The SVT Situation: Going, Going, Gone?

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YSSMAN

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We have now been without an SVT product for two model years, and its looking as though the model designation may not be comming back at all.

Leftlanenews.com
Ford will sell its Shelby GT500 at all of its dealerships, according to Automotive News. Previously, Ford’s SVT vehicles were only available from select dealers. However, recent reports have suggested that Ford has scrapped the SVT division entirely. The first sign of the move came when Ford dropped the “SVT” designation from the GT500’s name. Later, Ford cancelled plans for the Sport Trac Adrenaline and a next-generation F-150 Lightning. While Ford has not yet officially announced an end to SVT, most analysts feel it will be dropped, at least in name.
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Hmmm, sounds good I suppose. The GT500 is an outrageously appealing model to this Chevy guy, even if it is a Ford. Dropping the SVT designation clears up the title, simply calling it the Shelby GT500 sounds much, much better.

Droping the SportTrac and Lightning were good decisions, as they really cannot predict how long people are going to be wanting to buy high-performance trucks. I'm all for an SVT Fusion and the return of the SVT Focus, but in SVT's current situation, that may not happen.

So if SVT is still around, but they will no longer be known as "SVT" does that mean that it will be the Shelby name that will designate all of the Ford high-performance cars once again?
 
IF Shelby becomes the new SVT, I'm all for it. however, if BOTH marques dissappear, it's the end. I'd have lost all faith in Ford.

Shelby F-150....hoo, yeah.
 
I think the Shelby GT500 was an appropriate name for the Mustang, and th Mustang only. It was still designed and is built by SVT--in fact, the only SVT badges on the car are on the rims, I believe. I think a Shelby Focus, or any "regular" car like that, would be just goofy. Remeber, Shelby ony made Mustangs in the day, and they were hardcore. I think they'll keep SVT and the name, but their plans for a performance version of every car may be dropped or delayed quite a bit. I think only a few models are necessary. They should keep the Lightning, it's a legend, after all, they need an SVT Focus to compete with GM and SRT, maybe they'll apply the SVT treatment when they bring an all-new Focus to America. An SVT Fusion would be fun, though they'd have to execute it better than the Mazdaspeed 6, as that car isn't really all that great compared to its competition, like the Subaru Legacy GT/Spec B, the Audi A4, cars like that. I think they should dith the hi-po SUV craze, it's just dumb. So that's four models, the Lightning, the Fusion, the Focus, and the Mustang. That's all they need, I think. Oh, maybe an SVT Five Hundred-Replacement. IT'd be difficult to apply an aggressive look to the current Five Hundred. Five models, how's that?
 
SVT would be quite a loss. I'd say, keep the name even if you don't keep the unit... they could tap into Ford of Europe for "hot" versions of their more pedestrian cars... maybe downsizing their performance division and concentrating on just one team for both markets would help resuscitate the stalled Focus RS project (hell, 300 hp, AWD? what the hell were they thinking axing that? hello? bean counters? WRXs and Evos are actually selling!).

Actually, having the RS and ST monikers for both markets wouldn't be such a bad idea.
 
Sorry to generalise here, but I've heard rumours that Ford US's hotter models are just bigger engined with precious little other mods.

Is this true, and would a premium-ish hatchback with "only" 225hp sell in the US?
 
ultrabeat
Sorry to generalise here, but I've heard rumours that Ford US's hotter models are just bigger engined with precious little other mods.

Is this true, and would a premium-ish hatchback with "only" 225hp sell in the US?
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Well for the most part we don't understand hatches. They tend to not sell that great. I hope the mazdaspeed 3 does well though.
 
No, ultrabeat. The SVT designation gave several models complete mechanical makeovers, including the larger engines, heavy-duty transmissions, and race-inspiried suspensions. The SVT Mustang Cobra from 2003-2004 was given an IRS (compred to the regular live axle setup), a 6-speed manual design used in everything from the Viper to the Marcos TSO, and a supercharged version of Ford's 4.6L aluminum V8...

We also had the SVT Focus, SVT Contour (read Mondeo), and SVT Lightning...

They have been around since the early '90s, and my uncle was on the origional SVT team with Coletti (sp?) when they first developed the origional Lightning and Cobra Mustangs. Although they are nowhere near as complicated as say an AMG or M-Spec BMW, but they lead the way in American high-performance for several years.
 
a problem with the Focus RS sold here...

Ford's not selling the even the normal Euro Focus here. that's the one we want, too! T.T
 
Which has always seemed strange to me, considering it's:

a.) much better than the Mk I Focus and

based on the Mazda 3, which Ford is selling there, thus

b.) it should pass US safety and emissions standards easily

and

c.) the tooling to make it is already in place
 
Yeah, it does seem odd Ford not offering the Focus RS and ST in the States. :odd: American roads are probably the only ones the RS' differential wouldn't have any trouble with too. :lol:
 
If I was in charge I'd do a Fusion SHO (w/ Mazdaspeed 6 mechanicals), a Galaxie 500 (a Five Hundred w/ the Yamaha V8 and AWD from the Volvo XC90), and an Explorer Cobra (w/ the GT500's engine and AWD to give Cayenne owners something to think about :trouble: ).
 
Speaking of the Focus:

Leftlanenews.com
The Ford Focus will get an updated front end for the 2007 model year, but that’s it. Americans will not get the superior European model, as many enthusiasts had hoped. As evidenced by a recent spy photo taken by KGP Photography, the Focus will get a new grille (and possibly new headlights), but for the most part it will remain unchanged.

2242006145430.jpg
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Well, that really sucks for Focus fans...
 
L8 Apex
If I was in charge I'd do a Fusion SHO (w/ Mazdaspeed 6 mechanicals), a Galaxie 500 (a Five Hundred w/ the Yamaha V8 and AWD from the Volvo XC90), and an Explorer Cobra (w/ the GT500's engine and AWD to give Cayenne owners something to think about :trouble: ).
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Dang, you should be in charge instead of Bill Ford...that pretty much echoes my ideas on the subject...

Also we need a Ranger Cobra with the 300 hp 3-valve Mod V8. 👍
 
YSSMAN
Speaking of the Focus:

2242006145430.jpg


Well, that really sucks for Focus fans...
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Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God I hate Ford's North American division. The Euro Focus is so much more handsome--and the ST with it's Volvo 2.5l 5cyl turbo motor is just godly. It looks like the Focus over in the states is getting the US-spec Ford Fusion type grille...which would be ok if it was only on the saloons and not the hatches.

getImage.asp


Makes me want to turn my ZX5 into the Euro spec just to kick Ford's NA division in the nuts. Anyone know if the Euro Focuses parts including the Volvo 5cyl engine will fit on my US spec model? That front end of the new ST in Europe is super sexy...

*edit*
Check out this interior...it's LHD!
getImage.asp


*edit 2*
OMG the e-brake is in a better spot too! I wonder if I could convert it like that in my ZX5...
 
I am guessing Ford will double back on their decision and bring us it after all....
JCE3000GT
Makes me want to turn my ZX5 into the Euro spec just to kick Ford's NA division in the nuts. Anyone know if the Euro Focuses parts including the Volvo 5cyl engine will fit on my US spec model? That front end of the new ST in Europe is super sexy...
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The Euro Focus is all Mazda 3 bits underneath AFAIK and does not share anything with our Focus, so I am guessing that nothing (incuding the 2.5T) will fit, unfortunately :indiff:
 
skip0110
The Euro Focus is all Mazda 3 bits underneath AFAIK and does not share anything with our Focus, so I am guessing that nothing (incuding the 2.5T) will fit, unfortunately :indiff:
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Isn't the US-spec '05-'06 Focus generation also based off of the Mazda3?
 
skip0110
I was under the impression that was just a front/rear facelift with the same "old" Focus underpinnings....

Just double-checked, the article confirms this: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=16&article_id=8214
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Wow, I feel like I've been taken for a ride (no pun intended)...I was under the ASSUPTION that my car was a Mazda3 hatch underneath...hell I even put my car next to my neighbors Mazda3 4dr Hatch and it looked like it had similar dimensions. Wow...just wow. I'm sort of feeling like I made the wrong choice...now I want to get rid of this thing and get a Mazda3 hatch. But, I'm just going to pay it off and get something else and just keep this for people hauling and daily driving to work. I'm sad now. :indiff:
 
The Current US-spec Ford Focus shares nothing with the C1 cars (Euro Focus, Mazda3, Volvo S40) except maybe an engine and transmission. Otherwise, its the design that died a few years back...
 
L8 Apex
If I was in charge I'd do a Fusion SHO (w/ Mazdaspeed 6 mechanicals), a Galaxie 500 (a Five Hundred w/ the Yamaha V8 and AWD from the Volvo XC90), and an Explorer Cobra (w/ the GT500's engine and AWD to give Cayenne owners something to think about :trouble: ).
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I wish you were in charge.


Look, if y'all want Euro Spec Focii(?) then just come live here.

You can have Slovakia.
 
ultrabeat
I wish you were in charge.


Look, if y'all want Euro Spec Focii(?) then just come live here.

You can have Slovakia.
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oh, and i suppose if i wanted a Skyline i could just hop a plane and go to Japan, huh? just re-locate my entire life.

Kinda rude, even if you didn't mean it.
 
joke Audio pronunciation of "joke" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (jk)
n.

1. Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement, especially an amusing story with a punch line.
2. A mischievous trick; a prank.
3. An amusing or ludicrous incident or situation.
4. Informal.
1. Something not to be taken seriously; a triviality: The accident was no joke.
2. An object of amusement or laughter; a laughingstock: His loud tie was the joke of the office.
 
My definition.

Joke (n) 1. something percieved as funny by another person.

that wasn't funny.
 
Well I've lost all hope in Ford. The fact that they still haven't brought in the new Focus from europe is proof of this.

And the new Fusion, meh.. I'd rather have Mondeo. I stepped into a Fusion and I wans't impressed by the interior, just a tad better than the one on my dad's Escape.

Ford has lost touch with its customers. How come europe gets the Mondeo, the Focus RS, the really nice Focus, the Focus ST? I saw a Countour SVT and a SVT Lightning about 2 weeks ago, while I'm not excited about trucks, that SVT Lightning was something else, but that Countour SVT seemed decent too, just like that older Taurus SHO (tho I've never been a fan of the Taurus).

I wish that guy who posted would be in charge. Galaxie 500, Fusion SHO, Focus SVT, bring them back.
 
Am I the only one who thinks the first-gen Focus was the only attractive one? I think the new Focii, both U.S.-spec and Euro-spec, look like rush-jobs. I especially dislike what they did with the rear-end of the hatches...

And ultrabeat's comment was quite obviously a joke. Nonetheless, I wish it was that easy to just hop on over there.... :indiff:
 
Well, the new Focus' styling was the result of extensive market research and design clinics and such...

In other words, they spent a whole lot of time making sure no one would be offended by it... and that as few people as possible would actually be wowed by it.

In the 3 door ST version, it looks pretty handsome, in a subdued kind of way... but in five door and four door mode, it's kind of bland. Takes some time to grow on you.

But if you guys want the new Focus, you can just hop into the Mazda 3. Although the Mazda's sci-fi interior doesn't quite have the subdued and easy on the eyes and hands feel that the Focus does, it's almost the same. It just trades some of the refinement and suppleness for a sharper feel.

And you are getting the Mazdaspeed 3, which will probably have better balance than the 2.5T Focus ST.

But I know, it won't feel the same as driving a hot Focus... :indiff:
 
Wolfe2x7
Am I the only one who thinks the first-gen Focus was the only attractive one? I think the new Focii, both U.S.-spec and Euro-spec, look like rush-jobs. I especially dislike what they did with the rear-end of the hatches...
Click to expand...

The Focus RS of the previous generation was sexy along with the FR200 (concept?) but the new Euro-ST model is just drop-dead gorgeous. I'm still depressed that I don't have a Mazda3 Focus but I've decided to add not only NA performance tuning but trying to figure out a way to add the Euro front and rear body pieces. Doubt they'd have the same bolt patterns to install them...:indiff:
 

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