Mustang Faithful,
Get ready for a future of 5.8 and/or 6.2 liter Hurricane engines. (The "old" 4.6 and 5.4 liter modulars will soon be put out to pasture.) The expected [rock &] roll out date for the new V8, or V8s, is 2009. And if the competition's current V8 engine output is any indicator, I would say a 5.8 Hurricane should put out at least 400 and the 6.2-liter version well north of 450. And I don't think it's a fantasy to expect
450 and 500+ respectively.That more than takes care of the GT and GT500 firepower, but what about our entry-level pony, you ask. Well, the current 6 will also exit. In its place, will come the new 263 horse, 3.5-liter V6. A new 6-speed automatic is being promised for the entire Ford line, so you can bet the Mustang will also sport one.
The next Mustang restyle date is now 2010. In the mean time, Ford has pledged to offer special versions each model year. The next one in the pipeline, supposedly, is a new Boss 302. Are there any Mercury or Lincoln Mustangs being considered? Yes, Lincoln has worked on a coupe using the Mustang platform, and planners have considered a Mercury version, but production plans either are unclear at this time. My guess: You can bet on at least one of them to get green-lighted for production.
Ford is rumoured to be eyeing a RWD sedan. (With DC's 300, Magnum and Charger being runaway hits, go figure.) Two options exist for the platform: A variant of the Mustang or from a all-new platform being developed in Australia. Recently, the case for the Australian version has strengthened. Product chief Kuzak said the next-generation Falcon platform is available as an option that Ford's U.S. product planners could tap. But outside of the Mustang, the emphasis of car development in this [US] market is on front-wheel-drive platforms with awd capability, he said. I say, anyone have a big boot to kick Kuzak in the ass for that thinking?
And that's it for your Mustang news...
Patrick