autoevolution
 

Ford Mustang Chief Engineer, Dave Pericak, Appointed Head Of New Global Performance Team

After Ford decided to let the 2015 Mustang officially run on wild on the twisty European roads, the Blue Oval is now announcing the yet-to-be-released Ford Focus RS will make it Stateside. This is no free trade agreement folks, Ford actually has a much greater go-fast plan and it will all be accomplished by the new global Ford Performance team. In fact, this also ads Ford Racing to the melange.
Ford Mustang Chief Engineer, Dave Pericak 1 photo
Photo: Catalin Garmacea
It’s been years since the automaker’s One Ford strategy presented the unification of its American SVT division and European RS performance team and we are now seeing that promise fulfilled. The 2016 Focus RS’ US arrival is part of a greater plan that will see Ford “deliver more than 12 new performance vehicles for global enthusiasts through 2020.”

The high-octane assault will be led by Dave Pericak, the Mustang’s Chief Engineer, who has been appointed director, Global Ford Performance. We caught up with Dave back in January, at the Detroit Motor Show and we expect to talk to him again at the 2015 NAIAS, where the RS should bow. To say that Dave showed parental-level affection for the pony would be an understatement and we’re eager to see how he discusses the front-wheel-drive of the hot hatch - Ford hasn’t confirmed the Focus RS will be FWD, but we’re betting on it.

The Ford Performance team’s tasks

These people will travel to racetracks across the globe to do their thing, while Ford has also built a new technical center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Ford has been keeping an eye on the performance vehicle market, using 2009, the year when the Mk2 Focus RS was launched, as a milestone. The automaker explains performance vehicles sales are on the rise, having grown by 70 percent in the US and by 14 percent in Europe.

The Blue Oval obviously wants to steal some customers with the help of its fast metal. In the US, over 65 percent of ST buyers come from outside the brand, while over half of them remain faithful to the badge after the experience. For instance, millennials are buying ST stuff at twice that of other Ford cars.

As long as the 2015 Shelby GT350 Mustang will be cruising Euro asphalt and US drivers will become highly educated in terms of hot hatchback matters, we’ll be happy.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Andrei Tutu
Andrei Tutu profile photo

In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories