Greg - Whats up with SVT?

[smokin'Red35th]

Last I heard it was dead, is that not the case anymore?

[Greg@GLD]

The brand "SVT" is not dead Devin, but SVT as it was once known will never be the same. It has gone "mainstream Ford" and there a but a few people left in what you would call "SVT". Think of it more as a brand name than a true niche within Ford that it once was. It would have been killed off completely if certain people had their say, but others within the corporation realized that the SVT brand was extremely valuable to Ford.

Supposedly there will be future SVT vehicles. There's talk of an "affordable" SVT based off the Focus that is sold abroad. There was supposed to be an SVT Fusion also.

I guess we'll find out together if these things come to production. Ford is in a world of hurt right now, so SVT is not high on the list of priorities at the present time. They are looking for another "Taurus" type vehicle to save them. Back in the 80's the Taurus was a hit and it saved Ford. They need a successful run in the mainstream, not the niche.

[TeamRiceRacing]

Ford just needs to get their heads out of their (fill in your choice) and quite wasting so much time/money aerodynamics and stuff, just build the dang shoebox that is comfortable, get decent mileage, and built solid (aka Taurus). Too many of these companies worry about the newest radio/GPS/power whatever technology and they forget that people want the 3 basics from a car....(see above). When I get in a new car I look at the interior and laugh because you know some guy spent 4 years designing the cup holder so that the drink wouldn't catch the radio when it was on stations 92.3-97.7. I mean come on...back to basics people.


Just my opinion.

[animal]

Heh, they must've spent 5 minutes on my 04 stang, because I cant think of a worse place for the cupholders :(

[Tim Russell]

Ford just needs to get their heads out of their (fill in your choice) and quite wasting so much time/money aerodynamics and stuff, just build the dang shoebox that is comfortable, get decent mileage, and built solid (aka Taurus). Too many of these companies worry about the newest radio/GPS/power whatever technology and they forget that people want the 3 basics from a car....(see above). When I get in a new car I look at the interior and laugh because you know some guy spent 4 years designing the cup holder so that the drink wouldn't catch the radio when it was on stations 92.3-97.7. I mean come on...back to basics people.


Just my opinion.

Your right in some respects but the interior has to be as good if not better than the competition. The Fusion is aimed right at the Japanese and has made it on to CR's best buy and recommended car lists. This is good for Ford but they do need another hit. Who knows maybe the new Taurus AKA 500 with a better interior and an extra 65 HP will be it. I liked what I saw at the Chicago auto show. Ford has gone a bit crossover crazy as of late so we'll see how that pans out. Maybe the Flex (production version of the Fairlane concept) will be the new family hauler of choice.

It's only been in the last few months that I have become really worried about Ford. Oh well it'll help with the UAW contracts which are up this year.

PS the 99-04 cup holders are halfways useless in a 5-speed, low soda cans only or I need a shifter like from the old CarToons mag 3 feet long so it's above the wheel. Probably still hit a drink cup.

[TeamRiceRacing]

PS the 99-04 cup holders are halfways useless in a 5-speed, low soda cans only or I need a shifter like from the old CarToons mag 3 feet long so it's above the wheel. Probably still hit a drink cup.


See, that engineer lost his job. Poor guy worried about other things first.