It's BACK! Finally, after years of rumours, Ford has revealed the 2019 Mustang Bullitt at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. Ford got the looks absolutely bang on. Of course, it'll never be as good as the original.. but we're comparing it to a 1968 fastback Mustang here. The upgrades are very subtle but true to the original, and if you're at all familiar the Bullitt Mustang, you'll not mistake the new one for anything but a clear tribute. And looks aren't the only thing Ford tweaked. Let's get straight to the meat and potatoes: power.
As expected, the 2019 Bullitt packs more hp than the standard GT. It starts with the upgraded Coyote 5.0 litre V8 (read more here: 2018 Mustang Upgrades) with direct and port injection, but improves on it by cribbing the Shelby GT350's intake manifold and 87 mm throttle body. Ford says it will make "at least" 475 hp, so I figure the official figure will be 480 hp, a healthy 20 hp over the standard GT. Torque is unchanged from 420 lb-ft.
The chassis also gets some attention, with the Bullitt using the Performance pack upgrades. That means upgraded 6-piston from brakes, K-brace, strut tower brace, large radiator, larger rear sway bar, different rate springs with unique chassis tuning and assists (ABS, traction and stability control), Torsen limited slip diff with 3.73 gears, and - very importantly - wider wheels and tires (19" x 9" front wheels and 19" x 9.5" rears with 255/40/19 front tires and 275/40/19 rears). That also includes the MagneRide suspension, which is Ford speak for magnetic shocks. Inside, the shifter gets a cue ball shift knob as a nod to the original, something Ford also did with the Boss 302 and I love the look. Brake calipers will be painted red. Red painted brake calipers stop better than others, that's a fact.
Unfortunately (fortunately for most, I suppose), the Bullitt also includes the equipment that comes with the a bunch of weight-adding "luxury" features like heated and cooled front seats, automated driving assists, large digital instrument cluster, puddle lights, 9 speakers instead of 6, and other features that come with the GT Premium package. On the plus side, the leather-trimmed Recaro seats are included, which are great, as well as the dual-mode active exhaust. And of course, the iconic Dark Highland Green is back, although another optional paint colour is Shadow Black.
Pricing hasn't been announced, but a GT Premium with the Performance Pack starts at $44k incl. destination ($53k CAD in Canada), so expect to pay more than that. Ford says it's a limited-edition model, but has not announced a limit on production so I hope (for the sake of Mustang fans) that markups and availability won't be a big issue. Only other thing left to figure out is how good it all comes together. Ford, could I have one to test? Please, and thank you.
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