Ford’s One-Two Punch: 2019 Bullitt Mustang Makes 475 Horsepower To Outgun Chevy Camaro SS
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Despite the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro’s rather disappointing sales, the car consistently outperformed the latest Ford Mustang. However, with the pony car’s recent refresh, the Mustang team punched back with a 460 horsepower V8 and more. But, the Camaro team took another hit with the 2019 Bullitt Mustang, revealed this week at the 2018 North American International Auto Show.
We say that because the 2019 Ford Bullitt Mustang boasts a whopping 475 hp from its 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine. As a reminder, the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro SS makes 455 hp from its 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine. We do realize the Bullitt is more of special edition car and not exactly a mass-market offering, but still, the Mustang team has been out for blood.
The Bullitt Mustang, which pays homage to the 50th anniversary of Steve McQueen’s Bullitt film, also comes with a uniquely tuned active valve performance exhaust to ensure the extra power has a voice. Of course, it’s finished in Dark Highland Green and boasts 19-inch Torq Thrust-style wheels, faux gas cap Bullitt logo and a cue-ball shift knob, too.
We’ve said it once before, and we’ll say it again: the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro refresh will likely encompass more than once thought to answer the Mustang this time around.
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The upshot here for Chevy is, most Mustangs won’t get much further than the first curb or crowd of spectators.
I say Camaro needs to get to work. Mustang already out sells them not they are set on out performing them. Not a good omen.
Agreed!
Bullitt Mustang is cooler than any Transformer Camaro, and I’m a lifetime Chevy guy.
Yea who cares about Ford’s latest Bullshitt
That’s about the same hp as the challenger SRT8 (not hellcat)
Safe to say the styling of the 6th gen missed the mark. HP helps to sell good looking cars. But when you have something that looks half import with a bow tie on the front, it just never really got off the ground.
To bad they are content on staying with there refresh idea. They need to scrap the refresh, and go directly to a 7th gen.
How does the Camaro look half import?
I think they went with to many angles on the body, and headlights looked kind like an Audi. . But regardless of my personal opinion, I have asked other Camaro owners. They have said they like how Mustang has stayed more true to its roots with concept and design, and each body re-design, still emulates the original with new refinements. They also said while the 5th Gen was a instant homerun on design, with obvious ties to the original 1st Gen, it seems like they all of sudden GM ditched those ideas on the 6th gen, and that was widely thought why the 5th gen was so successful of a design. In other words, without the bowtie you couldn’t identify it with the chevrolet brand , let alone Camaro.
I think it was great they were able to Lighten to the 6th gen up so it wasn’t so heavy, and give it an extra 30Hp on the SS. But one of the biggest complaints of the 5th gen was the blind spot and backing up. I was surprised this wasn’t addressed on the 6th gen.
I guess I just don’t see it. True, the styling of the Mustang has stayed somewhat constant, but the Camaro has been less so. It’s had a few changes throughout it’s life. I guess that is why I don’t really have a problem with the styling. Point taken, though.
Chevy can institute the same modifications to the Camaro they did with the 2019 Silverado which would be to switch to aluminum doors, hood, trunk and fenders which should reduce weight which should make the Camaro SS competitive.
The SS already out performs the new GT and I don’t think this extra 15hp for a limited edition is going to give them much of an edge. They will still lose in handling but be a tad ahead in the 1/4 mile (like a tenth).
I’m in the market for a pony car. I’m a GM leaning guy but the Mustang refresh has me reconsidering. The Mustang is cheaper and Ford really upped their performance game. The Mustang Bullitt looks like a really compelling package. Unfortunately, I expect it’ll be limited production at a big premium price (probably with large dealer mark-ups like on the Shelbeys). But we’ll see.
I’ll probably hold out until 2019 before making a purchase decision to see if the Camaro SS is more than just some minor sheet metal tweaking. But I agree with folks here Chevy really needs to up their game on the Camaro SS.
I like your comment. And l also like both the Mustang and Camaro (V8’s) and too will hold off for a year or two as I have some other expenses this year.
I did see on a youtube presentation (I think “Matt Moran”?) that the Bullitt will not be limited though – so was pleased to see this. Will see if that holds true, but I seem to recall he reported this as information from a Ford rep.
I currently own a 2012 Mustang GT Premium coupe with mild mods from Steeda and Michilin Pilot Sport tyres w/ only 9k miles so in no hurry to change…but will do so by 2020 I’m sure as these newer cars are improving in so many ways. Great days for car enthusiasts!
Steve, the Mustang was cheaper but then with all the 2018 updates to compete with the Camaro, it actually costs more now.
“The Ford Mustang GT starts at around $35,095 for the regular and $39,095 for the Premium Fastback. The Camaro SS costs $37,995 for the 1SS and $42,995 for the 2SS model.”
Source: https://blog.americanmuscle.com/2017/11/16/2018-mustang-gt-vs-2018-camaro-ss/
That’s the low-end SS. I want a convertible pretty much loaded. Trying to get the 2 configured exactly the same is a bit crazy because Ford pretty much lumps everything into their expensive GT Performance Package (required for other ad-ons like magnetic ride). A big reason the GT Performance Package costs $3,995 is because it includes Brembo six-piston front brake calipers with larger rotors. Chevy options the same brakes by themselves at $3,175. Options for magnetic ride and performance exhaust are the same between the cars.
I’ll give Chevy credit their option list is far more flexible than Ford but in my case it leaves me paying thousands more.
Plus, in my region Ford dealers routinely advertise good deals on Mustangs. Advertised discounts on Camaros range from the stingy to modest except end of the year fire sales on leftovers nobody wants.
Camaro outsold the Mustang considerably to retail customers in 2017. With the refresh coming up midyear 2018 look for horsepower to increase considerably.
And out of the reviews I’ve seen thus far – the extra power still doesn’t make it quicker. Faster, yes – quicker (aka – anything usable – 0-150 does not apply to the street, or the drag strip, or even most race tracks), no.