Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Ford
Spy Shots: 2010 Ford Mustang
by John Neff on Dec 7th 2007 at 11:27AM 
We all know that the Ford Mustang will be receiving a face lift around 2010 to better combat the impending onslaught of competition from the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro. A new prototype has been spotted that, while heavily covered up, at least shows that Ford's plan for its pony car are progressing. Through the covering one can vaguely make out new headlights, a new grille and new rear taillights. Unfortunately, not much else can be gleaned, like whether the freshening will take some of its cues from the hot Giugiaro Mustang Concept that was recently damaged in Bulgaria by Fabrizio Giugiaro himself. That car's aesthetic may not be seen in production until an all-new Mustang arrives even farther into the future.[Source: The Car Connection]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Fernando 11:30AM (12/07/2007)
Doesn't look like it's changed much.
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WolfgangNC 11:34AM (12/07/2007)
The look just needs to be freshened up, what Ford needs to do is up the HP and engine options to compete with Chevy's and Dodge's pony cars when they get here.
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Joe 11:51AM (12/07/2007)
The new Boss (nee Hurricane) motors are going to be in the Mustang when this facelift is released. Word is that the stock GT will be getting 400 HP, and the V6, which is going to use the new 3.7L Duratec (based off the Cyclone engine family), will be starting at 300 HP, possibly more, if the "Twin-Force" version of the engine is used.
I think my dream line-up would be:
V6: Duratec 3.7L with 300 HP
V6 "Plus" model: Twin-Force 3.7L with 360HP
GT: 5.4L Boss V8 with 400 HP
GT "plus" model: 5.7L Boss V8 with 450 (probably a Mach 1, Boss, or Bullit)
Then, of course, the Shelby models, which I think should be scaled back to a GT350 and GT500, with maybe one uber-up market Shelby, a la the GT500KR.
American Muscle 12:58PM (12/07/2007)
To Joe:
As the current 3.7L is only making 273HP (Mazda CX-9), Ford would have to make some impressive changes to increase the power to over 300HP. As for the GT starting with 400HP as you claim, I highly doubt it. And... why would Ford abandon their long proven 4.6L entirely.
Joe 1:08PM (12/07/2007)
The mod V8 has been around since what, 1995? It's time for a change, and they've been developing their next generation V8 range for a few years, now. It's an engine that can go small displacement, down to like 4.6L, all the way up to 6.8L. It's going to be much more fuel efficient than the mod engine, more powerful, and have lower emissions. As for HP numbers, the Mustang needs to be there to compete with the offerings from Chevy and Dodge. The Hemi version of the Challenger will probably be packing 350+ HP, and the Z28 version of the Camaro will probably be at 450+, from what I've heard. Throw the SRT-8 version of the Challenger in there, which will probably also be 400+.
Also, as for the 3.7L, yeah, it's only making 273 HP in the CX-9, but that's without direct injection and decent tuning. That engine can easily put out 450+ HP with tuning and FI, and if you don't believe me, check out the Twin-Force V6 that was in the Lincoln MKR concept.
Devin 3:08PM (12/07/2007)
I didn't know that it was actually confirmed that there would be a power increase in the refresh, but if its true, the base v-6 will not be the 3.7. It will most likely be the 3.5 that produces 265 hp. That is still a 40 hp bump from the old v6. Also, the next v8 is supposed to make 390ish hp.
Really, with the release of the Camaro and Challenger coming soon, the Mustang is no longer envied. It really is the worst of the three as it is right now, both stylewise and powerwise. Sure the 10 adresses (probably) the power, but the retro look has really worn fast. It needs to look exactly like the guiargio mustang, minus the taillights.
MikeW 3:27PM (12/07/2007)
I am thinking that a premium fuel 3.7 with a dual exhaust would make 285hp tops, and a 3.5 275hp.
But ford wouldn't put a premium fuel engine in the base model, and would skip out on a dual exhaust. So 275/265hp for 3.7/3.5.
ambientFLIER 9:40PM (12/07/2007)
Why would ford put all that work into a base model with a V6 to bring it to over 300hp? They are supposed to be cheap, as cheap as possibe, while still retaining the mustang look. The V6 isn't going to have any direct injection or anything like that, and it will most likely be the 3.5 making about 260hp. Leave high tech V6 motors to the imports, like a 350Z.
FireStorm 11:36AM (12/07/2007)
i'm pretty sure i've heard that for 2010, its just getting a new front end and some new powertrains...
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dskinner 11:40AM (12/07/2007)
No no Autoblog, you're mistaken!
That there is the next limited-edition Mustang.
Let the record show that pictured above is the all-new Knight Rider Limited Edition 'Stang!
Seriously though, that looks more K.I.T.T. appropriate than that joke GT500 we saw earlier last week.
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David(Postal) 11:43AM (12/07/2007)
Not much different looking and that's a good thing. I still think this car has a great look. The wheels are pretty good looking
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tankd0g 11:45AM (12/07/2007)
IRS is all it needs.
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3cubed minus 3squared plus1 12:03PM (12/07/2007)
And the new Boss engine.
kpogoda 11:54AM (12/07/2007)
Looks like a Lexus SC. Look at the attached link compared to the photo in this article. The front nose and back end lost their distinctive design.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.carpw.com/pictures/lexus/SC_430_2003_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.carpw.com/de/lexus%2Bautos/sc/&h=768&w=1024&sz=86&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=1NBfTuoCIcpBVM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlexus%2Bsc%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN
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big L 12:21PM (12/07/2007)
Of course it is different.IT is a coupe. You don't really believe that phony ribbed-roof treatment do you?
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Tagg 12:28PM (12/07/2007)
A neighbor who works for Ford told me that htis Mustang has alot of the Giugiaro concept in it and in the interior. He also said an IRS has been talked about but only for GT models which would leave the solid rear for the V6 and still available for the drag racing crowd. Many drag racers buy a Ford crate motor any ways and build from there.
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Dausman 1:01PM (12/07/2007)
Good to know that F is thinking IRS..believe Mustang needs it in order to compete with newcomers and survive.... what I saw pictured of the Giugiaro version I liked a lot...a freshened Mustang with trimmer appearance and IRS should be welcomed.
Tagg 3:21PM (12/07/2007)
I agree, but my neighbor (marketing dept.) also said that if IRS doesn't make it in this time it will be there for sure in 2011 when the car gets redone top to bottom. The Cobra may get the IRS first in this redo and then trickle down but all the hardware is there to do it and a IRS was desgined for the current model but never used because of cost and Ford was tight on money.
I think now they are in a little better shape and all the development costs have been covered with sales from the current car that it could be done. Another thing to note is Ford (Mullaly) is pushing for lighter weight materials to help imporve fuel economy and the Focus (no matter the styling) is first to benefit. The new Focus weighs less than the previous version, one of the few cars to LOSE weight in a redesign.
Esprit bird 12:28PM (12/07/2007)
I think for the V6 that they should just opt to have a 240-265 HP V6 instead of a full fledged 300HP version.
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Joe 1:12PM (12/07/2007)
But why detune the 3.5L, or the 3.7L? They're already making 26x and 27x HP, respectively, in their current applications. Having a hi-po V6 that can compete better with the likes of the 350Z and such makes a hell of a lot more sense than keeping the current Cologne 4.0L, especially when it involves better fuel economy than the previous engine.