The past performance group from Ford, Special Vehicle Team (SVT), was once speculated as dead just a few months ago. A recent Ford product preview by SVT chief Hau Thai-Tang proves otherwise. Currently, 60 engineers are still tasked with the continued development of SVT products, and plans continue to look toward future developments. For now, however, SVT will rely on two vehicles, the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang that recently hit the open market and an "in the works" truck, based heavily on the Ford F-150 ancestor, the SVT Lightning. No further detail was divulged regarding the truck, but 2007 is definitely to soon to expect something solid.

Three segments will comprise the next-generation of SVT. Race-inspired performance (vehicles like the Ford GT) high-performance (vehicles like the GT500 and Lightning), and enhanced-performance (vehicles that will receive cosmetic and light performance upgrades). Vehicles produced for the latter group are not likely to receive SVT badging; they would be tuned and trimmed by SVT using a combination of Ford Racing parts and miscellaneous dealership accessories. Such past examples of this genre of vehicle would be the Bullitt and the Mach 1 (seen below) Mustangs produced on the SN-95 platform.

Thai-Tang has not left out other Ford divisions out of the SVT scope, but explained, "our focus is on Ford right now". I wonder if there is any ambiguity in his choice of words....Focus. Hmm.