from: http://www.ponysite.de/bullitt.htm -

"
The BULLITT 2008,5
<hr> A lot of you have visited this site to get some extra info aside from the well published (Ford sourced) BULLITT 2008,5 info and the "moaning" about the engine performance.
Well - I have been on holiday for 4 weeks at the opposite end of my usual location and there is little to add as of now, but we do have some tidbits of information received in chatting around with some ... that an HiPo-engine checkbox option will be considered for an SE of the BULLITT LE. Lets call it simply McQueen Edition as of now with an extra fee to the trust for the diehard ones. Mustn't be from Ford itself though to reduce investments......
Some speculation added tells us about close to 390HP and 5.4 litre coming with this SE.

The beancounters could hardly be convinced that the BULLITT will sell worse with the FRP added engine package than one with a more potent engine. In fact it is a response - like the Shelby GT in similar number - to what the dealers said and sales count these days. They (reps) are pretty sure they can sell a similar BULLITT, so what has Ford to say against that and why should they contradict in fact. So let's hope that there will be a small checkbox on your BULLITT 2008,5 order sheet.
Now thats it for today."

 

Interesting. If true some of our "moaning and complaining" is being considered. Looks like all our beaching might pay off.




"...we do have some tidbits of information received in chatting around with some... that an HiPo-engine check box option will be considered for an SE of the BULLITT LE. Lets call it simply McQueen Edition as of now with an extra fee to the trust for the diehard ones. Mustn't be from ford itself though to reduce investments.......
Some speculation added tells us about close to 390HP and 5.4 litre coming with this SE..."

 

Well, I did write a letter to Ford telling them I wanted a "checkbox" for more power than a standard Bullitt! And the Ford dealers are wanting a model between the GT and GT500 with appropriate power and price. Maybe Ford is actually listening this time and are anticipating the arrival of the Challenger and Camaro. I sure hope that Ford's going to pleasantly surprise all of us with this new Bullitt, which might explain why there's been no comment from them. Let's hope! If they do offer an upgraded Bullitt, count me in!

 

Today was the first I've known of the "checkbox". When did you find out?

 

Don't hold yer breath.

On the other hand, if I have to trade in my car within a year...

 

I think the checkbox was just speculation on someone's part, but I do hope it becomes a reality. I suggested this to Ford in my letter, to offer an "upgrade" package to those who were willing to pay for it to bring the Bullitt up to proper performance standards (engine, brakes, etc.). It is definately doable, but may be a tad optimistic to have Ford offer two SE's within the same model. But if you look at the Shelby GT, you could buy a stock one and also have SAI modify one as well. I realize Ford wants to do this "in house" (or so I believe), so this may be a tall order. But Ford is certainly capable of doing it by stuffing a N/A 5.4 liter underhood for some models as they did this way back in 2000 with the Cobra R.
I find it strange that Ford has been very quiet about the Bullitt overall and perhaps were fishing for consumer approval which has resulted in a demand for more performance and made Ford "alter" their original offering of the Bullitt (I sure hope so!). And many dealers are wanting a model between the GT and GT500 and are confident it would sell. There would be limited numbers of the Bullitt of course, but this would at least give the dealers something to appease the demand for a very unique SE. The gap is just too huge between the GT and GT500 to ignore, especially if you're on the sales end of things and people "on hold" for the competitors future models would buy now rather than later. Makes sense to me. Only thing to consider is just how well a lighter Bullitt would perform against the fat GT500, coming dangerously close to its overall performance. But a Bullitt is not a Shelby and that's what many GT500 owners wanted in the first place, so it may not draw sales away from the GT500. Let's see what happens...............

 

If by a remote possibility the 5.4 were to be offered as an option for the BULLITT other subsequent SEs will follow. The barrier needs to be broken for others to follow. Shelby Autos could benefit and the GT350 could become a reality without the need of a S/C to achieve performance gains. It would also be a door opening for the elusive BOSS.

With the future Z06 and the Viper hitting the 600 HP mark it is ridiculous for Ford to keep bringing out SEs with half of that range while relying on a few elementary aftermarket mods to reach those small gains.

 

What I have been able wrestle out of sources is basically what is posted on the official thread. Some questions remain like transmission upgrade, hood and final performance numbers. There was talk of a new intake like on the 01 but to get the car in under the $34K mark which is the goal the trani may be a dead issue. No one has mentioned a brake upgrade either.

Everything has pointed to a debut in the fall in San Francisco. Ford may surprise us with an appearance at Mid America but I don't think it will happen.

Ford wants the car to have everything on the car that the production car will have so that may have something to do with the wait. You have to remember, that the car was announced less than a year ago and they hadn't been working on it for long before the announcement. Sort of like the 01 all over again.

 

1/2 of the power for a 1/3 of the price for the mustang gt.
5/6 of the power for a 1/2 of the price for the mustang gt500.

ford is definately doing something right!

 

And they are succeeding at it too.

 

Offering a 5.4 liter in the Bullitt would make so much sense ( as 1 Bullitt mentioned), as it would open the door for future SE models, bridge the performance gap, keep retailers happy, competition to react, consumers pleased, etc. And I don't think it would steal the thunder away from the future Boss either, as numbers would be very limited for that model. Who knows? We just don't have much in the way of solid info.

 

They really should do that...it would be like the 30th anniversary camaro SS where you could order the LT4 over the LT1... pretty sweet if it were true.

 

 

The intake is meaningless, so are red calipers, different upholstery, a unique tuned exhaust, exhaust tips, and other cosmetics. It's understandable the '01 relied on cosmetics and a few performance mods to associate it to the '68 GT. With the Mustang's best platform ever the association is there with no need to spend resources which could be applied towards the car's theme - handling, performance, and simplicity.

 

...and twin hood vents.

 

What? No commemorative (=) I AM A BULLITT (=) badge between the A/C vents?

 

That will be reserved for the "Bullitt: Built by Shelby" badge.

 

Like one of the former Team Mustang members said about the 08 Bullitt "it is what it is". You take it for what the car is. Don't like it don't buy it. The likelyhood of any other engine that has been in "secret" development being put into the Bullitt is highly unlikely. Feasibly they could retune a truck 5.4 for Mustang use but it would have to go through CAFE testing I am sure.

All of this Bullitt bashing sounds just like what I was reading in late 2000 about the 01 Bullitt.

 

Agreed, but this time there are strong competitors looming in the wings. People want a reasonable degree of performance and let's hope the Bullitt delivers it. The SAE and CAFE tests for the 5.4 liter would have to be done, but Ford could make a statement by stuffing this in the Bullitt and creating a true SE, one worthy of the name. An SE is supposed to be unique in many ways and appeals to true enthusiasts not the general buying public. Ford could really shoot themselves in the foot if they don't do this one right. People are not going to fall for badges, stickers and bolt-on parts this time, especially with other, more powerful options out there.The Shelby GT has already been done. It's time to step it up. I'm a buyer if the Bullitt comes equipped with the right power plant. If not, I'll walk! C'mon Ford!! Don't screw this up!

 

Yes...

Isn't 0-60 in about 5 seconds reasonable? Sounds like the Bullitt will be able to provide that.

Wasn't the first Bullitt Mustang a special edition? Wasn't it worthy of being called a Bullitt, given its enhancements over the GT?

So does that mean those forum members who post enthusiastically here about their GT/CS, which is an appearance upgrade from the GT, are not "true enthusiasts"? What is a "true enthusiast"?

It seems that many people who customize their Mustangs from the aftermarket use badges, stickers, and bolt-ons. As far as more powerful options currently in the market today, those bolt-ons supply the performance to achieve that.

What would you walk to instead?

PS - I would love to see a 400hp 5.0 3-valve engine myself.