SVT, though not officially dead, is pretty darn near it. However, there will be an SVT truck (previously mentioned here some time ago) as a companion to the Mustang. The Adrenalin was supposed to be out next year, however that has been cancelled.

The Lightning replacement was apparently done when it was canned (it would have beat the GT500 to market by a year). The reason it was put aside was because it was viewed as far too heavy and perhaps a bit expensive. The engine was essentially the same as in the Mustang GT500, except that it had a "Supercooler" (directed chilled air from the air conditioning directed into the intercooler for short periods for acceleration blasts).

I'm suspecting that the Lightning will be revived, and that it will have the same engine as the GT500 and likely have the supercooler as well. The concept version ran 0-60 in the mid 4s and the quarter under 13 if I remember. On par with the Dodge Ram SRT-10.


SVT effectively no longer exists. It's engineers have been adsorbed into the rest of Ford's engineering staff, and it's network is being dissolved. There is no additional SVT work going on. Adrinalin was cancelled with no additional development. Yet Ford intends to have a SVT truck. There was a Lightning done some time ago, and the Lightning has name recognition and a built in following, as opposed to creating a new name and using the parts on a different vehicle (ie: SUV).

I suspect a new Ford Lightning by summer next year.

Like the GT500, I expect this new Lightning to be heavy, flamboyant, & overpowered.



BTW:
For what it's worth, the Shelby GT500's engine is set up (and extremely beefed up) so that additional power can be easily dialed up if Ford felt it needed to. Not only can a supercooler be added, but in combination with the common Cobra switch (a pulley change) can send horsepower up.....
...way up...
..... how's 6....is 6 a magic number for you??!

No wonder the super Camaro's horsepower targets is a state secret at GM.

 

If it gets more expensive and heavy as hell, they can keep it. Horsepower only goes so far, as is evident with the new GT500. It needs to retain the formula of the last gen Lightning IMO (maybe with more power)....

 

600 horses and a (nearly) 4k pound car empty....hmmm nope, pass.

Pass on the lightning revival too.

 

Very sad to see SVT be dissolved as it is one thing at Ford I definately respected, even moreso than what Chevy has done.
I could also pass on the truck as well, but then again, I wouldn't be in the market for a fast truck anyways. I stick with cars or smaller trucks (the Adrenalin would've been cool atleast).

 

It realy sucks for Ford...SVT was the best thing they had goin' for them and they went and f'd it up

 

Heavy as hell S/C'd V8 pick-up with big fat tires and somewhat compromised for handling suspension????


The Lightning used a 2v aluminum headed, iron blocked 5.4 with an S/C, granted 4v heads would add 60 pounds, but I can't see where alot of heft could be added over that. Unless your talking about the der riguer (sp??) super bling 2?????" plus wheels everybody seems to prefer these days.

I don't think we'll see the super-cooler, but I think the Shelby V8 would be ported over if they are that serious about it? Then again there might be some unwritten rule about Lightnings beating top dawg mustangs in acceleration? The 3 valve head used on the trucks and mustangs is really a nice peice with its VVT. The head is good for roughly 400hp in unported N/A form, maybe more.

 

I believe the point is that this truck is the much heavier than the previous generation, which the the Lightning was built on. Isn't the new gen something like 800 pounds heavier than than last one?

 

I wonder. If Ford were to make another GT500 that dialed in 600hp, would it get even heavy. I am sure that the current drivetrain is plenty capable of taking that kind of power through it, but would Ford be willing to warranty it, or would they use tougher, heavier duty stuff throughout it? Obviously Ford goes overkill with making sure their Cobra powertrains will take the strain, given that the Cobra went with an iron block over the aluminum block that was still easily capable of the engines stock boost output. The last thing a more powerful GT500 needs is more weight.

 

There was at one time a plan to put the supercooler on the '03 Cobras. You have to move up in size on the compressor due to the extra load (the Mustang mules used a F150 compressor), so there is a slight diminish in returns. It's kind of like a supercharger eating some of it's extra power due to the pulley load...

 

Why didn't the GT500 get the supercooler?


Chevy needs to release that LS2 Colorado and show them what a lightweight, fun sport/muscle truck is all about.

 

Would the Lightning possibly utilize the Expedition's IRS for better weight distribution and handling? I know it would be heavier but it would be in line with the GT500 having IRS and the Mustang not.

 

Why is that, because GM can't release a full size fun sport/muscle truck?

 

Didn't need it.

It's not really competing against anything save maybe an M5, and other makers will be bringing out Challengers, GTOs, and Camaros (pretty much in that order) in the near future.

IF it looks like one of these models might touch a GT500, break out a smaller pulley. If the ante goes up even more, screw in a supercooler. GT500 stays in the performance race at low to no cost to Ford (SVT was supposed to have an expanded role at Ford, and the GT500 wouldn't need any real resources to stay competitive... leaving money for other projects).

Pretty clever if you ask me.

 

I could be wrong here, but I've read that the pulley/snout configuration on the supercharger is VERY tight from the factory, meaning that a pulley swap will not be nearly as easy on the GT500 as it was with the 03/04 Cobra....

 

[QUOTE=guionM]
It's not really competing against anything save maybe an M5,QUOTE]



So, nobody buying a GT500 is going to give a Vette a second glance, but they are going to be checking out much more expensive M5s?? I can't see these two cars getting cross shopped at all. If someone can afford the M5, they are probably going to buy the M5. It is a much nicer car, in just about every aspect (except maybe gas mileage, which the Mustang isn't going to win any awards for either).