A Very Brief Photo History of Ford's Special Vehicle Team ("SVT")http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/front-page-news-143/861038-very-brief-photo-history-svt.htmlhttp://www.svtperformance.com/forums/front-page-news-143/861038-very-brief-photo-history-svt.htmlhttp://www.svtperformance.com/forums/front-page-news-143/861038-very-brief-photo-history-svt.htmlhttp://www.svtperformance.com/forums/front-page-news-143/861038-very-brief-photo-history-svt.html
http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/front-page-news-143/861038-very-brief-photo-history-svt.html
2012 marks the 20th Anniversary of Ford's Special Vehicles Team. For 20 years SVT has designed and engineered Ford's highest performing cars and trucks, while also living up to their goal of delivering performance, value, and exclusivity. Accordingly, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the great vehicles SVT has brought us through the years. Follow along with us as we take a brief (Yes, I know not every SVT vehicle is included here. It's Friday afternoon and I want to go to the beach.) photo journey through high performance Ford automotive history:
This is where it all began, the 1993 Mustang Cobra. This car is considered by many to be the high water mark for the Fox based Mustangs. An ultra-rare track ready Cobra R model was also brought forth, with only 107 cars produced.
The Fox cars were superseded in 1994 by the introduction of the SN-95 platform, which ran through 2004.
In 1995 SVT produced a second Cobra R. This time the car was packing a 5.8L Windsor V8. It was a grand send off for the pushrod V8 Mustangs.
1996 saw the introduction of the DOHC 4.6L Modular V8 to the SVT Mustang. With 305 HP it brought much more out-of-the-box performance to the table than its 5.0L predecessor.
In 1998 SVT brought us the SVT Contour. This compact 4-door came equipped with a 195 HP (later upper to 200 HP) 2.5L V6, revised suspension, and greater cooling capacity. Once in the hands of owners it was quickly discovered that a 3.0L engine swap was a good way to make cheap power.
The 1999 F-150 Lightning completely changed the automotive world's view of what a pickup truck was or could be. With 360 HP on tap courtesy Eaton supercharged 5.4L V8 it didn't take long before Lightning owners started breaking many pony car owner's hearts at the track.
The 2000 Cobra R set a new standard for track ready production vehicles. It also market the first time a 4V DOHC 5.4L V8 was offered in a factory build Mustang. Only 300 examples were produced.
For 2001 the SVT Lightning received many improvements, including a bump in power up to 380 HP and 450 lbft. The Gen 2 Lightning defined the performance truck market.
The SVT Focus was Ford's replacement for the SVT Contour, and an attempt to enter the then hot sports compact market. Even though it's 170HP 2.0L engine wasn't going to beat much at the drag strip, its European designed suspension did shame many much more expensive cars on the road course.
There are few cars in modern muscle car history more notable than the 2003-2004 SVT Cobra (aka "Terminator"). It's Eaton supercharged DOHC 4.6L V8 absolutely embarrassed the competition. It's success was so great that Ford had to greatly increase production to meet public demand.
For 2004 the Terminator got the option for color changing "Mystichrome" paint added to its order sheet. Only 1010 such cars were built.
For the 2005 model year the SVT group was tasked with engineering the rebirth of a legend, the Ford GT40. The Ford GT would go on to become the hero of domestic supercars, handily outperforming competitors that cost twice as much.
In 2007, after a 3 year hiatus, the SVT Cobra returned. This time the name Shelby GT500 was affixed to it. The GT500 saw the reintroduction of the 5.4L V8 to the Mustang platform.
The GT500 brought with is the return of a live axle to the SVT Mustang.
Along the way an SVT Shelby GT500 KR special edition was also produced.
In 2010 SVT once again changed the game, this time with the SVT F-150 Raptor.
For 2011 an aluminum engine block and the SVTPerformance Package were added to the GT500.
Later in production the SVT Raptor started to roll out of the factory with a massive 6.2L V8.
The Raptor's off-road performance is unmatched by any other production pickup.
From high speed desert driving, to rock crawling, to simple trail riding the Raptor can do it all.
For 2013 SVT did it again. This time it produced the most powerful Mustang in history, with the worlds most powerful production V8 engine. The 662HP 5.8L TVS supercharged beast inspired the catchphrase "ZLWhat"?
Through its continued production the SVT Raptor has gained a Torsen front differential, a crew cab, HID headlamps, beadlock capable wheel, and many other enhancements to ensure its continued reign as the supreme factory off-road truck.
The Fox cars were superseded in 1994 by the introduction of the SN-95 platform, which ran through 2004.
In 1995 SVT produced a second Cobra R. This time the car was packing a 5.8L Windsor V8. It was a grand send off for the pushrod V8 Mustangs.
1996 saw the introduction of the DOHC 4.6L Modular V8 to the SVT Mustang. With 305 HP it brought much more out-of-the-box performance to the table than its 5.0L predecessor.
In 1998 SVT brought us the SVT Contour. This compact 4-door came equipped with a 195 HP (later upper to 200 HP) 2.5L V6, revised suspension, and greater cooling capacity. Once in the hands of owners it was quickly discovered that a 3.0L engine swap was a good way to make cheap power.
The 1999 F-150 Lightning completely changed the automotive world's view of what a pickup truck was or could be. With 360 HP on tap courtesy Eaton supercharged 5.4L V8 it didn't take long before Lightning owners started breaking many pony car owner's hearts at the track.
The 2000 Cobra R set a new standard for track ready production vehicles. It also market the first time a 4V DOHC 5.4L V8 was offered in a factory build Mustang. Only 300 examples were produced.
For 2001 the SVT Lightning received many improvements, including a bump in power up to 380 HP and 450 lbft. The Gen 2 Lightning defined the performance truck market.
The SVT Focus was Ford's replacement for the SVT Contour, and an attempt to enter the then hot sports compact market. Even though it's 170HP 2.0L engine wasn't going to beat much at the drag strip, its European designed suspension did shame many much more expensive cars on the road course.
There are few cars in modern muscle car history more notable than the 2003-2004 SVT Cobra (aka "Terminator"). It's Eaton supercharged DOHC 4.6L V8 absolutely embarrassed the competition. It's success was so great that Ford had to greatly increase production to meet public demand.
For 2004 the Terminator got the option for color changing "Mystichrome" paint added to its order sheet. Only 1010 such cars were built.
For the 2005 model year the SVT group was tasked with engineering the rebirth of a legend, the Ford GT40. The Ford GT would go on to become the hero of domestic supercars, handily outperforming competitors that cost twice as much.
In 2007, after a 3 year hiatus, the SVT Cobra returned. This time the name Shelby GT500 was affixed to it. The GT500 saw the reintroduction of the 5.4L V8 to the Mustang platform.
The GT500 brought with is the return of a live axle to the SVT Mustang.
Along the way an SVT Shelby GT500 KR special edition was also produced.
In 2010 SVT once again changed the game, this time with the SVT F-150 Raptor.
For 2011 an aluminum engine block and the SVTPerformance Package were added to the GT500.
Later in production the SVT Raptor started to roll out of the factory with a massive 6.2L V8.
The Raptor's off-road performance is unmatched by any other production pickup.
From high speed desert driving, to rock crawling, to simple trail riding the Raptor can do it all.
For 2013 SVT did it again. This time it produced the most powerful Mustang in history, with the worlds most powerful production V8 engine. The 662HP 5.8L TVS supercharged beast inspired the catchphrase "ZLWhat"?
Through its continued production the SVT Raptor has gained a Torsen front differential, a crew cab, HID headlamps, beadlock capable wheel, and many other enhancements to ensure its continued reign as the supreme factory off-road truck.
-SID297 :beer:
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