One of the members over at IMBOC posted this...

"A patient of mine who is a design engineer at Ford (he actually designed the Ford Edge that is coming out) just told me this evening that a bunch of design engineers got to go down to Cobo this week. They had to observe from a distance.

He was at a distance, but definately noticed a Bullitt concept. All he would tell me is that is looked sharp (from a distance).

This gentleman is an EXTREMELY honest and reliable source!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So...... I have to believe if the new 'Bullitt Concept' is NOT on display at the 2007 NAIAS this January, then the project has been pulled or delayed.
No. I have no other details.

(Remember, this gentleman's integrity makes Mother Theresa look like a ****!)"

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Sweet news!!! I can't wait for this to be revealed. Though, I still think Ford will save it for New York. I say this, just becasue they will have the new Focus, AND the 500/Montego/Freestyle cars being unveiled in Detroit. They may not want to take anything away from these cars getting some spotlight. Plus saving it for New York, which is in April, will shorten the wait for people to order it come December. Again, this is just a thought.

 

I'm going to the St. Louis auto show in January. I'd just about pee in my pants if the Bullitt was there.

 

Sorry, just had to do it.

There is such a dirth of reliable info about the Bullitt, that it's getting unbearably frustrating.

 

That will put us into April, which means we might start seeing leaks in March. Still, if a Bullitt is actually COMPLETED enough to show people RIGHT NOW, keeping it under wraps for another five months is a LONG time.

 

Maybe not. That might be the time required to increase its performance by another 5 HP.

 

I think you're selling it short. I heard 7 HP from yet another "reliable source."

 

The experts and reliable sources have completely exhausted my patience. All of it. I just can't figure out what is so difficult in dropping a tuned down n/a 5.4 with a 6-spd, a double vented hood, fog lamps and spoiler delete (music to the bean counters ears), 18" Bullitt wheels, and DHG paint. All the parts are readily available. The interior could be the same as the GT's with the dark IUP. Most would not complain.

I am beginning to consider the option of getting a black GT500 and repainting it green.

One would think NASA is behind this Bullitt fiasco.

 

Since this is Ford you're talking about, it's naturally very difficult for the company to do what you suggested!

 

bad word choice in the title lol. I wanted pichas!

 

Well, just to rub salt in the wound, does Ford really believe that buyers are going to care about a 5 to 15 horsepower boost 18 months from now when tons of pics & info will have already begun surfacing about the '09/'10 model, a car with improved refinement that will actually OFFER that 5.4L engine you're talking about?

I think most people will just choose to wait.

Hell, the poll in this Bullitt section of TMS indicates that over one third of the people here aren't interested in purchasing the Bullitt EITHER WAY. But with no real performance gain EITHER? Forget about it.

On the other hand, perhaps it's a clever 'reverse psychology' strategy on the part of Ford to see how fast they can get Mustang buyers to run into the arms of Chevy and Chrysler to purchase Camaros and Challengers in late '08.

Are you paying attention, Ford?

 

Seems pretty simple to me. But corporate wheels turn soooooo slowly. And then there's the UAW to contend with. It's no wonder Honda and Toyota are kicking butt. They can move much quicker.

But really, 18 months to do simple mods like that? C'mon Ford. Get real.

 

I've heard a lot of reasons why... but this is all purely just IMHO

Ford is already planning ahead for the upcoming fight with the challenger/camaro...they are already into the redesign of the stang.
In other words, they don't have direct competition YET....

They have a Shelby GT that (in all intents and purposes) should be the BULLITT.. take BULLITT styling and put the Shelby GT parts on it...
BUT... the Shelby GT isn't worth the Shelby GT money when it comes down to parts and performance. You're basically paying for the Shelby name.
If Ford sells a BULLITT package for less... no one will buy the Shel-GT
If they sell it on par, no one will buy the bullitt.
They'd be direct competition for each other.

And after hearing that they scrapped the 'niche4.6..whatever' engine...
I have a feeling they are just focusing their energy on the future and leaving the current GEN with tape/sticker, even if it does have an extra 15hp.

 

Good points.

 

No they are not. No more than the Shelby GT is in competition with the GT/CS.

Those who prefer the Shelby GT do because of the Shelby name plate is important to them not because of a different hood scoop, grill, emblems, and floor mats makes that much difference. The GT/CS is a better bang for the buck yet the Shelby GT should be a better seller.

It would be the same case of the Shelby GT going head to head with a Bullitt, even if the Shelby GT were to have a lower level of performance. Remember that lots of people are attracted to certain models because image, illusion of appreciating value, and/or other peoples' perceptions, not necessarily which is the better or logical choice.

 

Well, it's definitely cheaper than the Shelby GT, but the Shelby is the better performer, as it has all the FRPP bits that the GT/CS does not.

And again, to come back to that point I made once before, the extra 15 HP that the Bullitt is alleged to get, may belie the car's actual performance, if it's anything like the last Bullitt. My understanding is that the last Bullitt offered a .3 to .5 second quicker 1/4 mile time that its GT counterpart! So, first of all, the Bullitt's HP may end up being underrated, and second of all, Ford engineers may be reworking the heads and tweaking the torque and HP curves rather than focusing strictly on the car's peak values.

I think we can safely assume that if the Bullitt does get 15 HP more, that it's obviously not doing so using the FRPP CAI and tune, otherwise it would be putting out 325 HP like the Shelby GT. Therefore, that extra 15 HP in the Bullitt is probably coming from fundamental engine adjustments like the ones I alluded to above.

If true, and if the car IS underrated at 315 HP, then adding the FRPP pieces to the Bullitt ought to be able to net the car a clean 350 HP when all is said and done, which will make it a better performer than the Shelby GT.

Still, I'm not sure any of that excuses an 18 month wait, or indeed, use of the 4.6L engine in Ford's next SE.

 

This is splitting hairs but the Shelby name is not why I prefer the Shelby GT. It's the nostalgic look that reminds me of my all time favorite (66 GT-350). Whether I get a Shelby GT or Mustang GT, it most likely will end up looking like an updated version of a 66 GT-350. Maybe I should get a rocker stripe for it like the one below. As in "it's not a GT-350 but it is GT-350ish".


According to this source the Shelby GT will only have 319HP, so it's only 4 more than the Bullitt. http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showth...623#post784623

 

And if that is the case, those corresponding improvements to the Bullitt could also be added to the Shelby GT allowing both to be sold side by side - meaning instant price increase for the Shelby GT and AMV's for both versions because of limited availability, name recognition, and potential "future value". (I can just imagine the greedy salespeople drooling and cackling with glee... bastiges!) IF Ford is going to go through that kind effort (tweaking heads and/or intake) in the first place, remains to be seen.

 

 

I feel bad that after all that initial hullabaloo of the 08 Bullitt, all we're getting are paint, stickers, and bolt-ons