Ford shows new Bullitt Mustang

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Ford Motor Company will unveil a new special edition Mustang, designed to commemorate the 1968 Steve McQueen movie 'Bullitt,' at next week's Los Angeles Auto Show.

In that movie, in which McQueen played police detective Frank Bullitt, he drove a dark green 1968 Mustang through narrow, hilly San Francisco streets in a now-classic chase scene.

2008 Mustang Bullitt

The current generation of Mustangs was introduced for the 2005 model year. Its lines are based, in large part, on the 1967 and 1968 Mustang.

This new version will be a 2008, marking 40 years since the movie and the Mustang that the modern version largely emulates.

The new new special edition will be available in Dark Highland Green, similar to the color used on the original movie version. The only other color available on this version will be black. (Dark Highland Green is not used for any other Mustang version and, Ford (Charts, Fortune 500) promises, it never will be.)

The 2008 Mustang Bullitt will be powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine tuned to deliver 315 horsepower, 15 hp more than the regular V8 Mustang. It will also have suspension, chassis and brake upgrades for improved handling.

"Like the original Bullitt, this car dials the driving dynamics up a notch for Mustang enthusiasts who love the performance, handling and sweet sound of Ford power that only Mustang can deliver," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's vice president for global product development, in a statement.

Engineers modeled the car's exhaust note on the engine sound heard in the original movie, based on a specially mastered DVD, Ford said.

To mimic the car used in the movie, the Mustang Bullitt lacks most exterior chrome badges, including the pony on the grill, as well as the rear spoiler that's standard on other Mustangs.

The car will carry a sticker price of $31,075. Ford plans to produce a total of 7,700. Production will begin in early 2008, Ford said.

This is the second time Ford has produced a "Bullitt" Mustang. The first was produced for the 2001 model year. The cars were available in Dark Highland Green, blue and black and a total 5,582 were sold, according to "Mustang Special Editions," by Brad Bowling and Jerry Heasley.