D R I V E N

“You sure you can handle it?” asked Dave Gutman, Ford Truck Marketing Manager and former Ford Philippines Vice-President for Marketing.  He was pointing out to the blood-red Ford Mustang SVT Cobra and the jet-black Ford Focus SVT.  I was trembling at the mere sight of it, like one would when faced with neighborhood hooligans.  But I had to gain composure quickly, or else I thought, he wouldn’t hand me over the keys.

“Y-y-y-yes sir,” I replied gulping heavily.  Inside my mind, I was saying my prayers, for I was to sample two of the most exclusive, most powerful production Fords ever.

Although both of these vehicles wear the SVT badge, they have distinct, far-flung origins. On one hand, the three-door Focus heralds from the hot-hatch capital of the world, the United Kingdom, boasting such specs as a super-tuned 170-bhp 2.0-liter inline-4 pushing the front wheels and a Getrag 6-speed manual.  On the other, the venerable Mustang is built straight off Dearborn, Michigan with its 390-bhp supercharged V8 and a TTC T-56 6-speed manual transferring all the power and torque to the rear wheels.

For all logical thinking, it’s easy to think that they come from different manufacturers.  Yet, after emerging from Ford’s in-house Special Vehicles Team or SVT, both remarkably share the same take no prisoners, show no pity attitude.

Both of these cars are uncompromising racers for the road, so there’s little reason why I should deal in matters concerning power this and push button that.  However, these two aren’t exactly poor on the spec sheet either—as Ford considers the SVT as the highest product variant.

That said, it’s clearly noticeable that money was pumped in to make these cars the ultimate Fords.  For instance, the Mustang Cobra gets a fully-independent suspension with Bilstein shocks.  In addition, it gains 13-inch dual-piston Brembo brakes and 275/40 R 17 Goodyear Eagle F1 tires.  On the Focus, Ford re-tuned the chassis with stiffer springs, bigger front and rear stabilizer bars and stylish multi-spoke 17-inch alloys.

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