Ford Mustang SVO Inbound?

It’s nice to remember that there are people that hold certain names in this industry in high order. The Chevrolet Camaro team did this with the Z/28. It must have a naturally aspirated V8. Of course the side effect is that now we have the unimaginative and clumsily named Camaro ZL1 1LE, because its LT4 engine has a supercharger on it, and that’s all it took for it to be disqualified from being christened with an iconic badge.

The same can be said about what recently happened with the Ford Mustang. Recently revealed to the public at the 2019 New York Auto Show, the 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost High-Performance Package might be the longest name of any pony car that can be drawn from memory. It has a 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder, taken from the discontinued Ford Focus RS, but with 330 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. It has a broader torque curve, a snarling quad-tip exhaust, front rotors from the Mustang GT, two sway bars, and specially calibrated magnetic dampers, as well.

So… why not simply call it the Mustang SVO? Apparently, there’s more to come.

“Not this one,” a spokesman said quietly during its media-only reveal event when questioned why Mustang customers have to now dish out this word salad of a name at the dealership, and to their friends.

Those older than myself may have fond memories of the Mustang SVO. Produced from 1984 to 1986, Ford left the 5.0L V8 on the shelf in favor of, yes, a 2.3L turbo-four. The lighter engine payed huge dividends for the coupe’s ride and handling. The Mustang SVO was one of the fastest and most expensive Mustangs of its time.

The kicker there is perhaps that the *breathes* 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost High-Performance Package is still far away from being one of the fastest and most expensive Mustangs of its generation. Despite that it is estimated to scoot from 0-60 in around 4.5 seconds, it seems Ford has left something on the table for a Mustang worthy of the SVO moniker. It’s good to know they respect their heritage.