SVT’s Renewed Focus

[mw3538]

Ford performance arm could be called ‘Segment Vehicle Team’

Ford’s Special Vehicle Team, rumored to be on the ropes as recently as 90 days ago (“Is SVT RIP?” March 27), is showing some signs of life.

During a recent Ford product preview SVT chief Hau Thai-Tang assured us the Ford performance arm is alive and well, employs 60 engineers dedicated to developing SVT products, and is planning for the future.

Full story

[56 Starchief]

good Ford.

[Randle2I]

this is very good news, but Ford needs to step it up. The SVT program can be very profitable as it allready has name recognition + the talent needed to design some world class vehicles. The idea of customizing your ride straight from the factory/dealer is also very profitable (aka Scion or Sema) and should be jumped on by both Ford & GM.

*edit* I like your avatar mw3538

[asim]

Originally Posted by Randle2I

*edit* I like your avatar mw3538

Who doesn't?

[mw3538]

Thanks

[MrMax]

Yea... that avatar is kinda nice.

[69Firebird400]

That's good news for Ford. I wonder if the reports of SVT's demise had been accurate, and Ford changed their minds (not like it would be the first time), or if the reports had just been inaccurate. I think a Lightning-like truck to take on the Ram SRT-10 would be pretty sweet. Come to think of it, I wonder why Dodge doesn't also sell a Ram SRT-8. The 6.1 liter Hemi would not be a slouch in its own right.

It's also smart of them to focus on those three areas. The first (Ford GT-style street-legal race cars) will be the halo for SVT. The second (Shelby Mustang-based and other performance variants of street cars) will give them better volume, and a better image that offsets some of the stodginess that the Crown Vic, Five Hundred, and Focus are infecting their lineup with. The third (upgrade parts) is definitely a fast-growing segment, illustrated by the success of Scion (although a majority of the Scions that I see here in PA are not accessorized at all) and the ricer crowd.

Having a viable performance division is a good thing IMO for any manufacturer.

[mw3538]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

I think a Lightning-like truck to take on the Ram SRT-10 would be pretty sweet. Come to think of it, I wonder why Dodge doesn't also sell a Ram SRT-8. The 6.1 liter Hemi would not be a slouch in its own right.

When do you think GM will drop the LS7 in a 1500 and give both Dodge and Ford some thing to think about?

[kool_zx3]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

That's good news for Ford. I wonder if the reports of SVT's demise had been accurate, and Ford changed their minds (not like it would be the first time), or if the reports had just been inaccurate. I think a Lightning-like truck to take on the Ram SRT-10 would be pretty sweet. Come to think of it, I wonder why Dodge doesn't also sell a Ram SRT-8. The 6.1 liter Hemi would not be a slouch in its own right.

It's also smart of them to focus on those three areas. The first (Ford GT-style street-legal race cars) will be the halo for SVT. The second (Shelby Mustang-based and other performance variants of street cars) will give them better volume, and a better image that offsets some of the stodginess that the Crown Vic, Five Hundred, and Focus are infecting their lineup with. The third (upgrade parts) is definitely a fast-growing segment, illustrated by the success of Scion (although a majority of the Scions that I see here in PA are not accessorized at all) and the ricer crowd.

Having a viable performance division is a good thing IMO for any manufacturer.

Well this is all old news unless nobody seen the thread in the ford forum months ago when mark fields announced the same thing....

[kenman923]

Good for Ford. The SVT program is alive and well.

[SUPERBADD75]

great, SVT is still around. so tell me, why were the rumors so rampant that the division was going away, and where are their current products? there is only the Shelby GT500 right now, and it says Shelby, not SVT. the guys over at Ford have no idea what the hell they're doing now or what they will be doing in the future. there's going to be an F-150 based SVT product, yet it's not referred to as "Lightning" in the article, why not? i don't know why we're hearing so much about GM's bad situation because i think Ford is moving toward the grave faster. at least GM's got a direction, Ford doesn't seem to have anyone directing them, they're all over the place. maybe Ford should call Renault.

[BADBIRD2000]

Originally Posted by mw3538

When do you think GM will drop the LS7 in a 1500 and give both Dodge and Ford some thing to think about?

I don't think GM hs the cojones to do that. The SS truck they did whip up was extended cab, all wheel drive and could not hold a candle to the Lightning or SRT-10. If people want a sport truck, they aren't concerend with how many people they can fit in it, or how much they can haul (other than arse). GM missed the boat on that, mu .02 Joe Gibbs had the right idea with his trucks, single cab, short bed, power adder...

[IMPALAon20s]

until i see the products on showroom floors.. its all just blowing smoke. ford will have a whole new business plan next week.. that wont include SVT.. thats how much they flip-flop things at ford.

[SobeSVT]

Originally Posted by IMPALAon20s

until i see the products on showroom floors.. its all just blowing smoke. ford will have a whole new business plan next week.. that wont include SVT.. thats how much they flip-flop things at ford.

Sure, do you imagine? Canceling but wait no, . . . postponing Zeta for GMT900s. Now, ultra postponing next Epsilons to make Zeta happens.

You have to agree that it is a lot cheaper and makes a lot of sense to change plans while they are on paper.

Finally, I see no reason to believe that SVT is going anywhere.

[kool_zx3]

Originally Posted by SUPERBADD75

great, SVT is still around. so tell me, why were the rumors so rampant that the division was going away, and where are their current products? there is only the Shelby GT500 right now, and it says Shelby, not SVT. the guys over at Ford have no idea what the hell they're doing now or what they will be doing in the future. there's going to be an F-150 based SVT product, yet it's not referred to as "Lightning" in the article, why not? i don't know why we're hearing so much about GM's bad situation because i think Ford is moving toward the grave faster. at least GM's got a direction, Ford doesn't seem to have anyone directing them, they're all over the place. maybe Ford should call Renault.

Because everyone took the shift of SVT marketing and the brand under the Ford Racing Markee as it being killed off which was not the case at all. Everything having to do with performance at Ford is going under the Ford Racing banner.

If you never noticed, there are svt badges on the kick plates,valve covers and i believe a few more parts of the GT500, it is an engineered by svt vehicle without the exterior badging because the wanted it to be a shelby but it's still and SVT vehicle. It says powered by SVT on the **************** valve cover, contrary to what the rear badge says it's an SVT. Along with the Ford GT which was engineered by SVT.

Why would Ford confirm it's building a new lightning right now in a small press release???? It's underwraps until it's ready. They said it's based on the f150 so take it from there and even showed pics of one blacked out awhile back at the auto show with mark fields speaking, it's a lightning but their not just going to come out and say it right now.....

SVT was never going anywhere, the media said they were dead... Not Ford.