The
official press text
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 6 – Four decades
after hitting the big screen and redefining the on-screen car chase, the
Ford Mustang Bullitt returns to the streets in 2008, blending the best
Mustang ever with the latest Ford Racing technology.
This modern classic delivers a balance of
power and performance, thanks to special chassis and suspension tweaks as
well as the 315 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque that Bullitt
delivers through its 4.6-liter V-8 engine.
“The 2008 Mustang Bullitt embodies the
true spirit of the 1968 movie car,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice
president, Global Product Development. “Like the original Bullitt, this
car dials the driving dynamics up a notch for Mustang enthusiasts who love
the performance, handling and the sweet sound of Ford power that only
Mustang can deliver.”
The 2008 Bullitt arrives in dealers early
next year, with a starting MSRP of $31,075 (including destination and
delivery) and limited production of 7,700 units for the U.S. and Canada.
The launch of the limited edition 2008
Mustang Bullitt coincides with the 40th anniversary of the release of the
Warner pos. Pictures film that gave the original car its name. In the
movie, legendary actor Steve McQueen drove a Dark Highland Green 1968
Mustang GT that gained cult status among Mustang enthusiasts, thanks to a
seven-minute scene that film and car buffs believe defined the modern
movie car chase.
Bullitt Chassis Delivers a Balance
of Performance and Comfort
Ford engineers modified the 2008 Mustang
Bullitt’s chassis and suspension to fine-tune handling and ensure the
extra horsepower and torque from the 4.6-liter V-8 is put to good use. The
live rear axle uses a unique 3.73:1 gear that helps launch the Bullitt
with vigor.
Stock Mustang GT shocks and struts were
swapped out for new units that allowed engineers to dial in a more
aggressive driving dynamic while still maintaining the outstanding ride
and balance of the base Mustang GT. A tower-to-tower pace designed
specifically for the Bullitt lends additional torsional and lateral
stiffness to the chassis for improved cornering and holds a unique serial
number for each Bullitt.
“The 2008 Mustang Bullitt delivers
balanced performance,” said Paul Randle, chief engineer. “Comfort is
not compromised for performance. Performance is on demand. You can easily
take Bullitt from the track to the street and back onto the track with
confidence.”
The pakes also have been improved versus
the base Mustang GT’s. More aggressive front pads were developed
specifically for Bullitt and improve fade resistance and pedal feel.
The 2008 Mustang Bullitt wears unique
cast-aluminum Euroflange wheels, offering a modern twist on the original
movie car. The Dark Argent Gray spokes feature a satin finish, while a
pight-machined lip completes the look. Calipers are colored to match the
wheel. The wheels are wrapped in the same P235/50ZR 18 BF Goodrich g-Force
T/A KDWS tires used on Mustangs at the Ford Racing High Performance
Driving School at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.
Powered by Ford Racing
Bullitt packs firepower under the hood. The
4.6-liter, 3-valve V-8 delivers 315 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 325
pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm.
Engine calipation is designed to increase
throttle response for a snappier acceleration feel. The redline has been
boosted by 250 rpm to 6,500, with top-end speed bumped to 151
miles-per-hour. Gears are selected via a Tremac 5-speed manual
transmission, and the shifter is topped with a polished aluminum shift
ball designed specifically for the 2008 Bullitt.
The car features the first use of an
open-element air filter in a factory-produced, fuel-injected Mustang.
Inspired by Ford Racing, the intake is tucked neatly behind the driver
side headlamp, mounted in an air box that was tooled up specifically for
the Mustang. The hood liner was extensively modified to provide a full
seal to the air box, ensuring that the engine is fed a steady diet of
cooler air.
“Colder air reduces intake losses,”
said Randle. “The new cold-air intake has shown a reduction in rise over
ambient temperature from 50 degrees down to 17 degrees Fahrenheit. That
equates to more horsepower and more torque in all driving conditions.”
Engine performance is further enhanced
through the use of an innovative adaptive spark ignition system, new for
the 2008 Mustang.
The system can sense, within a few seconds,
what type of fuel is being injected into the motor and adjusts the spark
to provide maximum torque at any given speed – and as much as
10 pounds-feet more between 1,000 and 4,000
rpm.
Bullitt can run on either premium or
regular fuel. Ford recommends premium fuel for optimum performance, but
the adaptive spark ignition will adjust the spark to burn regular fuel
without damaging the engine.
“With all the improvements we’ve made
to the engine and the taller 3.73-to-1 rear gear, the Bullitt will plant
you firmly in the driver’s seat when you stand on the throttle. We’ve
seen zero to 60 times drop by up to three tenths of a second,” said
Randle. “There’s also plenty of power on tap at any speed. The car
definitely feels lighter on its feet, and it is.”
The custom-designed exhaust system
continues Mustang’s traditional use of a true dual-exhaust system with a
new H-pipe specifically developed for Bullitt. The all-new mufflers,
featuring larger 3.5-inch chrome tips (versus the 3-inch tips on the
standard Mustang GT) are tuned to minimize backpressure, maximize
horsepower and provide the Bullitt with its powerful exhaust note.
“We wanted to get the exhaust note as
close to the original movie car as possible, so we based it on a digitally
mastered DVD,” said Randle. “We wanted something that would rumble
your heart, literally buzz you – and the Bullitt team delivered.”
Bullitt Interior
Delivers Comfort with a Purpose
The interior is pure Mustang Bullitt,
understated and dressed in Charcoal Black leather and Satin metallic trim.
The centerpiece of the interior is the hand-machined, aluminum swirl dash
panel appliqué.
“The machined appliqué differentiates
the Bullitt from any other Mustang in the line-up,” said Gaffka.
“It’s also perfect for the Bullitt. The graphic presentation pings
back the feel of the ‘60s while still staying true to the Mustang’s
modern interior design.”
Satin aluminum bezels circle the air vents
and gauges, complementing a satin aluminum shift ball that replaces the
standard leather-wrapped shifter on the Mustang GT. The pedals wear
race-inspired aluminum covers that further reinforce Bullitt’s
performance intentions.
The interior is graphically clean. The only
identifying marks visible inside Bullitt are the logo and gun-sight
graphic mounted in the center of the leather-wrapped steering wheel and
the word “Bullitt” embossed into the metal sill plates.
The Dark Charcoal leather seats pick up the
diamond perforation inserts from the base Mustang GT. The seats are
patterned after those in the Shelby GT500 providing added lumbar and
bolster support. The seats are constructed using the new soy-based foam
developed by Ford and introduced on the 2008 Mustang. The soy foam, made
up of 24 percent renewable content, is produced through a process that
requires less energy and emits less CO2.
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Capturing the Bullitt’s
Undercover Look
The original 1968 Mustang’s stealth-like
appearance wasn’t necessarily intentional. In typical Hollywood fashion,
the movie crew removed all exterior badges and logos from the car –
including the iconic pony badge on the grille.
The 2008 Mustang Bullitt calls back the
original movie car in painstaking detail – right down to the dark green
paint and lack of exterior badges, scoops and spoilers.
The only visible identification is the word
“Bullitt” dropped into a gun-sight graphic in the center of the faux
gas cap on the decklid.
“The 2008 Mustang Bullitt, like the movie
car, is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” said Doug Gaffka, chief designer.
“Mustang is – and always has been – such an icon that it’s
recognizable without the badges. But Bullitt’s clean exterior doesn’t
give away the Ford Racing-inspired power and performance lurking under its
skin.”
The new Bullitt wears a close match to the
movie car’s 1968 Highland Green paint, officially called Dark Highland
Green. This distinctive color has only graced one other Mustang, the 2001
Mustang Bullitt. Gaffka assures Bullitt enthusiasts that the color will
remain an exclusive Mustang Bullitt color. Non-purists can opt for only
one other color – black.
The Mustang Bullitt uses the standard
Mustang GT’s front fascia. A new black-mesh grille is devoid of the
standard chrome pony and is accented by a satin aluminum strip that
represents the chrome grille surround on the 1968 car. The rear fascia
also is shared with the standard Mustang GT and houses Bullitt’s unique
dual exhaust tips. Dark Argent Gray painted pake calipers closely match
the wheel spokes, while staying true to the original.
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