Ford showcase all-new Mustang Bullitt
Ford Motor Company has been showing off the new, limited-edition Mustang Bullitt at the 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Due out this summer, the new car celebrates the 50th anniversary of the iconic Steve McQueen film. Unfortunately for us petrolheads in the UK, the Mustang Bullitt is only for the U.S.
The new car is powered by an upgraded 5.0-litre V8 engine that will deliver at least 481PS and 569Nm of torque, enabling the Mustang Bullitt to reach a top speed of 163mph. It is equipped with a manual transmission, and the gear shifter features a white cue ball shift knob as a nod to the original. An active valve performance exhaust system is standard, and retuned to give the car a signature burble, reminiscent of that chase around the streets of San Francisco.
Other standard equipment includes a 12-inch all-digital LCD instrument cluster, identical in function to the cluster introduced on the all-new Mustang that goes on sale across Europe later this year, but with a unique Bullitt™ welcome screen that starts in green with an image of the car rather than the pony.
“This new Bullitt is, as Steve McQueen was, effortlessly cool,” said Darrell Behmer, Mustang chief designer. “As a designer, it’s my favourite Mustang – devoid of stripes, spoilers and badges. It doesn’t need to scream about anything – it’s just cool.”
Exterior paint choices are limited to just two. The first is Shadow Black, but why anyone would choose anything other than the classic Dark Highland Green is a mystery. After all this is the colour as worn in the movie. Other features that pay tribute to the car McQueen drove are subtle chrome accents around the grille and front windows, and classic torque thrust 19-inch aluminium wheels. Inside and out, the vehicle uses minimal badging; only the circular faux fuel-filler cap Bullitt logo on the rear centre is visible on the exterior.
