My opinion:

GT will use the standard 5.0, SVT and Ford Racing will collaborate for the Boss 302 replacement and GT350 makes a lot of marketing sense. There will absolutely need to be a naturally aspirated, small displacement V8 needed for Grand AM and SCCA competition. There are big time restrictions on displacement and forced induction worldwide. The 2014 Z28 for example, is not permitted to run ANY SCCA class with carbon ceramic brakes, 305's in the front and none of the Z28's disc brakes are within the maximum size. Also, there are displacement restrictions on the LS7 nationally and regional competition makes the LS7 plate down to 60mm and must take on 100lbs. The 2016 GT350 (The Boss 302 will be at the end of any 3 year production car rule then AND, its the 350's birthday) will use an HO 5.0.

The GT500 will remain an FI car, might be a 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.8.. who knows... So...

GT, GT350 and GT500. The names scale nicely and it isn't a confusing mess like the ZLRSS28LT1LES3 Chevy offers.

Those that want a Cobra have one now. Remember, the Cobra name came about because Ford wasn't allowed to make the halo'd GT500. They made the Cobra II all the way up to the Terminator. However, the GT500 IS the Cobra, the plain Cobra's forefather, creator and superior.

 

I would like more options. The GT is just not enough car for me. The Boss is ok but I don't like the styling. The GT500 is just way overdone for my taste. I want a base GT with the better powertrain. Back In the late 60's-early 70's, you could just order what you wanted. Really wish we could build our own with whatever configuration we wanted again.

 

I hope the Shelby name goes away; it's nothing but a marketing ploy anyway and the thing can still be covered in snakes with or without that name. Has the '05 and up car sold better than the '95 through '04 SVT-branded ones? Doesn't seem like it.

 

Yes, the Shelby has sold very well at very very high transaction prices.

 

Nice post.

I keep wondering if an Ecoboost V8 would be less than 5.0 litre in capacity.

 

Ford has owned the GT500 trademark since at least 1968 (I'm guessing 1967 as well), they just couldn't call such a car a "Shelby" Mustang without licensing the Shelby part

Carroll Shelby though owned the GT350 moniker and if anybody remembers I think around 1984 or so when somebody at Ford didn't do their research very well they had a GT350 Mustang which created a stool storm as they used the name without licensing it.

Definitely not the case now as they have access to the GT350 moniker and although I haven't really checked it out it seems Carroll's surviving family seems to be trying to mine the Shelby part for all its worth, perhaps if that's true then maybe that's where the rumor about the next SVT car not being called a Shelby is coming from as Ford could simply drop Shelby and just use GT350 and GT500 to good effect.

 

SV Oh rly?


I think it has something to do with my age that I like SVT better, I didn't start driving until late 90's so SVT was already quite established.

 

I wonder if the non-enlightened will think Ford is trying to copy dodge, toyota, with a new SVT (see SRT, TRD, STi) since its been out of the lime light for so long. SVT hasnnt been branded well since 2004. 10 years!

Why they haven't made these new Focus/Fiesta STs the "SVT Focus" and "SVT Fiesta" I have no idea. The only way it makes sense is if "SVT" will be an internal company name, and they never actually plan to make it a public brand anymore.... cause they just lost 10 years of public brand awareness if not.

Sorry, I work in advertising. Getting unassuming people to notice things is my specialty

 

I'm an ad guy too and also find it weird. I think the logic is that they're world cars and ST has been used around the world for a while, so they're sticking with one name instead of trying to launch SVT to the rest of the world. Might have something to do with the engineering team involved too - the Raptor and Shelby are US-only so SVT team worked on them, I think.

 

REALLY?!?!






The reason SVT has disappeared as a trim model on a Ford is that the SVT team and other Ford Performance development teams were folded together in 2005 or so...Last time I checked, SVT was still on the GT500 in places

Anyways....regarding the Cobra name...Ford had to use the name again to protect its copyright on it. Thus why we had the Mustang SVT Cobra wayyy back in 1993 or so. The name is more well known when its applied to this car (at least in my mind!)

 

I thought it was pretty cool when SVT was almost its own brand, but internally a lot of people didn't like it and neither did the dealers in general who would have been happier if SVT was simply some embroidered seats and some stickers that they could smear on a car and sell for a hefty premium.

 

"SVT" is stamped on the new GT500 door sill plates... and like they mentioned above, it's used on the Raptor.

 

OK, FORD listen very closely...


No Mustang Cobra. This needs to be an international platform now and a horse/snake is stupid and juvenile. Cobra should only, and always reference an engine. And CobraJet a Drag car

As for retiring the Shelby name, I think it is appropriate since Ol' Carol is dead. It is a great name to bring back from time to time to honour the man. More on that later.

Here's how you should do it. Trust me, I'm a branding expert ;-)

Align 4 and 6 cylinder names globally.

So S, SE, SEL and Titanium. Available as a fastback and convertible.

Save ST for the performance version of this car, be it a turbo 4 or 6. ST does not come as a convertible.

The V8 cars are GT, GT350 and GT500

GT is the base V8 car and it can be optioned out as a SE or Titanium as well. SE is a car focused on a little more performance for the dollar whereas Titanium is upgraded trim. A luxury V8 if you will. These cars are available as convertibles as well as fastbacks.

Next debut the GT500. This is equivalent to current Shelby GT500 and is the true Grand Tourer of the GT line, fast, luxurious - a great long distance car. This is the fastest Mustang in a straight line next to a Drag Car, CobraJet.
The GT500 can offer a Titanium trim level. The GT500 is available as a convertible or a fastback.

Next up is the GT350. This replaces the Boss and becomes the CSL or Ultraleggera version of the car. Striped down, this is the street racer version of the car designed to hit up track days and drag strips on weekends. The widest range of Ford Racing upgrades will be available for this car. This car will also form the basis for Ford's competitive options coming in R and S versions as the current Boss does through Ford Racing only. This car is NOT available as a convertible.

Finally the SHELBY. Available periodically as an homage to Carol, and in very limited numbers this car will be available in significant years only and as either a GT350 or GT500 as appropriate. It could appear to celebrate significant anniversaries of the originals as well as a car to recognize significant dates in the history of the man himself.

Finally, there will be an electric/hybrid at some point. It needs to establish its own brand lineage outside of all the above as to not contaminate the brands history or now correctly aligned global brand hierarchy.

This hierarchy leaves room for LE cars, be it a modest LE trim package or a California Special or Bullet as well. And better yet for Ford, they can slot an Limited Edition in anywhere.

 

Snakes on a horse are, and have always been stupid. They only existed as a way to connect the car to Shelby without using his name anyway. Use Cobra names for engines and the logo only on future limited run Shelby models as outlined in my branding post.

 

To each his own. I also thought the SHO was a brilliant brand extension that Ford failed to recognize and build upon.

As for SVT, team seems so provincial, or at least in my mind limiting. Operations sounds more menacing, more mysterious. More aligned with a skunkworks operation the brings specialist into the fold as needed.

 

Us ad folk think alike I see.

 

No, Ford bought the Cobra emblem and "Cobra" name in the 70's not the GT500. Ford was unable to make a Cobra Roadster because Shelby had the rights to that. It wasn't until recently (with the huge reception of the S197) that the Shelby name, Cobra, Cobra Emblem, GT500 and possibly GT350 were all together again. The "KR" was part of the deal as well... I wouldn't count out a 2018 GT500KR, that is, if one is really needed.

I wouldn't mind scaling a GT350 up to a GT350R (Boss 302 - Boss 302LS) as well as a GT500 and GT500KR (GT500 and GT500SVT PP/TP). It makes lots of sense to me.

 

Mustang Titanium doesn't roll off the tongue to me. I also prefer 'SV-' to 'ST', since I associate those letters with 'sissy transport' :-)

 

I approve of this idea. If the next SVT car is similar to the outgoing Boss models, this would be a fantastic way to do it.

 

I'm gonna run this by some of you legal eagles and see if it makes any legal sense.

In 2002, Ford and Shelby both had to a legal battle with Factory Five Racing. The dispute was for both the original AC Cobra Roadster "Shape" (design) and the Cobra nameplate associated with that particular car. Since BOTH Ford and Shelby had to defend TOGETHER... wouldn't that mean that "Shelby" rights deal happened long before we heard about it last year?

It wouldn't be completely absurd to think the GT350 was actually being developed (or at least researched) along side the 2007 GT500. Some might be led to believe that maybe the Boss 302 had a name change at the last minute (see ZL1/28). However, PJ was brought on board AND Multimatic reverse engineered the car during the 2011 Grand Am season so... The Boss was a Boss from start to finish. I could be led to believe that Shelby's 2011 GT350 was perhaps the rejected design put to good use... The fascia is one piece which suggest to me that Ford had something to do with it. Steeda and Roush was also afforded this opportunity, an exclusive peak for a head start on the market. I'd have to examine my Roush fascia and a Steeda and Shelby... I bet they are made at the same SMC factory as the Mustang... Lemme dig a little

As far as the naming scheme goes, keep the V8 lineup streamlined like stated above.

GT (Base GT)
GT-R (Ford has this particular nameplate trademarked stillwith the "-") Just as Chevy does the Z/28 and Z28. This is your Track Pack/Brembo GT of today. If this is even needed... It would be nice to get TWO equally sanctioned nameplates. Place the GT-R in classes like GS and GTS.

GT350 (Ford Racing's FR500/Boss 302 replacement as well as the mid-level Boss 302. SVT will oversee the street versions) The GT350 will be Ford's entry into the GT classes. GT, GT2 and GT3.

GT350R (The Laguna Seca, the original even had a rear seat delete which again, makes me suspicious about the '12) Scale the R in with the base GT350 as far as classing goes. Grand Am could host the GT-R in Grand Am GS and the GT350 in GT. It keeps the cost lower to the teams in lower payout classes.

GT500 (Base... Could be NA, SC or TT)

GT500KR (Your SVT Track Pack variation OR DRAG PACK. Bring back the solid axle LOL) The drag program could work the GT500 into the Cobra Jet or maybe replace the CJ name altogether. It would make those old Cobra Jet's value skyrocket and its an AWESOME way to promote the GT500 as King of the Strip.

The original Cobra Jet program was called the GT500KR-8 until Tasco changed it.

GT500 Super Snake (Maybe reserve the GT500KR package as the road couse car, using the GT350 suspension and save the Super Snake name for the drag pack and replacement of the Cobra Jet program.


Lots of exciting options still maintaining the easy on the brain GT, GT350 and GT500 name scheme for customers.

The only question would be... Do you want the R package on the GT or GT350? Or do you want the KR package for handling or Super Snake package for the strip.

The King of the Road (KR) package (for track days) and the Super Snake package can be literally offered for the same price giving the GT500 three major trim options at only TWO suggested retail prices. Neither the KR or Super Snake cannibalize each other. Suspension would be completely different from one to the other.

Absolutely brilliant Ford!!! If you follow through...

Lets get the Eco and Base models named now...