jerseystang07

Just got the latest issue of Motor Trend (January 2007) and here is what it says about the new Mustangs.

"The Mustang continues to be one of the few bright spots in Ford's product range, and Dearborn intends to make the most of the reborn ponycar's popularity. The recently announced 325-horsepower Shelby GT will be joined by two more Mustang variants in 2007 -- an all-new Bullitt and the long-rumored Boss.

The new Bullitt will be the best interpretation up to this time of the iconic 1968 390 GT driven by Steve McQueen in the movie that still sets enthusiasts' pulses racing for its real-world chase sequence through the streets of San Francisco.

Insiders who've seen styling mockups report the 2007 Bullitt feaetures a plain grill without galloping pony badge or spotlights and a black-painted panel between the taillight, just like McQueen's '68. Naturally, the car will be availible in Highland Green.

More significant, though, will be the new Boss, which will introduce Ford's all-new 5.0-liter Hurricane V-8.

Due late int he year, the limited-edition Boss will get a 425- to 435-horsepower version of the Hurricane, a stripped-down interior (though air-conditioning will be availible), and less sound deadening.

The idea is to replicate the original Boss mustang's race-special feel. Only 1000 cars will be built.

Slightly detuned from Boss spec, the Hurricane will become the regular Gt's engine in 2008, when the Mustang will get a major face-lift. Insider's report every exterior panel is to be changed and updated, with the base cars getting a more aggressive look similar to that of the current Shelby GT500. The GT500, meantime, will become even more extreme looking.

An all-new Mustang is due 2010, a year after the new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger launch."



So the Mustang/Shelby lineup will look something like this, this time next year:

Base 4.0L V6 210hp
GT 4.6L V8 300hp or GT 5.0L V8 ?hp
Bullitt 4.6L V8 300?hp or 5.0L V8 ?hp
Boss 302 5.0L V8 425-435hp N/A
Shelby GT 4.6L V8 325hp
Shelby GT-H 4.6L V8 300?hp
Shelby GT500 5.4L V8 500hp S/C
?Shelby CS6 4.0L? V6 335?hp



Here is a followup article about the new Camaro and Challenger.

"The Mustang is cheap to build. And that's causing major headaches for planners at Chevrolet and Dodge as they work on their own, more sophisticated, musclecars.

Whispers out of Auburn Hills hint DaimlerChrysler couldn't figure out how to price a V-6 Challenger within $5000 of a base Mustang and now won't even bother offering an entry-level model. The problem is sthe Challenger's platform, whcih will underpin the next-gen Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger, features a more expensive independent rear-suspension setup.

Dodge marketers figure the Challenger will appeal most to baby boomers who have the money to splash on a well-specified V-8, anyway. But this also limits the car's potential sale and makes the already wafer-thin profit margins even thinner.

Chevy faces a similar cost problem with the independent rearend Zeta platform of the new Camaro. The Zeta architecture will be more widely used, helping costs, but insiders admit GM will struggle to get a base V-6 Camaro near $20,000, mainly because the logical engine for the car -- the DOHC, 3.6-liter high-feature V-6 -- ain't cheap, nor is the new six-speed automatic it needs."

mAnYsTyLeS

So that means us 2007 people are idiots for not waiting 1 year to get the 5.0. Great! Thanks for nothing!

bascho

No offense......but I wouldn't believe 1/2 of what Motor Trend writes about future product. Details about future product offerings are kept extremely quiet within the OEM's....even to the people that work in the company. Motor Trend is in the business to sell magazines and offering insight about future Mustangs will sell magazines. It doesn't matter if the information is true......by next year you will have forgotten what MT said about possible engine offerings anyway.

Bish

I disagree. We've had time to enjoy our stangs and in a couple of years when prices settle down and the competition has something to offer, we are in the perfect position to decide if it's time to upgraded, maintain or jump ship.

Actually for us, it's perfect!

mAnYsTyLeS

What do you mean by upgrade...maintain...or jump ship?

Upgrade to the new Mustang (5.0 maybe)?
Maintain our 2007's?
Jump ship to a Camaro, Challenger?

I've spent so much time on my ride that I would be upset to do any of those. It would be better to spend a lot of quality time on a 2007 5.0......

Canecreekfreak

Exactly. You'll have a hand full of enthusiats who might remember the HP target, but that's about it. It's fun to dream, though.

hammeron

good article, thanks for posting

bascho

Ford's had a 5.0L modular (it's called the "cammer") for 3 years now.......it's not going in a Mustang GT anytime soon (too expensive). Ford could easily boost n/a power in the 4.6 3V to the 330-350hp......which is perfect at the GT price point. I agree a BOSS is coming in the future.....but speculating a 425hp 5.0L modular is really reaching at this point. Impossible.....No.......probable.....Not really.

Remember, the Camaro and Challenger are not being sold yet......we have no idea what engines and hp ratings are going to be offered at each price point. If the Challenger and Camaro are going to overshoot the $25-30K price range because of an expensive platform......then Ford doesn't have to do anything with the power output and still sell a ton of stangs. If the Camaro and Challenger can compete on price with the GT and offer 400hp.....then Ford needs to pull out the big guns.

It's all speculation at this point. We'll see whats what next summer.

Archion

I want a hurricane engine!!!

kenthicken

Agreed. If Dodge can't keep the price of the Challenger (base or R/T) within a couple grand of a Mustang, the car is in big trouble. One of the thing that makes the 'Stang so poplular and sell so well is its affordability, and wide range of options (4.0, 4.6, auto, manual, coupe, convert, etc.). If Dodge comes out with only one version at $35K plus, they are going to screw up big time... and history will repeat itself (with several hundred thousand 'Stangs selling each year, versus 80,000 Challengers).

And that Camaro? GM will be lucky if they are around in three years, much less make that car.