Ford GT
Nearly 2000 expressed interest in buying it - so Ford up the allocation to 101 cars. Somebody teach 'em some maths...
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The number of European customers expressing interest in buying the Ford GT is twenty times greater than the paltry number of cars that will be brought to Europe by Ford. As a result the number of Ford GTs that will come to Europe through official Ford channels has been increased by 21 cars to just 101.
Potential customers have been eager to register their interest although European prices have yet to be announced. In the US, a price of under $150,000 has been indicated, but there will be a premium in Europe to cover additional shipment and homologation costs. Deliveries in Europe are expected during the fourth quarter of 2004.
European customers wanting to register their interest in purchasing one of the limited edition of Ford GTs have been able to do so via a dedicated website. So far there has been a total of 1,900 website registrations and a further 250 customers have approached Ford directly to express interest in buying the Ford GT.
The opportunity to register interest was due to close on Friday although Ford have now extended it to December 7th. Customers that registered will now be sent an application form to enable them to take the next step towards their potential purchase.
The lucky few will be selected according to a set of criteria intended to match the most "deserving and appropriate" buyers with the car. The President and COO of Ford of Europe, Lewis Booth, and his most senior executives will approve the final selection.
Surely the car itself will do that if it has whats required?
If 2000 people want the car make an extra 2000 or more if there is a market.
The day will come when a manufacturer says here is a new production ready car, and to ensure its status we aren't going to make any models available to anyone.
Podie said:
Interesting the Ferrari Enzo was not greeted with the same contempt...
Podie. Treating it with "contempt" as you call it is nothing to do with their method of choosing who is "deserving" of the car. I just have a general dislike for it
However, as I understand it, Ferrari invited certain well known customers to purchase an Enzo. They did not open the books to all and sundry and then decide who from the list they thought deserved the chance to purchase one.
Overall, I'm not particularly keen on the way that Ford have taken an icon of motoring history and turned it into a very cynical marketing exercise. The way the motoring press have (in the main) pandered to this attempt has also left me a little cold.
I will, however, note that I think the engineers involved have done themselves proud in producing a production ready performance car in an extremely short timespan.
LexSport said:
Interesting the Ferrari Enzo was not greeted with the same contempt...
Podie. Treating it with "contempt" as you call it is nothing to do with their method of choosing who is "deserving" of the car. I just have a general dislike for it
However, as I understand it, Ferrari invited certain well known customers to purchase an Enzo. They did not open the books to all and sundry and then decide who from the list they thought deserved the chance to purchase one.
Overall, I'm not particularly keen on the way that Ford have taken an icon of motoring history and turned it into a very cynical marketing exercise. The way the motoring press have (in the main) pandered to this attempt has also left me a little cold.
I will, however, note that I think the engineers involved have done themselves proud in producing a production ready performance car in an extremely short timespan.
I see your point, although not sure I agree with it entirely.
Unfortunately, Ford are in business to make money, and are using the GT to create a "halo effect"...
Podie said:
I see your point, although not sure I agree with it entirely.
Unfortunately, Ford are in business to make money, and are using the GT to create a "halo effect"...
Agreed. I guess I should have made myself clearer at the outset.
When considering the effectiveness of the GT as a marketing tool, I think it's done its job admirably.
They've certainly got some interesting engineers - the V8 Focus and next-gen Focus Cossie both look interesting. I just hope Ford start doing some *design* to match their engineering now that they've rehashed a few old timers (GT, Thunderbird, Capri [Visos concept]).
£140K they are having a laugh.........for mustang with a body kit, who are they trying to kid?
Don't get me wrong it is a lovely looking car I should know, I spent 3 days parked next to it at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but it ain't worth the money.
Similarly Euro quantities have not been set and it may be more than is expecetd at the moment. There will also be some personal imports from the US to Europe.
Remember the sales targets are ambitious - something over 4k cars which is a lot in this territory.
Simon
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