Ford Makes its SVT Lineup Available to All Dealers

[BMWDave]

Ford Makes its SVT Lineup Available to All Dealers
Date Posted 07-26-2005



LAKE PLACID, N.Y. ? Ford is mainstreaming its SVT performance lineup, making it available to all of its 3,900 U.S. dealers for the first time, Darryl B. Hazel, president of Ford Division told Inside Line.

"We need to do better with performance products," Hazel said. "I recognize the resources that have been made available are such that I don't think we can continue to demand exclusivity from a smaller group of dealers on SVT."

Hazel said the reaction from dealers has been mixed.

"Some think it's a terrific idea," he said. "Some think it's the worst idea they've ever heard."

There are about 600 full-line SVT dealers in the U.S. In 2002, Ford opened up the SVT program to all of its dealers to sell the 2004 SVT Focus; about 800 dealers signed on for that program.

SVT spokesman Alan Hall said not all are expected to sign on to the SVT program because of certification requirements. Although those requirements are still being formulated, they are expected to include special sales and service training for technicians.

The next SVT product due out is the Shelby Cobra GT500, which Ford will begin building as early as next spring. Hazel said it will be priced around $40,000. Volume numbers are still being determined, but Hazel said Cobras traditionally have had a volume of around 7,000 a year.

What this means to you: Finding an SVT dealer just got easier. Sure, the exclusivity factor might go down, but isn't SVT less about cachet and more about torque and top end?

[MX793]

What SVT line-up? The SVT Focus got canned and I've heard no talks of reviving it, there will be no new Lightning since the engine program that was intended for the truck was scrapped, and the next Mustang Cobra is going to be a Shelby, not an SVT (though I see there that Ford will be considering it as an SVT model).

[giant_mtb]

I wouldn't mind an SVT Sport Trac.  B)  

[Colonel Cadillac]

There will be more SVT in the future, the previous SVT products may not have been successful sales wise (if not), but they certainly were successful performance vehicles.  

[TBR]

What SVT line-up? The SVT Focus got canned and I've heard no talks of reviving it, there will be no new Lightning since the engine program that was intended for the truck was scrapped, and the next Mustang Cobra is going to be a Shelby, not an SVT (though I see there that Ford will be considering it as an SVT model).

Ford is still developing a new, large displacement V8, it just won't have as many "features" as the Hurricane was to have.  

[giant_mtb]

So instead they're making a SVT SUV. ^_^

[TBR]

The Sport Trac isn't a suv, no matter what Ford will tell you it is a truck.  

[giant_mtb]

Ok well that's even worse.  I call it an SUV because it is, IMO, an SUV with the cargo hold de-roofed. ^_^

[TBR]

By definition, a suv is a truck with a cargo roof, so as far as I am concerned if it has a bed it is a truck.  

[ifcar]

An SVT Fusion should be the most popular addition to the lineup, and probably represents the reason so many dealers got on board.

[Tom]

Sport performance trucks