Shelby News...
Shelby Lends Performance
Legend to Ford SUV
Carroll Shelby's latest joint
venture with Ford Motor Co., is the Shelby Performance Utility Vehicle, or PUV,
a high-performance rendition of the full-size Ford Expedition sport-utility
vehicle.
The PUV is powered by a supercharged 550-horsepower version of Ford's 5.4-liter,
32-valve V-8 teamed with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
It features exterior body accents, graphics and ground effects, 22-inch wheels,
custom interior complete with navigation as well as CD and DVD systems and TV
screens in the headrests.
Shelby, a performance car builder and former racer, also was a consultant on the
development of the Ford GT.
"The Expedition is the first in a series of products and concepts we have on the
drawing board," says Brent Fenimore, vice president of Shelby Automobiles.
While awaiting production approval, the game plan calls for the high power
Expedition to be sold through select Ford dealerships.
- Jim Mateja, Chicago Tribune, Newsday, Sunday, December 12, 2004
Shelby SUV: Ford Is Planning Sporty Upgrade of Expedition
Looking to put more life into
its lineup, Ford has again called upon 81-year- old Carroll Shelby to perform
some magic.
Ford will unveil another Shelby concept vehicle, a high-performance version of
the full-size Ford Expedition sport utility vehicle, at the Specialty Equipment
Market Association show in Las Vegas in November.
SEMA will determine whether there's enough interest to produce the vehicle, said
John Luft, president of Shelby International, the parent of Shelby Automobiles.
In 2003, Ford and noted racer and designer Shelby announced they were teaming up
as they had in the 1960s, when Shelby developed a limited-edition,
high-performance Shelby Cobra Mustang that Ford marketed. Shelby also had a hand
in the creation of the Ford GT40 racer in the '60s. He later teamed with Dodge
to develop the Viper.
Shelby will develop high-performance, new concepts for Ford to consider for
production as well as a variety of performance versions of existing Ford
products that could be marketed as niche vehicles to generate interest in Ford.
First up was the Shelby Cobra roadster unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show this
year, an all-new concept supercar powered by a 6.4-liter, 605-hp. V-10 engine
that paid tribute to the Ford/Shelby partnership in the '60s.
The car could do zero to 60 mph in less than four seconds and have a top speed
of 195 mph. One reason it was so quick, other than the V-10, was that it was
very light. It had no roof, air conditioning, radio, side windows, door handles
or even cup holders.
While the Shelby Cobra was more a "what if" concept, now comes a second Shelby
venture for Ford that is more likely to become reality.
The vehicle, which doesn't have a formal name other than the Shelby SUV, is an
upgrade of the Expedition. It will be equipped with performance engine,
suspension and tires, and decked out with lots of plastic ground effects to call
attention to it. But no photos as yet, Luft said.
"Ford is looking to put some pizzazz into some of its vehicles.
Performance is a driving factor in the consumer buying decision now.
"Look at the Hemi V-8 at Chrysler," Luft said, referring to the fact that almost
50 percent of all '05 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum sedans are bought with the
optional 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 that produces 340 hp. The Shelby SUV will be powered
by the same 5.4-liter V-8 offered in Expedition.
"I don't think it's going to have the same 605 hp. as the Shelby Cobra," Luft
said, laughing, "but we don't know yet. We're working with Ford engineers on
that now."
Luft said whether the vehicle is built will depend largely on public reaction
and whether performance wins out over mileage.
"Ford is going to monitor feedback from the SEMA show and its dealer network to
determine the interest. Based on that, it's possible we might put it on the
auto-show circuit for more feedback. I think we'll have clear direction of where
we want to go after SEMA," Luft said.
- Jim Mateja, Chicago Tribune, Newsday, Sunday, August 1, 2004
SUV Upgrade With Lots of Kick (Shelby Expedition)
This is the only photo that
Carroll Shelby International Inc., the famed performance shop, has released so
far of an upcoming model that might interest truck fans: a high performance
version of the Ford Expedition SUV.
Scheduled to be shown in November at the Specialty Equipment Market
Association's annual show, this Expedition will have as yet unspecified engine
modifications, added exterior accents and graphics, enhanced interior styling,
high-performance tires on custom wheels and suspension and handling upgrades.
The production schedule and price haven't been announced.
-
Tom Incantalupo, Newsday, Friday, July 30, 2004
Shelby Cobra Tweak
Ford Motor Co. is sending its
Shelby Cobra concept car back to the shop for a design tuneup.
The sports car, which debuted at the Detroit auto show this year, shares many
parts with the Ford GT. It readily could be put into production, said Phil
Martens, Ford group vice president of product creation.
But the concept's styling needs work, he said. "It doesn't grab my soul. It has
to be as emotional as the GT."
J Mays, Ford group vice president of design, is putting an emotional charge into
the Shelby. Some of the curves of the original 1960s Shelby Cobra will appear in
the modern version, although Mays says the styling won't be retro. "We're going
to make it slightly more voluptuous." he said.
Executives haven't yet decided to produce the Shelby Cobra. But its production
would amortize the tooling and investment Ford has made in the GT, which is
expected to have a limited run beginning this summer.
And some Ford officials have hinted that the Shelby Cobra could succeed the GT
as a pricey halo vehicle.
- Automotive News, Newsday,
Friday, April 30, 2004
This page was last updated on
03/28/05
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