Are there any rumors of an SVT return? will we ever see the SVT Cobra, Lighting ot SVT Focus ever return? I think an AWD SVT Fusion would be hot! Ford has a unique oppertunity to make a segment unique vehical with an SVT Fusion! There are no high performance Camrys, Accords, Malibus or Avengers on the market Ford should be the first to take that step! I for one am looking for a HI-Po AWD sedan.If Ford makes an SVT Fusion I would buy one if they dont i'm gonna have to settle for a Subaru Legacy...anyone else have opinions of SVT's future?

 

Sure, I have an opinion..If Ford hadn't forced John Coletti into retirement..
SVT would still be alive and well..

 

this is in the trunk of the new Bullitts, don't know if it means anything...
http://www.troststudios.com//showpho...o=2755&cat=593

It would be nice to have a "common man's" Cobra without having to pay $20k for the Shelby name, though. It'd also be nice to have an SVT Fusion, or bring back the Taurus SHO with a nice turbo-6... and the world is ready for another Lightning.

 

Those tire inflator kits are optional on all mustangs nows, I think.

 

the junk in the trunk, only pun intended is no sign of SVT. Space and weight savings. I heard when I was active at Ford if SVT were to ever have came back to production lines it would be renamed FPG. Ford Performance Group

 

Actually, becuase of his (lack of) relationship with the Ford execs, SVT would be completely gone had he stuck around muhc longer. Executive Ford didn't like the fact that SVT sucked in R&D dollars without delivering profit to cover. So Coletti and the unprofitable products went out, and SVT's slowly rebuilding, like the rest of Ford.

 

Unprofitable products as in what ? Are you referring to the SVT Cobra, and Lightning..

 

I must admit the Focus was a disaster for SVT and the 04' Cobras and Lightings sold at rebate in late 04' But, this was in part because both the Mustang and F-150 were about to receive new body styles. Too bad though... I thought the next gen Lighting concept was really cool, The Roush and Saleen F-150s don't do it for me mostly because of their price points and minimal if any performance gain on the Lighting

 

Wasn't that they were completely unprofitable, it was that the money they brought in didn't cover the R&D costs SVT was sinking into its product line and into non-retail projects. Add in the JC wasn't exactly the poster child for sharing tech or resources with the rest of Ford.

 

Moosetang is on the right path. SVT was, by all accounts, never profitable. And while that is okay if the idea is to primarily build image and develop goodies and ideas that trickle down into mainstream products SVT was strangly removed from Ford's that didn't wear their badge and, even worse, not much actually trickled down from SVT products down into more mainstream models. Any decent exec looking down at this kind of scenario is going to say to himself 'this organization is broken'.

 

Then I fully agree with both of you..Ford made the right decision, although I was all for Hau-Tai-Tang's idea's, for taking SVT to the next level..Kind of regret that he got promoted so soon..

 

I don't know how successful it was but the concept of SVT was to introduce fun and exciting cars to bring people to the dealership. Many, including myself purchased SVT vehicals as occasional drivers. I think the "idea" behind SVT was to offer high performance at a reasonible price so that they could gain customers for life. I've always owned an F-150 or Explorer as a daily driver to compliment my Mustang. I don't understand why SVT would'nt spread the wealth. Ford should use a lot of the tech from the GT500 and incorperate it into the GTs to make the breed better as a whole. I'm reminded of two of the best performance brands in automotive history, BMWs "M" divison and Mercedes' "AMG" both "M" and "AMG" cars eventualy have tech trickle down to its lesser siblings. So if ford does this with FPP i'm in full support and will stop crying about SVT. Though this is a Mustang forum a big gripe i currently have is that Ford has no performance varients of other vehicals in the lineup.

 

SVT should have been carried out like the SRT models and now Chevy's SS program.

Looking at Chevy's SS program though, I could see actually doing something similar with the GT moniker. Instead of being the entry level Mustang performance car. GT could come to mean a serious power/handling/braking upgrade to the vehicle its applied to.

Or maybe they could adopt GT500 (gasp, dont kill the sacred cow!) In the same way GM is now using the SS moniker, or maybe even revive the SHO moniker.

 

I like the way you think Bob, I agree. Who cares what mud the GT500 may be dragged through lol Remember those Dodge S-boxes Shelby tagged his name onto....or the Cobra II or early 80s Cobras (graphic packages) Like i said I really do want to purchase a Ford for my next daily driver but nothing in the lineup interests me. I feel the Fusion has a great platform but i want a High performance model like its corperate cousin the Mazda 6. The Mazdaspeed 6, shares a platform with the Fusion, but offered AWD and a turbo 4 with 270HP! Now thats what I wanna see in an SVT or GT Fusion. I like the idea of the Mazdaspeed 6 but I want the American Ford styling.... So far i'm deciding between a Mazdaspeed 6 or a Subaru Legacy GT, but if Ford offered a similar Fusion I would take it in a heartbeat. Who ever thought I would look to Japan for a high performance vehical .....

 

If I'm not mistaken, I believe this is also what Hau-Tai-Tang had in mind.. Which was to branch out SVT, across the board.. Similar to Chrysler's SRT, and GM's SS programs..

 

Yes, I read an artical in Motor Trend or Road & Track and that was the plan but years later there is not even a hint that future SVT products are in the works. Cars like the new Cadillac CTS are already being seen developing the next "V" series, due less than a year after the restyled CTS same with the 3 series and M3, Cobalt and SS Any Mopar and SRT.......even the ricer Civic had the si version 6 months after its launch. If Ford is gonna make an SVT Fusion, Focus, Lighning, Sport Track they would have been developed by now. It sucks to say this but I am one of perhaps many customers that Ford has lost in my next car purchase .....
on another subject what do you guys like better the Mazdaspeed 6 or the Legacy GT i'm looking for sporty, yet luxery mid sizer and AWD is a must here in New England. Any potential cars that i'm leaving out?

 

Mazdaspeed 6. Every review I've ever read said its the most fun you can have in that class in a practical daily driver. Looks great too.

There are SVT products coming and we'll hear more about them as they get closer. Its been slow going for a variety of reasons, but as the core products get better and the financial situation improves, the lineup will expand.

 

Two words: SVT THUNDERBIRD

As in 2-seat all out corvette-competing roadster.

 

If I'm not mistaken, it's been mentioned in recent interiviews with Ford that an SVT truck was in the works, and that has been reiterated by Ford "insiders" on the forums that I have been on. No other details though. I would think that Mullaly would see the heritage value that SVT could have, and if he can someday make Ford profitable, then SVT shouldn't be too difficult.

 

I'd love to see the Adrenalin get made.

400hp, AWD, Sport Track.

I need something that can pull a boat but is fine to drive and can handle winter.