Mustang Faithful,

Get ready for a future of 5.8 and/or 6.2 liter Hurricane engines.  (The
"old" 4.6 and 5.4 liter modulars will soon be put out to pasture.)  The
expected [rock &] roll out date for the new V8, or V8s, is 2009.  And
if the competition's current V8 engine output is any indicator, I would
say a 5.8 Hurricane should put out at least 400 and the 6.2-liter
version well north of 450.  And I don't think it's a fantasy to expect
450 and 500+ respectively.

That more than takes care of the GT and GT500 firepower, but what about
our entry-level pony, you ask.  Well, the current 6 will also exit.  In
its place, will come the new 263 horse, 3.5-liter V6.  A new 6-speed
automatic is being promised for the entire Ford line, so you can bet
the Mustang will also sport one.

The next Mustang restyle date is now 2010.  In the mean time, Ford has
pledged to offer special versions each model year.  The next one in the
pipeline, supposedly, is a new Boss 302.  Are there any Mercury or
Lincoln Mustangs being considered?  Yes, Lincoln has worked on a coupe
using the Mustang platform, and planners have considered a Mercury
version, but production plans either are unclear at this time.  My
guess: You can bet on at least one of them to get green-lighted for
production.

Ford is rumoured to be eyeing a RWD sedan.  (With DC's 300, Magnum and
Charger being runaway hits, go figure.)  Two options exist for the
platform: A variant of the Mustang or from a all-new platform being
developed in Australia.  Recently, the case for the Australian version
has strengthened.  Product chief Kuzak said the next-generation Falcon
platform is available as an option that Ford's U.S. product planners
could tap.  But outside of the Mustang, the emphasis of car development
in this [US] market is on front-wheel-drive platforms with awd
capability, he said.  I say, anyone have a big boot to kick Kuzak in
the a.s for that thinking?

And that's it for your Mustang news...

Patrick