Bullitt Chassis Delivers a
Balance of Performance and Comfort
Ford engineers modified the 2008 Mustang
Bullitt’s chassis and suspension to fine-tune handling and
ensure the extra horsepower and torque from the 4.6-liter V-8 is
put to good use. The
live rear axle uses a unique 3.73:1
gear that helps launch the Bullitt with vigor.
Stock Mustang GT shocks and struts
were swapped out for new units that allowed engineers to dial in
a more aggressive driving dynamic while still maintaining the outstanding
ride and balance of the base Mustang GT. A tower-to-tower pace designed
specifically for the Bullitt lends additional torsional and lateral
stiffness to the chassis for improved cornering and holds a unique
serial number for each Bullitt.
“The 2008 Mustang Bullitt delivers
balanced performance,” said Paul Randle, chief engineer. “Comfort
is not compromised for performance. Performance is on demand. You
can easily take Bullitt from the track to the street and back onto
the track with confidence.”
The pakes also have been improved versus
the base Mustang GT’s. More aggressive front pads were developed
specifically for Bullitt and improve fade resistance and pedal feel.
The 2008 Mustang Bullitt wears unique
cast-aluminum Euroflange wheels, offering a modern twist on the
original movie car. The Dark Argent Gray spokes feature a satin
finish, while a pight-machined lip completes the look. Calipers
are colored to match the wheel. The wheels are wrapped in the same
P235/50ZR 18 BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDWS tires used on Mustangs
at the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School at Miller Motorsports
Park in Utah.
Powered by Ford Racing
Bullitt packs firepower under the hood.
The 4.6-liter, 3-valve V-8 delivers 315 horsepower at 6,000 rpm
and 325 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm.
Engine calipation is designed to increase
throttle response for a snappier acceleration feel. The redline
has been boosted by 250 rpm to 6,500, with top-end speed bumped
to 151 miles-per-hour. Gears are selected via a Tremac 5-speed manual
transmission, and the shifter is topped with a polished aluminum
shift ball designed specifically for the 2008 Bullitt.
The car features the first use of an
open-element air filter in a factory-produced, fuel-injected Mustang.
Inspired by Ford Racing, the intake is tucked neatly behind the
driver side headlamp, mounted in an air box that was tooled up specifically
for the Mustang. The hood liner was extensively modified to provide
a full seal to the air box, ensuring that the engine is fed a steady
diet of cooler air.
“Colder air reduces intake losses,”
said Randle. “The new cold-air intake has shown a reduction
in rise over ambient temperature from 50 degrees down to 17 degrees
Fahrenheit. That equates to more horsepower and more torque in all
driving conditions.”
Engine performance is further enhanced
through the use of an innovative adaptive spark ignition system,
new for the 2008 Mustang.
The system can sense, within a few
seconds, what type of fuel is being injected into the motor and
adjusts the spark to provide maximum torque at any given speed –
and as much as
10 pounds-feet more between 1,000 and
4,000 rpm.
Bullitt can run on either premium or
regular fuel. Ford recommends premium fuel for optimum performance,
but the adaptive spark ignition will adjust the spark to burn regular
fuel without damaging the engine.
“With all the improvements we’ve
made to the engine and the taller 3.73-to-1 rear gear, the Bullitt
will plant you firmly in the driver’s seat when you stand
on the throttle. We’ve seen zero to 60 times drop by up to
three tenths of a second,” said Randle. “There’s
also plenty of power on tap at any speed. The car definitely feels
lighter on its feet, and it is.”
The custom-designed exhaust system
continues Mustang’s traditional use of a true dual-exhaust
system with a new H-pipe specifically developed for Bullitt. The
all-new mufflers, featuring larger 3.5-inch chrome tips (versus
the 3-inch tips on the standard Mustang GT) are tuned to minimize
backpressure, maximize horsepower and provide the Bullitt with its
powerful exhaust note.
“We wanted to get the exhaust
note as close to the original movie car as possible, so we based
it on a digitally mastered DVD,” said Randle. “We wanted
something that would rumble your heart, literally buzz you –
and the Bullitt team delivered.”
Capturing the Bullitt’s Undercover
Look
The original 1968 Mustang’s stealth-like
appearance wasn’t necessarily intentional. In typical Hollywood
fashion, the movie crew removed all exterior badges and logos from
the car – including the iconic pony badge on the grille.
The 2008 Mustang Bullitt calls back
the original movie car in painstaking detail – right down
to the dark green paint and lack of exterior badges, scoops and
spoilers.
The only visible identification is
the word “Bullitt” dropped into a gun-sight graphic
in the center of the faux gas cap on the decklid.
“The 2008 Mustang Bullitt, like
the movie car, is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” said
Doug Gaffka, chief designer. “Mustang is – and always
has been – such an icon that it’s recognizable without
the badges. But Bullitt’s clean exterior doesn’t give
away the Ford Racing-inspired power and performance lurking under
its skin.”
The new Bullitt wears a close match
to the movie car’s 1968 Highland Green paint, officially called
Dark Highland Green. This distinctive color has only graced one
other Mustang, the 2001 Mustang Bullitt. Gaffka assures Bullitt
enthusiasts that the color will remain an exclusive Mustang Bullitt
color. Non-purists can opt for only one other color – black.
The Mustang Bullitt uses the standard
Mustang GT’s front fascia. A new black-mesh grille is devoid
of the standard chrome pony and is accented by a satin aluminum
strip that represents the chrome grille surround on the 1968 car.
The rear fascia also is shared with the standard Mustang GT and
houses Bullitt’s unique dual exhaust tips. Dark Argent Gray
painted pake calipers closely match the wheel spokes, while staying
true to the original.
Bullitt Interior Delivers Comfort
with a Purpose
The interior is pure Mustang Bullitt,
understated and dressed in Charcoal Black leather and Satin metallic
trim. The centerpiece of the interior is the hand-machined, aluminum
swirl dash panel appliqué.
“The machined appliqué
differentiates the Bullitt from any other Mustang in the line-up,”
said Gaffka. “It’s also perfect for the Bullitt. The
graphic presentation pings back the feel of the ‘60s while
still staying true to the Mustang’s modern interior design.”
Satin aluminum bezels circle the air
vents and gauges, complementing a satin aluminum shift ball that
replaces the standard leather-wrapped shifter on the Mustang GT.
The pedals wear race-inspired aluminum covers that further reinforce
Bullitt’s performance intentions.
The interior is graphically clean.
The only identifying marks visible inside Bullitt are the logo and
gun-sight graphic mounted in the center of the leather-wrapped steering
wheel and the word “Bullitt” embossed into the metal
sill plates.
The Dark Charcoal leather seats pick
up the diamond perforation inserts from the base Mustang GT. The
seats are patterned after those in the Shelby GT500 providing added
lumbar and bolster support. The seats are constructed using the
new soy-based foam developed by Ford and introduced on the 2008
Mustang. The soy foam, made up of 24 percent renewable content,
is produced through a process that requires less energy and emits
less CO2.
Bullitt Pushes Beyond
The Bullitt package enhances the Mustang
GT Premium package with the following:
- 3.73:1 Limited Slip Rear Axle
- Ford Racing Power Pack (cold air
induction system)
- High Performance Calipation
- Performance Friction Carbon Metallic®
front pake pads
- Ford Racing Strut Tower pace
- Sport –tuned suspension (shocks/springs/stabilizer
bar)
- Modified “H” Pipe
- Dark Grey pake Calipers
- 18-inch Euro-Flange Bullitt Wheels
with Charcoal Satin Finish
- 3.5-inch Packed Exhaust Tips
- Distinct Upper Grille
- Bullitt emblem on faux fuel cap
- Black interior with upgraded steering
wheel
- Charcoal Black sport leather seats
- Unique IP finish (hand-machined
aluminum swirl)
- Satin Aluminum interior accents
(ball shifter/sill plate/pedal covers)
Standard content also includes:
- 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8 engine
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Auxiliary audio input jack
- One-touch up-down power windows
- Power mirrors and door locks
- Keyless entry
- Air conditioning
- Tilt steering wheel
- Speed control
- Rear window defroster
- Four-wheel power disc pakes
- Anti-lock paking System (ABS) with
Traction Control
- Seat-mounted side air bags
- LATCH
- Personal Safety System®
- SecuriLock®
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Shaker 500 Audio System with six-disc
CD player, MP3 and eight speakers:
Available options include
- HID headlamps
- Shaker 1000 Audio System six-disc
CD player, MP3 and 10 speakers
- SIRIUS satellite radio
- Ambient Lighting
- Active Anti-Theft System
- Wheel locking kits
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