That's what's lurking around the corner...
If the Mustang becomes unaffordable, it's the end of it.

My guess is that it could come with 2 different V8 and same for the V6.
The lesser one in each category would stay at the current price, while the other with more hp would be at a higher price.

We'll see...
We're OK until the Government steps in and tax everything that has more than 4 cylinder.

 

Sure they will. Especially if the Mustang continues to be outsold by the Camaro. The 3.7l v6 is already official.

 

Sure isn't outsold here in Central Florida...

 

I too suspect that Ford will release two options for the GT, similar to what they do now.

1. A more mainstream and affordable GT model with the traditional 4.6L engine and pumping a little bit more than the current 315 HP....just to stay competitive while still maintaining affordability.

2. An updated GT Premium Package that does offer the higher end engine that unleashes 400+ HP.


It would be nice if the extra 100HP was free, but even in the face of competition, nothing is free. It costs you money somewhere along the line.

 

I am waiting for the 2011 GT 500 Shelby. Rumor is all aluminum 5.4 with a bump in HP, maybe even 600 ponies to compete with the Camaro SS.

 

We won't see 600 HP in the GT500. Ford is not going to produce a Mustang with more power than their GT (as in GT40) had.

I suspect we will see:

V6 Model = 3.7L with 275ish HP
GT 4.6L = 315ish HP
Boss 5.0 = 400ish HP
GT500 5.4L Aluminum = 540 HP

They will phase the 4.6L out during 2011 and 2012 is my guess. Then the 5.0 will become the standard GT engine and the 3.7L will later get direct injection and move up to 300ish HP.

Doubt we will see a clean break, as in the 4.6 gone in 20111 and the 5.0 in. They will take some time to transition their sales. Besides they will charge extra for the 5.0 Boss and get people used to the higher price of the new GT as the 4.6L slowly goes away.

 

I honestly have no idea why anyone would think that the 4.6 will survive. It would cost Ford so much more money to have two separate engine plants making the 4.6 and 5.0 and then have separate assembly lines for the mustangs with the different engines. So much more cost effective to have the 5.0 and no 4.6. I will bet anyone anything that the 4.6 ceases to exist, anywhere. Besides the fact that a member of this forum stated that his uncle (who currently builds the 4.6 motors) told him that production of the 4.6 ends this year and the factory is being retooled for a new engine.

Take it to the bank. 5.0 in the GT. I can't speculate horsepower any better than anyone else, but the 400hp number seems pretty much unanimous from sources all over the net. I'd wager on that too, though not as strongly.

 

Anybody else here got the chance to drive something with the EcoBoost yet? Ya know ford now has it available in the Flex too, and you get the paddle shifters like with the Taurus SHO.. I've driven a couple of SHO's already but got my first chance to drive one with the Performance Pack on it.. I seriously.. seriously.. doubt we will see it in a mustang at least for a while... but it would be fun!

 

What I don't get is that all you guys are all excited about the ecoboost. Turbos used to be a real maintenance headache back in the 80's when they were popular. Does anyone know if they have addressed those issues to make this twin turbo more reliable and less of a headache?

 

No point in speculating. We are all just guessing anyway. But I do want to make somehting clear from your post. There would not be two seperate assy lines for the Mustang. The line would run just like it is and it wouldn't matter if it were a V6, 4.6 or 5.0 or 5.4 the drive system is desgined to package without issue. No need for a seperate line for a seperate engine.