Autoblog

Autoblog drives the 2008 Bullitt Mustang

The Ford Mustang has been the lone-surviving pony car since the last Camaro hit the chopping block back in 2002. Even though the Blue Oval no longer had any competition in the rear-wheel-drive muscle car market, the Mustang was given a major overhaul for the 2005 model year, and to keep the RWD coupe fresh, limited edition variants have been popping up with regularity. One of our favorites is the understated Bullitt Mustang, which we reviewed earlier this month. We had so much fun with the 315-hp retro coupe that we put it back on the street for some video love. Hit play on the video above for just over three minutes of a beautiful green Bullitt in glorious motion. It'll be worth your time. High resolution photos from our earlier review are available below, as well.

On the Mustang front, the past seven days have been the week of the Bullitt. The media rush is in stark contrast to the Bullitt's understated demeanor, but with its 315 HP engine and track-tuned suspension, Steve McQueen's chase machine reincarnated deserves it. Yesterday we showed you Popular Mechanics' video of the Bullitt in action, and today we've got Ford's shot of its newest Mustang in motion pictures. The Blue Oval's piece has a lot less substance, but it still features the Bullitt sliding on pavement as if it were wearing ice skates. Check out the Mustang slip and slide after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Click above image for an updated gallery of the 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt

For the second and final leg of our drive with the Bullitt, we took back roads up from Monterey to San Francisco with some great twisties that really put the new suspension to the test. Read on after the jump for more from Day 2 or click here to read about our adventure on Day 1...

click above image to view some gorgeous high-res live shots of the Bullit

Just as Autoblog announced the debut of the 2008 Bullitt Mustang, Ford was allowing a select number of journalists to drive the car in San Francisco, a fitting location for the car's debut. We were fortunate enough to receive an invite, and are fresh out of the driver's seat ready to report. Read on after the jump...

Ford provided the vehicles for testing. Autoblog does not accept travel or lodging from automakers when attending media events.

Live Photos Copyright ©2007 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

click above image to view 20 high-res photos of the 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt

Straight up, we're high-res pic whores here at Autoblog, swapping our desktop backgrounds about every 20 minutes as we handle gorgeous automotive photography in the name of blogging. Sometimes we even take a few good ones ourselves, but the hottest snaps of the moment are these new ones of the 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt released by Ford today. Judging from your comments in our original post on the Bullitt reveal, it's clear that the vast majority of you consider the Bullitt the best expression of Mustang-ness to date. Seeing the Bullitt without all of those superfluous design elements that muck up other Mustangs is like looking straight back to 1968. You may think the new Bullitt lacks power, but you can hardly argue it's lacking in the looks department. Browse the gallery below and see for yourself.

Don't forget to check back with us tomorrow when we'll publish a First Drive of the 2008 Bullitt Mustang by Drew Phillips who was invited to drive Steve McQueen's modern muscle machine on the mean streets of San Francisco today.

[Source: Ford]

click above image for high-res gallery of the 2008 Mustang Bullitt

The latest edition of everyone's favorite green Mustang is back and this one won't be featured on AutoblogGreen. Just in time for the 40th anniversary of one of the quintessential cinematic car chases, the 2008 Mustang Bullitt is coming to a Ford showroom near you. As expected, the new Bullitt is available in the Highland Green of Steve McQueen's original, but it can also be had in black. The goal according to Mustang design chief Doug Gaffka was to provide a more restrained alternative to some of the more flamboyant 'Stangs while providing great overall performance.

On the outside, the Bullitt is the first of the current generation of S197 Mustangs to be devoid of a pony badge anywhere on the car. The plain black grille is encircled by a simple chrome trim ring. The 18" Bullitt wheels recall those on the original, but the brake calipers are now painted a dark grey so as not draw attention to themselves. A round faux gas cap on the trunk lid wears a Bullitt badge centered in a gun sight graphic. A similar badge adorns the center of the steering wheel. Unlike the last Bullitt, this one keeps its standard fuel filler door. Spoilers, wings, fake scoops and all other such puffery are thankfully banished from this Mustang.

More after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Right now as we speak, Ford is showing the 2008 Bullitt Mustang to a select group of automotive journalists in Dearborn, Autoblog included. The official info we take from this event is embargoed for a couple of days, at least until after Ford lets another group of select journalists, again Autoblog included, drive the Bullitt on the streets of downtown San Francisco (how appropriate). But until our First Drive of the 2008 Bullitt Mustang is published later in the week, we can show you this spy shot taken by a reader of MustangBlog.com in northern California. Click here to view a high-res shot and here to see another pic of what appears to be a Mustang similar to the Bullitt but in red.

[Source: MustangBlog.com]

click above image to see your next desktop wallpaper pic

While perusing the Ford media website today, we were greeted with the image you see above and Ford's first official acknowledgment that the much anticipated Mustang Bullitt will debut at the L.A. Auto Show in mid-November. Of course, we already know a lot about the Mustang Bullitt thanks to specs that were leaked earlier this month. We also know in general how the car will look, including its famous Highland Green paint and completely blank grille. Ford says in its little blurb (read it after the jump) that the car has the "perfect balance of power, performance and a look of quiet intensity."

Despite all the iterations of the Mustang that we've been forced to stomach from Ford and numerous other companies, this is the one we've been waiting for. It's good to know we won't have to wait much longer. After debuting in a couple of weeks, the Mustang Bullitt will officially go on sale early next year, according to Ford.

[Source: Ford]

While everyone waits patiently (or for some folks, impatiently) for Ford to release the new Bullitt Mustang, Blue Flame, a Japanese firm that imports and distributes Mustangs over yonder, has taken the initiative to offer its very own Bullitt package. And it looks really good. Available for both V6 and V8 Mustangs, the obvious cosmetic changes (optional blacked-out grille, side window louvers, side scoops, spoiler delete, Bullitt badging, Highland Green paint, etc.) are paired with additional features like Eibach springs, Saleen pedals, and an upgraded Pioneer stereo. Those looking for more can opt for performance and handling upgrades from Ford Racing and Saleen at added expense. Based on the pictures on Blue Flame's site, it's a very nice conversion.

If that's not enough, the company has a slick BOSS package on offer as well. Follow the jump for that one.

Thanks to Scott for the tip!

[Source: Blue Flame American Distributions Network]

For all our joking about the seemingly endless parade of special edition, aftermarket, or niche-built Ford Mustangs, there is one that we're all waiting for: the Bullitt. We daydream about donning a turtleneck, popping in the jazzy Lalo Schifrin score and cruising around, looking for bad guys in black Chargers. And while there hasn't been a single photo leaked yet, the car's specs have finally made their way onto the web over at Mustang Evolution.

Like the last Bullitt-edition 'Stang, power output is bumped only slightly -- in this case, it's going to come in at 312 horses, thanks to the Ford Racing Power Pack. Other Bullitt mods include a retuned suspension, strut tower brace, x-pipe, new exhaust tips, V6-style grille (we hope that Ford deletes the pony badge, too), red brake calipers, 3:73 rear, 18" "Bullitt" wheels (our money's on black ones), and, of course, Highland Green paint. The car's also going to be available in black for the non-purists out there.

Pricing is still a mystery, but we now know that the program will go on for seven months and produce 7,000 cars for the US, and 700 for our Canuck friends. The full "Bullitted" list of known leaked info can be read here.

[Source: Mustang Evolution]