Ford Motor Co. has issued the following press release:
(A couple of new pictures on Ford Group vehicles exhibited at the SEMA Show have been added on 7, November)
Ford Performance Group, which includes the Special Vehicle Team, Ford Racing Technology and Vehicle Personalization, is responsible for producing factory-tuned performance derivatives, special editions and performance parts as well as managing Ford’s racing programs.
Ford announced the SVT arm would produce two limited edition models, including a feature edition SVT Focus and a 10th Anniversary edition SVT Mustang Cobra underscoring SVT’s history of leadership in factory-performance. The new models will be available next year.
’The SEMA show is the premier event for automotive performance products,’ said Jim O’Connor, Ford Motor Company group vice president for North America Marketing, Sales and Service. ’We’re the OEM leader in this business and we’re here in force with products that connect with people who love their cars and trucks.’
The Ford Performance Group expands the particular expertise of each of its three parts across a broader spectrum of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products.
At SEMA the group hinted that it is strongly considering the creation of a Lincoln LS performance model aimed squarely at the luxury-sport sedans of European and Asian manufacturers.
’We’re not tipping our hand to the competition, but we’re obviously testing the market for entries in other markets,’ said Michael R. Zevalkink, executive director of the Ford Performance Group.
The Ford Focus, one of the most popular aftermarket project cars at SEMA, was featured in two new designs from Ford while more than 50 designs from SEMA members were on display in the Las Vegas Convention Center.
’The compact-performance parts market alone has grown to an $800 million annual business and there’s no reason to believe it won’t top $1 billion soon,’ said Zevalkink. ’And as a whole, the aftermarket business is a $26-billion market. So you can rest assured we’re a strong player in all the key categories.’
Ford unveiled two new Focus models, the SVT feature car that will go on sale in 2003 and a concept ’Hot Wheels’ model designed to highlight the fun-to-drive car’s playful spirit.
The Hot Wheels Focus, a project car from the Ford Performance Group’s Vehicle Personalization Team, is a no-holds-barred, wild-styled Focus ZX3 complete with a ’Hot Wheels’ logo and special ’flame’ paint scheme. The car has yellow 18-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot rubber. The playful interior design and color scheme mimics the extreme exterior. The concept car was designed in partnership with Mattel’.
SVT Focus European Appearance Package includes two hot new versions of the popular factory pocket rocket. The limited-edition models come in two new colors, Screaming Yellow or Competition Orange and feature unique Recarro’ bucket seats and high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps.
Ford’s SVT group also unveiled its 10th Anniversary SVT Mustang Cobra. The 390-horsepower supercharged 4.6-liter V-8 Cobra features a unique anniversary paint scheme and nameplate that identifies it and makes it a sure collectors item.
Ford Racing Technology announced it would make available for the first time a new 5.0-liter modular crate engine, based on the mainstream 4.6-liter V-8. The modular crate engines are available as complete engine assemblies and include Ford’s electronic engine control computer module allowing ’plug-n-play’ installation of the modern powerplants.
Ford Racing Technology unveiled a 1932 ’Deuce’ Coupe and a 1953 Ford F-100 pickup, dubbed the FR100, with the new crate engine installed.
’For the first time, enthusiasts can put the ultimate in modern powertrain technology into their cherished car or truck of the past,’ said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology.
Ford also announced that it is expanding its successful data sharing partnership with SEMA, opening the door for higher quality aftermarket performance parts for owners of vehicles such as the Ford Mustang GT or the Focus. The Ford/SEMA Technology Initiative allows SEMA partners access to Ford’s internal calibration data, which affords aftermarket manufacturers the ability to properly calibrate their parts to work with Ford products.
Zevalkink said since being announced in 1999, the Ford/SEMA Technology Initiative has expanded to include 3-Dimensional Computer Aided Design (CAD) data. By offering 3D CAD to registered SEMA partners, they will have the ability to produce parts for Ford products with improved quality at a faster pace.
’Offering 3D CAD to our SEMA partners will increase the quantity and quality of parts available for Ford products,’ said Zevalkink. ’This gives Ford and our SEMA partners a leg up over the competition.’
