I think that they are ruining the name Jeep, I mean, they're supposed to be off-road vehicles, not namby-pamby "Oh no, I can't hit that speed bump too hard, it will mess up my ground effects" vehicles...

 

I'd guess that this Jeep will be sucessful, just like the other D/C high powered cars. It's a shame Ford is more interested in building rental cars instead of performance. I think in the beginning the SVT was headed in the right direction, but now I guess there is more money in rental cars than muscle cars/trucks.

It's not a good time to be a Ford enthusiast.

 

Unless you feel like spending $100+ thousand on a Ford GT......

 

Indeed...

Ford needs to pop their head out, smell the fresh air, and realize that their's more to life than trucks.. Unless they want to compete with GMC & Isuzu only rather than GM and the world....

Spend moeny on building good cars for the masses and truly out sell Honda and Toyota rather than remain respectable by overloding Hertz(Ford) with Tauruses and counting them as "sales"...

 

I'd like to see Ford build a performance vehicle that isn't a Mustang.
Like bringing the Thunderbird back to it's original purpose, to compete against the Corvette. Instead of being an overpriced two seater with less then stellar performance.

 

Absolutely...

Damn shame that in order to compete with a Vette, you have to either buy a souped up Mustang (Which is still a Mustang 90 identical to the 16,000 version overrunning affluent high school parking lots.. Or, pay $100,000+ for a Ford GT- enough to buy two Corvettes...

 

I've always wanted a 2001+ 5.4L supercharged Ford Taurus

I know I'm crazy, but put it on the Mustang platform so it RWD and will handle like nothing else, seat 6 people, man I would be in heaven!

 

I don't think Ford is resting or falling behind...I think they are working on things and making sure they are right before they bring them to market...Look at the new Shelby Mustang...I'm sure they're gonna bring out a new Lightning that is gonna kick everybody's butt...Relax, y'all, patience, Ford is going to deliver...

 

I think if you want to neat everyday performance car then we have to head to Dodge. Ford is just ignoring the performance market. They cancelled the Lightning? How dumb was that? If Ford was serious then they have to build more then the Focus and Taurus, What the heck is the Ford 500?? It s a Taurus basically. I give Dodge 2 thumbs up for having the nuts to step up to the plate and try to give the consumer what they want thats a big risk! Dodge even brought back the Power Wagan how cool is that.

 

firstly, Ford's priority is returning a profit.


How many Lightnings can you really sell? How many SHO Tauruses?


Abandoning the performance market yes. But at what cost do you get into that market?


You think the Corvette makes money for GM? Its a halo car. Profits from the truck line prop up the development costs for that car.

The Mustang is a business model that funds itself. Other cars are not so lucky. Cramming a supercharger on everything they sell has a development cost that requires unattainable sales to pay back. Just look at the cost of these HiPo Chryslers. Lo0ok at how much you have to spend to upgrade that Magnum to a Hemi. Or upgrade that Ram to a V10. There is a limit as to how many people would spend that money to get the added performance. Not to mention the average person doesnt need 400hp in their commuter vehicle.


As far as rentals, Ford walked from that market to maintain profits.

 

With their new introduction, DC-SRT will have 10 vehicles in their showrooms, for the next 1.5 years SVT will have "ZERO". With the exception of the Viper all their offerings are very profitable. They are using the same business model as AMG which is EXTREMELY profitable.

Everybody who buys an SRT will have a free track day. On their first year they will be holding 25 track days versus 7-8 for SVTOA which has been operating for years and is run on a shoestring budget.

Chrysler won the horsepower war of the 60's. This time around, its complete domination.

TB

Start Your Engines - Chrysler Group to Offer Unique Owner Program
Wednesday March 23, 9:00 am ET

- Owners of Chrysler, Jeep(R) or Dodge Street and Racing Technology (SRT) vehicles to get a day at the track with professional driving instruction

- More than 25 track events planned this year

- Chrysler Group to expand the number of SRT-certified dealerships
NEW YORK, March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Beginning in April, Chrysler Group will offer a unique opportunity for owners of Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep® SRT vehicles -- a day at the track.
A new program inviting owners of Street and Racing Technology (SRT) vehicles to race tracks throughout the country for professional driving instruction was announced today by the Chrysler Group.
ADVERTISEMENT

The SRT Track Experience will provide day-long sessions of on-track driving and classroom instruction and help new owners experience the full capabilities of Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep SRT vehicles.
"SRT vehicle owners are performance enthusiasts," said Joe Eberhardt, Executive Vice President - Global Sales, Marketing and Service, Chrysler Group. "They want to know how to get the most out of their Dodge, Chrysler or Jeep SRT vehicles -- and we're going to help them. The SRT Track Experience gives them a chance to experience their vehicle in a safe environment with professional instructors, and give them the opportunity to drive the entire SRT lineup.
"Every SRT vehicle offers a standout powertrain, benchmark braking, world- class ride and handling and a race-inspired interior. The result is ultimate performance at a tremendous value," said Eberhardt.
More than 25 weekend events will be planned for 2005 at well-known race tracks throughout the country including Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Road America in Wisconsin, and Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. Owners of SRT vehicles will be able to schedule their track day through a 1-800 phone number or web site that will be developed for the program.
Customers who purchase an SRT vehicle after April 1, 2005 will receive the program. Owners of SRT vehicles ordered prior to April 1 may purchase the SRT Track Experience for $300.
In addition to classroom training, activities will include driving on low- and high-speed ovals, road courses, autocross setups, drag strips and skid pads. In some cases, the SRT Track Experience will include demonstrations of drifting or "hot laps" with a professional driver.
Chrysler Group to Expand SRT Availability
Chrysler Group also announced it will open up SRT certification to all of its dealers.
Approximately half of Chrysler Group's nearly 4,000 dealerships are currently SRT-certified. To attain SRT certification, dealerships are required to purchase special tools, complete SRT service training for their personnel, and stock service parts, performance upgrades and accessories -- as well as stock SRT vehicles.
The 2005 SRT lineup includes the Dodge Viper SRT10, Dodge SRT4, Dodge Ram SRT10 regular cab and Quad Cab, Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Coupe and Roadster, and Chrysler 300C SRT8.
SRT continues to expand the launch of several all-new 2006 SRT vehicles, including the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe, Dodge Magnum SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.



Source: Chrysler Group

 

you can't compare to AMG. Ford doesn't have the luxury of tacking $20k on to the price of any of their vehicles.

 

j-150 is right. A car company has too tailor it vehicules for the masses because that is where the profit is. Simple as that. They are doing smart buisness.

 

Ford isn't a car company- they're a truck company...

Aside from the Mustang, is there another Ford branded car that you'd have in your driveway to replace your F-150? (No Jags, or Volvo nameplates please)

There is money to be made in cars; you just have to do cars right in order to turn a profit. (Toyota, Honda, Nissan)

Ford is doing well, and I'm not saying the answer to every problem is more horsepower; but in order to remain viable- you have to at least compete.

The Ford 500 is an awesome gift inside a plain package. The fusion, which looks awesome in pics, is based on the Mazda 6 platform, and will suffer the same fate as the Contour (Death due to smallness). On that note, what the heII was Ford/Mazda thinking by getting rid of the Mazda Millennia and 626 and consolidating them into the Mazda 6, a car that's smaller than both of the cars it replaced?? Hello! Is this thing on? Would you replace the F-150 with a truck based on the Ranger platform?

Crown Vic is a sweet car- I like it, but it has no nuts. "F" the Marauder, slap true duals and a 5.4L in the Crown Vic (260 HP version- no need for the 3V) and watch them fly out the showrooms. Americans love torque- to be thrown back in the seat, with tires up in smoke...

Focus: Another nice car. So you got rid of the SVT Focus... So. There is nothing stopping you from selling one that looks like it- nice wheels tires, and appearance.

Ford needs a hot mid-size to compete with the Camry, Maxima and Accord (read- larger Fusion). A hot Compact to compete with the Civic, Corolla and Sentra; leave the Focus where it is; they sell themselves; dress the 500 up some more- take away it's taxi cab blockness/plainness, and make it as appealing on the outside as it is on the inside. Give the Big Vicky some nuts as an option on the LX Sport, and maintain your focus on the trucks; the new Ranger needs to be hot- and available with a crew cab, with serious 4x4 capabilities to give Tacoma buyers a worthy competitor.

Do this Ford, and they will come...

You listen to me Ford- that much is evident.. You took (USED) my ideas (That I submitted in the contest) for the previous HD F-150 (Except for the fact that you didn’t use the Intech V8 from the Navigator as I suggested for a base engine). I’m still waiting on my G.D. Harley Davidson motorcycle I should have won for that. I suggested that the perfect F-150 would have AWD and 4WIS. I see the new HD may have AWD as an option. Someone on your R&D either thinks like me, or reads my posts when it comes to performance and automotive aesthetics...

If you listened then; listen now!!

PS- I don't care about design credit- just give us some hot rides with quality equal to, or surpassing that of the new F-150.

 

I am not comparing AMG to Ford. I am comparing SRT to Ford. SRT will soon have 10 vehicles in their showroom. I am saying that SRT is using the AMG model to set up their business.

SRT are going big and taking big risks and they are also reaping the rewards. Ford on the other hand have been running SVT on a shoestring budget with nothing to sell for the next 2 years.

Most people out there have never heard of SVT.

"I have an SVT Lightning. A what? Who makes that????? Never heard of it." How often have you heard that?

TB