"Ford Performance" Blue Oval Merges Ford Racing, SVT and RS into Single Brand + More

[05XR8]

Ford doesn't have a Macan S, Q3/Q5, X3 type performance wagon. The Territory had the FPV F6 turbo engine at one stage. I guess once Ford get some more customers steadily in the dealerships and if there are people asking to buy such a car, may make a case to build one.

 

[YSSMAN]

Although I believe that is a Titanium trim level Explorer, the former Explorer Sport kinda rang up on that classification that you're talking about. It got the full-fat EcoBoost 3.5L unit, fancy four-wheel-drive, and a slightly more aggressive look and demeanor. Although I doubt anyone would cross-shop the Q5 and the Explorer, on the higher trim levels, there is a bit of overlap. Just, uh, don't expect Ford to make a seriously high-performance version of it.

 

[TheCracker]

Ford doesn't have a Macan S, Q3/Q5, X3 type performance wagon. The Territory had the FPV F6 turbo engine at one stage. I guess once Ford get some more customers steadily in the dealerships and if there are people asking to buy such a car, may make a case to build one.

Best bet would be a Kuga/Escape based Q3/X1/X3 rival using Focus ST/RS mechanicals.

 

[Joel]

Ford doesn't have a Macan S, Q3/Q5, X3 type performance wagon. The Territory had the FPV F6 turbo engine at one stage. I guess once Ford get some more customers steadily in the dealerships and if there are people asking to buy such a car, may make a case to build one.

If they did try to develop a serious Macan competitor it'd be a Lincoln. It's just too far to stretch the Ford branding.

 

[05XR8]

If they did try to develop a serious Macan competitor it'd be a Lincoln. It's just too far to stretch the Ford branding.

I can agree with your point. Cadillac might have a better shot at making that type vehicle. But then, on the flip side, a Mazda CX3/CX5 would probably hold their own with MazdaSpeed3 engine and suspension tweeks. The Ford would not be so much as a direct competitor to the Macan/Q5/X3, just made as a type of performance vehicle like those. Which leads to this idea.

Best bet would be a Kuga/Escape based Q3/X1/X3 rival using Focus ST/RS mechanicals.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

I can agree with your point. Cadillac might have a better shot at making that type vehicle. But then, on the flip side, a Mazda CX3/CX5 would probably hold their own with MazdaSpeed3 engine and suspension tweeks. The Ford would not be so much as a direct competitor to the Macan/Q5/X3, just made as a type of performance vehicle like those. Which leads to this idea.

Not sure if this could work, but why not a sporty version of the EcoSport? I know it is a bit smaller than a Kuga, but the same idea could apply. Slap a Fiesta ST engine on that car and bam, instant sporty mini-SUV. Could rival Nissan's Juke Nismo, if anything...

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

Lets see, this is what Ford has so far with their performance lineup:
- Shelby GT350
- Shelby GT350R
- Fiesta ST
- Focus ST
- Focus RS
- F150 SVT Raptor
- GT

That leaves 5 spots left, what in the world could they be?

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Transit SuperXpresss-STRS350R

 

[Adamgp]

F-350 Dually Lightning.

 

[Legro]

Ford Flex ST RS Cobra R EcoBoost.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

Speculation time!

- F150 SVT Lightning's return
- Mondeo/Fusion ST
- Fiesta RS
- Taurus SHO, maybe it'll be faster & more agile.
- Transit ST
- Ranger Raptor?
- Explorer Sport?
- Escape/Kuga ST?

 

[Legro]

- Taurus SHO, maybe it'll be faster & more agile.

I could be wrong, but I think that there won't be a new SHO and it's going to be replaced by a Taurus ST.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Speculation time!

- F150 SVT Lightning's return
- Mondeo/Fusion ST
- Fiesta RS
- Taurus SHO, maybe it'll be faster & more agile.
- Transit ST
- Ranger Raptor?
- Explorer Sport?
- Escape/Kuga ST?

• The return of the Lightning? Hum, could be possible, if Ford still has a suitable engine for it... But then there's the Raptor Ecobeast;
  
• The Mondeo could definitely use a perfomance model, especially with the delay it had in its European release;
• Wouldn't a Fiesta RS clash with the Focus ST? I dunno, I don't see the Fiesta getting a "super" version with its brother in the way;
  
• The SHO could receive a few changes, but not much more than that if I had do imagine;
• A super Transit? Happened before, but can it really happen again? If it does, it has to be a sporty version with a Diesel engine, not more than that;
• All the pickups and SUVs are perfomance-capable, but which ones will get the treatment? Only Ford knows...

 

[Legro]

• Wouldn't a Fiesta RS clash with the Focus ST? I dunno, I don't see the Fiesta getting a "super" version with its brother in the way;

If Ford was making a Fiesta RS, it could be a limited production car used for promoting purposes rather than simply selling them. Like Audi A1 Quattro.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

I could be wrong, but I think that there won't be a new SHO and it's going to be replaced by a Taurus ST.

You're right, except for one thing. That wouldn't be a "replacement", rather just a name change.

• The return of the Lightning? Hum, could be possible, if Ford still has a suitable engine for it... But then there's the Raptor Ecobeast;
  
• The Mondeo could definitely use a perfomance model, especially with the delay it had in its European release;
• Wouldn't a Fiesta RS clash with the Focus ST? I dunno, I don't see the Fiesta getting a "super" version with its brother in the way;
  
• The SHO could receive a few changes, but not much more than that if I had do imagine;
• A super Transit? Happened before, but can it really happen again? If it does, it has to be a sporty version with a Diesel engine, not more than that;
• All the pickups and SUVs are perfomance-capable, but which ones will get the treatment? Only Ford knows...

- Yes, there's the raptor, but that's more of an offroad aimed truck. The Lightning was a truck for the streets. I don't think it would interfere with the Raptor that much.
- No, I don't think the Fiesta would as Ford would produce less of them than the Focus ST anyway and the Fiesta still is a smaller hatchback. The Focus ST is more aimed at people that want a sporty hatchback with a bit more space than what the Fiesta has.
- I'm not talking about the current Taurus SHO, I'm thinking that sometime down the road that Ford will introduce the next Taurus along with a new SHO like they did when the current gen Taurus first came out.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

If Ford was making a Fiesta RS, it could be a limited production car used for promoting purposes rather than simply selling them. Like Audi A1 Quattro.

Yes, that could be an option. A limited edition, just like the Citroen DS3 Racing, right?

- Yes, there's the raptor, but that's more of an offroad aimed truck. The Lightning was a truck for the streets. I don't think it would interfere with the Raptor that much.
- No, I don't think the Fiesta would as Ford would produce less of them than the Focus ST anyway and the Fiesta still is a smaller hatchback. The Focus ST is more aimed at people that want a sporty hatchback with a bit more space than what the Fiesta has.
- I'm not talking about the current Taurus SHO, I'm thinking that sometime down the road that Ford will introduce the next Taurus along with a new SHO like they did when the current gen Taurus first came out.

Ok, all of that makes sense from a guessing standpoint. Perhaps the SHO will get replaced with something more powerful and/or honed than the current SHO. The Lightning? It all depends on Ford wanting to do it or not...

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

Ok, all of that makes sense from a guessing standpoint. Perhaps the SHO will get replaced with something more powerful and/or honed than the current SHO. The Lightning? It all depends on Ford wanting to do it or not...

Well yeah, it's like you said; only Ford knows what they're releasing. Also; I apologize for not saying this earlier; Niku, I'm NOT in anyway 100% in belief that my guesses could happen, no where close. These speculations I'm making, I'm just honestly doing it for fun.

 

[05XR8]

With FPR now being Prodrive Racing Australia, could this have been a way for Ford to get their naming rights? The division is now "Ford Performance". Is this a way to bring back the name Ford Performance Racing(FPR). Only Australia used it because of Prodrive's David Richards owning it. I'm curious to see if this leads to FPR and Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) names making a come back down the road.

As for that Ecoboost ST. Sounds like a good way to introduce that "EcoBeast" name.
Too bad this isnt in the global line up to get an FP/ST tune up.

 

[YSSMAN]

Realistically, I'd really only expect the Fusion/Mondeo and Ranger to be the most-likely candidates for the Ford Performance tune-up right now. We're still quite a ways away from the launch of a new Taurus, and I doubt that the crossovers/SUVs would get anything new. The Mondeo would probably be a much more likely candidate for an ST treatment based on historical applications - but whether or not we'd get it in the States, well, I'd guess it'd depend on whether or not Ford sees a market (AFAIK, the Regal GS would really be its only competitor). The Ranger on the other hand would make sense, particularly if it got a Raptor-like treatment, since most of the rest of the world can't get the Raptor in the first place.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I think a Mondeo/Fusion with the 2.3L Ecoboost and AWD would be a really nice option.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Ford Ka would be a nice option to those who are disappointed by the fact that US doesn't get 3-door hatchback Fords..

 

[Keef]

And it would be a good competitor to the Smart and IQ and other tiny things. Unfortunately those cars sell pretty slowly so it might not be worth the trouble yet.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

And it would be a good competitor to the Smart and IQ and other tiny things. Unfortunately those cars sell pretty slowly so it might not be worth the trouble yet.

Unless they do Scions and offer incentives for college students who are looking to get a first car of their own.

 

[YSSMAN]

Scion is pulling the iQ off the market after 2015, so the only city cars left on the market will be the Smart ForTwo, Fiat 500, and Chevrolet Spark.

 

[Grandea GTR]

Not much people really took interest in the Scion iQ, there's like a chock ton full of them in the Toyota Scion dealer, and very, very rarely will I ever see one on the road.

 

[AudiMan2011]

A Fiesta RS might actually be in the pipeline
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/...join-focus-rs-in-fords-hot-hatch-fleet-report

 

[GTboyz]

Nice, wanna see how it looks like and how it performs.

 

[05XR8]

The new Ford Performance division is set to launch 12 new vehicles by 2020, including the likes of the new GT supercar, F-150 Raptor, Focus RS, and Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350R. This means there are still a few empty slots, one of which could certainly be filled by a Fiesta RS.

that still conforms to the 20 new models the DP mentioned Ford will reveal in Australia. If 12 are FPvehicles, that leave another 8 to account for from 2015 onwards. Maybe it goes like this( for OZ anyway):

1.Mustang GT
2. Mustang Ecoboost
3. Mondeo sedan
4. Mondeo wagon
5. Everest
6. Focus ST
7. Focus RS
8. Fiesta RS(Fiesta ST already available)
+ 10 more FPvehicles & new Ford models= 20

unconfirmed, but possible in Ford Australia line up:
9. GT350
10. GT350R
11. Ford GT
12. F-150 Raptor
13-20. ?

 

[Team THRT Drift]

13-20. ?

13. Ford Falcon XB-R

EDIT

Nevermind...

Set for 2016

After this Falccon GT, Ford will revive the XR8

 

[05XR8]

The black one is an XR6, but the XR8 been available since November.