I've been reading a lot lately on other message boards that Ford has ditched the Lightning for good and is only going to concentrate on the Mustang. From what I've read it seems like SVT has spent most all its money on the developement on the Shelby Cobra/daytona concepts and now Ford is only allowing them to work on the next mustang cobra-hence why there is no more SVT Focus. I'll see if I can't pull up the article. This seems awkward to me since the Lightning was such a large player in the performance truck market. Opinions?

 

Here's the article cut&pasted:

Lightning Struck: Ford decides to shelve SVT Lightning pickup
STEVEN COLE SMITH
Published Date: 11/1/04
Ford has pulled the plug on the next-generation F-150 Lightning SVT pickup truck, instead putting all SVT's eggs into one basket - the SVT Cobra Mustang, due in 2006 as an '07 model.

"It's a business decision," said Alan Hall, SVT spokesman. The official line is that the Lightning has been "postponed," and not killed, but if it is revived, it will be 2008 or later before we see one. SVT has gone from three vehicles in 2004 - the Lightning, the Cobra Mustang and the SVT Focus - to none in 2005.

Ford had already shown a concept version of the next-generation Lightning in 2003. The concept had a supercharged V-8 engine with more than 500 horsepower, in answer to the Dodge Ram SRT-10, which eclipsed the Lightning as the world's fastest production pickup in a test last winter. Ford was eager to regain the crown, but has decided to deed the performance pickup-truck market over to Dodge and its 500-horse SRT-10, and to a lesser extent, Chevrolet, though the heavy all-wheel-drive Silverado SS is not in the same category.

The Lightning debuted in 1993, with a 240-horsepower version of Ford's 5.8-liter V-8. Cobby and not that attractive, it was only a mild success, and was dropped in 1995. The F-150's redesign led to a handsome new Lightning for 1999, featuring a 360-horsepower supercharged 5.4-liter V-8. A handful of 2004 Lightnings, not much changed from that 1999 model except for a horsepower bump to 380, remain on dealer lots. Base price: $33,560.

Apparently, cost played a leading role in the decision, as the expense involved in developing and certifying a proper V8, and massaging the new-for-2004 F-150's chassis, was deemed prohibitive. Also, the next-generation Lightning's fuel mileage would likely continue to detract from Ford's Corporate Average Fuel Economy totals: The current Lightning is rated at 12 mpg city, 16 mpg highway.

Even so, this news will not be popular with Lightning loyalists, such as Mike Philpot of Heathrow, Florida, who paid full sticker price for his Lightning in July, 1999. "My '99 Lightning has been a fantastic vehicle," he says. "It has about 54,000 miles on it, and it runs better than new. Never any problems. I bought an extended warranty from Ford, but I could have saved myself the money. It has it all: good looks, comfort, good handling and, of course, all that incredible power. Hardly a day goes by without at least one positive comment on it from someone.

"Hopefully, Ford will change its mind. If they want to keep the F-150 the most popular truck in the world with all the competition that it has now, they had better continue with their halo vehicle."

 

The Lighting could never match the projected sales of the Cobra....bummer
Sad when the bottom line controls the product...but, if it wasn't that way....

 

I think the Ford GT plays a roll also. If you notice in the end of the article, they talk about meeting Fords average fuel economy totals. I think the Ford GT, Excursion and others are making it impossible for Ford to produce another high performance vehicle. Its too bad honestly as they have a great platform to start with in the new F150-and I wanted to see the power levels they could reach with the 3 valve design.

 

To me it sounds suspicious that Ford would just drop the Lightning, especially right after Dodge brings out the SRT-10 Ram. Who knows, it could be a plan by Ford to be able to bring the Lightning out when nobody is expecting it. Maybe they really are going to drop it, but it just doesn't make sence, especially after the big debut they had of it last year.

 

Ive seen the pics of what suppose to be the next gen lightning and it looked sweet. The motor had air scoops and the turbo. When I looked at the motor trend that i seen it in they said it was suppose to come out in 2006 so who knows

 

SVT had all it's work cut out for it in the GT program. Just not enough manpower to bring so many new, high performance vehicles to the market. Consider this...13,000 2003 SVT Cobras were sold in in that model year...over double of any previous Cobra and were on track to out do themselves with the 2004 models before they stopped production. I'd rather see Ford take a hiatus and bring something truely representative of the SVT badge than just throw together some stop-gap vehicle. Read the SAE report on the GT's engine...specifies that Ford developed that engine with the capability to cross-level into other models. Ford isn't gonna just bring a another vehicle to compete in the sport truck market...it's going to dominate...

 

How about a leather/ loaded SVT Ranger? I'd buy one!

 

an SVT Ranger was tested before...they decided not to build it since it humiliated the Mustang's. As far as MPG figures go for limiting Fords performance production...i don't disagrea considering atleast up till the latest Mustang Fords MPG has been quite lower than the competition in general...Focus 24-32mpg versus Corolla 32-42 mpg...and even hearing of Chevy Silverados generaly getting 2-3 mpg better than the F-150's...not sure though with the new 3-valves.

 

So they may have a design that turns 500 HP, but if they want to make a performance truck, why would they build something that couldn't beat the current fastest truck, the SRT-10. It would probably cost them a lot more money to build a truck to beat SRT-10 than they would profit from it. I would even venture to say that a naturally aspirated 8.3l V10 would last a lot longer than a supercharged 5.4 tuned to the same output. Even if they had an engine that turned 500 hp, they would need to make the truck a lot lighter, as the SRT-10 is only 5000 lbs. I imagine if they put the 6.8 in a reg cab short bed, it would weigh a lot more.

 

I am trying to understand why Ford would want to beat the Ram......they still will not sell enough of them....

 

It is all about bragging rights.

 

Understand the bragging rights, however they must be backed up with sales, you can only have so many lost leader items...at any given time, or over a long period.

 

You guys have to remember that Ford, Dodge, Chevy and every other car maker out there makes cars to make money-not have bragging rights. The accountants are why this truck isn't coming out.

 

It doesn't get any clearer than that. Ford has bigger fish to fry with the new Mustange to beef up. It would be nice to see a 2005 Shelby Mustang.