Ford boosts SVT budget

[biker16]

Ford boosts SVT budget
Automaker sets a 5-model limit

By Amy Wilson
Automotive News / March 28, 2005

Martens: SVT is bigger than ever.
DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co.'s performance group is bigger and better-funded than ever, says Ford product chief Phil Martens.

Despite a two-year drought that won't see an SVT-branded vehicle on the market until mid-2006, Ford has expanded its Special Vehicle Team to at least 200 people, Martens says. It previously employed around 120 people.

Today's SVT budget also is higher than it has been in the past, he says. Martens wouldn't disclose the investment in SVT or the percentage increase to the budget.

Ford has benchmarked competitors such as BMW's M-series performance group while rebuilding SVT.

"To a certain degree, we have to earn" that kind of a reputation, says Martens, Ford group vice president of product creation. "We can't come out of the block and say we're an M-division team."

Ford last sold SVT-branded products during the 2004 model year. The drought came as Ford redesigned two key SVT nameplates, the Mustang and F-150 pickup.

Ford also discontinued its SVT Focus last year, saying it wasn't upscale enough. Martens more recently has said Ford will take another look at an SVT Focus.

Longtime SVT leader John Coletti retired in December and was replaced by Hau Thai-Tang, chief engineer of the 2005 Mustang.

Martens says Ford eventually will have up to five SVT-branded vehicles at any one time. The first, the 2007 Shelby Cobra GT500, will go on sale next summer. That 450-plus-hp coupe is the first special edition of the redesigned Mustang. Ford will follow with the Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin in 2007.

Ford displayed the GT500 and the 390-hp Adrenalin at the New York auto show last week.

Prices for SVT products will range from less than $20,000 to more than $40,000, Martens says. The GT500 will cost about $40,000.

In addition to natural candidates such as the redesigned Mustang, Ford intends to spread a performance element across the broader Ford brand, Martens says. SVT-badged products will be restricted to Ford Division, but SVT engineers are likely to help develop vehicles for other corporate brands.

Martens won't say what other nameplates are on the SVT list, but likely candidates are the Fusion sedan, debuting this fall, and the Focus. SVT was developing an F-150 Lightning until that project was put on hold last year.

Martens wouldn't say how soon SVT will reach the five-vehicle limit.

"If you get beyond that, it really gets too expensive," he says. "It's difficult to fund and manage the cycle."

You may e-mail Amy Wilson at awilson@crain.com

[hidrive]

Prices for SVT products will range from less than $20,000 to more than $40,000, Martens says. The GT500 will cost about $40,000.

Focus, baby.

[focuspl99]

Focus, baby.

yeah i sure hope so...... that'll be the day lol

[hidrive]

yeah i sure hope so...... that'll be the day lol

What else could it be?

[MattHarrell]

In the last Motor Trend, the new head of SVT said flat out that they'll have an SVT Fusion and Focus. They want to broaden there range again (a complete reversal of what SVT had stated a while back when they axed the Focus). The question is how long? At this point, it sounds like the earliest is going to be 2008. That's a long way off.

[Hi-Ho Silver]

In the last Motor Trend, the new head of SVT said flat out that they'll have an SVT Fusion and Focus. They want to broaden there range again (a complete reversal of what SVT had stated a while back when they axed the Focus). The question is how long? At this point, it sounds like the earliest is going to be 2008. That's a long way off.

Yeah and by then EVERYONE else will be WAY ahead!Knowing Ford, they'll come out with the FSVT with 200hp,like they should have had in 02. Now if its all wheel drive and 300hp for 25k....(or at least the 300hp)

[sleeperlove]

Yeah and by then EVERYONE else will be WAY ahead!Knowing Ford, they'll come out with the FSVT with 200hp,like they should have had in 02. Now if its all wheel drive and 300hp for 25k....(or at least the 300hp)

Come on ford lets try not to drop the ball this time

[Sonic04SVT]

I'd watch for the new Focus RS in Europe, I have a feeling the SVT here in the states will be very similar to it in engine/drivetrain/suspension configuration. Keep in my our emissions and crash standards are higher so there may be some performance lost, but should similar.

[KogboxKing]

...the cost to 'dual engineer' a Ford of Europe car to meet FMVSS crash and EPA emissions in the USA is very costly.To certify requaire a lot of Ford US investment ...Knowing Ford as I do I doubt they will spend the cash for what they consider a 'low volume' product.More chance we will get a US model hot rod Vs a Ford of Europe product...just my 2 cents from 15 years in Ford R & D...

[gobstopper]

Ford also discontinued its SVT Focus last year, saying it wasn't upscale enough.

And a 'hot hatch' needs to be 'upscale' for what reason? You're not building an Mercedes AMG SL55, for cow's sake, you're building a pocket-rocket econobox. It doesn't need to be upscale, or particularly refined. You can get away with some slightly rough edges. It just needs some spunk.

In the name of crap, these marketing dorks annoy the hell out of me.

[Osiris]

So where are all the whiny naysayers who were SURE a month ago that SVT was dead...Why aren't they posting anything now?

hahahaha

[FORDSVTPARTS]

I truly hope that Ford comes out with a car to compete with the Evo, WRX and that nasty little Neon thing.

Ford has no one to blame but itself for the supposed failure of the original SVTF, if they had done it right and given us a minimum of 200 HP to start with I bet they would have flown off the dealer lots.

As it was they were picked up by the people who could see beyond the relative lack of horsepower and bought them for what they were, Simply fantastically balanced tremendously fun cars to drive.

The car got rave reviews by all the magazines and was even compared to the BWM 3 series which I find to be high praise indeed.

If you really want a hotter SVTF send E-mails to Ford and to the SVT division itself. Let them know that there is a body of people who don't want a Chrysler or Mitsubishi, If you don't speak up they will never know you exist.

I was waiting for the RS Turbo to make it's way here when I was so sadly denied. I ended up buying a used 2002 SVTF
and I love the car.

If they produce a car superior to my '02 I will buy one, no question.

[NightStalker_ZX3]

I doubt you'd see 300 HP for 25k especially with AWD. I'd take 220 with AWD for 25-26k tho, just take the drivetrain from the S40 T5 and throw it in the focus, hatchback of course. And for those who think 25k is too much, make a variant that is fwd for 22k or so to compete with SRT-4/Cobalt SS etc..

[FocusAZ1]

If you really want a hotter SVTF send E-mails to Ford and to the SVT division itself. Let them know that there is a body of people who don't want a Chrysler or Mitsubishi, If you don't speak up they will never know you exist.

In the name of crap, these marketing dorks annoy the hell out of me.

Both are well said

[SilverSVT]

Ford has no one to blame but itself for the supposed failure of the original SVTF, if they had done it right and given us a minimum of 200 HP to start with I bet they would have flown off the dealer lots.

Ford Benchmarked the Civic Si when it was designing the SVT Focus. Lets remember the SVTF was the best rated hot-hatchback till the SRT-4 came out 6 months to a year later. Ford wasn't expecting something like that to come out. As for the sales thing...thats partly the dealership to blame (marking them up stupidly and not know how to sell them) and the Focus itself bad reputionation it has. Then add in the cash crunch Ford found itself in and the 2.3L duratech...the SVTF died because of that.

[sleeperlove]

boosted 2.3 duratec with a good bottom end will own if they do it thats gotta be the engine for the focus.

[wakeboardjl20]

I heard throught the grapevine at the dealer I used to work for that cosworth had plans for a focus. Did anyone else hear that?

[secondechomatt]

For the second time in 2 months, I saw a turbo focus running around the detroit area. It wore the roush body kit, and this one was red, but I also saw a black one at the track. However, this one, today had all the computer testing equipment, and the manufacturer plates....the only problem, for me anyways, is the fact it was a sedan

[jinstall]

Under $20,000= Fiesta ST150 150ps NA.

[XXXFordLoverXXX]

Were probley not going to see anything good til the next decade... by that time we might br driving some kind of other fuel

[Zetecpwr]

I was thinking for the 20k mark they will probally throw a fiesta at us, ford seems to want to make the focus an "upscale compact". I owned a 2005 ST before I traded it for my 04 SVT and it had a decent motor, But that car retailed for around $19,200 I think, so it wouldnt be likely that ford would let an SVT go for that price, I'd be thinking a fiesta for upper 19's to low 20's and probally the foci would go in the 24-26k range.


- mike

[goldse]

I'm willing to bet money that the ST Will come over here on the new platform by then As the SVT like the ST170 Did back in 02.

[Focci01]

Well i hope we get something soon im tired of all these imports getting faster year by year that goes by and ford doesnt do anyhting to keep up with the competition. For example all the b series cars coming out like the new 200hp civic si, SRT4's are done, Cobalt SS, Type s rsx, and so on and so on. We need someything boosted a 2.3 maybe???

[EvanPhilipParker]

i just want to see these:


adrenaline (already on it's way)
the cobra whatever it is (already coming)
the lightning (coming)
an SVT Fusion with a 3.5L
and an SVT ford 500 with the 4.4l V8 out of the volvo.

i'm all done with compact cars :-p

[Kaduku]

Yea but if they do make SVT Focus again, would it use the same 05 body? And what type of engine would they use? Would it be VVT like the SVT? or VCT w/e it is, and who would team up with them? If it's cosworth again, shouldn't they say something?