Tom Shreiener (member of my stang club) has a lot of connections with SVT and said that the reason the Lightning has been postponed is because of "politics". Couldn't get any more out of him, but he said we won't see a new lightning until after the new Cobra debuts.
BTW, I'm not sure what it means that hes "in" with SVT, but the last time the club went to the assembly plant, John Colleti and all the heads of SVT had a dinner for all the people in our club, and while other clubs walked BY the assembly lines, ours got to go in and observe the process. Tom stood for 8 hours and watched them build his 04 Screaming Yellow cobra. Too bad I wasn't in the club when they did all this, but we're planning another trip this spring!!!!!!!!!

http://www.shreinerracing.com/

 

Although Ford has acknowledged that the Huricane program exists and that it's displacement is around 6.2L, Ford has said NOTHING else about this engine nor when it is slated for production.

Rumors are that it is a scaled up 5.4L Mod Motor with the same stroke as the 5.4 and a larger bore. However there has been NO confirmation that this rumor is true.

So who knows.

 

I believe these are not false rumors and should be taken seriously. In fact lets examine a comment from a person that signed our petition to Ford.
This is what was said

"It constitutes gross disloyalty to Ford fans that Ford Motor Company should devote time and resources to ultra expensive projects like the Ford GT, then deny the rest of us any high performance vehicles. I guess we don't count anymore."

Now when you think about it maybe Ford spent too much money on this project and had to cut other areas. First the SVT Focus was axed. Now the Lightning and maybe even the Cobra and SVT itself will be shelved in the future. We as loyal Ford and Mustang owners cannot take this lying down. We need to step up and let Ford know how we feel. I encourage you to take this issue seriously and sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/savesvt/petition.html. I believe in what I have heard and believe Ford may be considering cutting this great Program. Lets not let them.

 

That some good news ,because I'am thinking buy Lighting in 08.

 

This was sent to me from a buddy of mine at work. He's in the SVTOA and the Cobra owners club.



Fellow Members,

With the confusion of whether the SVT brand will remain in the hands of John Coletti and Company, I am asking everyone to physically write a letter to Bill Ford, Ford CEO, and a copy letter to Phil Martens, VP of Product Creation. It also would not hurt to send one to John Coletti to let him know. I would address that to Ford SVT. My letter will be posted up on the SCMC website!

There is definitely something going on but I cannot share it with you at this time.

Here are the addresses I have for Bill and Phil:

Bill Ford - President
Ford World Headquarters
The American Road
Dearborn, MI 48126

Phil Martens, Group VP, Product Creation
Ford Motor Company, Product Design Center
21175 Oakwood Blvd., Executive Wing, Dept. 5100K001
Dearborn, MI 48124

Special thanks to Richard Minnick for supplying me with the address for Bill! I will have a weekly e-mail ready for you this week.

Thanks,

Tony Sorrentino
mrmach@cetlink.net
SVT Cobra Mustang Club
www.svtcobraclub.com
SCMC Hotline: (803) 371-0725



For updates and other club information, go to
www.SVTCobraClub.com

 

Autoextremest has reported that although the official party line is that the Lightning is delayed, in reality, it is dead.

I guess we'll know for sure in 2 - 3 years.

 

From Autoweek:
In other Ford news:


>>> John Coletti, director of Ford's Special Vehicle Team, says the high-performance Lightning pickup truck is not dead, just delayed until engineers can create a new version that fits in with Ford's marketing and production "cadence." Coletti said the muscle truck will be back in the Ford lineup, but he wouldn't give a time frame. He did say the next SVT product, the Mustang Cobra, will be launched in 2006 as a 2007 model and that the emphasis will be on fine-tuning the handling, brakes and dynamic performance along with the usual massive dose of horsepower.

 

For d press release today, nov 3rd, mentions all the SEMA mustangs and states the following

"Work continues on an SVT Cobra version of the 2005 Mustang"

http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_dis...m?release=19201

 

I believe we'll see a cobra or svt model before 2007. I think they are telling us this so people will go out and buy the GT instead of waiting a couple more months for the cobra, Just my thoughts thats all.

 

I hope you're right. But it is common for companies to let the initial sales surge to start to slow, then pump SE's and others to get more attention and re-inflate demand. I doubt they'll want to release anything until they can meet the demand they have. If demand starts to dip at all, I bet they have an SE or two they'll show, and the SVT as their big gun. (I expect an SE for Detroit show).

In the past, how early did they show/announce the Cobra? (6 months? 1 year?) I don't think they want to pirate sales by pre-announcing too far.

 

Well, I am thrilled to know that SVT will soldier on and that we will see a Cobra soon. Brad - thanks for debunking all the hype and hoopla around those rumors! :worship:

I love the new Saleen but man, the idea that a Cobra is definitely coming based on the new 'Stang? It makes me want to Dance!!!

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

 

that's good to hear that the rumor isn't true

 

The Ford Lighting is put on hold for now might be out as a 2008 Model !!!

 

Tom Scarpello has left SVT to become Jaguar VP of marketing. So far no announcement on a replacement for Scarpello @ SVT