New Plan for FPV
August 16, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
The performance arm of Ford Australia, Ford Performance Vehicles, is planning a new way forward. After cut backs and cost cuttings earlier this year (with the sacking of ex-managing director and 8 other senior staff), FPV is under new management and planning to take on HSV anyway it can.
Earlier this week GoAuto conducted an interview with the new head of FPV, Rod Barrett, who took up the job earlier this month. Although only a few weeks into the job, Mr Barett already has some excellent ideas to increase FPV sales.
On the new agenda there is now an ultimate aim for FPV, not only to double sales figures, but to eventually overtake Australia’s favourite performance arm, Holden Special Vehicles (HSV).
How will it happen? FPV is set to launch two new FPV models at the Australian International Motorshow (October), apart from the FPV Territory we spotted earlier this year, there is also a new variant (perhaps the XR5? Or the G6?).
In regards to new competition, Mr Barrett is not scared of the TRD Aurion, much like TRD, FPV believe Toyota will not compete with the FPV/HSV range. There is also confirmation (almost) for FPV variants of Ford’s ever popular XR4/XR5 models.
CarAdvice will be at the Sydney motorshow for the first images of the new FPV models.
Source: GoAuto
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well this is hardly a revelation
Aren’t they testing an AWD Focus overseas somewhere? I don’t think we’ll see any performance Focus until that is released (if it gets released), and FPV will just import it, like the HSV Astra, or the new model arrives in late 2008.
yes the focus rs is apparently in the works, but it is still highly unlikely for the time being
perhaps a front wheel drive XR5 FPV will make it? to compete with the HSV VXR?
Yeah they are testing a new RS focus, from wot i’ve seen i looks like it’ll be competition for the evo and sti, hopefully it’ll back to good old escort cosworth
Yep, from what little we know, it will be a good contender to the STi/evo as well, lets hope it comes to aus.
Does this mean that FPV will start to match the aggresive look of the HSV VE Commodores and surpass their performance figures.
Just for once I would like to see FPV take charge of the situation regarding high-end performance cars rather than do catch up with HSV. It’s not as if there is nothing in the “parts bin” that can’t be used.
How about a GTHO style shaker for a re-calibrated turbo 6, pumping out 320km. I mean let’s get real. Cars of this spec would cost around the 80 to 90,000 dollars.
You might say I’m dreaming. I don’t think so. I call it aggresive marketing.
This guy I feel has a feel for what we need in FPV. The HO badge should be given to the most deserving and I hope they provide us such a product,finally…….
Come on we know your more than capable of making a superior product than HSV so please provide it! Again !
So says me …….
I suspect we wont see the HO badge till the much anticipated Hurricane V8 in 2010.
This will complete the car worthy of the greatest badge of them all.
if the ho name was going to come out of retirement its going to need more then 320kw need something like 400kw and disregared fuel economy i dont care if it eats 30L/100km it needs to blow away hsv convincingly
Fact why Ford have trouble with sales, not enough model differentiation between all the Falcons and it is not wild enough. Whilst still great for style, my fact still remains! They can throw $$$ at it willy nilly and do all the PR and whatever they want.
It comes down to this = style / state of the art of inclusions like ESP standard / model differentiation much more detail required between each model and it is lacking definetly somewhat! That Tom Gorman should pull his finger out bigtime.
And before anybody goes on Iam a Ford supported no crap of a lie!
Look at what the aftermarket scene has been able to achieve with the GT. FPV already put in a much stronger bottom end in the BOSS making it easy to reliably stick an S/C on it.
This would make a creditable HO in my opinion without waiting til 2010.