![]() ![]() The folks at SVT acknowledge the problem but say they would rather put the money into other areas at this time and hold the price down. The radio is fairly cryptic to use, although once you have it figured out it is not too bad. The back seat, although it now has nearly two more inches of kneeroom than before, is still snug for a family car. ![]() The headlights need a better pattern, especially on low beams. Ultimate handling may lack a little, but short of high-speed thrashes on a racetrack, the SVT is very self-assured when the road gets twisty. The tight suspension and fat, 16-inch tires have impressive grip, yet don’t pound the passengers with a punishing ride on a choppy highway. The engine has ample power for passing without having to shift down to fourth. Louis, it hammered along at an impressive rate and got 25 mpg. On our first road trip, a cross-state outing to St. Not only does it zip through the gears, but it pulls authoritatively in high gear on the highway. Its 76.6 horsepower-per-liter output is the highest of any engine manufactured in North America. Horsepower jumps to 195, thanks to a lighte r flywheel, larger throttle body, conical air filter, larger radiator, oil cooler and higher compression pistons. The 2.5-liter Duratec engine is a gem in its own right, but SVT’s modifications make it world class. The best part is what you can’t see, like more horsepower, bigger brakes, tighter handling, grippy seats and the ability to charge down bumpy roads without losing grip. The lower front spoiler with fog lights, side skirts and deeper rear valance are only the tip of the iceberg. Looking at the exterior, you might think that most of the modifications are cosmetic, but in fact just the opposite is true. How is the SVT different from a Contour SE? The interior gets fat, thickly padded leather seats and white-faced instrumentation. They plan to build about 5,000 SVT Contours. SVT volume is small to ensure exclusivity and because they appeal to a niche market. Besides the Contour, they also build coupe and convertible versions of the Mustang Cobra. The Special Vehicle Team (SVT), a small group of performance enthusiasts clustered inside Ford Motor Co., turn production cars into machines that will satisfy serious driving enthusiasts. It is smaller, too, which is a drawback to those looking for a family hauler. It also feels a lot like a baby SHO Taurus, but it handles better. Impressive, indeed, especially if it will actually do it. Believe it or not, this little car has a top track speed of 143 mph. A quick stab of the throttle brings giggles from the exhaust as the engine leaps to its task, hitting 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. The combination of a rev-happy engine and a slick-shifting gearbox makes it a joy to work through the gears and reminds me of how I felt about my 1984 Volkswagen GTI. Even after a couple of weeks with the test car, I tingle with anticipation every time I key its V6 to life. After experiencing such a high back in March, I figured the mornings after would be quite a letdown, but it has not been so to this point. Now we have a red one temporarily in our garage (black and silver are the other two colors). But what’s it like in the real world of work commutes and trips to the grocery? Since it is built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, we asked Ford to let us be foster parents for three months or so to see how it measures up in real life compared with a lively morning in the desert. And it does so with a base price of $22,900, thousands less than its competitors from BMW and Audi.Įarlier this year I drove an SVT for part of a day and was captivated by its over-the-road skills during a banzai trip through the vast nothingness of Death Valley. This mid-size four-door from Ford’s motoring boutique beckons with a sweet-revving V6, delightful gearchange and the character of a European sports sedan. It may be American, but it drives like a European sports sedan. All cars have an emotional component, but some are harder to define than others. ![]()
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