5: Ford Contour SVT
Another interesting but poorly-received SVT model from the 1990s was the Ford Contour. Although it didn’t have a V8 engine like the larger Taurus, it did have some pretty decent driving characteristics. Unfortunately, the price of the Contour made it a questionable purchase for most consumers. The size ratio was about the same as a Ford Escort and drivers just couldn’t see driving it.
The suspension was tuned for performance, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t impressive enough to justify the price tag. Ford lost a great deal of money on the Contour SVT and the Contour brand in a generation. The car was about the same size as the Escort without providing anything new.