http://bradbarnett.net/mustangs/concept/s197/index.htm

 

A few good points noted there:
-It's pretty much confirmed that only the Cobra will have IRS
- The 5.4L Boss is confirmed
- The cobra is going to be used to target the C6 Z06! I thought that the GT was meant for that, but maybe they are shooting higher with the GT above the 500hp level of the Corvette. It will probably have better, if not equal handling of the Vette. The mass produced, affordable Vette can't out perform a handbuilt, purpose-functioned car like the GT in every category.
-The Cobras will get 20's! Bling bling!
- The GT will stay around 300hp

 

He seems to be accurate in every area except introduction date.

Unless something has gone terribly wrong the past few months or Ford recently decided to take their sweet time introducing the car, the new Mustang will begin production late this winter with a mid to late spring introduction.

 

I guess the big question now is....will the Mach1 or Boss have an IRS? Will IRS eventually be optional on GT?

 

Just out of curiousity, do you mind naming your source for this info?

 

I'm with you on that. My understanding was that Flat Rock would begin retooling during the Christmas shutdown...and new Mustangs would be available by next spring.

 

I've heard this as well. I was also under the impression that Ford will continue to build Mustangs at Rouge until Flat Rock production is up to full capacity. I doubt we'll see the 05 style Mustang till this time next year!

Interesting info especially in the area of drivetrain's. I guess Ford isn't ready to stop using the mod motor blocks, just swap some new 3 valve heads on. I think people were hoping for a 5.0L bored up from 4.6L and the 5.4L for the Cobra.

What I'd like to know is how much this new stang will weigh. The last CObra got a bit portly and the 04 F150 is a bit heavier than the 03. Seems like the Ford's are taking on some weight.

 

Im not saying Brad is 100% incorrect here,But he sure doesnt give credit to his sources 99% of the time.

Most recent JOB1 date (still in the rumor mill) is Sept 7th 04
("Dan05GTowner" did good work with this find.Not concrete though)

One thing Id like to point out.Ford is supposed to do away with the iron block in the Mustang,It is "supposed" to use the same block thats in the Explorer which is aluminum.It is cheaper to build then the 96-01 Cobra block..That will save a little weight.Wether or not it comes in 05 with that block is uncertain.Rumor has it that it will show up when the 3v shows up.(stinkin' rumors!!)

One thing Im believeing he is wrong on is the tail lights.He has seen the CONCEPT (and test mules)not a actual CAD or any other hint from Ford.If he did it would be on his site.He searches the net for tid bits and pieces his own puzzle together.Please dont use his site for "OMG check this out" stuff.
Im wondering where he gets off saying the Cobra has to beat the Z06???ALL Ford wants (and colletti for that matter) is to beat the STANDARD Vette.He is talking out the wrong end of his body IMHO.

 

This is the one very, very rare instance where I can... the Ford Motor Company press rep himself, and SVT.

When I was digging up info on my article, I was told Mustang was on target for introduction in about a year (this was in March), and was told the Cobra would skip a model year, and return for 2006 with what John Coletti calls "a big surprise".

I could check into what is actually going on at the Flat Rock plant, but I didn't see the need to.

 

That's the conundrum I have. Sometimes you end up with information that you simply can't name the source because you want to keep enough trust to keep the lines of communication open. Yet at the same time, you have people who think the worse because you won't tell them where & from whom you got your information. That's where the person has to rely on his reputation, and if someone questions your information, let it go & don't take offence to it. If you're right, it comes out in the end.

Just imagine receiving a tidbit of info from someone directly involved in a project, but you can't say anything because so few people knew about it, it could fall back on them.

I usually hold off posting stuff or sharing information with others unless it comes from multiple places or people, both to keep their confidence & to keep my reputation (whatever I may have ).

No one doing this type of stuff is going to be 100% right always (me included), but if you get 3 or 4 people who are right just most of the time, and all have a piece or 2 of accurate information, you can pretty much hit things right on the head when you combine it all together.

 

Are they using the Falcon 5.4 V8 or designing a new one?

 

I whole heartedly agree guionM,I cant sit here and post the facts I have on the 2005 Stang out either.But where Im coming from is here,If Brad gets some info from a source,Lets say B.O.N.,He will drop the info on his site like he has the ties with the "correct" people when he is only quoting information from another person,When people from BON post on his site the tend to see how a -------------------------- he is.He sometimes doesnt get his info right too.Afterall.He isnt Gods gift to the Mustang.

 

The actual numbers and costs will continue to be rumors (even if well founded) until the car reaches production. An example is his guess that the V-6 base car will stay under $20,000 while Motor Trend says $22,000. The 99 GT was reported to have 250 hp right until the car came out and had, you guessed it, 260 hp. Things change at the last minute and I will take all with a grain of salt until I see the car on the showroom floor.