Driver72

Just got my August 2006 MotorTrend and in it they report that
"Ford's iconic ponycar will be given a major facelift in 2008 wherein every
exterior panel except the roof center will be substantially changed."

Does anybody know if this means IN 2008 the new car will arrive AS a 2009 or
if it means FOR 2008 model year (arriving in late 2007) the new Mustang will arrive??

My guess is since it says, "IN" 2008, they mean it will be released IN 2008 sometime
as a 2009. I wouldn't think Ford would just do 3 model years of the current Mustang and
change it already since there is no really competition for the car.
Plus they JUST released the 2007 GT500, only to change it in one year.

So unless someone knows otherwise, I'm going under the assumption that
there will be a new Mustang for model year 2009.
That surely means then the 4.6 liter will be replaced too.

My guess the base Mustang will get the 260+ hp 3.5 liter engine they just released and
the GT will be a V8 of 5.4 or more liters making 360+ hp.
Both offered with a six speed auto or manual.
Keep it under 3500 pounds and only a grand or two more than the 2007/2008 prices and
that'll be SWEET!

OJMiles

They mean as a 2009 model... Most model styles seem to run about 4, sometimes 5 years before a facelift.

SXGT

idk i think the 4.6 is doing just fine. I would like to see all GTs have the 4v DOHC 320hp and the V6s are just fine at 205hp.

Nadelle

The early 80's mustang got face lifts almost every year.

They could just update the fascia on the gt and base v6, and leave the cobra alone

the 3.5 v6 is sweet but to small to move the big mustang, they should stroke it to 3.8 and leave horespower at 250-260 but increase torqe from 250 to about 270ish that would get the base mustang moving!

update the 3v 4.6 v8 to about 320hp, and add in a torqey 5.4 3v option with around 345-360hp and 370-380 ft-lbs

Driver72

I think the 4.6 liter is doing just fine NOW, but in 2 more years there will be lower priced family sedans
that will out power it.
With the return of the Camaro coming probably in 2008, which will likely have the
LS2 engine, there is no doubt the Mustang will need a bit more power.
Mustangs have never needed as much power as the Camaro to sell.
Even though in the 80's and into the early 90's the Mustang was faster
almost every year for 15 years.

But into the mid-late 90's and early 2000's the Camaro had more power but
still didn't sell as well.
However, if the Camaro has 400 hp and the Mustang 300-320 it's too much of a difference.
An all aluminum 5.4 liter making around 360 hp would be sufficient, especially if the
Mustang is a bit lighter. Heck they wouldn't even need to develop a new engine, just
shelf the all aluminum 5.4 liter that's currently in the Ford GT for a couple years.
Just remove the s/c and make some other minor adjustments and BAM, they have
their engine for the 2009 Mustang GT.

Ford's new 3.5 liter is PLENTY powerful to "move" the base Mustang.
Even though it's displacement is smaller than the current 4.0 liter, it has more
horsepower AND torque. That engine is going to be used in Ford cars that weigh
hundreds of pounds more than the Mustang. That engine in the Mustang would
smoke the current 4.0 V6 Mustang and be smooth while doing it.
A truck engine thrown into the Mustang wasn't the best of choice for Ford but
they didn't really have a choice other than using the 3.0 liter from the
Mazda 6, but THAT would be too small.