ST seems to be a new Ford marketing strategy......like SS or Xtreme would be for Chevy.

This from a recent Ford press release on Focus:

"New for 2005, a Focus ZX4 ST performance sedan has been added to the line up. This sedan will marry chassis components from Ford of Europe's Focus ST170 and the SVT Focus with a 150-horsepower, 2.3-liter Duratec engine."

ST will be a line of low cost performance Fords....well below SVT. Certainly not the ultimate in Ford performance...but a good bang for the buck.

The ST strategy will go beyond Focus....that's for sure. Will there be a Mustang ST? Who knows. There have been several comments overheard about an under $20,000 V8, both at LA and Detroit....but most who heard them thought that the speakers had confused that with the base V6.


At any rate...It's hard to imagine a $20K V8 Mustang....I don't care how stripped it is. That's alot to knock off the GT's base price of around $24,500.


I wonder how a Mustang ST would fare with consumers? I thought the Mustang GTS was a good idea, and it turned into a flop.

 

What does ST stand for, Special Team?

 

Here's another story:

"Ford performance models go upscale
Rick Kranz - Automotive News
Friday, December 26, 2003

Ford Motor Co. will take its SVT high-performance brand upscale and drop the SVT Focus.

The demise of the SVT Focus is part of Ford Motor's revision of its performance strategy. The company will create a performance series for the Ford brand and likely will add a high-performance Lincoln SUV and a supercharged Mercury sedan.

"I want to see product and performance across the range," said Phil Martens, group vice president of product creation for North America, at a press event in November.

"SVT" stands for Special Vehicle Team. The Ford Performance Group, formed in September 2002, is directing the strategy. The group develops performance vehicles and handles performance parts and services for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury. Martens said the group will concentrate on three vehicle types beginning in the 2005 model year:

> High-end vehicles, including the two-passenger 2005 Ford GT and the Ford brand's limited-edition SVT models.

> Turbocharged and supercharged vehicles.

> Mainstream performance, including the new ST label for the Ford brand's high-volume performance vehicles below SVT.

With the SVT brand going to a more premium position, the low-end Focus no longer fits. Production of the 2004 SVT Focus will end in the spring. Ford sells about 5,500 SVT Focus models annually.

"We are moving SVT upmarket in terms of performance, content, craftsmanship," said Tom Scarpello, SVT marketing and sales manager. "And obviously, going along with that will be price."

The three-door 2004 SVT Focus has a $19,205 sticker price, including $545 destination. The five-door is $19,705 with destination.

The two other vehicles in the SVT line, the SVT Lightning and the Mustang SVT Cobra, also end production in the spring, leaving dealers with an 18-month gap until new models arrive.

The next-generation SVT Lightning, based on the F-150 pickup, will go into production in late 2005 or early 2006. That will be followed by the next SVT Cobra, which will be based on the redesigned Mustang.

Ford Division is creating high-performance models by using previous-generation SVT engines. For example, the Mustang Mach 1 is equipped with the previous-generation Cobra V-8. The Lightning V-8 also is used in the Harley-Davidson Edition F-150.

John Coletti, director of Ford Special Vehicle Team Programs, wants to do the same thing at Lincoln Mercury.

Coletti said 65 percent of the cost of developing an SVT vehicle is the powertrain --- emissions, packaging, hardware and other considerations.

"We are being forced to go up to a much higher level, and what is left behind is a boost for the mainstream products," Coletti said. "It makes sense to trickle that stuff down."

The Ford Performance Group has developed a 2004 Lincoln Navigator equipped with the supercharged 380-horsepower SVT Lightning V-8, although no decision has been made on production.

Turbocharging and supercharging also are expected to have a wider role in the automaker's powertrains.

A turbocharged 200-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine soon will be approved for the 2005 or 2006 Focus. If produced, it would be a mass-market engine, available to all Ford dealers. The SVT Focus is available only to qualified SVT dealerships.

A supercharged Mercury Marauder also is under consideration.

With the decision to drop the SVT Focus, Focus owners are being targeted with performance parts and accessories authorized by the Ford Performance Group.

The Ford brand will use the ST designation for a range of high-volume performance vehicles with horsepower and suspension enhancements. The first Ford to carry that badge will be the 2005 Focus ST, a sedan with a 150-hp, 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine.

Martens said the ST designation will be used where appropriate. The midsized Futura sedan, due in 2005, is a likely candidate, possibly with all-wheel drive. He said the Taurus is not a candidate. "



Sounds like Ford's ST strategy is exactly like Chevy's SS strategy.

Judging by this story....I'd say, maybe Mustang ST, is just a rumor.

Mustang's mainstream performance model is the GT...don't know if it makes much sense to go below it.

So....

Cobalt SS sedan = Focus ST

Cobalt SS Supercharged = Focus ST turbo

Malibu Maxx SS = Futura ST

And the '03/'04 Cobra and Lightning motors will be left behind for "mainstream" Ford performance models.



Verrrrrrry interesting.

 

Curiously SVT wants to do a Futura as well. That would be a ST and SVT Futura. If the ST gets the 270HP 3.5L Duratec with AWD then that bodes well for the SVT version which should be 300+ HP with AWD. Ford is really coming back strong.

I wouldn't count out the Mustang ST yet, it could end up a package like the 248A (aka GTS) and just not have the ST label.

 

Yeah, I could see it coming as a fog light and spoiler delete package for the GT. Alot of guys are already saying that they wish they could get a V8 without that stuff.

I don't think it'll be all that much cheaper than a GT though.

What I find more interesting is Ford's whole ST strategy....and which cars/trucks will benefit from it. It seems to me, to fit in where "GT" used to be. Maybe somewhere between GT and where SVT was, pre-upscale move.

 

I've really been thinking about this a lot more since yesterday. I don't think we'll see a ST badge on a Mustang. The GT label is NOT going away on that car and the ST would only serve to confuse. I do think there will be an option that would be the same as the "ST" moniker. I think the car that's going to be revealed at the Chicago show is either going to be a Mach1 or Shelby GT350. Ford has said over and over there would be three distinct models in the lineup not counting the Cobra. A convertible top is just an option, not a model. ST seems unlikely as a model and more of an option. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised at the unveiling

 

Since Ford has already spoken about "three distinct models"....and the SE's come and go....I wonder if either...... A) it WON'T be Mach1 or B)it WILL be Mach 1, if it becomes a regular model for Mustang.

There has been some talk that Mach 1 will no longer be a Special Edition...but a regular model in the Mustang line. It is also rumored that Mach 1 may get a re-tuned version of the current Cobra SC 4.6 --- with around 350 hp, which it will share with Marauder.

 

Yes, the rumor was the Mach1 would become standard in the line up, however that was several months ago. Now that Shelby is on board is there any room for both? It could be that the Shelby GT350 (350HP which fits in nicely) could become the standard upgrade from the GT. There's so much speculation going around. Someone at Ford is laughing their **** off right now but keeping their mouth shut

 

Don't bet on the GT-350. I may be TOTALLY wrong, but I think that would be a total mistake to roll the GT-350 out to public view before the production car is even in the showroom.

Sales will be astronomical in the beginning simple because it's new. You keep the specialty cars back to pop-out when sales start to slow down. They drum up interest in the line and "renew" the feeding frenzy. Also, I just haven't been hearing much about Shelby's push to get the Mustang car out with his name on it this early... later YES, but not now. Too much too soon with the new Shelby Cobra and his corporate revamping.

I'll place my bet on the new convertible.

 

Yes, I do agree with some of that. However, Ford is really pushing hard to make it's image look good. The more they hit us with (to drool over), the better it is for them. SE Mustangs can still come out as there is a whole history behind the Mustang and it various models. The GT350 could be STANDARD and you could still have SE like the Boss/Mach1/Bullit come out when sales start slipping.

 

Since all this is just speculation, Ill give my 2cents.
Last I heard Ford was having problems with the vert's top being durable. The thing just couldnt hold up to the testing. With saying that the car is not "supposed" to be in production til next Feburary unless they changed that plan already. Members on BON were told by "god" that there will be a S197 MACH1. Now If I recall correctly "god" (no name brand) said plans were the detuned S/C 4.6 just like Z284ever said.

And if that is the case Im buying one B-D-Q!Actually I see it sitting infront of my house right now.

 

guess who, what do you know about the Mach1 not being just a special edition but becoming a regular Mustang model?

 

Take it for what it's worth, but the guy did provide a pic last time.

Shelby Mustang Cobra

 

ST....? has to be the lamest model designation...ever.

Other then that I would rather see them with a 5L (302) BOSS

 

Not that I think they would use it on the mustang but isn't "SS" the same??