FPV expanding to 4 cylinders?

[fpv_gtho]

http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/st...E21822,00.html

FPV eyes four cylinder trade
Mark Hinchliffe
07may05

Hot four-cylinder rockets could be the next step for Ford Performance Vehicles.

The company already has broken from the V8-only policy of rival Holden Special Vehicles with the release of the six-cylinder turbocharged Typhoon and Tornado ute.

And while the company acknowledges it does not have the breadth of HSV's line-up, FPV does not intend to mirror HSV models, nor be constrained in what it produces.

The policy seems to be paying off with managing director David Flint announcing that in sales figures for directly competing models, FPV has logged "significant records since December with four straight months ahead of HSV, if only by one unit in March.

"There is a strong acceptance of the Mk II GT and GT-P," he said.





"We've got ourselves to a very strong position in the market place.

"The Super Pursuit was launched this year to stretch the model range a little wider and to face off with our competitor. It's been a success for us."

Flint said the F6 clutch crisis in which sales were stopped for three months while a replacement clutch was designed and built after the original failed, had not delayed any other product programs.

"We are on target for any new program," he said.

However, while he wouldn't give away any details of future products, he said they were looking at a range of vehicles and he did not have a personal favourite.

"That's not how you run a car manufacturing business. We have to give customers what they want, not what I want," he said.

Flint did say they were considering all options such as hot mods on the Focus and Festiva and all-wheel-drive versions of the current range.

This would also open up FPV to doing a version of the highly successful Territory SUV.

Ford chief Tom Gorman has already talked about a possible turbocharged Territory.

"Whether it is a Ford or FPV that is a decision later," Gorman said. "There is no conclusion on that yet.

"Our brand (FPV) is recognised very much as a performance range of vehicles.

"There is a place for us to extend that further and Territory is an obvious choice."

He said Ford was also considering a diesel variant and a "proper off-road" four-wheel-drive version of the Territory with a low range.

"The vehicle is very successful at the moment. We've done a good job of satisfying the customer and there are not many things the customer is not happy with."

Gorman said the first studies of customer satisfaction with the Territory were being conducted and results would be available soon. "If we do anything with the Territory, it will be incremental," he said.

FPV marketing and sales manager Roger Gray said there had been a lot of interest in an FPV Territory.

"As much from dealers as anyone. They look at the fundamental acceptance of Territory," Gray said. "There has also been a lot of interest in doing something with a four-cylinder, such as Focus or Festiva.

"A four-cylinder would appeal to a customer we are not dealing with at the moment; people who view technology as important.

"There is a strong aftermarket business in four-cylinder cars in the past few years. It's a market we could easily leap into."

Gray said it was important they extended their range, but differentiated their products from HSV.

"We don't intend to be another HSV. We always intended to be about more than just V8s.

"The Tornado broadened our product portfolio. It was our first turbo, too. It means we can talk to a new range of customers, a younger buyer, so it also broadens our demographic. It's not a big volume, but it does allow us to extend."

The Courier-Mail

Im thinking theyre seriously considering marketing the new Focus ST as an FPV, now that its got the Volvo engine in it, its a farcry from the outgoing ST170. Its interesting to wonder whether how they would do that though, whether it'd be a Ford Focus ST, simply sold through FPV like the Mustangs were, or it'd become an FPV ST160 (kW) or whatever. I doubt they'd go with the 160, maybe 220 showing HP as choosing a lower number to represent the power, despite kW to HP, compared to the outgoing model wouldnt be good marketing.

[Spastik_Roach]

I'd love a 4wd Turbo Focus..

[2ndclasscitizen]

the return of the cossie

[pimento]

They should stick the HPT Volvo 5 cylinder in there, 220Kw focus anyone? That'd definately require an AWD system in there, or at least a very nice diff in the front. Mmmm....

[Blitz_]

Coooooooossssssssssssssswwwwwwwwwwwwoooooooooooooo rrrrrtthhhhh

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by pimento

They should stick the HPT Volvo 5 cylinder in there, 220Kw focus anyone? That'd definately require an AWD system in there, or at least a very nice diff in the front. Mmmm....

They put some torque sensing diff in the 160kw RS, but for anything other than a track, it made the car just too much of a nuisance to drive. Im surprised they really gave the ST so much, i think they went back to a conventional diff or LSD though

[Digitor]

A Ford 4 cylinder performance car eh? If it could drag the riceburners, they'd have plenty of buyers!

[Blitz_]

I look forward to a fiesta / focus FPV, damn that would be awsum!!

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/st...E21822,00.html



Im thinking theyre seriously considering marketing the new Focus ST as an FPV, now that its got the Volvo engine in it, its a farcry from the outgoing ST170. Its interesting to wonder whether how they would do that though, whether it'd be a Ford Focus ST, simply sold through FPV like the Mustangs were, or it'd become an FPV ST160 (kW) or whatever. I doubt they'd go with the 160, maybe 220 showing HP as choosing a lower number to represent the power, despite kW to HP, compared to the outgoing model wouldnt be good marketing.

They got it a little wrong, HSV have never ever stated they are only V8's, But they do prefer to stick with V8's as the number 1 and 2 thing in there range. But they are looking at the turbo astra the OPC astra?.
And they still offered the XU6 in the VY range. But they can't sell them and it's almost a waste to build them. They need a 250kw+ turbo 6. But they won't go it alone they want holden to pave the way since they hate working on 6's. Like the old V6 Supercharged donk holden 171kw HSV 180kw Commodore S $40,000 XU6 $57,000 Not worth $17,000 more for just a extra 9kw and 20Nm. That V6 Supercharged had much more potential in it they just didn't open it up. 210kw + with over 500Nm was on offer.

[fpv_gtho]

The supercharged engine was just a pig of an engine that no one thought was a performance engine. It was in desperate need of more refinement, and i suppose HSV figured why waste their time when they'd gotten rich off doing V8's

[SlickHolden]

But what it was a super fast 0-60 car that could beat anything off the lights, It just needed some TLC. They said HSV got a nice sound from it but left it at that.
It could have been done better

[fpv_gtho]

well lots of things couldve been done better, but to make them better wouldve made it too expensive, especially compared to the Clubsport. They were already charging too much for it

[SlickHolden]

If i had a V6 supercharged say a VTII S. I would run to yella terra for one of there blower kits straight away. kw extra not sure but a extra 50% torque. That would make it about 570Nm Dam that would be good off the mark and up hills and over takeing.
http://www.yellaterra.com.au/kitv6.htm

[Blue Supra]

i can see it now...

ALL NEW FPV Fiesta Turbo!!!

and all the little ricers go...
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!!!!

[fpv_gtho]

I dont think the ricers would know what a Fiesta is really, its not a WRX so its not on their radar