Ford Mustang Bullitt

FIRSTDRIVE Lights, camera, action! We take new Bullitt film tribute car for a spin.

- Jeff Zurschmeide

TO understand the Ford Mustang Bullitt, you have to be familiar with the eponymous 1968 Steve McQueen action movie. The high-speed chase scene is legendary for its jumps on San Francisco’s hills – and to mark the film’s 50th anniversary, Ford is cashing in with a new special-edition Fastback.

Ford made Bullitt tribute models in 2001 and 2008, but neither was available in the UK. Typically, they are debadged and painted only in dark green or black, while also offering a slightly more powerful engine. Production is limited, but only by how many Ford can build and sell in a year.

The 2019 Mustang Bullitt uses the same 5.0-litre V8 engine as the Mustang GT, yet adds a tidy cold air intake system. The throttle body has been upgraded from 82mm to 87mm, and the intake manifold is borrowed

from the not-for-UK GT 350. Those changes, plus some special engine programming, give the Bullitt an extra 14bhp over the standard GT. The 0-62mph time remains at 4.6 seconds, and top speed is still capped at 155mph.

The latest Bullitt also gets upgraded suspension, an active exhaust, sport driving modes and a Brembo brake kit.