in January. "We're sort of the lunatic fringe, I guess," he says with a laugh. The automaker decided to improve the Mustang's engine about two years ago, and turned around the 5.0-liter in record time. DRIVE ON: American muscle will dominate next round of classic cars For industry critics who say Ford shouldn't be wasting time developing engines that only enthusiasts will enjoy, the turnaround time marks a remarkable change in development pace. "It's a thoroughly modern engine for the times, delivering the performance and fun-to-drive factor that enthusiasts want, while improving fuel economy," says Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for Ford global product development. One of the technologies on the new engine, twin independent variable camshaft timing, or Ti-VCT, will be available on 90% of Ford's nameplates by 2013, the company says. The Ti-VCT makes the engine more responsive at a variety of speeds, so when you step on the gas at any point, the car should take off. Plus, Ford says the 2011 Mustang GT will get 25 miles per gallon on the highway, even while delivering 412 horsepower. "That's pretty stunning, really," says Dan Pund, senior editor at Edmunds.com's InsideLine.com. The 2011 Mustang will look the same on the outside, but the new engine might help sales. The Mustang is falling behind the Chevrolet Camaro, which has been on sale since April. In November, Ford sold just 3,627 Mustangs, while General Motors sold 6,867 Camaros. And GM predicts the Camaro will outpace the Mustang in sales for all of 2009. That's not entirely surprising, given that new models often do better than existing models. GM is also boasting that the Camaro is snagging buyers new to the automaker, and that Camaro was the most searched car for 2009, according to Yahoo. Mustang was third. "This is a rivalry that goes back to the late 1960s," Pund says. "And to have the Mustang again as a legitimate performance competitor at the top of the pony car segment will be important." Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more