Performance Review: Ford Thunderbird 3.8 V6 Supercharged 10th Gen - [1989]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Ford Thunderbird Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Ford Thunderbird 3.8 V6 Supercharged 10th Gen is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1989. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1989 Ferrari F40 LM Competizione 2.9 V8 Twin Turbo and the 1989 Dodge Viper 8.0L V10.This particular Ford Thunderbird has a 3797cc Supercharged Petrol powerplant with 6 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V6's includes the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo

The Thunderbird shares its Petrol V6 engine configuration with the likes of the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo and the 2015 Radical RXC Turbo 500 3.5 V6. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Thunderbird's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1679 kgs (3701 lbs) this makes the Ford Thunderbird 3.8 V6 Supercharged 10th Gen in the same weight category as the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Ford Thunderbird shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 3797cc 12V V6 engine produces 210 bhp (156 kW) @ 4000 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (225 bhp).

The Supercharged V6 throws out 315 lb-ft (427.0 Nm) @ 2600 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (310 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Ford Thunderbird you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2015 Seat Ibiza Cupra 1.8 Turbo (150.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Ford Thunderbird.

The Ford Thunderbird has a Power to weight ratio of 125.0 bhp per ton and 187.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1989 Thunderbird competing with the 2015 Seat Ibiza Cupra 1.8 Turbo (150.0 bhp per ton) or the 2011 Honda Civic 2.0i 16v VTEC Type R - FN2 (150.0 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Ford Thunderbird generating around 187.6 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1996 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V3 - Classic JDM (212.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 1997 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V3 V-Limited - Classic JDM (212.6 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 7.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.7 secs, this made the Ford Thunderbird 3.8 V6 Supercharged 10th Gen as fast as the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (7.50 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.0 EcoBlue Wagon (7.50 secs) the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTD Variant 2.0 TDi DSG (7.50 secs) the or the 2017 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Premium (7.50 secs). This Ford Thunderbird 3.8 V6 Supercharged 10th Gen is also faster than the 2013 BMW i3 0.6l Hybrid (7.60 secs) the 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the 2011 Abarth 500C 1.4 Turbo (7.60 secs) the and the 2010 Peugeot 308 1.6 GTi (7.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Thunderbird and the 2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto

When talking about the performance of the Ford Thunderbird on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.31 secs @ 83.9 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto (16.25 secs), the 2006 Saab 9-3 2.8 V6 Aero (16.27 secs), and the 1959 Maserati 5000 GT (16.28 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1989 version of the Ford Thunderbird 3.8 V6 Supercharged 10th Gen has a maximum speed of 142mph.

Top Speed of the 1989 Thunderbird equals the 2014 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo (153 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1989 Ford Thunderbird 3.8 V6 Supercharged 10th Gen then how about the 2014 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo (153 mph), the 2004 BMW X5 4.8is V8 (153 mph), or the 2002 Dodge Neon 2.4 SRT-4 (153 mph).

Related Links:

1989 Thunderbird Rivals List.

A Brief History of Ford

Car Comparison