I doubt SVT is going anywhere. Per a Focaljet member who claims to be involved in the tooling of some of the GT500 parts (can never believe what you read on the Intraweb, but being that there are a bunch of SVT & Ford employees on the site, I'd give this a 75% accuracy rating), an ass-ton of these were cut recently:
SVT is one of the larger sponsors of Focaljet, so there are a couple employees that post there...so there is some interesting info which can be read on this very subject.
Common rumors:
Apparently the Adrenaline Sport Trac is cancelled. Not sure what this means to the next generating Lightning.
As for mustang the impact could be a delay in special edition mustangs such as the Mach1, Bullitt and Boss.
Here's what someone says the impact on SVT will be:
1. SVT has no current projects to work on.
2. SVT staffing is down to 6 people and by next week will likely be down to 2.
3. It is anticipated that the SVT facility will be shut down next week which will include the SVT call center.
4. Funding for SVT marketing services ends February 1.
5. Special Vehicle Engineering staffing has been reduced by 50%, from 60 to 30 employees.
6. The SVT dealership program has been eliminated.
7. The SVT Enthusiast magazine has been absorbed into the TFR publication "Inside the Blue Oval."
8. The traveling SVT trailer has been eliminated.
9. SVTOA has been officially funded through June but is expected to receive additional funding to take us through the end of 2006.
Responses to these rumors by an SVT employee posting on Focaljet:
1. Incorrect
2. Incorrect
3. Incorrect
4. 1/2 truth. SVTOA marketing was elimiated and the responsibility added to the SVT call staff
5. 1/2 truth a handfull were let go because of the cuts several more reassigned within Ford
6. Long term true- although there is consideration for the 07 model year
7. true
8. Mostly true, Ford racings trailers remain
9. true and it may well impact the open track venue
Of course all these rumors, and supposed responses, can only be taken with a grain of salt. For every rumor there is another disproving it. I don't think we will ever know this is true until the day comes (if ever) that SVT officially closes its doors.
