Joe wrote:
> "Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
> :
>
>
>>Joe wrote:
>>
>>>"Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Brent P wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>In article >, Michael Johnson,
>>>>>PE wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>I think they are too. The sad fact is that even though Ford has
>>>>>>given us some very nice performing cars/trucks via SVT's efforts
>>>>>>it really hasn't done anything to improve the companies overall
>>>>>>bottom line.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Because they don't build these cars to demand. They build them as
>>>>>collectables. And unless they can get many times what it cost them
>>>>>to build, they won't even be a blip on ford's bottom line.
>>>>>
>>>>>The cars are more or less advertising when built and sold like
>>>>>this, and not much more. If a cobra isn't going sell a large
>>>>>number of 6 cylinder base cars then ford will drop it IMO. If ford
>>>>>built these cars to demand maybe they could add to the bottom
>>>>>line. I don't really want to bid for a cobra, which is nothing
>>>>>more than the top level mustang configuration to satisify some
>>>>>dealer's greed. It's not some supercar that they can hand build
>>>>>only 12 a year. It's a somewhat improved version of a MASS
>>>>>PRODUCED CAR. 30 years from now we'll know if it's a collectable
>>>>>or not, I'm not buying a car to put in shrink wrap for 30 years
>>>>>anyway.
>>>>
>>>>I think we are both saying the same thing. Unfortunately the SVT
>>>>vehicles have not helped Ford sell cars. IMO, this gives more
>>>>strength to the bean counters argument (assuming there is one) to
>>>>ax the entire SVT concept (and the Cobra along with it). If that
>>>>happens then Ford's performance cars will suffer, IMHO, of course.
>>>>The existence of SVT and its influence on the DEW Mustang design
>>>>team is likely the biggest reason that the current Mustang performs
>>>>so well. My fear is the only type of performance cars Ford might
>>>>be interested in developing in the future will be the mega dollar
>>>>(i.e. highly profitable) supercars like the Ford GT. This could
>>>>also lead to the eventual termination of the Mustang. Chevy did it
>>>>to the Camaro and Ford could do it to the Mustang.
>>>
>>>
>>>I don't think the Mustang will be phased out anytime soon, as it's
>>>a decent money-maker for the beanies. However, I agree with
>>>everything else you guys have said.
>>>
>>>The niche for a new Cobra is getting tight. Nobody's going to want
>>>to pay big bucks for the same platform that the V6 is riding on
>>>(even with mega-horsepower), as it's got its own limitations. If
>>>SVT's going to survive, it's got to come out with a new car that
>>>will make people drool over it, and they've got to make a profit
>>>doing it.
>>
>>IMO, the DEW Cobra has to be about the same level of improvement as
>>the DEW GT is over the SN95 GT for about the same price as the SN95
>>Cobra.
>
>
> Tough bill to fill. I hope they can do it.

I think they can. At least they are starting out with a good chassis.
If they keep the '03-'04 Cobra brakes, improve the handling over the GT,
use the T-56, use the blown 4V 4.6L motor tweaked to 450 hp and design a
decent IRS then I think it will be there. They should be able to keep
the price about the same too. IMO, the '03-'04 Cobra drive train was so
good that they could use it virtually unchanged except for the IRS.
This saves a ton of money on R&D.