Quote:
Originally Posted by zebra
wasn't that the whole reason behind creating the GT500?  the GT was kicking Dodge in the doo-dads, and there was no Camaro to compete against, so they went for the Corvette. it's similar in price, similar in power, and has a similar target consumer.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/..._test/(page)/1 |
Absolutely not. The GT500 was just the evolution of the '03-'04 SVT Cobra Mustang. SVT was already working on the next Generation of "Cobra" Mustang before the introduction of the S197 Mustang in 2005, and this version, codenamed "Condor", was being engineered to be a step above the previous version from SVT.
However, there were changes at the VP-level within Ford that saw car-guy and SVT proponent, Chris Theodore, being replaced by Phil Martens who had long believed that niche cars, like the SVT products, were best produced by mainstream engineers and not by a special division. Because of this change SVT lost its budget and product descision-making to Ford Division. With this change, it took no time for the Ford Division bean-counters, who were applying mainstream metrics and processes to SVT's niche-vehicle skunkworks operation, to greatly affect things. This process change forced a series of content reductions (IRS, stability control, interior upgrades, etc.) and approval delays that forced the "Condor" out of a 2006 model-year launch. (thus why there was no "Cobra" version of the S197 Mustang in 2005 or 2006).
In fact, Ford Division was seriously looking to abandon the SVT brand built over the previous 12 years and the SVT engineering team, now forced to work within the mainstream vehicle process, was finding it very difficult to maintain a focus on the Condor Mustang. Then, in a brilliant marketing move, Ford struck a deal with Carroll Shelby, who had been involved with SVT on the Ford GT, for the rights to use the GT500 name on the car that SVT had conceived. Enter the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, previously know internally at Ford as "Condor".
Knowing this, you can understand why the car is adorned with both SVT and Shelby's historic icons and branding and, in what I feel was a snub at Ford Division by the SVT team, no blue oval or anything on the car that identifies it as a Ford. It also illustrates why I have always said the MSRP on the car would have been $43K whether or not Shelby ever attached his name to it. Yes, his name on the car did create a stir with enthusiasts and led to dealer ADM's, but that was not in the control of Ford. It was, however, a great marketing move and accomplished exactly what Ford had desired from a partnership with Shelby.
It seems the only people who were comparing the GT500 to the Corvette were die-hard GM folks and magazines because no other manufacturer offered a direct-competitor they could put up in a head-to-head comparison to the GT500. And, as anyone would expect, the Corvette beat it in every area except passenger seating.
Sorry about the histroy lesson, but I thought it would be an interesting read for anyone who enjoys the stories behind the automobiles that are produced and how things considered no-brainer decisions by you and I, the enthusiasts, don't always happen due to internal politics at the manufacturer. Of all forums, one showcasing the new Camaro should understand. Can you say Z28?