12-Month Promise: Ford Pledges New Mustang Every Year
Date posted: 06-22-2006
DEARBORN, Mich. — Describing the Mustang as its "iconic" product, Ford executives on Wednesday promised to keep interest in the pony car high by providing "new product content" year over year.
"We will add new products to the Mustang lineup," Derrick Kuzak told Inside Line. "It's a commitment. Carroll [Shelby] will work every year on the Mustang."
Kuzak, however, gave no details on what's in the pipeline for Mustang. When asked if we can expect a 600-horsepower version of the car, he replied, "Never say never to anything." It was clear in interviews that Shelby and the Ford team may be a bit anxious about the prospects of a revived Chevrolet Camaro.
"With the new Camaro, they'd better not dream they'll have more horsepower [than Mustang]," Shelby told IL in an interview at the 2007 Ford full-line preview here on Wednesday, which showcased the 2007 Shelby GT500. When asked if the Mustang is racing toward the 600-hp mark, the automotive legend said, "It would be very easy for the Mustang to go to 600 horsepower — and north from there — and still pass the company's 50,000-mile warranty."
When asked if we could see a 600-hp Mustang in a year or two, Shelby responded, "Maybe."
"I'd get in trouble if I told you," he said, although he confirmed that a redesigned Mustang is due out in 2009. Shelby confided that while his health is good following both a heart transplant and a kidney transplant, he is now blind in one eye.
When asked for his impressions of the Camaro concept, Shelby said, "I don't think it's sensational, but I think it's adequate." He added: "I don't think the Camaro will come out with anything that puts us down. We are ahead of the game. And we know how to stay ahead. I don't see people — the general press or the public — knocking the design of the Mustang."
I am sure they can get that kind of power. That may not be the point. The beauty of the Mustang has always been a bang for the buck kind of thing. The fact that the average guy could afford one.
Enter Carrol Shelby. Building a car that most of us here would give a limb to own. Then build such a miniscule number of them that the price will be 2X sticker in many cases. Thus taking a car that is approaching the price of a Vette anyway, and pushing it north of a Viper and most Porsches. Also effectively ending any dream that most of us will ever have of owning such a machine.
Doing this year after year will simply irritate me. Greatly.
Of course I would love a machine like the one described, but I have a wife a mortgage and 2 (soon to be 3) children. The low 40s I can swing. The 70s plus I refuse to swing. If I am going to do that, I will get a used Viper, or look into a Jag.
I guess what I am trying to say, although I think the upcomming stangs will probably be VERY exciting machines, if they are handled like the new GT 500, this is nothing to crow about. They are taking what was the everyman car, and been very succesful with as the everyman car, and turning it into an exotic most of us will never see, much less have the chance to own. And if the past is any indication, the new stock Camaro will humiliate the run of the mill stock GT mustangs that most of us are able to get our hands on.
I hope I am wrong...
__________________
GO TEAM BULLITT. Check out our audition video in my profile!!! Then check us out on the SPEED channel Feb. 9th on BULLRUN season 2!!
My brothers friend bought a white Boss with blue stripes. That guy has had everything Ford... gts, cobras, lightenings, modded mustangs... everything. I wish I could see it once.
i've always said it...the best mustangs are built in the backyard...not bought from any dealer...screw the high end dealer crap...over 60,ooo dollars? even over 50? no way is that coin coming from me to ford....if i ever buy any car over 50 grand...its gonna be a vette...cause no factory built mustang is touching that vette...
Good for FORD! If the want a new Mustang every year thats cool with me. As far as buying a used viper and getting used to it...sounds like someone isn't a real mustang fan. Wait and buy a used mustang.
The Mustang has always been precieved as direct comp to the vette, now finally since the mid 60's the mustang can compete witht the vette. I guarantee some will buy them. This isn't the average mustang driver that want one of these its a niche car...so leave it as that. I doubt "the stock the new stock Camaro will humiliate the run of the mill stock GT" Because if memory serves me right the camaro went away for 5 or 6 years so they have the catching up to do.
__________________
2006 V6 Tungsten Grey, MRT Max thunder, AA dyno tune TI CAI. 1/4mile 14.4 @ 95 MPH TGR #001
2nd Fastest N/A 4.0 in Michigan!!!!
Good for FORD! If the want a new Mustang every year thats cool with me. As far as buying a used viper and getting used to it...sounds like someone isn't a real mustang fan. Wait and buy a used mustang.
The Mustang has always been precieved as direct comp to the vette, now finally since the mid 60's the mustang can compete witht the vette. I guarantee some will buy them. This isn't the average mustang driver that want one of these its a niche car...so leave it as that. I doubt "the stock the new stock Camaro will humiliate the run of the mill stock GT" Because if memory serves me right the camaro went away for 5 or 6 years so they have the catching up to do.
since when has the mustang ever been a direct competitor for the vette? i remember mustang vs camaro...mustang vs charger...mustang vs ricers everywhere...i've never seen mustang vs vette...and i've yet to see any of fords high end rich boy stangs run with a vette yet either...i say again...why buy this new spoiled rich kid stang so you can see the same vette taillights that us gters see...i've owned 3 stangs...i'm one of the biggest stang fans since steve mcqueen....but i'm also realistic
Yeah, the Vette is a 2 seater sports car, the mustang is a 2+2.. heck, the ford GT cant even beat the Z06.. the GT500 wont either. The new Z06 is 500 HP and 3100 LBS....that is amazing for a production car...hands down...almost 1000lbs lighter than the GT500
__________________
2006 Deluxe GT 5 Spd Manual Tungsen Grey with black painted stripes, 20 x 10 konig beyonds, kw V3 coil over kit, BMR Chomoly Panhard rod, BMR Boxed Subrames, BMR Upper Strut, BMR lower control arms, BMR Upper Control Arm, Eibach Sway bars, Prothane Eurethane bushing kit. Bassani cat back.w/ x-pipe + hi flow cats, Roush Rear Spoiler, Street Scene Body kit,Street scene grille, 3D carbon louvers, HID system, Raptor Shiftlight with Speed of sound pillar guage, C&L with Preditor 91 Custom Tune
Good for FORD! If the want a new Mustang every year thats cool with me. As far as buying a used viper and getting used to it...sounds like someone isn't a real mustang fan. Wait and buy a used mustang.
The Mustang has always been precieved as direct comp to the vette, now finally since the mid 60's the mustang can compete witht the vette. I guarantee some will buy them. This isn't the average mustang driver that want one of these its a niche car...so leave it as that. I doubt "the stock the new stock Camaro will humiliate the run of the mill stock GT" Because if memory serves me right the camaro went away for 5 or 6 years so they have the catching up to do.
I am a real Mustang fan, but I also expect the Mustang to be for the regular guy. That is what has always made it so special. I LOVE the idea of a new Stang model every year!
I am not sure where you come up with the Vette being direct competition to the Mustang... The T-bird was originally competition to the Vette. This was long before a Mustang had ever been concieved.
All things being equal, I go for the mustang. However, when you start moving it up into the range of Vettes and Vipers, well, to put it plainly, it is now gone from a car nearly anyone can get ahold of, into a realm where only about 5% can. (the price of a Corvette puts it into at a price point where only 5% of auto sales are.) And if that happens, I will feel very betrayed. Betrayed enough to start looking in other directions. I like the Viper. If the Stang I want moves up into that range, hey hey hey.
__________________
GO TEAM BULLITT. Check out our audition video in my profile!!! Then check us out on the SPEED channel Feb. 9th on BULLRUN season 2!!
I'll give my money towards a Ferrari before I start shelling out that kinda cash for a Ford.
Cobra's were always about bang for buck. I think it's just bordering on selling us out to try and claim the title as the fastest production car or one with the most hp...which will never happen with exotic cars like Bugatti.
I wish Shelby would go away...I want SVT back. HE made some great cars in his time...he may be a millionare but I am not. I can't afford his cars! Lol.
I agree...the ford mustang is the average man's sports car that can challenge the best sports cars on the road. Don't take that away from us.
__________________
2005 Black GT Whipple HO | Oil Seperator | Steeda Tensioner | 93 dyno tune | Autometer Cobalt | GTAs
I wish Shelby would go away...I want SVT back. HE made some great cars in his time...he may be a millionare but I am not. I can't afford his cars!
totally agree with tw0scoops on that. shelby is cool and all, but all that nameplate means for the average stang enthusiast is a mustang that is not within thier reach. we need SVT back....
I'll give my money towards a Ferrari before I start shelling out that kinda cash for a Ford.
Cobra's were always about bang for buck. I think it's just bordering on selling us out to try and claim the title as the fastest production car or one with the most hp...which will never happen with exotic cars like Bugatti.
I wish Shelby would go away...I want SVT back. HE made some great cars in his time...he may be a millionare but I am not. I can't afford his cars! Lol.
I agree...the ford mustang is the average man's sports car that can challenge the best sports cars on the road. Don't take that away from us.
Very well put!!
__________________
GO TEAM BULLITT. Check out our audition video in my profile!!! Then check us out on the SPEED channel Feb. 9th on BULLRUN season 2!!
Yeah, the Vette is a 2 seater sports car, the mustang is a 2+2.. heck, the ford GT cant even beat the Z06.. the GT500 wont either. The new Z06 is 500 HP and 3100 LBS....that is amazing for a production car...hands down...almost 1000lbs lighter than the GT500
heh heh...i remember this old thread...aint it weird how times change...new mustang every year? turns out ford isnt even sure if they'll even be any ford in a few years
Maybe they will do a Mopar and ask Uncle Sam for some $.
__________________
07 GT. Exterior mods n/a. Engine mods, see profile.
One of the more powerful cars around.
One of the slower cars around.
Makes me feel like a kid every time.
600 HP Boss Mustang with 50k Warranty? 
"
