I know - just what we need, another new thread today.
Call this one the POWER thread - that's my theme.
I'm not trolling - I just wanted to throw a few nuggets in here regarding new finds from "the other side"... I know some of you guys share an interest in "what's new", regarless who made it.

With all of the great things coming out of the Detroit show, we've all been smothered with news. I was digging for some additional info on the new 5.0-3V mod-motor Ford is starting to show now, hoping for more Boss 302 or new Shelby Mustang news, and came across some other suprising info. I'll try to summate with links...

First, GM definitely stole some market share from Ford last year - call this "sales power". THIS link describes how Chevrolet GAINED sales and market share, especially in truck and SUV markets , while Ford slipped 9.3%. We speculated about this in other threads... now it's a fact. Incentives were discussed as drivers for this gain, so can Chevy continue with the incentives to keep gaining?
Also, I picked up on a committment from Bill Ford that the F-series "WILL NOT be outpowered by anyone else". He wants the truck line to be known for outstanding power and work capacity. New Powerstroke, V8, and V10? are on the way...

I don't think this is in direct competition with the 427 being developed in Oz for Holden's racing/street program, but Ford already has a 7-liter (427 ci) V-10 producing 590hp that it debuted in the 427 Concept car.
Quote - 'Mays said the 427 is "sexy and muscular" and runs "like a bat out of hell." '
I love the black concept car, but when I first saw it, it screamed Caddy CTS at me. Oh man would that engine sit sweet in the new GT-40 or a new Ford/Shelby! (Yes - they are talking... )

We have seen the Supercharged Marauder. We have seen the Supecharged Cobra. We have seen the Supercharged Lightning. We can even recall the old Supercharged Thunderbird. And if you liked the Supercharged Thunderbird (Thunderbird SC) performance back then, you should love the new Supercharged Thunderbird. The new Supecharged T-bird boasts a whopping 390 hp from an SC 3.9L mod V8! That's 390hp @6000 rpm, and 390 ft-lb @3500 rpm. It is touted as "the most powerful Thunderbird ever" by Dave Szczupak, Ford Motor Company vice president, Powertrain Operations. I love the looks of the car, and think the louvered hood sets it apart from more docile units nicely. So much for those who thought the T-bird was a "lame" performer... now it AND the Mustang both have base and high-performance engine choices. Hmmm...

Beating-up on the new Mustang for a moment...
Power increase is minimal as of yet... 215hp 3.0 V6 is the base unit according to my latest word. The GT has yet to be stated. Personally, I hope the 5.0 badges come back. It will go right along with the return of a Boss 302, as well as offer a decent performance enhancement over the 4.6 - 4V.

BTW guionM - you should have had the scoop on all the '05 Mustang lines... it was done in your back yard, LOL! The beach shots that "leaked out" a few weeks back were on the Southern Cali-coast. It turns out that the exterior and interior designs of the Mustang GT concepts were penned by designers in Ford’s Living Legends Studio in Dearborn, Mich., and Ford’s California Design Center in Southern California. The concept design execution was done exclusively at the California Design Center. Cali-guys, keep your eyes open for test mules! Ford has got to start road-testing the pre-production units soon. Maybe we will get some shots of cars trimmed more towards the production models, with a rear seat and the refined taillamps.

And in keeping with tradition - ANOTHER limited edition Mustang comes out from Ford. The Centennial Edition is a sticker-and-upholstery package on the GT-vert. ( Interior Pic. ) While it's not a Mach 1, I'm already hearing speculations on collectability due to limited quantities. D@mn, now do I get a Centennial GT, wait a year and get an '05 Cobra that's gonna look AWESOME, or wait for the Boss 302... I need more money - lots more! Here's the rest of the Centennial Vehicles lineup. "In any color you want, as long as it's black".

Personal note - I am impressed with many of GM's offerings thusfar and I will be craving GM info about some of these new units soon, though I am concentrating primarily on Mustang news for now. The SS is a very sharp looker. The G6 is my favorite GM unit thusfar - love the interior of that car - and I have to admit that the GTO does look better in steel than in paper. I think it was a little miscue to use THIS photo in the presentation... I see scoops, scoops, scoops, scoops, scoops, then no scoops. It's just my opinion though, my own sorespot. The GTO interior looks great - I love the color-keyed guage cluster - nice touch!

Happy new years to all, and welcome to the greatest year ever for the horsepower wars!

Proud

 

looks good for both of us.

 

The only studio I know of that Ford has out here is the one in Irvine that is supposed to belong to the Premium Auto Group. Had lunch there one day back in October (the steak was tough as hell, but it only cost $3 and the only TV in the cafeteria is the "Ford channel").... Don't ask.

Maybe another design studio out here I don't know about??

 

Me not know? I can do a little digging and see if I can find out where their studio in question is. May take a day or two though. Aside from cyphering all the latest news, I have to go to a funeral tomorrow - cancer in the intestines took my aunt last weekend. She was 65.

In the mean time, here is a link to the same data on the development... LINKY
Go about 2/3 down the page...
They just called it the "California Design Center".

Peace,
Proud

 

Sounds like Ford has their stuff together. Cool stuff!

Sorry to hear about your aunt Proud, same thing happened to my Dads good friend from college a few years back. By the way, sorry I never shot you an email back. My best friend and I are about to rebuild his 70' Boss again, I'll have to tell you about it. Later bud.