2003 – Enter, Terminator

The SVT Cobra was absent from the 2002 lineup, and one of the cited reasons was that SVT was working on a new Cobra, that would leave its mark on the performance market.  The 2003 SVT Cobra was codenamed the Terminator, as it would be the vehicle that would put to rest the battle of the Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro.  Making things easier for Ford, it wasn’t much of a battle as the Camaro production came to a halt in 2002, so the SVT Cobra was uncontested as one of the meanest of the American performance sold in decades.  The 2003 Cobra received what had become the “basic Cobra upgrades”, such as the more aggressive exterior, the SVT badged interior, and the vast suspension upgrades.  The front fascia was designed to yield more downforce, as well as brake cooling ducts.  Cobra specific struts, shocks, springs, and breaking systems aided the 2003 SVT Cobra in getting through any turns, but what made it scream out of the turns was the big news for this Terminator.  The SVT Cobra still utilized a 4.6L modular motor, but the only thing that the Terminator shared with the Mustang GT was the size of the engine.  The engine block was a cast iron block, with a forged crankshaft, forged connecting rods, and forged pistons packed inside of it, and these improved items allowed the rotating assembly to brace for the force generated by the Eaton M112 supercharger mounted atop the 4.6L beast.  Like prior Cobras, the 2003 Cobra used a DOHC, 4 valve-per-cylinder setup, helping the engine to breathe easier.  This engine setup, at 8psi of boost pressure, created a whopping 390 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, although countless dynamometer tests have shown that this rating is understated.  ,In order to help free up more horsepower to the wheels, the Terminator used an aluminum flywheel which was bolted up to a 6-speed Tremec T56 transmission, which lead back to a heavy duty aluminum driveshaft, and then into an independent rear suspension setup packing 3.55:1 gears.  The Terminator (which was a codename that has stuck with the car for several years now) was capable of high 12-second quarter mile times, and a top speed of 155mph (electronically limited).  Offered in all 13 colors available for the Mustang lineup, the 2003 SVT Cobra proved to be the most popular and best selling Cobra ever, with 13476 (8394 coupes, 5082 convertibles) units sold for the 2003 model year.

The SVT Lightning and Focus were both offered for 2003 as well, but there were very few changes to the Lightning and one change to the Focus.  2003 marked the peak of the sales for the Focus with 6158 units with the sole addition of HID headlights, and the Lightning, with the addition of Sonic Blue and Dark Shadow Grey, sold 4270 units for 2003.

2004 – Negative Rumors Fly

The SVT lineup of 2004 was the same as it was for 2003, with the Lightning, the Cobra, and the Focus being offered in pretty much the same form as they had been offered for 2003.  The SVT Cobra received a modified catalytic converter, helping the Cobra to yield slightly cleaner exhaust emissions, thus lowering the Gas Guzzler Tax applied to new Cobras.  The Cobra was made in limited numbers, with only 5664 units produced for sale.  Nothing was changed for the Focus or the Lightning, but the slumping sales of the Focus and the upcoming refresh of the F-series caused the demise of both of these models.  In their final year, the Focus sold just 3057 units and the Lightning struck with only 3781 units.

By 2004, the new generation of the Ford Mustang, named the S197, had been debuted as a concept with plans of a 2005 release, and there was no mention of an SVT model.  While there were rumors murmured of another high performance Mustang offered in years to come, there were also rumors that Ford Motor Company was unhappy with the output of the SVT group, and the group would be absorbed into the general design team. 

2005/2006 – The SVT Supercar

Amidst a great deal of ambiguity around the future of the SVT group, they debuted their rebirth of the legendary GT40 race car, but for street use.  This new Supercar, destined for a 2005 release was named the Ford GT. It would be the only product from SVT, although there was buzz of the group working on a high performance SUV based on the Ford Escape as well as a new Ford ‘SuperTruck’, neither of these models were produced.  The Terminator’s gained a reputation as offering the most “bang for the buck” in the US performance market, and that title would certainly not be challenged by the Ford GT, sporting its 141,000 USD price tag.

The Ford GT used the 5.4L block similar to the block used in the 2000 Cobra R, but with the addition of a Lysholm screw-type supercharged atop the all-aluminum engine, the Ford GT produced 550 horsepower and that power was funneled to the wheels by means of a Ricardo 6-speed manual transmission.  Mind you, those numbers were listed as the power at the crankshaft, but multiple dyno tests showed that the GT made that amount of power at the wheels.  The SVT group had spent years designing every aspect of this Supercar, with everything, from the engine to the wheels, designed specifically for the GT.  The Ford GT was able to dash from 0-60 in just 3.8 seconds, and achieved a top speed of 205mph.  Unfortunately, the Ford GT received terrible reviews, especially overseas.  The GT was labeled as a “Ferrari killer”, but many owners found that it was difficult to kill Ferraris when the car was always in the shop getting repairs.  Making matters worse was a full recall of the cars before most of them had even been delivered due to a problem with control arms cracking under pressure.  In 2005, a popular car expect and Ford GT owner named Jeremy Clarkson (of Top Gear TV) named the Ford GT “the most unreliable car ever”, and also commented that it was one of the most inefficient vehicles that they had ever tested.  The price, mechanical problems, and poor reviews lead to the end of production after the 2006 model year.  4038 units had been built during its two-year existence, but only 3427 of them sold in the United States.

2007 – The GT500 Returns

During the run of the Ford GT, more rumors surfaced about the end of the Special Vehicle Team, and even esteemed news sources reported Ford pulling the plug, but during this time the Cobra concept began arriving at Auto Shows around the world.  The new Cobra would rely on a classic high performance Mustang for its name, as well as the help of a legendary designer.  Carroll Shelby, who was responsible for the original GT350 and GT500, helped to design the new SVT Cobra GT500, which would be released as a 2007 model, during the 2006 calendar year.  The new GT500 borrowed the engine from the Ford GT, but due to some minor modifications to allow it to get a little better fuel economy; the GT500 produced only 500 horsepower.  While the GT500 was based on the S197 Mustang platform, it had a different, more aggressive front end, wheels, rear fascia, and rear spoiler.  The suspension setup was fully redesigned for the GT500 to make the new Cobra much better in the turns, and unlike the 2003-2004 Cobras, the GT500 would have a solid rear axle to improve hard acceleration.  While the GT500 has been criticized for its weight, it is still capable of mid 12-second quarter mile times and an electronically controlled top speed of 155mph.  Sales were excellent, with GT500s ordered months in advance, and buyers paying as much as 20,000 US Dollars over the sticker price for the right to own one. 

For a full review and specifications of the 2007 Ford Mustang GT500, click here: http://www.mustangforums.com/ford/2007-gt500-mustang.asp

2008 – The King Reigns and the Biggest Snake Strikes

The 2007 GT500 was a huge hit, but as had always been the case with the Mustang, more power is always better.  The overwhelming trend with the 2005 and newer Mustangs to take on vintage trim lines struck two more times for the 2008 model year with the expected return of the GT500 King of the Road (KR), and the surprising return of the Super Snake. 

The 2008 GT500KR makes 540 horsepower, claiming the title of the most powerful factory production Mustang ever built thanks to its supercharged 5.4L V8 working with a 6-speed manual transmission, but that title didn’t last long.  The 1967 Super Snake saw only one model produced, but with 520 horsepower, it has since held the proud claim of the most powerful Mustang ever built until the 2008 GT500KR was offered.  540 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque makes this new KR one wicked ride from a stoplight, but the designers also focused on the ability to handle the turns with a track tuned suspension setup and 3.73 gears.  The GT500KR also comes with accompanying modifications to make the King of the Road a worthy competitor on the track as well.

For a full review of the 2008 GT500KR:

http://www.mustangforums.com/news/story/the-return-of-the-king-3.html

The new Super Snake struck quick to tear back the title of the most powerful Mustang ever with a entry level 600 horsepower, but if you aren’t interested in the factory warranty, the 2008 Super Snake also features an unbelievable 725 horsepower variant.  These two joint productions between Shelby and SVT have put together the two most powerful Mustangs in the history of this fabled American performance car.  The suspension, transmission, and gearing is the same that is found in the GT500KR, but the suspension has been further tuned to handle the drastic increase in horsepower.  The Super Snake will most certainly make a place for itself among the record books, but that will come with a price, and a big one at that.  The new Super Snake begins by ordering a GT500, and then the car is shipped off for modification, with the price ranging from $28,000 to $32,000 depending on which horsepower amount is chosen.

For a full review of the 2008 Super Snake:

http://www.mustangforums.com/news/story/shelby-strikes-back-with-the-super-snake-4.html

Closing

When Ford founded their Special Vehicle Team in 1991 and launched their first SVT Cobra two years later, there is no way that Ford Motor Company could have ever envisioned the SVT group becoming so synonymous with the cutting edge of American Performance cars.  While Ford has denied any intention to close the SVT group, but rather an effort to fine-tune the production of these high performance models, only vague rumors hint to what the public could see from the group in the coming years, but one thing is for sure; Ford’s Special Vehicle Team has made an impression on the performance market that will never, ever fade.