A preliminary corrospondence has been sent to the Ford executives indicating the level of unrest from SVT owners over the fate of the Lightning. No word yet from Ford but Matt (SVT Rep) says we need to keep the letters and faxes coming, they are still compiling information.

I asked if Carroll Shelby would be taking over the performance vehicles division. According to Matt there is no information to indicate that in any way. In fact Mr. Shelby hasn't even signed on to build any vehicles to Matts' knowledge (yes I asked about the Shelby Expedition and he had heard that rumor also).

I told Him that I found it odd that Ford would release the SVT Mustang prior to the Lightning considering the F150 platform has been in production longer, he said a great deal of development is still needed on the vehicle (Lightning) to get the performance, reliability, and quality that they are targeting.

I asked about Mr. Coletti's comment at SEMA, Matt concurred that the Lightning is not dead, just postponed.


Please keep the letters and faxes going!

 

Might not be a rumor.

http://money.cnn.com/2004/11/05/pf/a..._suv/index.htm

Shelby Ford SUV unveiled

Carroll Shelby, best known for high-powered Shelby Mustangs, has plans for the huge Expedition.
November 5, 2004: 1:03 PM EST
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN/Money saff writer

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Carroll Shelby, best known as the creator of the muscle car-era Shelby Mustangs, is adding his big-power touch to something a little different and much bigger -- a souped-up version of the Ford Expedition sport/utility vehicle.

Ford Shelby Expedition

The Shelby Expedition, which Shelby Automobiles is calling a "performance utility vehicle" or PUV, is powered by a 5.4 liter Ford GT engine fitted with a supercharger. The engine produces 550 horsepower and 500 foot-pounds of torque; the largest stock engine available on a Ford Expedition produces 301 horsepower.

The special edition also has a five-speed automatic transmission, a high-performance exhaust system and special brakes. It rides on 22-inch wheels.

The vehicle was unveiled this week at the Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show in Las Vegas.

The Shelby Expedition has a custom interior with navigation equipment, a CD/DVD system with LCD monitors in the headrests.

If the vehicle does make it to final production, it will probably have a sticker price of about $110,000, said Brent Fenimore, vice president of Shelby Automobiles, the auto manufacturing arm of Carroll Shelby International (Research).

Versions with a slightly less powerful engine could also be produced and sold in larger numbers for about $75,000, he said. Based on reactions from show attendees and Ford executives, the Shelby Expedition will likely be produced at least in small numbers, Fenimore said.

The company called the Expedition the first in a series of products that the company is considering. Carroll Shelby officially rekindled his relationship with Ford Motor Co. (Research) last year after acting as a consultant on the Ford GT supercar. The GT recently began selling at a sticker price of about $140,000.

A similar version of the F-150 pick-up is also being considered, said Fenimore. The company is also working on a line of Shelby-branded performance parts for Ford vehicles, he said.

Shelby Automotive is currently working on the new Shelby Mustang, altough no timeline has been set for its production, Fenimore said. The company is planning to produce a racing version of the car before it produces a version for street use, he said.

"We want to beat the snot out of everybody on the racetrack first and use that data," he said.

Ford and Shelby first worked together about 40 years ago, a partnership that created the high-powered Shelby Mustangs coveted today by muscle car collectors. In 1965, Ford hired Shelby to help with the GT40 race car it was designing. That car was the inspiration for the new Ford GT.

Prior to working with Ford, Shelby had created the famous Shelby AC Cobra sports car, which used a Ford V-8 engine.