Nameplate for the Ecoboost 2.3?

[DBCooper]

The problem with nameplates is that once you attach meaning to them, you are stuck. (ST=Hot Hatch, GT=V8, SRT=Dodge, SVO=Ugly, Perceived Gutless Turbo I4 Failure (chill out, just an example)).

I don't like the "SV" moniker because it's not a "Special Vehicle". Someday, it will be the base, so then it loses the meaning. Also, what happens when SVT comes up with a real "special vehicle" like a hi-output I4? Now what do you call it?

It's like the discussion about design. What do you want to say about this engine? What do you want people to think when they hear that the car has the Turbo I4 in it? I think Ford wants people to think Power AND Economy. No ties to heritage, they are marketing this to an all new generation and audience. That's why I think you will see it marketed as the EcoBoost in some manner.

That said, I hope they don't use the same tired badge they put on everything else. Hopefully, they come up with a Mustang only, nicely designed, badge that matches the rest of the design.

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[Allerick]

So the Mustang version would be:

ecoBOOST

 

[thePill]

All very valid, legitimate concerns posted above. So what do we have now?

SVO seems to be on the rise, granted, there are only 18 votes... I feel those that support SVO are presenting a strong case. Maybe not for SVO but, the Mustang deserves a unique nameplate. I would challenge that by suggesting "GT", although carries a great deal of heritage, isn't really unique. However, GT evolves into the HALO GT350/GT500. There is another popular counter-arguement... SVO stood for Special Vehicle Option/Operation and is no longer relevant. That doesn't change the fact that SVO was a nameplate used by a turbo 4 cylinder Mustang... and you can't get any more Mustang than that.

We have the also popular use of ST. Street Tourer, Street Tuning, Street Technology... all very fitting for an Ecoboost 4. I was unaware of Dodge's nameplates and obviously need to rethink ST4/STX. The major concern is that ST is for a Hot Hatch Focus/Fiesta. I have heard the Fusion will also get an ST. If true, all bets are off. The "4" was place there in hopes Ford would replace the base with the ST4. The 5.0 will near 500hp NA and an Ecoboost 3.5 at 375-400 called, for now, ST6. Our friends in the EU say the Eco4 is called the ST and the Eco6 is called an RS. I'm not opposed to that but, I am OCD and like everything in order, streamlined... Another complaint, too common/regular. GT and ST have equal appeal... Imagine, if a GT can spawn a GT350 and GT500, what would an ST spawn.

I'm starting to like the idea of each powertrain level designated by their own badge. GT=V8, ST=Eco4 and XX for the 6's.

Somebody threw in SHO... I'm not sure... I know the name carries a lot of weight. It is a 6 cylinder badge right? Not good for a 4 for sure.

Part of me wants the Mustang to HALO the ST's EB4 and the SHO's EB6. Should there be a Mustang ST and a possible Mustang SHO? That could go over very well with enthusiast...

 

[JohnZiraldo]

In playing around with some naming convention that is flexible, not too reliant on heritage that the target younger drivers and world-wide customers may not get, is immediately logical, and not a copy of other brands, I came down to this logic.

SHO and SVO are historical names, not logical, and may not make sense to people who are not already Mustang enthusiasts.
SVT is also historical, not logical, and too close to SRT. Chrysler owns the division name and cylinder count thing. They put it on everything. Chrysler also owns 200 and 300.
GM owns the illogical but historical letters thing eg. SS, ZL, Z/, etc.
Lincoln owns MK and a non-logical letter.
Mustang owns the 350 and 500 designation. Shelby created the 350 label based on a number of footsteps. Ford should now make it a real performance reference.

Mustang should try to keep it's labeling formula simple, informative, and performance oriented.

Use only two main levels
GT - Grand Touring for 8s
ST - Street Touring for 4s and 6s
The Base V8 should stay simply GT
The Base V6 could be simply ST or no label. I prefer ST.
Since the EB4 will have over 300 HP, call it ST350.

The NA high performance V8 will be around 500 HP. Call it the GT500.
If there is a high performance EB6, maybe call it ST500.
The FI V8 could be around 600HP and therefore could be the GT600.

We would then have ST, ST350, ST500, GT, GT500, GT600.

Simple, logical, performance focused, with just a touch of historical reference.

Any additional HP or specialty models that come along later could be given names that fit into this scheme like ST600, or a unique name like GT500LS.

My preference for rear panel labels would be always the simple running mustang (like the ubiquitous prancing horse) and a model label at the bottom right corner, also on the front fenders, and on the right side of the passenger cockpit panel. No model label in the grill, only fangs or no fangs, and the running mustang.

 

[thePill]

ST makes a lot of sense, especially if there is a Fusion ST. It will be just ST and GT...

 

[w3rkn]

ST makes a lot of sense, especially if there is a Fusion ST. It will be just ST and GT...

My friend,

Those designations are for non-sports cars, that are "modified".



When u have a dodge NEON... or a chevy Cobolt/Impala and u add performance stuff to it, you call it an "ST", "SS", etc..

When you already have a sports car platform, such as all s550 Mustangs, or Corvettes, or Porsches.. there is zero need to illustrates it's "streetability" with econobox monikors such as "ST". As the whole Mustang nameplate is designed around performance. Not added on...

The car is already a GT... how can u call it a ST too..? The engine doesn't change the purpose of the car.



Secondly, we already have a name for Ecoboost Boost engine (EB), but we are looking for a badge for the Mustang 2.3 liter.. which cannot be ST, because the car was designed as a sports car, not modified to have sport cars tendencies...

So we look to the past^: L, GL, GLX, LX, GT, Turbo GT (1983–84), SVO (1984–86), Cobra (1979–81;1989–1993), Cobra R (1993), and Ghia.

Then we have: Bullet, BOSS, GT350, GT500 & Super Snake ..!!



Additionally, Special Vehicle Operation doesn't have to exist, for the acronym "SVO" to be on a turbo mustang.

Otherwise "Turbo GT" works.

 

[C00KIE M0NSTER]

ST makes a lot of sense, especially if there is a Fusion ST. It will be just ST and GT...

No. Just no.

 

[shelby1k]

My friend,

Those designations are for non-sports cars, that are "modified".



When u have a dodge NEON... or a chevy Cobolt/Impala and u add performance stuff to it, you call it an "ST", "SS", etc..

When you already have a sports car platform, such as all s550 Mustangs, or Corvettes, or Porsches.. there is zero need to illustrates it's "streetability" with econobox monikors such as "ST". As the whole Mustang nameplate is designed around performance. Not added on...

The car is already a GT... how can u call it a ST too..? The engine doesn't change the purpose of the car.



Secondly, we already have a name for Ecoboost Boost engine (EB), but we are looking for a badge for the Mustang 2.3 liter.. which cannot be ST, because the car was designed as a sports car, not modified to have sport cars tendencies...

So we look to the past^: L, GL, GLX, LX, GT, Turbo GT (1983–84), SVO (1984–86), Cobra (1979–81;1989–1993), Cobra R (1993), and Ghia.

Then we have: Bullet, BOSS, GT350, GT500 & Super Snake ..!!



Additionally, Special Vehicle Operation doesn't have to exist, for the acronym "SVO" to be on a turbo mustang.

Otherwise "Turbo GT" works.

This.

Great point w3rkn.

One point of contention however, I disagree that SVO is a good badge for the EB4. We all know the Special Vehicle Operation team is now defunct, but they actually worked on that car and gave it upgraded braking system and a specially tuned suspension, etc. The 4 cylinder S550 will be nothing more than a base Mustang fitted with a turbo engine. All it really shares is engine displacement. It's the same faulty reasoning as people wanting to give it the RS badge just because the next RS Focus may share the 2.3L EB.

I vote for simply Turbo or Ecoboost. Not Turbo GT. That is just confusing and makes no sense.

 

[thePill]

I'm not crazy about "Turbo" and never want to see just "Ecoboost". Turbo GT sounds kinda 80's to me. The ST badge is in heavy use by Ford, I just seen an STX F150.

I'm thinking SVO (Special Vehicle Option) is the best option so far. I initially voted for ST, still wouldn't mind ST for the EB2.3 (ST2.3). SVO is growing on me, as long as there is flexibility in the badge for a future EB3.5.

I do have to say, I guess the name and badge doesn't matter if the car performs. ST has a STRONG presence with the younger buyers. SVO means very little to them... If the EB2.3 is bad ass, people will jump on board and the car will rise to fill the role.

An SVO nameplate reminds me of EVO which is mega-popular with the turbo crowd. Ford is known for its nameplates that start with "S" (ST, SE, SHO).

 

[Grimace427]

Turbo GT sounds like a car from Grand Theft Auto.


I say no name plate for the initial launch of the car and after a few months have the SVO appear as part of a performance package.

 

[w3rkn]

I'm not crazy about "Turbo" and never want to see just "Ecoboost". Turbo GT sounds kinda 80's to me. The ST badge is in heavy use by Ford, I just seen an STX F150.

I'm thinking SVO (Special Vehicle Option) is the best option so far. I initially voted for ST, still wouldn't mind ST for the EB2.3 (ST2.3). SVO is growing on me, as long as there is flexibility in the badge for a future EB3.5.

I do have to say, I guess the name and badge doesn't matter if the car performs. ST has a STRONG presence with the younger buyers. SVO means very little to them... If the EB2.3 is bad ass, people will jump on board and the car will rise to fill the role.

An SVO nameplate reminds me of EVO which is mega-popular with the turbo crowd. Ford is known for its nameplates that start with "S" (ST, SE, SHO).

Mustang is 50 years old, and has a lot of heritage to draw from.



My I ask your age?

Why are you concerned with the "younger buyers" and who they are. If "ST" is hot for them, that's probably why they are buying up non-sports cars and getting them spec'd "ST" so they can have something sporty, but not pay for it.

These younger people buy these "hot econoboxes" to avoid the premium insurance that comes with owning a true sports car.



Once again, from the ground up, the Mustang is built as a sports car, & would be very odd for the Mustang to don an "ST" badge. It would be a backwards oxymoron. Now, as for the EB2.3 in a Focus... call it an "ST" , but the name of a Mustang won't ever be an "ST" !!

Focus ST, yes.. (even if it is the same engine)

 

[trolls56]

Mustang is 50 years old, and has a lot of heritage to draw from.



My I ask your age?

Why are you concerned with the "younger buyers" and who they are. If "ST" is hot for them, that's probably why they are buying up non-sports cars and getting them spec'd "ST" so they can have something sporty, but not pay for it.

These younger people buy these "hot econoboxes" to avoid the premium insurance that comes with owning a true sports car.



Once again, from the ground up, the Mustang is built as a sports car, & would be very odd for the Mustang to don an "ST" badge. It would be a backwards oxymoron. Now, as for the EB2.3 in a Focus... call it an "ST" , but the name of a Mustang won't ever be an "ST" !!

Focus ST, yes.. (even if it is the same engine)

See this is where I disagree with you. ST and Rs are known world wide and in the US ST to me means H.O. ecoboost. Have you ever looked into insurance on what you called "hot ecovoboxes"? You are right they are bought buy younger people which in turn the insurance on them are very high. For me it would cost 4 times what i pay on my Raptor which cost 50k than a 25k Focus ST. I pay $500 a year for full coverage on my Raptor when I looked into getting a Focus ST for my dd insurance was near 2k a year.

Ok lets go over the other names people have said. SVO I highly doubt that will happen since they haven't exist since the 80s. Next Turbo GT the ecoboost i4 is the base model it not a GT. People here in the US are getting it confused since they threw in the v6 too. I really don't see Ford calling it anything. It's the base model. Which brings me back to ST. I can see them doing a H.O. version of the 2.3 I4 ecoboost in the future. Something that come in towards coyote numbers but is marketed towards the younger US buyers and the world wide market. A lot of the Euro countries have very strict taxes on engine sizes. So I really think if Ford would make a H.O. version they will either call it ST or RS.

 

[Patio208]

Next Turbo GT the ecoboost i4 is the base model it not a GT. People here in the US are getting it confused since they threw in the v6 too. I really don't see Ford calling it anything. It's the base model.

Are you saying the I4 is the base model? That's not entirely accurate. The I4 is the base abroad. In the USA the v6 will continue to be the base with the I4 being more expensive and a better performer. At some point that could change but there are no publicly known timeframes or plans. So in my opinion the I4 has to be called something here in the states at least until such time as it does in fact become the base. It seems to me Ford is struggling with a nameplate or the v6 will be so short lived they don't think it necessary to name the I4? Ford may also be trying to build buzz before dropping a name on us:shrug:

 

[Falc'man]

It should be called the Foured Mustang.

 

[trolls56]

Are you saying the I4 is the base model? That's not entirely accurate. The I4 is the base abroad. In the USA the v6 will continue to be the base with the I4 being more expensive and a better performer. At some point that could change but there are no publicly known timeframes or plans. So in my opinion the I4 has to be called something here in the states at least until such time as it does in fact become the base. It seems to me Ford is struggling with a nameplate or the v6 will be so short lived they don't think it necessary to name the I4? Ford may also be trying to build buzz before dropping a name on us:shrug:

Yes it is the base model same as v6. The v6 was a after thought. Only people that will be buying v6 is rental car companies and people scared of turbos. Like I have said before only way that people with any kind of brain will pick the v6 over i4 is if there is a huge price difference. People will either choose the i4 cuz of performance or the fact it gets better mpg. Personally see the v6 very short lived.

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