2010 Mustang To Have A Smaller Look

While real meat and bone information about the upcoming 2010 refresh of the Mustang is scant these days, we have some more insight from the team that is hard at work on it. The redesigned Mustang is due to hit showrooms early next year and will be facing off against both the new Dodge Challenger and the Chevrolet Camaro.

It seems however that Ford has read the tea leaves a bit with the current trends in the market that have been driven by high gas prices and more stringent fuel economy standards. At a recent event, Ford design chief Peter Horbury has said that the 2010 Mustang will have a smaller look than the current car. While it will be identical in size, clever design tricks are said to make the car appear less bulky and heavy.

9 Million Mustangs and Counting

The Mustang passed yet another landmark less than a week after its 44th anniversary on April 17 when production reached nine million units. The milestone Mustang, a GT Convertible, went to a dealership in Iowa for delivery to its lucky customer. As Ford's longest running nameplate, the Mustang had one of the best starts of any production car with over 22,000 sold on the first day and more than one million sold in the first two years. It's had its ups and down over the past 40+ years, but it's safe to say that the Mustang has enjoyed an upswing in popularity since its retro-restyle a few years back.

5.0L V8 Could Return For 2010 Mustang

There is definitely a buzz in the air today with the news about the 5.0L V8 motor returning for the 2010 Mustang. According to Stuff.co.nz who interviewed Bill Osborne, President of Ford Australia, he confirmed a new 5.0L V8 is being developed and built in North America for the Ford Mustang. Osbourne also goes on to say that said engine is a possible candidate for the new Falcon being produced in Australia.

Sounds like he spilled the beans on the possible return of the 5.0 liter V8 motor to the Mustang in either the Mustang GT or some kind of limited edition Boss or Mach 1. What would the 2010 Shelby GT500 be, a supercharged 5.0L V8, we can only dream. Stay tuned for more news.

Source: Stuff.co.nz, mustangblog.com

Ford and Shelby to Build 2009 GT500KR Mustangs to Meet Demand

DEARBORN, Mich., March 20, 2008 - To compliment the 1,000 2008 40th anniversary Edition Shelby GT500KR "King of the Road" Mustangs, Ford and Shelby Automobiles announce that an additional 746 units will be built for the 2009 model year to help meet worldwide demand of the supercar. Of that total, 571 units will be available for U.S. customers thus equaling the 1,571-unit production run of the original Shelby GT500KR. The remainder of the units will be for countries that did not receive 2008 models.

"The response to this car has been overwhelming, so I'm glad we can share it with more Mustang enthusiasts," said Carroll Shelby. "This car is really special to me and demonstrates that when Shelby Automobiles gets together with Ford SVT and Ford Racing, we can deliver a Mustang that will compete with the best in the world."

Like the 40th anniversary limited edition, the 2009 Shelby GT500KR will feature a 540-hp 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack, 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, short-throw shifter, and unique suspension tuning. Exterior design draws inspiration from the classic Shelby KR Mustangs and features unique carbon composite hood, wheels, and unique striping.

The unique 40th anniversary badging will only be featured on the 2008 special edition.

Motor Trend: Shelby GT Beats Roush And Saleen

Shelby and Ford once again proved to be a winning combination when Motor Trend announced the champion of its "Pony Expressed" comparison test in its April 2008 issue. When the 2008 Ford Shelby GT Mustang was challenged on the basis of performance and value, the Shelby GT was chosen over the Roush Stage 2 and Saleen S281.

"The Shelby GT is a well-balanced, fun to drive machine that draws upon our experience of making Mustangs go faster," said Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Autos. "Every lesson we learned while earning our stripes over the past 46 years is built into these ponycars. The competition was fierce with three very good cars in this test, so I'm proud that the Ford Shelby GT has earned another victory for both Team Shelby and every Ford Shelby owner."