Ford’s former head of performance car manufacturing, Dave Pericak, is now the engineering director for the automaker’s North American unibody vehicles. While in charge of Ford Performance, the division launched the Raptor, Focus RS, Shelby GT350, and GT. Prior to taking the helm in 2014, he was also the chief engineer of the 50th anniversary Mustang.
Now responsible for mainstream models from both Ford and Lincoln, Pericak’s previous duties will be split between Mark Rushbrook and Hermann Salenbauch. Rushbrook will handle the company’s racing efforts as Salenbauch runs Ford’s production vehicle development.
“All the stuff we’ve been doing for the past three years has been pretty impressive, I think, personally, and I’m proud of it,” Pericak told Autosport in an interview from earlier this year. “Now, it’s time for me to go and take this global approach and bring it to the mainstream, where we can start affecting the way that we do production cars and trucks on a larger scale.”
Along with Raj Nair, the automaker’s executive vice president, Pericak oversaw Ford’s successful return to the Le Mans 24 Hours in the GTE division and the development of several well-received performance models. Ford confirmed Pericak’s new responsibilities came into effect at the start of December.
[Image: Ford Motor Company]
Work on those panel gaps Dave!
“Quite simply, Ford needs better engineers and more of them.” Me, Nov. 2017
Bravo Ford…
So we can expect even lower quality in the mainstream products then? Because Ford Performance vehicles are pretty unreliable.
I guess? Mine have been pretty reliable and the bulk of the people I have contact with had pretty good success with their FP vehicles. I know anecdotal evidence doesn’t account for much but I’d ask the same for your claim.
His claim is based on the fact that they are Ford products.
Because its not like, say, GM (Corvette Z06) or Honda (Civic Type R) have had issues with their high performance cars. Its *only* a Ford problem.
And your experience is? I daily drive and track monthly a GT350, that has been outstanding save for tire wear…so goes my oldest son with his Focus RS. What do you are anyway?
First couple of years of the GT350 were awful and the 16-17 Focus RS has been a nightmare.
This is a Ford GT:
http://gt40.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/GT40-P1031-4.jpg
That thing in the photo ain’t.