GM VERSUS FORD AT THE 2009 SEMA SHOW

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LAS VEGAS – In some ways, GM versus Ford seems a bit like Mad Magazine’s “Spy versus Spy.” It’s often an entertaining series of moves and countermoves which seldom alter the fundamentals of the performance market niche.

On the surface, the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show was no exception. In a battle of dueling press conferences on the first day of SEMA, Ford and General Motors took divergent approaches. GM’s big news was aimed directly at mass market performance – a pre-OBD II legal 430 horsepower “E-Rod” crate engine with an expected street price under $8,000.00. This is only the first in a series of “E-Rod” crate engines, including a 315 horsepower 5.3 liter LS, a 505 horsepower 7liter LS7, and a 550 horsepower "LS8."

An hour or so later, Ford’s big announcements were decidedly more exclusive. First, Ford officially unveiled its 2011 Ford Racing Raptor XT truck.

Racing version of the Raptor

The XT will feature a 500 horsepower SOHC 6.2 liter engine and a host of race truck suspension parts. With a price tag in the $100,000 range, the market for Raptor XTs will undoubtedly be limited.

Ford’s other feature vehicle was the recently announced 2010 Cobra Jet drag car.

Ford Racing boss Brian Wolfe discussing features of the 2010 Cobra Jet with potential customers

Aimed at NHRA Super Stock A and B, the latest Cobra Jet reportedly will be NHRA legal down to 8.50 quarter mile elapsed times and will run out of the box in the ten-second e.t. bracket. Ford will offer a choice of racing transmissions, including a drag-prepped manual. For sportsmen racers who cannot afford factory assembly, Ford will offer virtually every part necessary to build a Cobra Jet at home in the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog. Ford claims it will offer affordable production “bodies in white” that are “not seconds.”

In some ways, these moves are reminiscent of the 1960s. Back in the Total Performance era, Ford’s burned up tracks around the world, but were criticized by some for not “makin’ it” on the streets. Chevrolet, banned from overtly supporting racing, circumvented corporate edicts with hotter street cars and an unmatched factory “severe service” parts program. Thus, while Ford dominated in many professional ranks, the streets tended to belong to the much larger GM.

GM’s latest move is a CARB-legal shot across Ford’s bow. Almost immediately, internet experts were heralding the “E-Rod” program as a catalyst for more awful crossbreeding of Chevrolet engines in pre-1996 Fords. GM may be attempting to solidify its position as the “crate motor” leader before the waters are muddied by Ford’s rumored Coyote V8.

Truth With Speedzzter hopes that Ford will not repeat the mistakes of the 1960s by allowing GM’s dangerous provocation to go unanswered. Ford needs to move with all due speed to market more emission-legal crate engines for the repower market. FRPP’s Boss 302 and Boss 351, as well as the DOHC modulars are excellent foundations for emissions legal countermoves to GM’s “E-Rod” line . . . at least until a production wide-bore center DOHC comes along.