<B>Ford Focus SVT Update</B><P><B>Source:</B><BR><I>AutoWeek Online<BR>News Section</I><P> <IMG SRC="http://autoweek.com/weekart/2002/0916/Ford.Focus.SVT.fe.jpg"> <P> <IMG SRC="http://autoweek.com/images_content/2002_09/Ford.Focus.SVT.fcpvs.jpg"> <P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>No slackers allowed: Ford looking to protect its turf with latest SVT Focus creation.<P>As far as we can tell, no one outside of Ford has any idea exactly what lurks under the hood of this latest Focus from the company’s Special Vehicle Team. And the people inside Ford aren’t exactly talking. <P>“This is a work in progress to maintain our standing in the performance vehicle niche,” says SVT PR man Alan Hall. “We will guard our turf.” <P>So whatever they’re cooking up under that monster hood scoop we’re not certain. The current SVT Focus, introduced in April as a three-door, runs a Cosworth-tuned 170-horsepower version of the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that powers everyday Focuses. A five-door SVT Focus joins the showroom later this year. <P>For what it’s worth, the SVT guys were running their latest work against competitive vehicles like the Volkswagen R32 and the Honda Civic Si, as well as the complete stable of SVT products. The R32 boasts a 237-hp 3.2-liter V6, while the Si 2.0-liter four pushes just 160 hp (however, the non-U.S. Civic Si Type-R makes 200 hp). <P>One possible explanation: Maybe Ford has decided to move ahead with the four-wheel-drive 300-hp Focus Cosworth shown in Los Angeles in 1999.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>The current Focus SVT has already won every single comparison test, this one with AWD will for sure up the stakes. <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/eek.gif"> <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/eek.gif"><P>-Drew<P>