New SVT Focus...

[2003CompOSVT]

Does anyone think they will make a new model in a couple years? I was reading alot on it and i think they will try.

[belacyrf]

Doubt it.. Market conditions are pointing to small cars, but Ford has yet to buy into the fact that sporty hatches are a hot seller. They just dont feel that Americans like the same cars that Euro's do.

So dont count on it.

[2003CompOSVT]

Well if they do what do you expect out of it?

[belacyrf]

You know, if they ever do, it would be hard to believe they'd do it right. They have yet to bring out a car that just destroys its' competition (with the exception fo the Cobra's).

But for this car to be any kind of a success, I would think a minimum of 200hp and forced induction. It's got the new GTI and Si to compete with. But of course it wont be out till at least 2008 or 2009 so by then it will have new competetion.

Personally I'd like the Euro ST on the C-Max platform with a nice little turbocharged engine putting power at about 220. I think that would make for a great hatch here in the states

[2003CompOSVT]

thats what i was thinking...You would definatly think it would be FI and around 220-230 hp i think that would be great...I heard that the Foci's now were supposed to be Supercharged is that true?

[shlbygt]

Originally Posted by belacyrf

Doubt it.. Market conditions are pointing to small cars, but Ford has yet to buy into the fact that sporty hatches are a hot seller. They just dont feel that Americans like the same cars that Euro's do.

So dont count on it.

Ford did buy into the sporty hatch market, hence the SVT Focus. Slow sales pretty much showed that there was not a large market for a reasonably priced sporty hatch whether it had 3 or 5 doors. Otherwise there would have been more SVT Focus's sold. Nearly every car magazine at the time had the SVT at the top of their hot hatch recommendations for the entire model run, so it wasn't a weak product that kept the cars on dealer’s lots. My 04 five door, for example, sat on the lot for 18 months.
Granted there was not a lot of Ford advertising for the SVT Focus but that can also be said about the Lightning and the Cobra yet they sold in greater numbers for significantly more money.

[FireTent]

Originally Posted by shlbygt

Ford did buy into the sporty hatch market, hence the SVT Focus. Slow sales pretty much showed that there was not a large market for a reasonably priced sporty hatch whether it had 3 or 5 doors. Otherwise there would have been more SVT Focus's sold. Nearly every car magazine at the time had the SVT at the top of their hot hatch recommendations for the entire model run, so it wasn't a weak product that kept the cars on dealer’s lots. My 04 five door, for example, sat on the lot for 18 months.
Granted there was not a lot of Ford advertising for the SVT Focus but that can also be said about the Lightning and the Cobra yet they sold in greater numbers for significantly more money.

My 02' SVT sat on the lot for 16 months when I picked it up in 03'

[oskarSVTee]

Originally Posted by FireTent

My 02' SVT sat on the lot for 16 months when I picked it up in 03'

I guess mine is a case of smaller being better.

It rolled off the truck at the dealer at around 5PM on a Friday and by around 10AM the next morning I was driving it home.

Ron

[sonicblue02]

The reason the Cobra and Lightning sold so well is they had been around and proved them selves. Ford didn't give the SVT focus a chance. It only had a few years. Maby if ford had stuck with it for a few more years and offered a forced induction version with the new facelift it would have sold. Even if they had waited for the aftermarket scene to catch up with the SVTF I think it would have really sold. But just like everything els they don't improve it they get rid of it and tried somthing els.

I really doubt that there will ever be another SVT Focus. I'd love to see Ford come out with any sport compact that can really compete. Ford is in bad shape financilly, there stock is in the single digits.

[Will007]

Originally Posted by sonicblue02

The reason the Cobra and Lightning sold so well is they had been around and proved them selves. Ford didn't give the SVT focus a chance. It only had a few years. Maby if ford had stuck with it for a few more years and offered a forced induction version with the new facelift it would have sold. Even if they had waited for the aftermarket scene to catch up with the SVTF I think it would have really sold. But just like everything els they don't improve it they get rid of it and tried somthing els.

I really doubt that there will ever be another SVT Focus. I'd love to see Ford come out with any sport compact that can really compete. Ford is in bad shape financilly, there stock is in the single digits.

gotta agree with you, I feel FORD gave the SVT focus a half-hearted attempt at marketing, and showing improvements "more power" for a given model year, maybee more trim packages than just base, and Euro Package would have helped. I feel a F/I version would have helped, if nothing else, with their marketing approach. Half hearted attempt = slow sales.

[Grommish]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=109512

The End of the SVT Line..

[20SVT04]

That about sums it up.

[bsanford]

SVT is still alive and kicking they are just under a new name and new management. They are working on a new body style 09 cobra and a new truck design at this time. They may look into doing a Fusion in the near future but not a Focus. They said the Focus and Contour Did a great job keeping to the SVT name and heritage but sales for both models did not. The Fusion is Fords new big seller in the compact/midsized area so they are gonna give it a try. As for SVTFs sitting on lots so did 04 Cobras, some dealerships still have them on lots two years later. The problem with the old SVTs was that you had to be an SVT Dealer to sell them. With the new setup all dealerships can now sell Ford Performance vehicles (ie: Shelby GT 500 and Ford GT)

[Primaris]

The Fusion is anything but compact. I don't care what Ford calls it is a full size car. aka boat

[Grommish]

Originally Posted by bsanford

SVT is still alive and kicking they are just under a new name and new management. They are working on a new body style 09 cobra and a new truck design at this time. They may look into doing a Fusion in the near future but not a Focus. They said the Focus and Contour Did a great job keeping to the SVT name and heritage but sales for both models did not. The Fusion is Fords new big seller in the compact/midsized area so they are gonna give it a try. As for SVTFs sitting on lots so did 04 Cobras, some dealerships still have them on lots two years later. The problem with the old SVTs was that you had to be an SVT Dealer to sell them. With the new setup all dealerships can now sell Ford Performance vehicles (ie: Shelby GT 500 and Ford GT)

Being an SVT Dealer to sell the SVT line was a good thing.. It means they were dedicated to the line.. They gave up inventory space and Training time to deal with the line the way the line SHOULD be dealt with.. Its like being Blue Oval certified over not caring one way or another. I wish they would stop lowering the standards.

As the article says, The people and driving force behind the SVT line are gone.. You can call it what you want, but it won't be an SVT.. New Body Style does not a SVT make..

[6spd_RS]

Doubtful on a new focus model.

However, they are still around.

Click Me

[maxdriver]

Hey there's always the 250HP (estimated!) Mazdaspeed 3 coming this fall...!

Kinda like a Focus on steriods!

[damalden]

Originally Posted by maxdriver

Hey there's always the 250HP (estimated!) Mazdaspeed 3 coming this fall...!

Kinda like a Focus on steriods!

That is the same rig as the Focus ST in Europe ??

I think

DAM

[STFUN]

If Ford NA ever buys into the C1 platform, then it's likely you'd get an SVT equivalent of the Focus ST, complete with the Volvo 5 pot.

[bsanford]

85% of the SVT team now makes up over 50% of Ford performance.The other half is made up by the old Team Mustang. The new body style Cobra and which ever truck they make will be an SVT and be avil. at all dealerships. Plus all dealerships will have to have one or two SVT Cert. salesmen and Techs in the service dept.

[SVTF]

Originally Posted by Grommish

Being an SVT Dealer to sell the SVT line was a good thing.. It means they were dedicated to the line.. They gave up inventory space and Training time to deal with the line the way the line SHOULD be dealt with.. Its like being Blue Oval certified over not caring one way or another. I wish they would stop lowering the standards.

As the article says, The people and driving force behind the SVT line are gone.. You can call it what you want, but it won't be an SVT.. New Body Style does not a SVT make..

Exactly right, I work for a Ford dealer and the days of SVT in its past form are gone. From this day forward...SVT will be nothing more than a badge. I think that Ford will start using the mazdaspeed line as svt for the smaller cars. I forsee the mazdaspeed treatment being done to several fords in the future (fusion, focus, edge)

Ford would not let Hertz use the "GT350" nameplate for the 06 Hertz Mustang "GT-H" because they may decide to use the title on a later model (decision will be made based on the GT500's success I presume). SVT should have a resurgence after ford gets their act together with a full line. Chrysler's SRT division is making some serious dime and Ford won't allow themselves to be out of the mix too long

[Duncan]

I think so. Everyone is taking off with the hatchbacks and they do have an '09 RS Prototype!! Ford is really stearing away from the enthusiast side of the tracks.

[grbrgrnzx5]

In all honesty, however, Ford is a company that is in trouble financially. Can they really afford to be offering special models to the 2% of the market that is out there, called "enthusiasts"? Yes, image cars are great. Performance models are terrific. But when the bulk of the American buying public is steering away from 15 MPG pickup trucks and 20 MPG performance cars and going toward 30-35 MPG compacts, can Ford really afford to put a lot of money into a compact car that returns high-20s in fuel mileage, when they should be trying to right themselves financially? I would love to see a 250 HP blown or turbocharged 5-pot Focus, but I don't think Ford has the fiscal resources to devote to such a specialty project...

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by shlbygt

Ford did buy into the sporty hatch market, hence the SVT Focus. Slow sales pretty much showed that there was not a large market for a reasonably priced sporty hatch whether it had 3 or 5 doors. Otherwise there would have been more SVT Focus's sold. Nearly every car magazine at the time had the SVT at the top of their hot hatch recommendations for the entire model run, so it wasn't a weak product that kept the cars on dealer’s lots. My 04 five door, for example, sat on the lot for 18 months.
Granted there was not a lot of Ford advertising for the SVT Focus but that can also be said about the Lightning and the Cobra yet they sold in greater numbers for significantly more money.

I never saw a single ad for the SVTF on television.

The SVT was also killed off simply by the sudden influx of FI imports at the same time the SVT showed up.

If Ford had followed it's own formula for the SVT line and slapped a blower on the SVT it would havwe done MUCH better in the market.

It had the finest handling of anything in it's class (and well beyond it's class) and still holds it's own against cars that cost three times as much as a new SVT did.

Blaming slow sales was an easy way out, they killed it by not giving it the horsepower it deserved.