Rumormill: Another Mustang variant coming this show season?
Click above for a gallery of the 2010 Shelby GT500 at NAIAS '09
Before this auto show season is over, we'll probably see another Ford Mustang variant unveiled. That's the juicy takeaway from a Detroit Auto Show conversation we had with Ford's vice-president of Powertrain Engineering, Barb Samardzich. In the course of discussing the 2010 GT500 and the new Mustang in general, this author made the offhand remark that, after sitting in the 2010, perhaps picking up a used '06 GT just over a year ago was a bit premature. In response, Samardzich gave a knowing look and said, "You want to wait a little longer." That was all we were able to get, but given her position, it seemed noteworthy. After all, she'd know.
We followed up with Ford spokesman Alan Hall after the show in a bid to extract more information. Alan saw this as a fun opportunity to obfuscate, joking that the Blue Oval is readying a Knight Rider edition. (They're not. Relax.) More importantly, however, he didn't deny anything either.
So now we'll take the rumorball and kick off the speculation. We wouldn't expect anything in Chicago. Traditionally, the Windy City isn't a big Mustang show, and the Taurus SHO seems likely to be the big news there anyway. That leaves New York, which has been a solid Mustang venue in recent years. In 2005, the Shelby GT500 was revealed. In 2006, the Shelby GT-H made its debut there. In 2007, we got the production Shelby GT500KR. Last year, no Mustang announcement in Manhattan, so Ford's due.
History would suggest that we'll see another Shelby model in New York, but that's really just a shot in the dark. It could really be anything. Boss? Bullitt? Mach 1? EcoBoost?! You could go on forever with the guessing. Obviously, we could also be wrong, and it could be nothing, but something tells us Ford has a treat up its sleeve...
UPDATE: And Mike Levine at PickupTrucks.com pretty much lays it out: 5.0, shared with F-150.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Hike15 7:06PM (1/19/2009)
ecoboost mustang to compete with the camaro v6?
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Level 10:22PM (1/19/2009)
That would def be awesome eco boost mustang. Hell at 350Hp it might be slightly faster then the 300hp V8....man the possibilities on a mustang with the eco boost engine..
mkevin88 12:50AM (1/20/2009)
the V6 camaro is 300 hp, i think the V8 is somewhere in the 400 range
Robert 9:35AM (1/29/2009)
All I know is that the Mustang is losing pretty bad in the race for America's Vote...if you get a minute check out http://www.camaroVSmustang.com to vote.
firstplace 7:08PM (1/19/2009)
how about a lighter weight version without huge useless overhangs?
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Fooman 7:08PM (1/19/2009)
really... Another Mustang Variant...
Lets just call them AMV's from now on. My money is on ecoboost though.
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firstplace 7:12PM (1/19/2009)
what about that 6.2l that will go in the F150 raptor.... that would be a good variant...
naggs 10:50PM (1/19/2009)
is that alum block?
Joe 8:58AM (1/20/2009)
Dude, this isn't just another Mustang variant, if it is, indeed going to be the introduction of the new 5.0 liter engine, it's going to be the Boss 302. I don't care if you don't like Mustangs, it's a Boss. Enough said.
Also, it won't only be the introduction of a new variant, it's going to be the introduction of the future of Ford's engine program. Mustang will get this new 5.0L, as well as an Ecoboosted V6. The V8 will trounce what GM and Chrysler are offering in their high level Pony cars (until Chevy comes out with a ZR-1 powered Z28 Camaro), and the Ecoboost V6 will trounce what GM, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota, BMW, and Mercedes offer in their higher end V6 cars.
Jared 7:12PM (1/19/2009)
Hopefully they don't add another variant just to put the eco boost in it...
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Torrent 7:13PM (1/19/2009)
Or they will bring out the 5.0.
naggs 11:19PM (1/19/2009)
that is what i am thinking
400 hp boss 5.0 to compete with the camaro/challenger
John 6:55AM (1/20/2009)
Why just one new motor? Why not the EB V6 and the Coyote 5.0 V8, the same as the plans for the F150. If Ford is dumping the 4.6 and 5.4 from the F150, wouldn't it make sense that they are going to do the same with the Mustang.
Jared 7:41AM (1/20/2009)
you make a point John. Someone said something bout an SVT since they brought SVT back...
5.0 or that new 6.2L in the f150 raptor in the Mustang w/ some more horses worked outta it and call it the 2010 SVT cobra... They did skip a generation w/ SVT and need to bring it back!
Tim 7:13PM (1/19/2009)
I'd love to see something like the old SVO Mustang with an Ecoboost 4, but given that we haven't heard any word on an EB 4-cyl in anything over 2.0L, I seriously doubt that's on the way.
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Torrent 7:15PM (1/19/2009)
my money is on a new 5.0. or an ecoboost stang. Or a Bullitt worthy of the name.
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Jared 7:24PM (1/19/2009)
Bullit w/ 5.0?
sex
JOHN COLWELL 7:19PM (1/19/2009)
Looks Like A 5.0 Is Next.
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Craig 7:20PM (1/19/2009)
My bet is the EcoBoost. It makes sense on all counts: raise company fuel economy, rising gas prices/shift to more efficient cars, the Camaro coming with the amazing V6....
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De 7:28PM (1/19/2009)
I think having an EcoBoost under the name of GT350 would be a smart move. It is a 3.5L afterall.
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