mikeyb
05-22-2006, 09:16 AM
Ford Motor Co. is considering the new Fusion sedan and Edge cross/utility vehicle as possible additions to its stable of high-performance vehicles, a company spokeswoman tells Ward’s.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->The move is part of an emphasis Ford is placing on performance vehicles as it looks for ways to boost sagging sales. It also would represent a re-expansion of the SVT brand, which Ford signaled in April would consist of just two models.
Mark Fields, president-The Americas, last month said the auto maker planned to invest in new products through its Special Vehicle Team (SVT) operation, including one SVT version of the Mustang and a yet-to-be-detailed performance truck.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->He predicts the two planned SVT models will sell in the 5,000- to 10,000-unit range annually.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->Ford earlier pulled back on plans for an F-Series Lightning pickup, as well as the Sport Trac Adrenalin.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->The decision to add more vehicles to the SVT fleet comes on the heels of the success of Ford’s Racing Performance Group, which recently joined SVT in product development.
"Ford performance is still alive, well and kicking,” says Jamie Allison, program manager-Ford Racing Performance Group. “Whether it's called SVT or Ford Racing, Ford enthusiasts and owners of SVT products have a place, and Ford continues to reach out to them.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->The redesigned ’05 Mustang is driving sales of aftermarket parts, says Allison.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->“We’re seeing sales we haven’t seen in 25 years of Ford racing,” he says, noting the performance group’s sales jumped 10% in 2005, and year-to-date sales are up 15%.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->A big draw is the $125,000 Grand Am Cup Mustang, a race-ready vehicle that is turning heads in the Grand Am Cup Series, which is partly owned by NASCAR. The Cup Mustang’s success on the track is leading to increased sales for the auto maker, Allison says.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->“Doctors, lawyers and attorneys drive (the Grand Am Cup Mustangs), and they enjoy that sort of racing,” he says. “Because of that success, they are buying production Mustangs for their personal cars. So racing, when done properly, can lead to greater vehicle sales.”
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->Allison hints that several more undisclosed performance vehicles could be in the works over the next couple of years.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->“Performance has always been a part of Ford,” he says. “We intend to sprinkle (other) cars with the same magic as the Mustang, and in the next year or two we’ll be talking about that. There’s a lot of emphasis in the company to push performance.”
source:http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:hyWgEeMMacoJ:subscribers.wardsauto. com/ar/ford_mulls_svt/+edge+mulls&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->The move is part of an emphasis Ford is placing on performance vehicles as it looks for ways to boost sagging sales. It also would represent a re-expansion of the SVT brand, which Ford signaled in April would consist of just two models.
Mark Fields, president-The Americas, last month said the auto maker planned to invest in new products through its Special Vehicle Team (SVT) operation, including one SVT version of the Mustang and a yet-to-be-detailed performance truck.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->He predicts the two planned SVT models will sell in the 5,000- to 10,000-unit range annually.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->Ford earlier pulled back on plans for an F-Series Lightning pickup, as well as the Sport Trac Adrenalin.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->The decision to add more vehicles to the SVT fleet comes on the heels of the success of Ford’s Racing Performance Group, which recently joined SVT in product development.
"Ford performance is still alive, well and kicking,” says Jamie Allison, program manager-Ford Racing Performance Group. “Whether it's called SVT or Ford Racing, Ford enthusiasts and owners of SVT products have a place, and Ford continues to reach out to them.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->The redesigned ’05 Mustang is driving sales of aftermarket parts, says Allison.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->“We’re seeing sales we haven’t seen in 25 years of Ford racing,” he says, noting the performance group’s sales jumped 10% in 2005, and year-to-date sales are up 15%.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->A big draw is the $125,000 Grand Am Cup Mustang, a race-ready vehicle that is turning heads in the Grand Am Cup Series, which is partly owned by NASCAR. The Cup Mustang’s success on the track is leading to increased sales for the auto maker, Allison says.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->“Doctors, lawyers and attorneys drive (the Grand Am Cup Mustangs), and they enjoy that sort of racing,” he says. “Because of that success, they are buying production Mustangs for their personal cars. So racing, when done properly, can lead to greater vehicle sales.”
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->Allison hints that several more undisclosed performance vehicles could be in the works over the next couple of years.
<!--end paragraph--><!--begin paragraph-->“Performance has always been a part of Ford,” he says. “We intend to sprinkle (other) cars with the same magic as the Mustang, and in the next year or two we’ll be talking about that. There’s a lot of emphasis in the company to push performance.”
source:http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:hyWgEeMMacoJ:subscribers.wardsauto. com/ar/ford_mulls_svt/+edge+mulls&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2