SVT Production No More?

[SVTbooker]

A guy at work told me he read somewhere that SVT may be discontinued?

I know that Ford is having some serious financial problems these days and it would make sense (financially to cut SVT first), but I would be pissed (even though my car would appreciate in value).

Any truth to this disheartening rumour? I hope not!:huh:

[chris95svt]

No way! :(

[JR88021]

Originally posted by SVTbooker
A guy at work told me he read somewhere that SVT may be discontinued?

I know that Ford is having some serious financial problems these days and it would make sense (financially to cut SVT first), but I would be pissed (even though my car would appreciate in value).

Any truth to this disheartening rumour? I hope not!:huh: NO WAY ITS JUST A RUMOUR:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[OleGrayCar]

I read where SVT is in the process of developing an SVT T-Bird and an Escape for the '05 model year.
Somebody better tell THEM !!:eek:

[MZXNK4]

Having had some conversations with folks from SVT I think we will see a new organization in the near future. Since SVT and Roush share the same building in Dearborn I feel some sort of marriage will be evident. Now, no one is going to admitt to this so don't waste your time asking about it. So the next question is will the SVT (Ford) employees be spun off to Roush or will Rou****es become Blue Oval loyalists. Too earlly to tell but stay tuned..you know the hammer is going to fall soon.

[Greg@SVTOA]

FPG

Ford Performance Group

[BlueOvalBolt]

A few issues ago, Jim McGraw of MM & FF reported SVT was going away incorrectly. He corrected himself in the latest issue. Here are a couple of related articles from September.

Ford Performance Group Pumps More Horsepower into Enthusiast Market

CHICAGO, Sept. 4, 2002 -- Ford, already the undisputed leader in factory-tuned performance vehicles, is putting more horsepower behind its efforts to fuel performance product passion. The new Ford Performance Group will expand the array of performance vehicles, parts and services offered by Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.

The new group combines the strengths of Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT), Ford Racing Technology and the company’s Vehicle Personalization organization to design, develop and market performance products, parts and services. The organization will be the industry’s most comprehensive performance product and marketing operation.

“We created this group to maximize the most passionate and exciting parts of our business,” says Jim O’Connor, Ford Motor Company group vice president for North America Marketing, Sales and Service. “We know our customers are demanding unique, high-performance vehicles, parts and services, and we are ready to deliver them.”

The creation of Ford Performance Group reaffirms the company’s commitment to generating product passion, driving showroom traffic and boosting customer satisfaction by:


Expanding the Ford SVT product line
Delivering quickly to market special-edition Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models and performance accessories
Growing the performance parts and accessory business
Continuing to foster a direct link between racing and production vehicles
Nurturing already powerful relationships with enthusiast customers in Ford car clubs
Creating new performance products for the Lincoln and Mercury brands in the future working with Lincoln Mercury Product Development

Ford Performance Group
The Ford Performance Group brings together three entities within Ford Motor Company in an effort to maximize their collective efforts. Mike Zevalkink, formerly executive director of Ford North American Car Product Development, has been appointed executive director, Ford Performance Group and is in charge of aligning the strategies to quickly deliver performance results.

“This segment of the market is moving fast, and we intend to widen our lead in performance products, parts and services,” says Zevalkink. “The difference between Ford and the competition is that Ford has more than 100,000 SVT vehicles already on the street, and will sell more than 100,000 feature vehicles in 2002 along with a full line of factory-backed performance accessories. And you can expect to hear more very soon.”

The formation of the Ford Performance Group is a key element in Ford’s strategy to re-energize the car market while solidifying and expanding the truck and SUV segments. The emphasis on Ford performance cars has been fueled by recent announcements of several new additions to the Living Legends line of vehicles, the expansion of the company’s award-winning line of SVT products and the ongoing success in all forms of racing.

“From the excellent driving dynamics built into every Ford Focus, to the sheer strength of the 2003 SVT Mustang Cobra and the excitement brewing with the production version of the GT40 concept, performance and passion is core to Ford’s business,” says Zevalkink.

The Ford Performance Group will continue to deliver performance and personalization in special products and victories in racing while expanding into new, joint efforts. The team will work with Lincoln Mercury Product Development to examine possibilities for future performance vehicles for Lincoln and Mercury. The SVT brand will remain exclusive to the Ford brand.

Zevalkink and the Ford Performance Group will report to O’Connor and combine the following product and marketing organizations:


Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) was formed in the early 1990s with the charter to create limited edition, world-class performance vehicles worthy of the SVT badge. The SVT design ethic was – and still is – based on four hallmarks: Performance, Substance, Exclusivity and Value. After 10 years and more than 100,000 vehicles sold, SVT is recognized as the industry benchmark in delivering factory-backed performance vehicles that are an unmatched value in the market. John Coletti is director, Special Vehicle Team Programs.

Ford Racing Technology manages all aspects of Ford’s North American motorsports programs, including NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck, CART and NHRA drag racing. Additionally, Ford Racing Technology oversees all marketing efforts for the Ford Racing brand, promotes Ford Racing at the grassroots levels throughout North America, and designs and markets specialty performance parts for both racing and street applications. Dan Davis is director, Ford Racing Technology.

Vehicle Personalization is responsible for the seamless design and integration of accessories and special feature vehicles for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury. The Vehicle Personalization group develops “Buzz” vehicles – such as the Mustang Bullitt GT and the Midnight Escape – and oversees the development of more than 4,000 aftermarket vehicle accessories sold through Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers. Bob Masone is director, Vehicle Personalization.

“The Ford Performance Group will leverage our best strengths in racing and product development and connect with people who really love their cars and trucks -- the fans and the driving enthusiasts,” says O'Connor.

and this link for more:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/803288.asp?0nm=C13L


And another:

SVT Performance Gets a Bigger Role at Ford

08:23 Aug. 05, 2002)
High-performance SVT unit will get bigger role at Ford



By MARY CONNELLY
Automotive News

In the 2003 model year, Ford Division will increase production of high-performance SVT vehicles, sell them at more dealerships and use the models in national advertising.

"We are giving more prominence to the SVT name," said Steve Lyons, Ford Division president. "SVT (Special Vehicle Team) has been around for 10 years, and we think the time is right."

High performance is an industry hot button. In July, General Motors said it will build at least one high-performance model for each division. In December 2001, the Chrysler group created a Performance Vehicle Operations unit to develop more high-performance models.

"Each of the domestic automakers is looking for the cachet you get from the performance side of the market," said Doug Scott, industry analyst with Allison-Fisher in Southfield, Mich. "The imports tend to get rated more highly on handling and performance across a broad set of vehicles. The domestics are looking to add flavor across a set of their cars that are not thought of as being as much fun to drive."

Ford Division now sells SVT versions of the Focus, Mustang and F-150.

Nick Scheele, Ford Motor COO, has championed a broader role for SVT. Here are highlights of the company's plan:

By next year, Ford will expand its SVT dealer network in the United States to an estimated 1,200 dealerships, up from 600 today, Lyons said. Ford Division had 3,911 U.S. dealerships as of Jan. 1, according to the Automotive News Market Data Book. Not all dealerships are expected to undertake the training and certification required to sell SVT models.

In the 2003 model year, Ford will increase Ford SVT Focus production to at least 12,000 units and possibly as many as 18,000. Ford built 5,500 in the 2002 model year in a shorter-than-normal production run that did not begin until March 2002.

New dealers who qualify to sell SVT models will sell only the SVT Focus in the 2003 and 2004 model years. All dealers will be offered the full SVT lineup, including the Mustang SVT Cobra and the SVT F-150 Lightning, in the 2005 model year.

SVT will consider adding one and possibly two unspecified products to its lineup.

In the 2003 model year, the Ford SVT Focus will be used in national Ford brand ad campaigns, a first for an SVT model.

"SVT will be a more significant piece of Ford (Division's) marketing strategy going forward," said Tom Scarpello, Ford SVT marketing and sales manager. "We are setting up the SVT business for increased growth."

Ford research indicates that 75 percent of those who buy an SVT model would not have considered a Ford vehicle otherwise, said Mark Schirmer, Ford spokesman.

In the 2003 model year, a five-door SVT Focus will join the three-door model in the lineup.

[Greg@SVTOA]

Nice work Chris...

Even those of us who are supposed to be on "the inside" are getting a mix of conflicting information.
I can tell you that right now, right this moment, there are things happening behind closed doors that can and will affect the current situation.

It could be really good. It could be really bad... Depends on your perspective I suppose...

If there's anything meaningful to share with you guys, I'll share it.

What Chris has posted I think would lend a measure of credibility to the three letter response I made to this post initially.

:D

[Greg@SVTOA]

FWIW, Mr. Scarpello just told me SVT and SVTOA are not going ANYWHERE.

This is straight from the top.

We'll see what transpires...

Greg

[ASP1]

Great news!!!:bna :bna :bna :cbra:

[SVTbooker]

...Ford? I work in the wonderful world of Finance and thewre has been some talk (a few weeks ago) of Ford going belly up. I found it hard to believe, but S&P recently downgraded Ford to BBB status (which is a bad sign).

Anyway, I am not trying to stir the pot (or am I secretly a GM operative working deep behind enemy lines....hahaha), but as a Ford owner and American car lover, I am a bit concerned.

Research: Return to Regular Format
Summary: Ford Motor Co.
Publication date: 25-Oct-2002
Credit Analyst: Scott Sprinzen, New York (1) 212-438-7812
Rationale
Credit Rating: BBB/Negative/A-2
On Oct. 25, 2002, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its longterm
ratings on Ford Motor Co. and Ford Motor Credit Co. to 'BBB' from
'BBB+', and removed these ratings from CreditWatch, where they had
been placed on Oct. 16, 2002. The 'A-2' short-term ratings on the
company, which were not placed on CreditWatch, were affirmed. Longterm
ratings on Ford's 100%-owned Hertz Corp. unit remain on
CreditWatch with negative implications.
The downgrade primarily reflects concerns about the adequacy of
restructuring measures being implemented by Ford to restore the
competitiveness its core automotive operations. Ford has been pursuing
its extensive revitalization plan, announced in January of this year,
following the company's dismal operating performance in 2001.
Significant progress has been made in certain areas, such as
enhancement of product quality measures. A turnaround has already
been effected at Ford's automotive operations in Europe. Furthermore,
largely reflecting stronger-than-anticipated industry demand, Ford has
been exceeding its modest initial goal of consolidated pretax breakeven
earnings in 2002. Even so, its automotive operations remain unprofitable
in aggregate. Standard & Poor's is concerned that the benefits of Ford's
restructuring could eventually be offset by decreasing industry demand in
North America, industrywide intensification of price deterioration—-partly
resulting from aggressiveness by General Motors Corp.--and Ford's
Outlook
market share weakness. In addition, although an important element of
Ford's long-range plan has been expansion in relatively high-margin
luxury vehicles, the performance of the brands within its Premier
Automotive Group has been mixed.
Moreover, Ford's financial leverage has increased as a result of growth in
its unfunded pension liability. Ford recently disclosed that, as a result of
poor investment portfolio returns, its U.S. plans are now underfunded by
$6.5 billion. Taking the deficit in Ford's non-U.S. plans into account,
Standard & Poor's estimates Ford's total underfunding is well in excess of
$10 billion, compared with underfunding of only $2.5 billion at year-end
2001.
Ford continues to benefit from adequate liquidity and financial flexibility:

The company has a large cash position, totaling $25.7 billion at
Sept.30, 2002, (including VEBA funds, excluding Ford Credit).

Parent-level debt is moderate, totaling $11.9 billion, and maturities of
this debt are light over the next few years.

Although Ford now has a substantial unfunded pension liability, the
company is not required to make any plan contributions until 2006.
Ford Credit does face substantial near-term debt maturities, but it
continues to enjoy good access to the asset-backed securities (ABS)
market, and also has $40 billion of committed bank credit and
securitization facilities. Yet, exaggerated public perceptions concerning
Ford's woes have contributed to significant widening of Ford's and Ford
Credit's credit spreads in recent months. If this persists, it could cause
Ford Credit to become disproportionately dependent on the ABS market
as a funding source.
The ratings on Ford could be lowered further if at any point Standard &
Poor's comes to doubt that Ford will be able to sustain some earnings
improvement, including the achievement of at least breakeven pretax
earnings in its automotive operations (excluding Ford Credit) in 2003.



:confused: :wtf: :confused:

[BlueOvalBolt]

Some interesting reading in a related article on BON from Fortune Magazine.

http://www.fortune.com/indexw.jhtml?channel=artcol.jhtml&doc_id=210141

[SVTbooker]

good reading...thanx

[2k3cobra]

SVT sounds tough and looks good on the tail of my cobra. I would hate (ok, maybe not hate) to see FPG. Personally, I think it's weak.

It is definately a step up from TURD, oops I mean TRD (toyota racing development).

[MZXNK4]

SVT, FPG or what ever they intend to call it, I hope Mr. Scarpello and Mr. Coletti can improve the general attitude of SVT dealers and Service personnel. If they want to build 'Brand Loyality' ( and I believe they do) then they need to show some of the dealers the business end of a 12 gague. Let's face it, most SVT Dealer/owners have no interest in performance vehicles except for the bigger price tag. So to these 'business men' you and I are just another schulmp, except we are willing to pay bigger bucks for our cars. The entire Ford business machinery wants us to buy these performance toys, they help sponsor driving events and yet refuse to support us by telling us that the car is 'out of warranty' when they find a K&N air filter or Borla exhaust system on the car. This whole warranty issue needs some very serious review and corrections.

[BUG]

I checked into some issues with the warranty. It only states that they will not repair something broken if it was caused by the modification. I have not found where racing at the track will void your warranty only that if you broke it because of racing they won't cover it. Does this make any sense? If you feel I am wrong or don't have the whole story let me know. I just know that I have a friend that blew up his motor off the track, went to court last year, and won a rebuild under warranty. The shop said he was racing and that is why it blew. There was no evidence to support this. Another case that was in 97 was with a VW owner. He installed a supercharger and the motor died early. When they went into the motor there was no detination so it was ruled that the supercharger did not cause the problem. The motor would have died anyway. Crazzzzyyyyy!!!!!!
Chris

[JR88021]

Originally posted by BUG
I checked into some issues with the warranty. It only states that they will not repair something broken if it was caused by the modification. I have not found where racing at the track will void your warranty only that if you broke it because of racing they won't cover it. Does this make any sense? If you feel I am wrong or don't have the whole story let me know. I just know that I have a friend that blew up his motor off the track, went to court last year, and won a rebuild under warranty. The shop said he was racing and that is why it blew. There was no evidence to support this. Another case that was in 97 was with a VW owner. He installed a supercharger and the motor died early. When they went into the motor there was no detination so it was ruled that the supercharger did not cause the problem. The motor would have died anyway. Crazzzzyyyyy!!!!!!
Chris WELL SAID FORD IS TO GOOD TO ME AND I RACE:kiss: :kiss: :kiss: :kiss:

[SVTfcs]

The problem is that some of the "SVT certified" dealerships really don't know all that much about the SVT customer. I don't know exactly how warranty issues work, but I know that the dealer ends up looking like the bad guy. Well of course they do, they're the ones that tell you, "This vehicle was used to race, I can't help you."

Dealerships don't really understand the importance of this type of customer. Even some of the bean counters at Ford Motor probably don't either. You see SVT drivers are some of the most valuable customers that Ford has.

These enthusiasts do not just use their cars to drive to work and pick up the kids from school. They will actually open up their hoods and brag about the content. (Unlike many people who have probably never poped their hood on their current vehicle, and never will). And they will easily engage in a debate about how much better their Ford products are than the competition.

I get mad when I hear some of you guys say that your dealership told you to get lost. Then refused to work on your car for some reason or another and was a total @$$ to you. Of course you used this car to race, and have modifications on it. This could be the Mustang that everyone at the drag strip was drooling at, as they watched it run a 10 second 1/4 mile. Even the Chevy drivers said, "Damn that car is fast." Or could it could be the Focus that was driving circles around every other car at a local autocross. As the Honda drivers all wondered how the car can be that damn fast. As long as your mods are legal according to the state you live in, you should get "special" attention from the "Special" Vehicle Team.

Well that's my (longwinded) opinion anyway. Does anyone out there know exactly how the warranty process works? Do any members of this site work at a dealership? I have a question for you. If a dealership denies you service can't you just go to another one? I mean eventually if you go to enough dealerships, someone will help you out. I don't know because I have never been rejected when asking to have my car serviced.

:huh: Let me know what you think... :huh: