2000 Ford SVT Contour

SVT Contour benefits from ongoing refinement to its already impressive ride and handling entering its third year in the enthusiast market.

SVT Contour's front suspension structure is a modified MacPherson strut design, with an A-arm, strut, and specially designed 19 mm stabilizer bar. The multi-link rear suspension is comprised of one lower trailing arm, two transverse links, a strut, and a coil spring. The rear stabilizer bar measures 18 mm. A small measure of passive rear-wheel steer is designed into the rear suspension.

For 2000, SVT Contour retains a wet-dry performance tire from BFGoodrich, the "g-force," which delivers marked improvements in skidpad and slalom numbers. Equipped with the g-Force T/A KDW, the SVT Contour's lateral grip has been increased to 0.90g on a dry skidpad.

The BFGoodrich 215/50ZR16 tires are mounted on 16-inch cast aluminum-alloy wheels.

The sport sedan shares its 10.94-inch vented front disc brakes with its highly acclaimed European cousin, the Ford Mondeo ST200. ABS-equipped four-wheel vented disc brakes are capable of smooth and effective deceleration without significant fade or wheel lockup.

The front fascia with round fog lamps is unique to SVT, as are the rear valance panel, rocker sill extensions, grille texture, and stainless steel exhaust tips. The front fascia includes ducting to improve the cooling system's performance. SVT Contour is available in Black Clearcoat, Silver Frost Clearcoat Metallic, Toreador Red Clearcoat Metallic and Tropic Green Clearcoat Metallic.

Inside, SVT Contour features perforated leather on all seating surfaces available in Midnight Blue or Prairie Tan. Leather also wraps the steering wheel and the shifter boot and knob. The specially designed driver's seat features 10-way power adjustment, including power lumbar. The front seat's lateral bolstering is accentuated on both the seat cushion and the seatback. The rear seat bottom cushions have been given greater bolstering to more firmly hold the two outboard passengers.

Driver amenities include an air filtration system that removes 90 percent of particles larger than three microns. SVT Contour also comes standard with power door locks and windows, speed control, a tilt steering wheel, air conditioning, dual air bags to supplement the safety belts, remote keyless entry, power antenna, an AM/FM stereo cassette with Premium Sound, and the sophisticated Ford SecuriLock^TM passive anti-theft system. The only available optional equipment is a CD player, a power moonroof with sliding sunshade, an engine block heater, and a smoker's package.

SVT Contour Duratec V-6 is produced at the Ford Cleveland Engine Plant. The car is assembled at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant.