Ford Introduces New Global Team and 12 New Vehicles
It’s no secret that Ford is taking a global approach to performance. It’s introducing the iconic 2015 Mustang to customers worldwide, and Ford Introduces New Global Team and 12 New Vehicles through 2020—including the much-anticipated Focus RS—to be available globally.
Ford is finally uniting it’s wide array of regional performance engineering and racing teams as one global team, which will fall under the Ford Performance umbrella. This team will deliver to enthusiasts more new vehicles and parts, and do so in quicker fashion than ever before. New vehicles include an all-new Focus RS that will be available to customers in major markets around the world for the first time. And we're anticipating the announcement of a Shelby GT350 "R" at the Detroit Auto Show this winter.
“Ford remains committed to innovation through performance,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Our new global Ford Performance team ties together racing, performance vehicles and parts. It will allow us to more quickly introduce products and accessories that meet the needs of customers around the world on-road and on the track.” Focus RS, which builds on a pedigree of driving excellence dating to the first Ford RS in 1968, was last introduced in 2009.
“To earn the RS badge, the vehicle has to be a no-compromise driver’s car that can deliver exceptional performance on the track when required while providing excellent every day driving,” said Nair.
Current performance vehicles from Ford include the Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Shelby GT350 Mustang and F-150 Raptor. Not to mention the EcoBoost Mustang and Mustang GT.
This is all part of Ford’s “One Ford” plan for profitable growth, and to ensure product excellence and innovation across the board. Of course, the performance models will excite enthusiasts, but there's so much more. Currently, performance vehicle sales are growing around the world. Ford stated that sales are up 70 percent in the United States and 14 percent in Europe since 2009 in the performance segment.
Ford’s hugely popular ST lineup, is a hit with a wide range of buyers, as it delivers an phenomenal driving experience, plus economy, at a price point in the mid-$20,000 range. Additionally, Ford claimed that in the United States, more than 65 percent of ST customers made the switch from other brands, and more than 50 percent of Ford performance vehicle owners’ next vehicle purchase is a Ford. It also stated that Millennials are purchasing ST vehicles at a rate twice that of other Ford-branded vehicles.
The heart of the ST lineup is the award-winning EcoBoost® engine family. Amazingly, Ford has produced more than 2 million EcoBoost engines globally since 2009. “EcoBoost is a strong example of how we are migrating technology and engineering across our lineup, ensuring our vehicles are fun to drive—not just our Ford Performance lineup,” said Nair. “From our most nimble Fiesta to our hard-working full-size pickups and racing vehicles, our lineup benefits from the innovations we deliver at the track and at the limit.”
On the track, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine powers the IMSA TUDOR Championship series racecars, including a record-setting Daytona racing prototype sports car. The team also designed the soon-to-be-released Shelby GT350 Mustang. It features aerodynamic innovations developed through Ford’s investment in racing that were applied to help downforce and cooling.
Ford understands that racing provides a proving ground for cultivating passionate engineers—allowing them to innovate in top-level competition as they face challenges that require successful solutions in very compressed time frames. This trickles down, and is passed on to every Ford and Lincoln product.
New Global Team
According to Ford, the new Ford Performance organization unifies Ford SVT, Team RS and Ford Racing globally, serving as an innovation laboratory and test bed to create unique performance vehicles, parts, accessories and experiences for customers. This includes developing innovations and technologies in aerodynamics, weight reduction, electronics, powertrain performance, and fuel efficiency that can be applied more broadly to Ford’s product portfolio.
The Global Team will utilize racetracks around the globe to develop new vehicles and technologies at Ford’s engineering centers—including the new technical center in Charlotte, North Carolina. That fully modern facility will help deliver racing innovations, as well as advance tools for use in performance vehicles and daily drivers alike.
And Ford enthusiasts will be excited to learn that the Ford Performance organization is led by Dave Pericak, who has been appointed director, Global Ford Performance.
