About damn skippy time WardsAuto.com, April 1st 2005
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Ford Motor Co. plans to build the next-generation SVT Focus hatchback at its Wayne assembly plant in 2006 as a 2007 model, marking the return of the SVT Focus after a 3 year hiatus, a spokesman tells Ward’s.
The auto maker will sell the SVT versions of the Focus locally, in addition to exporting the car to other key markets, including Australia and New Zealand where Ford currently does not offer a performance version of the Focus. The exportation of an American built Focus is a first for the company.
“With the volume of performance small cars sold in America today we would be fools to not give our award winning Focus line another attempt at capturing the market”, Mark Schulz, Ford marketing vice president in charge of new product line says.
The company currently is hammering out a plan to consolidate its supply base, engineering facilities and sales operations for the launch of SVT Focus according to Schulz.
The 2006-2007 time frame is significant for the Ford Motor Companies performance division as it will now be launching a total of 3 models effectively "revamping" the entire SVT lineup.
Ford has not confirmed what is in store for the new SVT Focus, however industry insiders indicate that Ford has already chosen to utilize the 2.3L 4 cylinder turbocharged package being used in the Mazda6 Speed edition vehicle. It is expected that Ford will detune the package for the Focus to maximize handling in the smaller platform.
To ensure a quality launch, Wayne plant officials have been working with the Cologne, Germany-based, global Focus engineering team that has been shepherding the vehicle’s redesign with the SVT America based operations, Tom Gorman, Ford vice-president, says.
You know what I love about this sometimes. We gripe and say we want another SVT Focus, and then when they say they are going to make one (AND TURBOCHARGE IT) and people start bunking on it. I realize that you SVT people have issues with yours, and rightfully so, but I imagine it's a bit hard for Ford to get a barometer on consumer sentiment when people ask for one thing and get it and immediately start pointing out it's potential pitfalls.
____________________ "Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either, just fuck off and leave me alone. "
The 2.3 engine would need alot of work to make it boost ready. I don't think there are any oem's that have a turbo car with an aluminium block, most are cast. If the "new" svtf got a turbo engine it would probility be out of one of the cars in the Volvo line up. Ford has a next-gen focus touring the auto shows with a 5 cylinder turbo out of a Volvo.
If ford does something with the svtf I think it will involve a sc. Just my
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
t3-rex wrote: The 2.3 engine would need alot of work to make it boost ready. I don't think there are any oem's that have a turbo car with an aluminium block, most are cast. If the "new" svtf got a turbo engine it would probility be out of one of the cars in the Volvo line up. Ford has a next-gen focus touring the auto shows with a 5 cylinder turbo out of a Volvo.
If ford does something with the svtf I think it will involve a sc. Just my
The 2.3L Turbo would be the one from the MazdaSpeed, not a turbo'd 2.3L in the Focus.
Well he doesn't care how it returns, bad or good, we shall deal with it. We just want one and I want him to have a new one, ya know a clean slate. So who cares, they can throw it at us however, we'll take it.
Any pics of body style they'll use? I know the hatchback but any different than the present U.S. Focus? I still think, if they would make it a RWD and drop it, to have lower center of gravity it would handle better than FWD. IMO! Thanks.
They'd never make it RWD solely. Ford's RWD performance car is the Mustang or for the super rich the GT. You might be better off hoping for a AWD, though I imagine they'll just stick with the FWD. I wouldn't imagine they'll go balls to the wall on this. I'd say power in the low 200hp range, FWD, and a suspension setup similar to the current SVTF, save maybe a limited slip.
And don't forget the power loss in 1st + second gear like on the RS.
Ford, if you're gonna build a performance car, build it right. Screw all the "non-burnout-allowing" CPU tricks like you put on the RS and new Mustang. I wanna roach tires if I'm paying more than $500 for the car. Especially if it's a "performance" version of a car.
Put in an LSD, stiffen the suspension like you mean it, slap on some wide 18's and wrap them in Yoko's. The car should come factory with an adjustable boost controller, header, the biggest honkin turbo you can get to spool, a front-mount IC, ACT clutch, 2.25" turbo piping...
If you're gonna build a pocket rocket, at least make it worth the $$$ you're asking for it.
JTex wrote: Any pics of body style they'll use? I know the hatchback but any different than the present U.S. Focus? I still think, if they would make it a RWD and drop it, to have lower center of gravity it would handle better than FWD. IMO! Thanks.
JT
It may be the SVT but is and always will be an economy car. American motor companies arent ready to produce a 4cyl "Muscle car." Give me a rear wheel drive 4cyl with supercharger and I will role past any mustang. that right thier is why they wont make it. just like with the 2000 mustangs and 2000 focus I walked on many mustangs with that thing. go buy a 2005 focus and race 2005 Mustang you wont be walking on that stang at all... and i'm talking base model focus on V8 mustang. Kinda sad when you think all the money spent.
