I'm just amazed at some of the thought processes going on here.
1. A lot of people have been complaining that 300 HP is too little for the GT and that they are dissappointed. I've seen some of these same people turn around and say that 500 HP would be too much HP for a SVT Cobra.
2. Phil Martens has publicly stated that the gap between the GT and the next SVT Mustang will grow. But many of you just dismiss his comment and keep saying that the next SVT Mustang will have 400 HP and cost $32K.
3. Ford has publicly stated that the 2006 SVT Mustang
will have a substantial HP increase . The 03-04 Cobra has 415 HP ( more than the claimed 390 ) yet several of you keep saying that the 06 SVT will have low 400's. Somehow 415 seems like low 400's to me and that's what the Cobra has now. In Webster's dictionary substantial is defined as "considerable, ample, large. A substantial increse from 415 has to be 20% which would put it near 500 HP.
4. John Colletti has dropped several hints that the 500 HP Ford GT engine would be used in other vehicles. Wouldn't the SVT Mustang be a likely candidate?
Everything keeps pointing towards a 500 HP SVT Mustang that will cost close to $40K. I know some of you are dissappointed that its going to be above your price range. $40K is out of mine price range too. Remember that SVT's mission is to provide high performance and exclusivity. It appears that SVT would rather built 5,000 totally kick a$$ cars than 15,000 so so cars. Ford needs this sort of halo Mustang and that's what SVT is going to deliver.
But a lot of you keep ignoring that at some point in time there will be a special edition Mustang that is going to fill the gap between the GT & the Cobra. This one will probably have close to 400 HP and cost only around $5K or so more than a GT. This is a price & performance range that can have substantial volume, 15,000 cars a year and can be very profitable. Ford knows this too, so you can be pretty sure that they're going to deliver the Mustang you guys are looking for. It just won't be called a SVT Cobra.