Spy photos show little other than what we have already seen
08-13-07:
So what does one write about in the dead of summer when little real news is aplay? One writes another article on the upcoming 2010 Mustang. Are there any huge new developments that we have not already covered? No. Is there definitive news about what the face lifted Mustang will have under the hood? No. Does a story like this generate web traffic like a bloody car accident? Hell yes.
Really though, there have been some developments in the past month or so that continue to back up our previous reports about the mid-cycle facelift for the S-197 Mustang. As it is scheduled right now, the new redesigned will arrive in mid 2009 as a 2010 model. We expect cars to be on display at the 45th Mustang Anniversary Celebration in April.
We have previously reported that Ford is working on a new family of large displacement V8 engines that will enable more power and torque in naturally aspirated trim than the current 4.6 liter engines. The new BOSS V8 is believed to be a larger version of the overhead cam modular engine family and will come in two sizes which are reported to be 5.8 and 6.2 liters. While those sizes could change, they are right in line with what GM and Chrysler will be offering in the upcoming Camaro and Challenger which are due out about the same time as the 2010 Mustang.
We had reported early on that cylinder deactivation technology may play a role with the new larger V8 engines. It has been largely denied, but in recent months a Ford engineer made mention at a press event that they are indeed working on such technology. The system deactivates up to half of the cylinders while driving when the extra power is not needed to save fuel. When power is needed, the engine seamlessly goes back to V8 mode. Both GM and Chrysler have been able to increase fuel efficiency on their large V8’s with this system. With the looming government legislation to raise CAFÉ MPG standards, Ford is carefully looking in to the future of their V8 engines.
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The V6 base engine continues to be favored as the new 3.5 liter DOHC Duratec engine that has been released in the new Taurus, Edge and Lincoln MKZ. This engine puts down about 265hp and would make base Mustangs competitive in its class in both power and technology. There is also a larger variant of 3.7 liters being developed which could get the nod as well.
There has also been talk about use of the Twin Force V6 engine that debuted in the Lincoln MK-R concept last January. A twin turbo version of the 3.5 liter V6, the engine produces about 400hp and is said to offer better efficiency than a V8 with equal power. We have been running a poll on our site for the past couple of weeks asking whether people would opt for a 400hp twin turbo V6 or a 400hp V8. The results have been surprisingly in favor of a Twin Force engine. If Ford were to offer such an engine in the Mustang it would surely not replace a V8, but likely be an optional engine that would be offered in a special edition of the car. Mustang Twin Force?
On the styling front, the most definitive news that has been gleaned from new reports as well as a number of recent spy photos is that the next Mustang will take a number of cues from the Guigiaro Concept Mustang shown last fall. Our renderings on this page depict styling themes taken from the bright orange Italian Stallion that made the show circuit all year. The few spy photos that have surfaced with camouflaged front ends show the same hard forms as the front clip of the Guigiaro car. Add this to innuendo and hints that various Ford employees have dropped in the past year that the concept car hints at the design direction of the next Mustang.
Again, this all ties closely with our previous reports that outlined the look and feel of the 2010 Mustang. Its rear flanks will be more defined with pronounced “hips” that take a page from both the 1969-1070 Mustang but also the Guigiaro Concept. The front will be more aggressive with a meaner stance, again much in theme to the aforementioned concept car.
So, do you feel smarter than you did 10 minutes ago? Probably not. But, we continue to look forward with anticipation. Until better spy photos come about and until someone at Ford breaks the silence we will continue to stick by what we know, what we have surmised and deduced from the scant information that has leaked out thus far.
