Thanks Boomer.

Everybody, forget what we would like to see in the lineup...given what we know the below represents a loose list of what we might actually see in the lineup. And a lot of this stuff is ready to go right now with the rest surrounded by very strong rumours.

V6: 3.5L Duratec with approx 265hp and 250lb-ft tq

GT: 3.5L Ecoboost with approx 350hp and 360lb-ft tq

Boss 302: 5.0L with approx 400hp and 380lb-ft tq

GT500: 5.0L Twinforce? with approx 500hp and considerably more than 500lb-ft of tq

For reference the 3.5L V6 already exists in production applications, the Ecoboost 3.5L is set to debut within the next year, the 5.0L V8 keeps chugging away in the rumour mill details gradually increasing and improving, and the same can be said of the 5.0L GTDi engine as well. Heck, there is even a basis in the naming scheme with the Boss moniker having already been associated with the 5.0L V8 in the past and the 5.0L GTDi V8 having been likewise associated with the GT500. None of this is written in stone to be sure, but we are starting to see a plausible outline that fits together better and better as time passes.

I particularly like the increasing plausibility of two replacements for the existing Mustang GT....one being a GTDi 3.5L and the other being the 5.0L V8. Who needs a mid level offering when Ford could be offering two cars with mid-level power for GT money? The possibility of all this and noticeably better overall fuel economy for the Mustang lineup too? It's a great time to be a Ford enthusiast.

 

The odds of Ford offering two different engines in the Mustang GT(TTV6 & V8) are EXTREMELY slim. Maybe 5 or 10 years down the road, but not in the near future.
You are more likely to see a version of the 4.6L 315HP Bullitt Engine in the 2010 Mustang GT. Maybe we will get lucky and the 5.4L will be available in the GT or a Special Edition Mach1.

Ford will keep a V8 in the Mustang GT as long as possible. CAFE or not, Muscle Cars are extremely popular again, as is the aftermarket for performance parts.
Eventually, V6's and 4 bangers will take over, but there will always be a V8 Mustang. It just may cost you $50K to buy it.

 

I don't expect two Mustang GT's, but I am beginning to wonder wether there will be two replacements for the GT both within reasonable distance of the current car's price tag. I could easily see a 3.5L GTDi V6 in a car starting about where the existing Mustang GT does right now and a 5.0L DOHC model starting at the high end of the GT price range....say 30k or so.

I'm also not as inclined as some to think that the V8 will inevitably lose out to six and four cylinder engines. The reality is that there is a demand for affordable V8 cars and so long as that is the case somebody will find a way to deliver exactly that to them. We've been through this same scenario before, and more than once I might add, and it always turns out the same way.

Also, at this point I would say that both the 4.6L and 5.4L are living on borrowed time to be kind. Future news regarding development/refinement of the same is nearly non-existent with only minor tweaks having been reported thus far. Both will be with us in some capacity for some time yet if only because of the expensive involved in replacing them, but I would be very surprised if both aren't already being phased out in near future plans with the GTDi3.5L and 5.0L V8 discussed here being slotted into their place in the lineup.

Given what we know of future plans I think both the 4.6L and 5.4L will have been relegated to secondary 'place holder' roles in the Ford lineup by the 2011 or 2012 model year.

 

Ford is slow. I've stated before that I don't expect to see the new V8 until 2011 or 2012 (at the earliest).
A High Performance V6 won't be an option until the 4.0L is phased out.

 

Ford has traditionally been slow. But several impressive new engines are preparing to debut in the very near future, including the GTDi 3.5L V6 and 4.4L TDi diesel for the F-Series. Hurricane/Boss isn't far off either for that matter (assuming it doesn't get the axe again...more on that later) with the 5.0L V8 in question likely being the furthest engine from production status.

I think Ford is moving faster of late because they don't really have a choice...a factor which is always a great motivator. CAFE measures are already creating a race for better fuel economy, as if the price of gas needed much help, and given the open ended nature of the CAFE debate at the moment the reality that thing could tighten up even more is a real threat.

That said some of your predictions aren't out of line with mine. I expect the new, large V8 to debut at about the same time as you do...the 2011MY. But then that only places the debut a year behind that of the new Mustang which is hardly a long time. By that time the 4.0L will be long gone, the 4.4L TDi diesel will already be on the market, GTDi 3.5L production will be in full swing and the standard 3.5L will have been on the market for five years. The only real x factors here at this point are when we can expect to see the new small V8 debut and wether or not the large V8 will make it to production status without getting axed....again. Given new CAFE standards and the growing crop of alternative designs at Ford the latter is becoming an increasingly valid question.

Ultimately that leaves the lineup proposed above a genuine possibility as early as the 2011MY. I could live with that.

 

Any word on the suspension? I am wondering if Ford will finally get out of the stone age and offer a IRS rear on the GT. I'd also like to see a 6 speed manual too, which every other performance car offers!

 

I would venture a guess that just about everything will have six speeds or better in the near future. The mileage benefits gained by making this switch obviously just got a whole lot more attractive. And since it is relatively cheap compared to a lot of other methods of extracting more mpg's, and actually manages to improve performance as well, I'd say this one is a given within the next few years.

 

Fixed it for you, everything else is speculation.

 

Thanks for the fix, I thought I might have gotten the lb-ft wrong but never got around to checking it.

That said, I think the least speculative part of this may be the base V6 models since, unless the upcoming GTDi I4 fills the spot that the 4.0L V6 currently fills, the 3.5L seems certain to get that gig. I say this since the 4.0L appears unlikely to last much longer.....it only serves duty in two vehicles now and is going to lose one of those to the GTDi four within the next few years.....I think the 3.5L seems a pretty safe bet here.

I could see the GTDi V6 going either way, but with the GTDi push Ford is making I would be surprised if we don't see that engine in some version of the Mustang. Personally, I'd rather have the V8 if it shows up with that kind of power, but I wouldn't mind a lineup with both.

I could be wrong of course. But I hope I'm not.

 

How many 315 HP V8 Mustang GTs do you think Ford will continue to sell when that 315 HP Mustang gets it's doors blown off by almost every other sporty car out there?

If Ford were to offer 2 GT models, 1 with that 315 HP V8 and the other with a 350 HP V6 turbo, I'd bet the V6 turbo will get the majority of the sales given it would blow the doors off the V8 GT and get 10% better MPG.

Face it, the 4.6L - 3V was a great improvement over the SN-95 4.6 - 2V, but the world keeps moving along and the 4.6 is getting passed by.

 

I agree, the more I about it, the more sense that engine / model line up makes. The only fly in the ointment is the comment by 4cam that the 5.0L turbo is no longer looking like it will happen.

 

What makes you think that Ford will make the "Turbo V6 GT" faster than their V8 GT? 'IF' they are introducing a new V8 in the GT (I honestly dont really know what that situation looks like right now) I seriously doubt they would let it outshine the GT considering it is pretty much the bread and butter of the mustang.

And if they aren't giving it a new V8, I doubt they would give a Twin Turbo V6 period. Regardless......I still dont think they'll have TT V6 Mustang at all. Rumors or not I just dont see it happening, but hey I could be wrong, howevre I hope I'm not. Like i said earlier, I'd rather see the TT V6 in a Merc or Lincoln Gentelmen's Sports car.

 

He says its being tested... and possibly not going to happen...
but it doesn't mean that a high horsepower lighter Forced shelby isn't in the works.

 

Hmmmm.......I guess we'll all have to wait and see what ends up happening. Honestly I'm open to any path the Mustang takes as long as it helps keep it alive (kinda like the Mustang II) As far as new V8's go (just because I don't really read up on the rumors) realistically, is a new 5.0 expected to replace the 4.6 in the near future?

 

You honestly think a TTV6 is going to be available on the 2010 Mustang? Keep dreaming. Maybe 2012-2015.

Yes, 315-325hp 4.6L in the 2010 Mustang GT. Ford doesn't give a crap what GM or Chrysler does. The Camaro's have always had a ton more H.P., yet the Mustang still out sold them. Ford will combat the Camaro & Challenger with Special Edition Mustangs just like they have in the past.

Hey, I would love to see a 350-400hp Mustang GT, but its not going to happen in 2010MY.

 

Oh I'm sure we'll see it... just depends on when the 5.0 is ready.

 

Hey Boomer you seem to know a lot about the future of the Mustang.....any clue as to when the 5.0 might realistically see the light of day?

 

These are all just best guesses

Seriously, I just read a lot and maybe pick up a thing or 3

 

Because th HP & TQ curves on the 3.5L TT V8 are so awesome, Ford is going to need a major breakthrough in a new normally asprirated V8 engine that will deliver more HP & TQ than the V6 TT while avoiding the gas guzzler tax.

 

Why not, the TT V6 will be ready for the 2010 MY.