12-Month Promise: Ford Pledges New Mustang Every Year

Date posted: 06-22-2006

DEARBORN, Mich. — Describing the Mustang as its "iconic" product, Ford executives on Wednesday promised to keep interest in the pony car high by providing "new product content" year over year.

"We will add new products to the Mustang lineup," Derrick Kuzak told Inside Line. "It's a commitment. Carroll [Shelby] will work every year on the Mustang."

Kuzak, however, gave no details on what's in the pipeline for Mustang. When asked if we can expect a 600-horsepower version of the car, he replied, "Never say never to anything." It was clear in interviews that Shelby and the Ford team may be a bit anxious about the prospects of a revived Chevrolet Camaro.

"With the new Camaro, they'd better not dream they'll have more horsepower [than Mustang]," Shelby told IL in an interview at the 2007 Ford full-line preview here on Wednesday, which showcased the 2007 Shelby GT500. When asked if the Mustang is racing toward the 600-hp mark, the automotive legend said, "It would be very easy for the Mustang to go to 600 horsepower — and north from there — and still pass the company's 50,000-mile warranty."

When asked if we could see a 600-hp Mustang in a year or two, Shelby responded, "Maybe."

"I'd get in trouble if I told you," he said, although he confirmed that a redesigned Mustang is due out in 2009. Shelby confided that while his health is good following both a heart transplant and a kidney transplant, he is now blind in one eye.

When asked for his impressions of the Camaro concept, Shelby said, "I don't think it's sensational, but I think it's adequate." He added: "I don't think the Camaro will come out with anything that puts us down. We are ahead of the game. And we know how to stay ahead. I don't see people — the general press or the public — knocking the design of the Mustang."

What this means to you: The Detroit muscle-car race sounds like it's about to get heated up in the coming years.

 

It's going to be interesting to see the volley's from both sides...
and in the end... we all win

The only thing is...at what cost.
SURE they can build a 600hp mustang... but what is it going to cost.

 

By the time that HP war comes to fruition, I will be driving a 'Vette

 

A different spoiler, a little tape, paint the wheels a different color and voila!

 

yeah exactly what Steve said..how exciting...wow committement..i'm bowled over by it all. I wonder how may time Shebly can be asked about color choices before his memory starts to go?

I just love how they lump the GT500 into every mustang statement. GM wont have more HP that the Mustang..well guys hate to break it to you but if you go standard V-8 for standard v-8 (as in the car most people will have) GM will probably have more HP. Geezus..one statement the GT500 is a limited car the next it's the every mans car.... make up your minds already..god this corporate double take is getting old.

 

I can't see why we can't have the best of both worlds...
This is where something like a BOSS/Mach1 comes in.

You have the GTs as the entry V8 with good enough power for those who want a 300hp v8
The Boss 375-425hp
and the GT500 to have the topdog status

This can combat anything GM/DC has to offer...

 

Good news! I hope this is true too. The Mustang is already set as the original pony car in American History, I don't see it being dethroned any time soon.

 

I read that both the Camaro and Challanger would have 400 HP 6 liters. What about a naturally aspirated 5.4 liter Boss or Bullit? Would this put Ford at 400 HP with these johnny come latelys?

 

I hate to break it to you horsepower freaks, but the real question is how will the V6 Camaro and V6 Challenger stack up to the V6 Mustang.

With almost 2/3 of Mustang sales V6 models, that's were the volume is. And volume is critical to keeping the Mustang & its rivals in production.

But in the HP race part of it, don't forget that the 6.2L Hurricane V8 has been revived with the "Boss" name. IIRC it will be here for 2008 just in time for a new Camaro & Challenger.

 

DCX has all but said that the Challenger won't be getting a V6, and that unlike the Camaro and Mustang, the Challenger will be more of a niche vehicle.

That's what you can do when your company is profitable.

 

Arrrgh. I used to think it was super cool to have one of the first ones built. I used to think it was cool to be the first actual yellow owner around here( I used to get all kinds of attention, now they are all over the place). I used to think it was cool to have my mustang autographed by Jack Roush.......

NOW I am ticked I missed out on Grabber Orange. And more ticked I don't have the cash for a shelby.
And will be more ticked everytime something comes out I don't have, since I can't replace Ellie(or give her a friend) until 2010.

 

Ford already has the engine (remember the 03/04 Cobra?) rated at 390 but puts out more like 410

 

April, CALM DOWN, life is good and you have a great car!

 

In 2005 and 2006 ~2/3 of mustangs built and sold were V6s. In MY2007 most will be V8s. So even Ford is putting less emphasis on the V6 side.

V10, I hope you are right about a Boss in 2008 but, I starting to seriously doubt it's going to happen by job1 next year. Historically, Ford would have already leaked something (or Kevin would have started to see Boss parts), by now. Maybe as someone else stated, it will be a Job 2 in MY2008.

 

Oh I know they have it...
I just wish they'd use it.

2 years for that engine is not enough

I honestly wish they would offer it as an option in the GT,
Cause I woulda paid for it.

 

I'm sure the integration of another engine in that lineup would not be that costly... They should have been running a 3-engine lineup from the beginning.


Hopefully they are genuine in keeping the interest of the Mustang strong, the only way that happens is if they follow up the Shelby with a genuine high-performance special edition that will be on the cover of every major magazine. A stripe and wheel package will get a picture and a blurb written about it.

 

It doesn't even matter what the manufacturer does anymore...the aftermarket is so strong for these cars, you can make it into anything you want...even a Ford GT beater. Frankly, that's probably the best way to go. The aftermarket won't skimp on stuff that Ford will, and you can customize it to your heart's desire.

So for all those with buyers remorse, just save up money and make yours a one-of-a-kind.

 

Steve, where the hell is that Boss SE?

 

That engine WAS gonna be used in the Adrenalin..thanks Ford for the kick in the beans on that one!

 

I don't collect paycheques from a psycic network, so no soup for you