I love me a fast Ford.

The 2011 Mustang GT gets a new 5.0 liter, 412 horsepower V8 engine, 25 mpg, and a plethora of other improvements. It is a real Camaro killer.

But if I’m going to be honest, it is the 305 horsepower V6 Mustang that has caught my eye. Not only does it share the GT’s sharper, improved looks, but Ford had estimated the V6 engine would return 30 mpg on the highway. Well the official certification results are in, and the Mustang gets 31 mpg highway, making it the first car with over 300 horsepower to get over 30 mpg.

Ford has a habit of underestimating its cars… a good policy if you ask me. But 31 mpg in a car that looks and performs like the Mustang? That is amazing. And with 305 horsepower? Even better. It turns the motoring world on its head, because if Ford can do it, other companies are going to be expected to do the same. They managed to beat their pony car rival, the Camaro, by 2 mpg and 1 horsepower as well. Mind you, this is with the six-speed automatic transmission; opting for a manual will take your MPG rating down to 30 mpg on the highway. Both the auto and manual V6 Mustangs return 19 mpg in the city.

The 3.7 liter V6 replaced the archaic 4.0 liter engine that has powered a variety of Fords for decades. With an MSRP of $22,145 it’ll also make an excellent commuter car without sacrificing looks that come with so many hybrids (Prius, I’m looking at you). Of course as of late, there appears to be some discrepancy when it comes to EPA figures, and real world testing. Just do a search for the Chevy Equinox and you’ll see what I mean.

Check out the full press release here.

Reprinted with permission from Gas 2.0