SVT Not To Be: Ford Kills Of It's Performance Division
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SVT Not To Be: Ford Kills Of It's Performance Division
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=109512
The division that gave us the F-Body eating TC and that sparked the full size performance truck segment is going the way of the dodo. Ford is pulling the plug on its SVT operation. At least most of it. The division may be relegated to tuning suspensions and maybe boosting horsepower through bolt ons. Tis a sad say for performance fans.
While the '93-'95 1st gen Lightning was little more than Ford's attempt to build a 351 powered 454SS competitor, it was the 2nd gen introduced in '99 and built until 2004 that really got things going. Because of the 2nd gen Lightning Dodge gave us the ballsy *** Ram SRT-10 SC and QC and Chevy the half hearted but more useable Silverado SS and to some extent the retarded SSR.
On the pony car side of things, Ford unlike GM continually updated the Cobra throughout it's lifespan. As a final hurrah for the SN95 cars Ford gave us the TC capable of putting Camaros and Firebirds to shame. If only Ford had introduced the TC in '02 I'm sure F-Body fans would have shead tears over the fact that a blue oval had the power to take out their beloved 35th Anniversary SSs and Special Edition T/As. The TC Cobra despite being supplanted by the GT500 remains a force to be reckoned with on the street, on the track and at the strip.
On the lighter side of things, Ford also gave us the 195hp SVT Contour and the 170hp SVT Focus. Both cars were underpowered but often made up for this at auto-x courses by being underpinned by well tuned suspensions. The SVT Focus while underpowered by competition from Honda, Mazda, Dodge and many other brands remains a tarmac terrorist till today. The Contour on the other hand disappeared into the night.
With the 390hp Sport Trac Adrenalin backed by a 6 speed automatic on the horizon, a 500hp 3rd gen Lightning in the pipe, the GT500 raising hell all over the autoshow circuit and a rumored SVT Fusion a large possibility, it seemed that SVT was about to go toe to toe with Chrysler's SRT division. However this was not to be. Apparently Ford did things a little too quickly and aggressively when it came to building it's ubercar GT and pushed SVTs main products to the side. It has reached the point where SVT no longer has the funding, resources or manpower to continue building capable street machines. Tis a sad day for performance gurus.
The division that gave us the F-Body eating TC and that sparked the full size performance truck segment is going the way of the dodo. Ford is pulling the plug on its SVT operation. At least most of it. The division may be relegated to tuning suspensions and maybe boosting horsepower through bolt ons. Tis a sad say for performance fans.
While the '93-'95 1st gen Lightning was little more than Ford's attempt to build a 351 powered 454SS competitor, it was the 2nd gen introduced in '99 and built until 2004 that really got things going. Because of the 2nd gen Lightning Dodge gave us the ballsy *** Ram SRT-10 SC and QC and Chevy the half hearted but more useable Silverado SS and to some extent the retarded SSR.
On the pony car side of things, Ford unlike GM continually updated the Cobra throughout it's lifespan. As a final hurrah for the SN95 cars Ford gave us the TC capable of putting Camaros and Firebirds to shame. If only Ford had introduced the TC in '02 I'm sure F-Body fans would have shead tears over the fact that a blue oval had the power to take out their beloved 35th Anniversary SSs and Special Edition T/As. The TC Cobra despite being supplanted by the GT500 remains a force to be reckoned with on the street, on the track and at the strip.
On the lighter side of things, Ford also gave us the 195hp SVT Contour and the 170hp SVT Focus. Both cars were underpowered but often made up for this at auto-x courses by being underpinned by well tuned suspensions. The SVT Focus while underpowered by competition from Honda, Mazda, Dodge and many other brands remains a tarmac terrorist till today. The Contour on the other hand disappeared into the night.
With the 390hp Sport Trac Adrenalin backed by a 6 speed automatic on the horizon, a 500hp 3rd gen Lightning in the pipe, the GT500 raising hell all over the autoshow circuit and a rumored SVT Fusion a large possibility, it seemed that SVT was about to go toe to toe with Chrysler's SRT division. However this was not to be. Apparently Ford did things a little too quickly and aggressively when it came to building it's ubercar GT and pushed SVTs main products to the side. It has reached the point where SVT no longer has the funding, resources or manpower to continue building capable street machines. Tis a sad day for performance gurus.
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So they lost everybody marketing staff, relations etc. I own a Trans Am but **** i would have no problem working for SVT just to keep it alive. Sad to see it go.
-Joel
-Joel
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This isn't the way forward Ford, it's a huge step backward. Enthusiast and enthusiast-oriented products MAKE US automakers. GM PD and Chrysler SRT are enjoying a huge degree of success and Ford is bowing out?
This is just ridiculous, especially after all the promising concepts they had. The Lightning had all the right stuff to be a mega hit. The Adrenalin was cool and different, and who doesn't want to see a mean, turbocharged, AWD Fusion?
This is a very sad day for US auto enthusiasts.
This is just ridiculous, especially after all the promising concepts they had. The Lightning had all the right stuff to be a mega hit. The Adrenalin was cool and different, and who doesn't want to see a mean, turbocharged, AWD Fusion?
This is a very sad day for US auto enthusiasts.
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The coolest thing about Ford's FPV lineup is that since the introduction of the BF gen cars in 2005 they're available with either a T-56 6 speed manual (which replaced the previous 5 speed in 2004 on the BA II) and now a ZF 6 speed automatic as well (previously a 4 speed was the only slushbox available). This puts them ahead of HSV in the transmission department as HSVs are available with either a T-56 or an old school 4 speed automatic. At least this is how it is with the current VZ cars. With the introduction of the next gen VE cars, Holden may add a gear or two to their automatic backed cars.
On a side note, Ford has the entire market in terms of high performance 6 cylinders. Before the introduction of the 4.0L turbo inline 6, HSV offered supercharged 3800 Series II pushrod V6s with 240hp IIRC. However with the introduction of the Boss 270 motor HSV realized that their age old pushrod V6 wouldn't cut it and that the LS1 and eventually the LS2 were superior motors anyway. Now HSVs entire lineup (save for it's AWD models which make do with LS1s and the VXR which is powered by a 240hp 2.0L 4) are powered by LS2s.
[/rant]
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I'm a GM guy at heart, but I still love Ford and MOPAR. This really sucks that this is happening. I've often thought about once I get my car paid off to get a low priced SVT Cobra (around 7-8k), and I may just do that since they may go up in price cuz of this.
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Originally Posted by The Alchemist
What's a Mustang TC???
I know he's talking about the 03-04 cobras with the superchargers, but what's the TC stand for??
I know he's talking about the 03-04 cobras with the superchargers, but what's the TC stand for??