I could see my target ahead; a vicious drug dealer attempting to make his getaway in a sleek black Maserati.  There was no escape, though.  This lowlife thug didn’t know who he was dealing with.  I checked to make sure my sidearm and badge were on the seat next to me, then gunned my Mustang’s engine, spurring the 315-horsepower V8 to life and propelling the muscle car through a narrow gap between a lumbering city bus and a couple of taxis…

Okay, to be honest, it wasn’t a “narrow gap,” it was more like five hundred feet.  And it was actually a blinking red light at which I had the right of way.  And that Maserati was really an old Ford Taurus wagon, the driver more of an “elderly retiree” than a “vicious drug dealer.”  And, if you want to get technical, the “sidearm and badge” on the seat could be called a “cellphone and grocery list.”  I don’t mean to exaggerate; it’s just that the 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt Edition has a way of making everyday life more exciting.

This special edition lays an action-movie veneer on the already decent Mustang, at heart.  That may seem like a cynical way to look at it, but it’s a simple and effective recipe for a rather entertaining car.  Harkening to the 1968 Steve McQueen movie whose movie history-making seven-minute car chase featured a Mustang fastback squaring off against a Dodge Charger, the Bullitt Edition Mustang brings a re-imagined bit of Hollywood magic to the streets.  Unlike the average Hollywood blockbuster though, there’s a measure of substance to this action star.

The Dark Highland Green paint is unique to the Bullitt, and comes close to matching the color of the car in the film.  The paint and set of dark gray 18-inch mag wheels provide a coolly aggressive look that’s very effective.  The dark colors go well with the Mustang’s retro-fastback looks, and give this car the swagger of a brooding action hero.  Look closely and you’ll notice a distinct lack of Mustang or Ford badges on the car; this is a reference to the de-badged movie car.  The only identifying characteristic is a “Bullitt” badge on the rear deck, and another in the center of the steering wheel.  The Bullitt isn’t as ostentatious as the usual candy-colored and racing-striped muscle car, but it stands out immediately.

The black leather interior is set apart from the standard Mustang cabin by a body-wide machined aluminum panel  A special aluminum shifter ball matches the satin trim on the gauge bezels.  The seats have additional bolstering to keep driver and passenger in place during high-speed chases.  Apart from these details, the Bullitt’s interior is the same retro-modern cabin found on the rest of the lineup.  Seat-mounted side airbags, Ford’s Shaker 500 eight-CD sound system and a tire pressure monitor are standard.  Sirius satellite radio, the Mustang’s funky interior “mood” lighting and an upgraded noise-making system are available.

When you’ve got 315 horsepower on tap, excitement is just a flex of the ankle away.  The Bullitt’s 4.6 liter V8 gets sharpened throttle response and a 3.73 rear end to improve acceleration, and a bumped redline that increases top speed to 151 miles per hour.  An open-element air filter improves the car’s breathing.  Thanks to the magic of digital remastering, the Bullitt Mustang’s dual exhaust has even been tuned to match the movie car’s sound.  This makes it even harder to resist the temptation to floorboard the gas pedal for no good reason.  The five-speed manual transmission is a sturdy Tremec unit that puts the power to the rear wheels in true muscle car fashion.  Traction control is the street-driven Mustang’s best friend.  The Bullitt’s keeps the tail in line without chopping the power or spoiling the accelerative fun.

It may look like a scene-for-scene remake of a classic muscle car, but the Mustang is actually surprisingly comfortable on the road.  The Mustang is stable on the road.  It’s grippy, too, thanks to revised, stiffer shocks, a strut tower brace and high-performance BF Goodrich tires, though it’s prone to sidestepping on road irregularities.  The suspension has been lowered about six millimeters.  The anti-lock brakes are also upgraded, with track-ready pads that resist fading.  This car is designed to be driven hard.

The Bullitt’s not for everyone.  Then again, nor is the Mustang.  This is an adventuresome car, more than anything else.  It’s partly the movie link, of course, but having this dark green Mustang around seems to have a way of making life exciting.  Ford plans to build 7700 Bullitt Edition Mustangs, with an MSRP of $31,075.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt Edition
Length: 188.0 in.
Width:    73.9 in.
Height:     55.3 in.
Wheelbase: 107.1 in.
Cargo space:  13.1 cu.ft.
Base price: $31,075
Engine: 4.6 liter 24-valve V8
Drivetrain: five-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower: 315 @ 6000
Torque: 325 @ 4250
Est. mileage:  15/23