gerard
Member
http://edmunds.nytimes.com/advice/specialreports/articles/100499/article.html
2005 Ford GT
Homage to Ford's Past, Glimpse of Ford's Future?
By Edmunds.com Editors
Date Posted 08-21-2003
In the spring of 2004, Ford dealers will begin receiving their allotment of 2005 Ford GTs. The allotment won't be large; in fact, many dealers will never see a GT except in photographs. Less than half will receive one unit for the entire 2005 production run, and a tiny fraction will receive two or more. Total first-year production is slated for between 1,000 and 1,500 units, which explains why most of the 3,500 Ford dealers in the U.S. will never get one in their showroom. Rumor has it that hundreds within Ford Motor Company are among the first in line to buy a GT. Right behind them are the dealership owners, many of whom have been patiently waiting for a car like the GT to fulfill their exotic-car desires — desires that could never be satisfied by a foreign nameplate like Ferrari or Porsche without bringing along unwanted political baggage.
There's no denying the new Ford GT is steeped in historic equity. A modern-day interpretation of the GT40 that dominated Le Mans in the mid- to late 1960s, the new GT is supposed to represent not only the best of Ford's past but also the promise of the company's future. Automakers often refer to vehicles like this as "halo" cars. By themselves they can't erase red ink or regain market share, but a halo car can improve a brand's awareness and lead to increased showroom traffic. Mazda's Miata is probably one of the most effective halo cars from the last decade. Ford's own Thunderbird was somewhat less successful on this front. The Thunderbird, introduced in 2002, is slated to go out of production in 2005 after three years of disappointing sales figures.
kinda makes me proud to be american...
(wiping tears from eyes)
-gerard
2003 1.6 SE FSI Cobalt Blue & 1968 Dodge Charger
2005 Ford GT
Homage to Ford's Past, Glimpse of Ford's Future?
By Edmunds.com Editors
Date Posted 08-21-2003
In the spring of 2004, Ford dealers will begin receiving their allotment of 2005 Ford GTs. The allotment won't be large; in fact, many dealers will never see a GT except in photographs. Less than half will receive one unit for the entire 2005 production run, and a tiny fraction will receive two or more. Total first-year production is slated for between 1,000 and 1,500 units, which explains why most of the 3,500 Ford dealers in the U.S. will never get one in their showroom. Rumor has it that hundreds within Ford Motor Company are among the first in line to buy a GT. Right behind them are the dealership owners, many of whom have been patiently waiting for a car like the GT to fulfill their exotic-car desires — desires that could never be satisfied by a foreign nameplate like Ferrari or Porsche without bringing along unwanted political baggage.
There's no denying the new Ford GT is steeped in historic equity. A modern-day interpretation of the GT40 that dominated Le Mans in the mid- to late 1960s, the new GT is supposed to represent not only the best of Ford's past but also the promise of the company's future. Automakers often refer to vehicles like this as "halo" cars. By themselves they can't erase red ink or regain market share, but a halo car can improve a brand's awareness and lead to increased showroom traffic. Mazda's Miata is probably one of the most effective halo cars from the last decade. Ford's own Thunderbird was somewhat less successful on this front. The Thunderbird, introduced in 2002, is slated to go out of production in 2005 after three years of disappointing sales figures.
kinda makes me proud to be american...
(wiping tears from eyes)
-gerard
2003 1.6 SE FSI Cobalt Blue & 1968 Dodge Charger
