It's blown... The rumor, the cover, and the engine.

Not too much to report, and no pics, but I thought it might make for interesting conversation, what with all the '08 "Chevy Coupe" being announced and everything.

An entourage of the Mustang's 40th got a special invite to the AAI facility, and actually were asked to hold their quarterly Board of Director's meeting there. (Nice touch by the AAI management to snuggle-up to the folks that will be buyers and promoters of their future product IMO.) There are several pics and stories floating about regarding the new line and tooling that is being run-in as we speak (or read).

Most interesting to me was that a small group from Hot Rod magazine was invited to Ford's SVT Headquarters for a tour/interview. One of the keen eyes in the group was able to ID a blown 5.4 in an 05 Mustang GT body. It's rumored that it was a duplicate of the 5.4 used in the Ford GT, but slightly detuned to a rumored 500hp. They repeatedly asked questions about the car to 2 SVT reps and their guide, but got bad stares and "no comment" for answers, and "let's move along". There is a small write-up in this month's magazine about the tour and the sighting.
They are speculating it is the '06 SVT Cobra.
I think not.

Also, Kalitta appears to be the first to field an 05 Mustang race car in action. His cars are completing wind tunnel work, and should be seen in action as soon as next month. Steeda is also about ready to roll out their new 05 body work and SCCA cars.

Ford has really gone on the hush-hush about their SE projects for the last few months - since the 05's official debut at the 40th celebration in fact. They are very busy, but VERY quiet too. In the mean time, I am enjoying the Chevy Coupe and DCX news.

So let the rumors start flying!

 

What do you think it is? BTW, it has an IRS and T-56.

 

I can tell you what it is not

 

What is it not?

 

A blown v8 model before (and that isn't) a Cobra model? Interesting. Guess we won't have to wait till 06 for a hotter version of the Mustang.

Question: What will happen to the 03/04 Cobra's blown 4.6L? This engine has only been in use for two years thus far, and is a great engine that has proven both durable and potent. If the SVT Cobra moves on to a N/A 5.4 or blown 5.4, will the blown 4.6 be discontinued or will it be passed on to non-SVT cars? I would love to see this engine in some Lincolns, Mach/boss mustang, marauder, etc.... Maybe even a special version of the Exploder to go against the TB SS. I can think of plenty other fords that could use an engine like that.

 

cheap

 

Well, I'm still hearing 2006 as the official MY designation, but debut may not be a full year away.

You are exactly right... the blown 4.6 is now free-fodder for the remainder of the Ford units. Coletti has already made public statements to this effect. One might look for a new Panther unit, as well as a Mercury derivative during '06 and '07 respectively. ("Eliminator" sounds nice to me on the latter.)

My GUESS is that we will see GT350 and GT500 come back to the Mustang lineup... soon.
MAYBE one will perform above GT but below SVT unit and be sold through every ford dealer that wants one on the lot...
Maybe one will be the top performer and sold through SVT dealers only...
Maybe this will free up the name Cobra for use on another vehicle in 2007...
Maybe that vehicle will have a v10 and replace the Ford GT (which has a planned termination in 2006).

But hey, these are just my passing thoughts... anything's possible!

One other possibility STILL EXISTS...
We're due for another Cobra R-model for the SCCA license-holders. Hmmm...

I'll officially go on record with this quote...
We don't yet know if the production versions will be built in Texas, Las Vegas, or Dearborn! That from the man's own lips!

 

It's still just another Mustang in my eyes. I dont care if it has 1000hp, in my hometown every little ***** with a rich daddy will have one. I dont like to be associated with those people. Not to mention my friends who actually have nice modded Mustangs and dont know a lick about cars, just how to spout off the info they read. THEY pay to have all the work done instead of learning and doing it themselves. While I believe this is true with much of todays society, I see it the most in Mustang owners, but that could just be a coincidence.

I would possibly maybe think about considering to consider test driving one to ponder getting one if they would take the damn shifter out of the dash and put it where it belongs!

 

Hmmm....stereotyping is your friend. Coincedence? Nah - we all have others do our work for us. Yup yup.

 

I really think a better quote would be, "Theres an ***-load of Mustang driving poseurs out there..."



I have noticed that Mustang guys are generally either hard-core racers, or complete poseurs, with very few sprinkled in between.

 

I think if you actually did realistic research, you'd find that the average Mustang enthusiast is little different from the average F-body enthusiast. By the same token, the average Mustang idiot is little different from the average F-body idiot. Both groups (Mustang types and F-Body types) come from essentially the same demographics.

 

Ours have nicer mullets...

 

I really really liked the previous Cobra R's. It'd be neat to see another factory stripped race car.

Shhhh dont tell my fbody friends...

 

For some reason the Mustang became the car that the preppy boys in highschool have their daddy bye them and then they act like they have the nbicest fastest car in school. The F-body on the other hand became more of the redneck car, mullet chariot if you will!

Rednecks tend to know their cars inside and out because they work on them themselves. The kid whos car is given to him by his dad has his dad pay to have it fixed or have FLOWMASTERS installed.

That right there is the difference between these two pony cars and what causes all the tention everywhere you go. Mustang and Camaro owners are very different people with the exception of a few!

 

Yeah......well....ummm.....interesting observation.

From my experiences, there is ZERO difference in the type of people who choose Camaro or Mustang. They are identical.

They may say that they're different, they may even think that they're different....but they are not. The F-bod guys, hangin' out with their LT1 or LS1 Camaros.....are absolute clones of the same guys hangin' out with their 5.0's in the '80s and '90's.

I see just as many Camaro owners who are clueless poseurs...as I see Mustang owners. And I also see lots of really sharp gearheads in both cars.


Frankly, this argument is ridiculous.