2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt Review - Classic Cool

Give Ford credit – the Blue Oval could, at any time, create a special Mustang Bullitt that’s little more than an appearance package.

Yet, the current Mustang Bullitt, like the one offered a decade ago, isn’t just a GT with cosmetic changes. It’s a certified bruiser that goes as well as it shows.

Sold in limited numbers for 2019 and 2020, the Bullitt wrings 480 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque out of the 5.0-liter V8 underhood.

It also pulls from the parts bin in order to goose performance. The intake manifold comes from the Shelby GT350, joining an open-air induction system and active-valve exhaust. The powertrain control module is tweaked, too. A magnetic semi-active suspension is also available.

Yeah, the cosmetic changes are cool as McQueen himself. The Dark Highland Green paint, the cue-ball shift knob, the 19-inch five-spoke aluminum wheels, the black grille, the chrome accents, the red-painted Brembo calipers, the relative lack of logos, the lack of a spoiler – all that makes for a unique and cohesive look.

Looks aren’t everything, of course.

The extra 20 horsepower compared to a GT isn’t all that noticeable on the street, but whatever, this thing is still f’ing fast. It still handles well. And it can still drop into relaxed cruise mode easily, especially if you turn the programmable exhaust to quiet mode.

[Get Ford Mustang Bullitt pricing here!]

My time with the car included a road trip to Road America in Wisconsin, and on the freeway in sixth gear with the exhaust muted, the car was a pleasant road tripper, though the suspension is stiff even in the softest drive mode.

The clutch and shifter work together well, arguably better than what’s on offer in manual-equipped GTs.

I thought fuel economy might be a concern, but I managed over 300 miles between fill-ups when driving gently. Due to shenanigans, my second tank didn’t stretch as far.

I’m happy to report that drag mode (drag as in racing, not glitter and heels) and launch control can help the ham-handed move the the car smoothly off the line when at the track, although I had no chance to test it; we’ll have to take Ford’s word for it. However, I can report that if you want to leave a generous helping of rubber behind in an empty parking lot, these aids can help with that, too.

For the most part, Sport and Sport + will be the drive modes you want engaged on the back roads, with normal being just fine for around-town driving and comfort softening the ride a tad on the freeway. Track, drag, and snow/ice are self-explanatory. While the exhaust note is tied to the various modes, you can also change it separately. Want to cruise in comfort and hear the pipes sing? You can do that. Want to attack a country road but keep the neighbors from calling the cops? You can quiet the note being pumped out of the back.

Outside of a few interior accents, a different welcome display from the digital dash, and a standard heated steering wheel, the car’s interior doesn’t vary much from a GT. Recaro seats are one of three options, along with the aforementioned magnetic suspension, and a package that includes nav, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert, memory seat for the driver, and premium audio.

My tester had everything but the Recaros. Even though the cabin isn’t drastically different from the GT, that’s not a bad thing – I still dig the airplane-style switchgear, and the digital dash works well enough. The look is a tad long in the tooth, but it’s still handsome, and the cue-ball shifter is damn cool.

A 2019 Bullitt has a base price of $46,595 before D and D. The electronics package added $2,100 and the suspension $1,695, bringing my test ride to $51,485, including the $1,095 destination fee. If you want the Recaros, add $1,595. The Bullitt is also available in black paint, for some reason.

Obviously, the Bullitt makes sense for the future collector, given the small number of cars Ford will sell plus the mechanical differences from the regular GT. That said, I really hope those who plunk down $50K on this car don’t just park it in a clean garage or treat it as a trailer queen. It’s a hoot to drive, and it should be driven. Hard.

Just like Steve McQueen would’ve wanted.

[Images © 2020 Tim Healey/TTAC]