RiceEating5.0

True, If its priced near the current GT, which it still should, it'll still be a good bargain since the only other 300+hp car in the mid 20k's was the f-bod (which won't be back till 07). I guess ford figured that's plenty of performance for the $$. Not bad for an entry level v8 coupe (assuming they'll have either a Boss/Mach, as well as Cobra and Shelby).

guionM

Seems Ford will be using the Shelby name on a version of the Cobra.

No, SVT isn't dead, for those of you wondering. However, their role is expanding a bit.

Joe K. 96 Zeee!!

So maybe the Shelby version will be more like a Saleen in it's exclusiveness. The "R" version has always been very limited. I expect to see Saleens every once in a while, but I'd be hard pressed to ever see an R on the street.

SNEAKY NEIL

Well, that's not very smart seeing as the competition will be heating up especially when the new Camaro comes into play not very long after the "new" Mustang's intoduction. Remember, the Mustang isn't only fighting for the dollars of the people who would have bought a Camaro, they are trying to bring people in who would have bought a number of different products.

Joe K. 96 Zeee!!

You're forgetting how they seemed to do fine with a 215HP GT when the F-bods were putting out 275HP. It's not all about horsepower. I think sometimes that we get too wrapped up in power here......Those power levels would be enough for almost everyone out there.

WRX, EVO and the like should be priced a fair amount higher than a GT anyway....right?

RiceEating5.0

I think the overall appeal is what gets sales, not neccessarily Hp alone. Ford had no trouble selling 260hp GT's when GM was offering a 320-350hp z28 for around the same price.

Besides, that's a 40+hp improvement over the current sn95 GT. That and there looks to be plenty of options to choose from. There'll probably atleast 2 other v8 models above it. Mabe even as much as 3 if they plan to offer a Boss/Mach, Cobra, and shelby alongside each other. The GT's performance will satisfy most, and those craving more can step up to a higher performance version. I think it's safe to say that they've got pretty much all the bases covered (if the model options are as plenty).

IZ28

No matter how much HP and TQ this car has...........

It's still retro and wierd looking.

Meccadeth

Another reason this is a smart idea...The newness (or retroness ) of the car is going to draw its own sales for a few years...By the time they have to worry about keeping their performance numbers close to the Camaro's they will be able to put more HP into it at a cheaper rate that they can now. Win/Win.

I have a rule of thumb that most performance cars like Camaros and Mustang grow in HP rating by about 100HP per 10 years (Since the 70's)... Keeping at that pace, the GT should be at around 320 HP at the time of Camaro's release. I doubt the midrange Camaro will have much more HP than that.

Z284ever

And here are the pics.....

http://warnerrobert.com/ubb/ultimate...2;t=001985;p=4

These are the specs for the GT from BON:

300 hp @6000
315 lb. ft. @ 4500

12.4in front rotors
11.8 in rear rotors

5-speed manual
5-speed auto

struts front
live axle in rear
(designed to accomodate irs.)

18x9 wheels (17in std.)

255/45r18

wheelbase 107.1
track 62.3/62.5
length 187.6
width 72.1
height 54.5
weight 3425
weight dis. 52/48

Z284ever

And here's a comparison of the '05 to the current Mustang by a BON member:


Comparison:

__________ 99+ _____ 2005

Weight: ____ 3379lbs _____ 3425lbs (very pleased as it is a bigger car)

Wheelbase: __ 101.3" _____ 107.1" (~6" wow)

Width: ____ 73.1" _____ 72.1" (I thought it would be wider?)

Height: _____ 53.1" _____ 54.5" (taller - but sits lower = headroom)

Length: _____ 183.2" _____ 187.6" (4.4" longer)

RiceEating5.0

Are those official numbers? If so, i can breath a sigh of relief knowing the GT won't gain as much weight. Remember the rumors of it bloating to 3600+lbs? Glad that isn't true.

The 3425lbs is about what the N/A Cobra's and the current Mach 1's weigh. Given the proper gearing (hopefully something like 3.55), and a dyno near the current Mach 1's (27X-28Xrwhp), the projected low to mid 13 sec 1/4's should be possible.

RiceEating5.0

Also the weight distribution. 52/48 is damn good. I think the curent one is something like 57/43. Probably has to do with the new modified DEW chassis and the version it is based off being used in cars like the Lincoln Ls, thunderbird, and Jaguar S-type which all have a near perfect 50/50.

Z284ever

I'm going to reserve judgement until I see the production version in the flesh...but somehow, I feel abit underwhelmed.

Doesn't quite take my breathe away like the silver concept did. Although it's not as heavy as some of the "doomsday" rumors...it is bigger and I think it looks it...and not for the better. One of the nice thing about the current Mustang are it's relatively tidy dimensions.

With that said...it does look like it has some nice features. Considering that the GT is the "entry" level V8....it's got pretty big brakes, available 18" wheels and a pretty decent powerplant, (I'll bet it's also abit under-rated).

I've got my fingers crossed that Camaro will blow it away in the looks department.

We'll see......

morb|d

WOW. me likes it. so what 6 are they putting in there? I know the first year will probably be the tried and tru 3.8L but isn't there supposed to be a 3.5L to replace it or something?

hp_nut

GuionM and other Ford sites say the 4L V6 out of the Ranger is going in as the base model V6. Later, the 3.5 V6 that supposedly makes up to 275hp is going in. Probably in the '06 models.

The V8 numbers look good. At the listed weight, it oughtta run about what the current Mach1 is running, which is about what the LS1 Camaros are running. Low 13s @ 105-108

Pretty damn nice for $24K+ in 2004.