Monday 5th March 2018

Ford Mustang Bullitt: Geneva 2018

The McQueen-inspired Mustang is coming to Geneva - even better, it's coming to the UK afterwards

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You'll remember the latest Mustang Bullitt - it made its debut at the Detroit show in January, where it looked decidedly epic in Dark Highland Green and threatened to sound even better with a gently fettled version of Ford's 5.0-litre V8. Well, the Geneva show will play host to the car's European unveil - an event made all the more momentous by news that it will eventually be sold here, too.

"Nothing captured the spirit and excitement of Mustang quite like that amazing car chase in 'Bullitt'," said Steven Armstrong, Ford's European president. "The new Mustang Bullitt will pack a similar punch when it goes on sale later this year with more power, high specification and - just like the film's star, Steve McQueen - dripping with understated cool."

Well, okay. You'll need to commute to work in lusty pursuit of a Dodge Charger to get the full effect, but there's no question that the car looks pretty special in its characteristic paint job (you can have it in Shadow Black too - but shouldn't) and 19-inch Torq Thrust-style wheels. No word on prices just, although the car is due to go into production in June so we shouldn't have long to wait. See below for the full story.

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ORIGINAL STORY 15/01/18
The rumours and speculation were right: Ford has made a new Bullitt Mustang, and here it is! Unveiled at the Detroit motor show - where else? - it celebrates 50 years since Steve McQueen (and a Mustang GT390) stole the show in Bullitt. Y'know, in case you haven't heard...

"When making a Bullitt, there are certain things it absolutely must have. It has to have the right attitude, it has to be unique in some way from a Mustang GT, and more than anything, it has to be bad ass." That's the opinion of Mustang chief engineer Carl Widmann, and we like the cut of his jib. When was the last time you heard "bad ass" in a press soundbite? Moreover, while the obvious focus will be on the car's styling - more on that in a sec - Widmann has been true to his word in offering something unique under the skin, too.

While using the GT's 5.0-litre V8 'Coyote' engine, the Bullitt employs a new "Open Air Induction System" which uses the GT350's intake manifold and larger, 87mm throttle bodies as well. There's also an uprated active valve performance exhaust system, said to give the Mustang its "signature burble". All in Ford is claiming "at least" 475hp and 420lb ft, with top speed up on the standard car to 163mph. The Bullitt is manual only, too.

Now we're all aware of what makes a Bullitt Mustang a Bullitt Mustang, so Ford hasn't tampered with the formula too much here. It's painted Dark Highland Green (Shadow Black is available, but why would you want that?), the wheels evoke the original and the car is almost devoid of external insignia - the '5.0' badges have disappeared from the wings, there's not a Ford logo anywhere, and the only identifier is the Bullitt boot badge. Like the 1968 car, this 2018 model features chrome around the grille and front windows.

That theme continues inside, with a cue ball shifter just like Frank's Mustang. This car also features green accents for the leather, plus a new instrument cluster that features a Bullitt welcome screen; perhaps a bit naff, but we won't complain just yet. Options include a Recaro seat upgrade and a 'Bullitt Electronics Package' comprised of nav, memory seats, an upgraded sound system and blind spot warning, in case you're unsure where that Charger you need to ram off the road is lurking. The suspension can also be upgraded to include magnetic dampers, which Ford says "optimises driving performance"; surely just the thing for jumping through San Francisco's streets.

The new Bullitt Mustang is due out this summer, though there aren't yet any details on price or availability. Pester Ford now if you're as keen to see them in the UK as we are!

 

 

[hhhpsmlh8]

Look at the old one next to the new one.... The old one looks the Business.. New one Nahhhh

[wildatheart]

It was all going really well until she started speaking.

[coppice]

What is it with the constant looking back of the motor industry? So many cars are built as an homage (pastiche more like ) of stuff from decades ago. Where the hell would we be now if Bullitt's Mustang hadn't been the shiny new model first seen only three years earlier , and which had come out of nowhere , but had itself been a tribute to a '38 Ford Model 81 A Convertible ?

[GTEYE]

Hey I don't care how good it is or if its significantly better than the GT.

At the end of the day it's a Bullitt Mustang, so it just went off the scale of cool, which is fine by me.

[gregd]

I like it.. I'm a bit of a McQueen geek though. Hope it comes to the UK but I'd be surprised.

[urquattroGus]

The TVR Griffith engine is not looking so "special".

Hopefully they manage to deliver a NA engine with over 500bhp.

[Save the manuals]

Just look at that green colour!

[sh33n]

coppice said:

What is it with the constant looking back of the motor industry? So many cars are built as an homage (pastiche more like ) of stuff from decades ago. Where the hell would we be now if Bullitt's Mustang hadn't been the shiny new model first seen only three years earlier , and which had come out of nowhere , but had itself been a tribute to a '38 Ford Model 81 A Convertible ?

Who cares, when the result looks this good

[Amanitin]

Badass is one word. Bad ass is something else.

[David87]

Bloody lovely.

[Rawwr]

I normally find green cars to be rather nauseating but I really like that. It works very well on the current Mustang shape with the various black accents.

[Fetchez la vache]

I recon they should have given it a few more Bullitt queues from the front, like the lights, ditching the standard grille and giving it chrome mirrors, rather than taking the badges off and making it a suitable colour.

Hard line to walk though - don't want to make a complete pastiche..

[Podie]

Stateside only, I understand

[AppleJuice]

Doesn't this use the same basic engine as the Griffith?

ETA:

urquattroGus said:

The TVR Griffith engine is not looking so "special".

Hopefully they manage to deliver a NA engine with over 500bhp.

[Gareth220]

My wife investigated this morning about expressing interest in one if they do come to the UK. The Inchcape Ford franchise were uninterested in discussing it. She was the only one they had heard from with any interest in the car.

To be fair they probably switched off when they found out it wasnt a mainstream Fiesta or Focus she was enquiring about. Ford dealers arnt really used to having "special" cars.

My wife has an itch that isnt going away around owning a new V8 Mustang, and its not something I am encouraging be added to the collection. However if the Bullitt edition did come to the UK that might just be accepted into the garage.

[mwstewart]

Looks great!

[M1C]

I like it.

The original is of course much cooler but i do like this.

[Iknownothin]

Quote from Autocar "Production will be limited, but not so limited that would prevent it from leaving the US to export markets. To that end, an as yet unspecified number of Mustang Bullitts will come to UK from this summer" . Let's hope that's a quote from someone in the know at Ford, it certainly sounds like it.

[vz-r_dave]

For those stating why, as far as I know they have been building Bullitt stangs across most of the era's so this is nothing new.

[daveknott5]

Looks great and I like the ad too! Here's hoping it comes to the UK in RHD