Will The Lightning Come Thundering Back?

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NoOption5L@aol.com - 15 Apr 2006 03:02 GMT

Ford plans to beef up its performance portfolio, Mark Fields, the
automaker's President of the Americas , told a New York Auto Show
audience on Wednesday. Central to the strategy is a renewed emphasis on
the SVT line, which had been neglected in recent years. "The plan is to
offer one performance car and one truck, going forward," Fields
explained, with the pair likely to generate from 5000 to 10,000 annual
sales. A version of the Mustang and another SVT makeover of the
F-Series pickup will be the latest offerings. Then there'll be
"personalized performance," allowing customers to buy from a broad
catalog of performance parts and accessories. The third leg of Ford's
performance strategy is the Ford Racing unit.

Personally, I'd rather see the Sport Trac Adrenline concept than the
F150 Lightning, but at least Ford is offering another performance
model. And it's also good to hear SVT is going to get a "renewed
emphasis".

Patrick

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Backyard Mechanic - 15 Apr 2006 12:46 GMT

> Ford plans to beef up its performance portfolio, Mark Fields, the
> automaker's President of the Americas , told a New York Auto Show
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Patrick

Sounds like they're reverting to the previous (1980's) "SVO" program....
I dunno how big the SVT unit was, but apparently a little bloated for
income produced.

Signature

Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

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Jim J - 16 Apr 2006 04:44 GMT

<snip>

> A version of the Mustang and another SVT makeover of the
> F-Series pickup will be the latest offerings.

I'll believe the latter when I see it. I take that back: I'll believe
both when I see them!

> Personally, I'd rather see the Sport Trac Adrenline concept than the
> F150 Lightning,

I almost agree (I'd like to see both). I think it was a major mistake to
cancel the Adrenalin, especially given that the Sport Trac's makeover
has -- IMO -- resulted in an utterly bland and forgettable design. The
original ST was new and fresh (my wife, not given to impulse buying,
traded in her Ranger as soon as she saw a red ST on the lot!), but the
new one looks like a soccer mom's Explorer -- gaudy chrome and all. The
one real improvement is the addition of the 4.6L V-8.

> but at least Ford is offering another performance
> model. And it's also good to hear SVT is going to get a "renewed
> emphasis".
>
> Patrick

I just hope it's true, but for a number of reasons, I don't have a lot
of faith left in Ford.
--
Jim
2003 Lightning / 2001 Sport Trac

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Joe - 16 Apr 2006 18:29 GMT

NoOption5L@aol.com wrote in news:1145066535.288562.259680
@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com:

> Ford plans to beef up its performance portfolio, Mark Fields, the
> automaker's President of the Americas , told a New York Auto Show
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Patrick

Boy: "Wolf!"

<yawn>

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