How a metric engine designation became one of the defining elements of an all-American muscle car is one of the automotive head-scratchers of recent times. All the great American performance engines were measured in good ol' cubic inches--396, 427, 440, name your favorite. Yet say the magic words "five-oh Mustang," and everybody knows what you're talking about.

So, it's no coincidence that Ford has yanked the iconic 5.0 emblem out of retirement and returned it to its rightful place on the fender of a new generation of Mustang. The 5.0 symbol still carries weight, which Ford could use in a time when a newly resurgent Camaro and old-school Challenger threaten the Mustang's traditional dominance in the sport coupe segment.