Special Vehicle Team

Last updated
Special Vehicle Team (SVT)
Type Subsidiary
Predecessor Special Vehicle Operations
Founded1991 [1]
Defunct2015;8 years ago (2015)
FateMerged to form Ford Performance
Successor Ford Performance
Headquarters
U.S.
Products High-performance cars
Parent Ford Motor Company

Special Vehicle Team, also known as SVT, was an arm of Ford Motor Company responsible for the development of the company's highest-performance vehicles. Established in 1991, [1] SVT was the successor to the SVO division. The last SVT Director was Hermann Salenbauch. SVT was previously led by Hau Thai-Tang (2004–2007) and John Coletti (1993-2004). In 2015, Ford Racing, alongside Ford Team RS and Special Vehicle Team, merged into a global entity named Ford Performance.

Contents

Information

The group mainly produces specially tuned versions of Ford production vehicles such as the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor which is based on the Ford F150. However, they do occasionally develop models independently of the rest of the company, namely the GT supercar (developed in conjunction with Saleen). SVT was founded in 1983 by John Plant of Ford Marketing, Janine Bay of Ford Mustang Program Management, and Robert Burnham of Ford Truck Program Management. Originally known as Special Vehicle Operations, SVO developed the 1984–1986 2.3-liter turbo-charged 4-cylinder Mustang SVO, as well as marketed performance parts through dealer networks (now known as Ford Performance Parts, or FPP).

Ford SVT debuted the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor high-performance off-road truck. Using a completely re-designed suspension, with internal-bypass Fox Racing Shocks and specially developed BF Goodrich all-terrain 35" tires, the Raptor is considered an OEM-style "pre-runner." Pre-runners are reconnaissance vehicles used for high-speed testing of off-road race courses before a race.

F-150 SVT Raptor [2] also debuted the all-new 6.2-liter V8 engine as an option for the 2010 model year (likely to be standard in subsequent model years). Ford reports horsepower and torque as 411 hp (306 kW) @ 5500 rpm, 434 lb·ft (588 N·m) @ 4500 rpm in the Raptor. All Raptor models will have a 6-speed automatic transmission, selectable 4WD, and rear E-Locker that stays engaged at high-speeds.

In 2015 as a result of Ford's plan to globalize their vehicles, SVT and the European RS division merged, forming Ford Performance and thus aligning all American and European performance vehicle activity together.

SVT vehicles

ModelVersionYearEnginePowerTorqueProduction
SVT Lightning 919935.8 L Windsor FI V8 240 hp (179 kW)340 ft·lbf (461 N·m)5,276
19944,007
19952,280
Total11,563
1019995.4 L supercharged Triton V8360 hp (268 kW)440 ft·lbf (597 N·m)4,000
20004,966
2001380 hp (283 kW)450 ft·lbf (610 N·m)6,381
20024,726
20034,270
20043,781
Total28,124
Total - SVT Lightning39,687
SVT Cobra Fox Base19935.0 L Windsor V8235 hp (175 kW)280 ft·lbf (380 N·m)4,993
R1993107
Total5,100
SN-95 1 / Fox-4 Base19945.0 L Windsor V8240 hp (179 kW)285 ft·lbf (386 N·m)6,009
19955,008
19964.6 L DOHC Modular V8305 hp (227 kW)300 ft·lbf (407 N·m)10,002
199710,049
19988,654
R19955.8 L Windsor V8300 hp (224 kW)365 ft·lbf (495 N·m)250
Total39,973
SN-95 2 Base19994.6 L DOHC Modular V8320 hp (239 kW)317 ft·lbf (430 N·m)8,095
20017,251
20034.6 L DOHC SC Modular V8390 hp (291 kW)390 ft·lbf (529 N·m)13,476
20045,664
R20005.4 L DOHC Modular V8385 hp (287 kW)385 ft·lbf (522 N·m)300
Total34,859
Total - SVT Cobra79,932
SVT Contour CDW27 19982.5 L Duratec 25 SVT V6 195 hp (145 kW)165 ft·lbf (224 N·m)6,535
1999200 hp (149 kW)169 ft·lbf (229 N·m)2,760
20002,150
Total11,445
SVT Focus CW170 20022.0 L Zetec I4 170 hp (127 kW)145 ft·lbf (197 N·m)4,788
20036,158
20043,057
Total14,003
Total144,993*

SVT is credited in the following vehicles:

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Ford SVT history
  2. "SVT Raptor".