DBlightning

I read in motor trend that John has stepped down as the head of svt and that someone else (a name I can't pronouce) has taken over.

That gives me hope that they plan on keeping svt around, but also dout about future svt products since John will no longer be in charge. I think he would have really pushed to get the Lightning and the Cobra in development and production, and at the same time keep svt in check by only allowing the name to be on Ford Vehicles. It seems like the new guy wants to put it on everything from Lincolns to Mercurys.

Also, I hear Tom stepped down as Marketing director, and they didn't metion a replacement.

Anybody hear the same thing or have any idea what is going on and what is going to happen.

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Lightning Dude

Its Hau Thai-Tang. But one good thing its the article hints that we may see some Merc or Lincoln SVTs. Id like to see other svts like a SVT Thunderbird(did they kill it though?), Marauder(if they still made it), and 500.

PFA

I think the way to look at these guys is not by "stepping down" but John decided to retire. He had his time in. He may have decided he couldn't work for the "new" boss--Tang. Tom is now over another division, probably not any choice in the matter. I forget who took his spot in SVT, maybe Tang again. He must be full of many talents. I'm not sure if an SVT Merc or Lincoln is good. They usually are the more luxury side of the Fords and cost more as a base anyway. We'll see...

BigD

As Wayne said,

John Coletti retired..he had enough time in!

Hau Thai-Tang took over as Director of SVT. He was in charge of development of the 2005 Mustang before being moved to SVT.

Tom Scarpello was moved to Jaguar division in California (which he told me about in our SEMA meeting).

George Ayres is Toms's replacement as SVT Marketing and Sales Manager. George came from Jaguar in California (He and Tom swapped jobs)!

An that is "The rest of the news" folks!

HotSithor

I think placing the SVT moniker over all three Ford brands is an awesome idea. Look at what PVO over at Daimler-Chrysler has done. The SRT moniker has been placed throughout their whole product line and it's doing awesome. I'm even considering a 300C SRT-8 myself.

It's about time they made an American sedan with over 400-hp. Then you have the Crossfire SRT-6, Viper SRT-10, Ram SRT-10, and Neon SRT-4. I think it was an awesome idea on Chrysler's part to do that.

If I could have any cars in my dream garage, they would include an SVT Lincoln LS, SVT Cobra, and an SVT Lightning. It would even be fun to see an SVT Navigator.

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svtpickemup

The difference is that SVT, until recent years, has meant exclusivity, something PVO never claims.

If you want SVT to turn into another trim style like XLT or SE, you can have it.

SVT is a Ford thing. Period. What more do you want? Ford has every class covered in its own line without having to go to its other divisions. They can make an SVT Crown Vic or an SVT Exploder or SVT Expy, but it better perform and it better be limited production.

Go ahead and make a Lincoln LS GT or whatever you want to call it, but don't call it SVT. It's time for Ford to reclaim the SVT name, not water it down more than it has been (production numbers of Gen 2 Ls for example).

Road Rage

I think we've seen the last of the SVT badge and will see Shelby as a replacement. No more trucks though. Hope I'm wrong.

PFA

Ford even dropped their Ford Performance Division, that SVT fell under. I don't think they know what the heck they want. Hopefully they figure it out soon.

DBlightning

Personally I would only like to see Fords wear the SVT name. If they start branching off what will be next an SVT mazda?

I do think Dodge has really gotten their act together now, before they sucked. The have the Neon SRT-4 which would way out perform a focus and for the same price. They have the Ram SRT-10 which just took over the top truck spot in speed. And now they have a bunch of SRT cars that are all fast.

GM is also starting to put out some cars. The cobalt SS runs number similar to teh Neon SRT-4. The new ZO6 will run close to the GT for 1/3 the price. The silverado SS sucks. And the new GTO looks like it can take the new mustangs.

What exactly is Ford doing? I will admit they have some promising cars, including the cobra mustang and shelby mustang and the GR-1. But what about the compact market and the truck market. I don't know if you have seen the numbers on the Rousch F-150, but it is slow, barely out runs a stock gen 1 and it is supercharged.

Lightning Dude

Well I think ford should put svt to work on other ford brands, but only Mercery and Licoln. Most the other brands have their own performance teams(or already a performance company). But Lincoln and Merc really need to be a bigger player, a SVT LS would be great to take on the M3 and M5, if they still made it a Marauder to take on the srt-8 300C.

LightningSteed

Dodge has had some fresh new stuff come out I like the 300M & SRT8 & the neon SRT's don't like what they did with the new Charger though they had a concept car a couple years back that had much nicer lines and was more the "essence" of what a Charger should look like.
but I imagine it is all so they can say Dodge Charger & Nascar in the same sentence after all these years.

I'd like to see SVT stay Ford's and I'd love a Ford GT but don't ever see it happening. I like that they built the "Halo" cars like the GT & Shelby GR-1, but I think they need to not lose touch with the market that wants something a bit more realistic
I like the new Stang
I don't see a Ford 500 sedan SVT as anything exciting personally
the car's lines are much too generic looking.
the Ford 500 just looks like a stretched Focus to me.
If they want to make a Lincoln performance car/truck I think it should be a different sub division.

I like GM (Holden) 's GTO and it's performace is pretty impressive
but when I look at it it doesn't have the same "essence"
as a Judge it looks fairly generic.
At least they finally killed the pontiac Aztek and hopefully the stylist(s) that made it.

maybe my tastes are somewhat "old school" but it seems like allot of cars have sort of plain lines, maybe there's only so much you can do with average economy ratings and wind drag etc.
I think the 300M looks distinctive..sort of reminds me of a Bentley

scampismith

Chrysler Corp. really has a nice
looking fleet of automobiles now. fast ones two.