Conspicuously missing from the newly introduced Shelby GT350 Mustang was Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) moniker and badging which was nowhere to be seen or heard when Ford introduced the vehicle on November 17.
Despite being every bit the engineering brainchild of Jamal Hameedi and the renowned SVT engineers, we now know that the GT350 Mustang, along with a host of other vehicles, have been corralled under Ford’s new “Ford Performance” organization.
The new Ford Performance brand is part of Ford’s continuing “One Ford” efforts, as this serves to unify its global teams under the umbrella of Global Ford Performance.
Ford Performance is unifying not only the Ford SVT team, but also Team RS and Ford Racing, and will serve as the innovation test bed for developing advancements in aerodynamics, light-weighting, electronics, powertrain performance and fuel efficiency that can be benefit all of Ford’s product portfolio.
“In addition to using racetracks around the world, the team will develop new vehicles and technologies at Ford’s engineering centers globally and at the new technical center in Charlotte, North Carolina. This state-of-the-art facility will help the team deliver racing innovations, as well as advance tools for use in performance vehicles and daily drivers alike,” announced Ford.
Who will lead the new Ford Performance organization? Who else but Mr. Mustang himself, Dave Pericak.
Read the full details in the FORUMS.