cool, sorry i misunderstood you, Jeff. i was thinking you thought this technological progress was a bad thing. Glad to see we agree on quite a few things, especially about the performance potential for hybrid drive trains. I've said it before and i'll say it again: the prius gets 295 lb-ft from 0-1200rpm! why oh why are performance enthusiasts afraid of the word hybrid.

Now i'm certain we won't see a hybrid cobra for quite some time though. How bout another way of recapturing braking energy: the hydraulic motor from the Tonka truck! ya! I think it gave that concept a boost of like 300 or 600 hp coming off a stop. It'd be a little louder than an electric motor though, probably a little heavier too.

Sorry for the misunderstanding Jeff.

-Jeff

 

New info perhaps at the New York Auto Show 2005

http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0...2/D01-30684.htm

 

What's on top of that Mustang in the background? It almost looks like a hoodscoop on a 2005 GT...



What do you think? Mach 1???

 

I saw that and started to wonder the same thing. But I have NO idea! Maybe the thing the girl that posts on here all the time, AmyV6, saw? Or the new Mach? Who knows???

 

Based on that pic.. it doesn't look like what I saw.

The mule was silver and the hood scoop started in that area.. but was MUCH taller than what it looks like in that pic.

 

Coletti retiring :notnice:

Reveal plans at NY Auto Show


I hate to see Coletti go. He is a hot rod fanatic. We need car guys running the show. Hopefully his replacement will have 108 octane in his blood.

Good Luck Mr. Coletti and Thank You for what you have done for us.

 

An interesting quote from that Detroit News article:

"The F-150 Lightning was postponed to allow engineers to focus on the Mustang Cobra, which has an avid following among horsepower junkies.

"The demand for the Mustang is beyond our wildest dreams," Martens said. "The expectation is that the Cobra will be delivered on time with quality."

Ford will reveal more plans for SVT next spring at the New York auto show.

"We absolutely have to be a leader ... in performance vehicles. It's part of our DNA. But we have to do it in a broader range than just the traditional SVT product programs," Martens said. "There's a broad opportunity for four-wheel-drive, high-performance, (four-cylinder), turbo-type of programs."

It would be great to see AWD in a Cobra... but I am not sure this is talking about that.

 

I think he is talking focus rally car.

 

Actually they're talking about the Fusion AWD car. There's supposed to be a performance version of it.

 

The Fusion might pick up where the SVT Contour left off

 

darn...would love to see a Turbo AWD Foci with 6 speed
heres a sweet line-up

SVT Cobra
SVT Focus
SVT Lightning (THEY CANT LET IT DIE)
SVT Fusion
SVT 500

 

like to see it, too, but, don't see it happenin'.

 

Personally, I think the Focus is a waste. The SVT model of the past was garbage IMO. I would have rather picked up a Contour and worked on that. In the future, I hope they learn from Mazdaspeed and possibly bring over some of the stuff that theyve been working on.
When I say the Focus is garbage, I just think the overall trim level and fit/finish isn't what it could be. I would love to see Ford bring us the E-Spec Focus, and even the Vignale concept (hardtop vert). Ford could pick up the 274 HP DPI 2.3 that will be dropped into the Mazdaspeed 6, along with its AWD platform and use that on the Fusion (if I remember right), and that would be a sweet ride. Give it a subtle, euro style body kit and suspension/brake/tranny upgrades, and a unique interior and I'd be in line in a heartbeat.

 

In my opinion, the SVT Focus is too Euro. I know, might as well get part of the market, since it's so popular, but it still ain't to my taste. (Not as if that had a bearing on anything.)

What I'd really like to see, and I know this is impractical, is a Ford 500 with a big ole V8 in it (427 anyone?) so anyone could take a cheap car and have an easy means of hotrodding it. I don't mean an SVT version; just an engine option for folks who'd like to have an easy street-burner.

 

Shoulda...coulda...woulda...but I still say Ford should have built the 427 concept...

 

yes they should have

 

As a SVT Focus owner, I don't think either of you have very good opinions, but that's MY opinion B) The interior is nice for a $17,000 car. I have doubts you can find a small sporty car for under $17,000 with a better interior and amenities. I almost bought a Mazda3 and it's very nice, but the SVT Focus handles better and has more power. I've had this SVT Focus for two years now and haven't had any problems. You can rag on it if you want, but at least know what you're talking about

 

wait for the falcon, dude. australian rwd platform brought over to north america to replace the crown vic.... possibly

check out this thread, and motor trend's self conflicting future vehicle forcast.

http://forums.bradbarnett.net/index.php?showtopic=9727

 

I didnt mean for that to sound like a pot shot, but I too looked at SVT Foci before settling on the 2003.7 Mazdaspeed Protege. I thought for the money it was a better deal, and more of what I would have ended up doing to a stock car in the long run. for 17,900 i think that was a steal.
Kenwood sound system
Racing Hart Wheels
Racing Beat swaybars/exhaust
Calloway Turbo
Tokico HP Struts
Eibach Springs

And thats all standard too..

Needless to say, it won't hold its own against an 05, but it is a fun car to drive. For the record, I've went up against SVT Foci and murdered them by 3-4 car lengths easily. That was back before I started working on mods too.