Prodrive chief assures dealers over FPV's future

[adrenaline]

Prodrive chief assures dealers over FPV's future


By NEIL McDONALD 7 February 2007

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/11AA1ED8ECFF7D23CA25727B00067EE0/$file/2007.02.07_Territory.jpg?OpenElement
Big blower: What FPV's Territory could look like. Digital image: Chris Harris.

THE new overseer of Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) has moved to reassure dealers that "steps have been taken" to meet their demands for more performance derivatives from the Blue Oval brand’s stable.

The managing director of Prodrive Asia-Pacific "automotive technology" division Brian Mears told GoAuto last week that he understood that FPV dealers were unhappy with a lack of new model derivatives, and conceded it was a long wait – more than year – until the next-generation Falcon.

"No, they’re not happy with it and why would they be? I wouldn’t be," he admitted.

"(Dealers are saying), ‘I want different product. I want something done about range. I want something done about the power. I want a performance derivative off the parent product that I can proudly drive around and say I’m there and competitive.’

"What I can say to the dealers in response is that we’ve taken steps to ensure that all of those things are going to happen.

"It’s not a complex thing unless you want to make it complex. The dealers want sales support, they want all of the support they can get to help them sell the vehicles and we’re going to provide that. That is ramping up. We’ve got a plan."

Mr Mears also said that "Blind Freddy" could see there was a product gap. While he would not confirm that a Territory-based performance car would be shown at the forthcoming Melbourne International Motor Show, he has dangled the carrot.

"We can do one of two things: ignore it and hope it will go away and the dealers get more and more vocal, as they should, or do something about it," he said. "We’ve set in place a series of changes that will get us more product.

"Let’s see what comes out and what we roll out in the next little while and I think in some aspects, certainly in the next two years, we’re going to exceed their expectations."

Mr Mears would not be pinned down on naming that likely product, only saying that there were "a couple of things that were very exciting".

"I’ll be at the Melbourne motor show," he said. "I think we need a bit of a talking point at the Melbourne motor show and we’ll just have to see whether there’s one there."

So a year is too long to wait for a new Falcon. All I can think of is an F6 variant of the Territory, with the top mounted intercooler.

[2ndclasscitizen]

The dealers have probably been watching HSVs go up 47kw, go up to 6ltrs, add a 6spd auto, 20" inch wheels etc., whilst FPVs haven't really progressed at all. I'd be annoyed.

[fpv_gtho]

An FPV spec Territory could be coming, but i'd put my money on a GTP spec F6. There was supposed to be one coming with upgraded suspension and a few other small things

[Monty_Burns]

An FPV spec Territory could be coming, but i'd put my money on a GTP spec F6. There was supposed to be one coming with upgraded suspension and a few other small things

Isnt it gonna be called the F6 Tempest or something like that???? Regardless of name, the idea doesnt excite me a whole lot - if its in line with the GT-P spec, then all it'll get is the premium brakes, the winged seats and a slightly different wheel design...

Personally, I wasnt really a fan of the GT-P variant right from the start in 2003. I thought they shouldve had the GT fully equipped. I realise at the time they were targetting the Clubsport and Clubsport R8 respectively on price with GT/GT-P, but now there's the Force models. Personally, I'd have the GT-P dropped, with the GT getting the premium brakes standard, and the Force-8 staying as the luxury car. That leaves the whole FPV range bar the utes above $60K, but there's always the XR's, right?? :D

The FPV Territory idea doesnt really do much for me either - the regular Territory Turbo is thirsty enough as it is :)

[fpv_gtho]

Well theyre not going to bring out anything groundbreaking this close to the new models. Just look at the Force 6 and Force 8, the only reason theyve been released this early is to establish the nameplate for Orion.

[Blue Supra]

yeh not really impressed at all with FPV of late, an FPV tezza could be cool if it could stick it to porsche cayennes and such but still an extremely limited buyer field on that one.

[fpv_gtho]

IMO an FPV tezza's a massive waste of space. What will it do that a normal Territory Turbo cant? Look more bling bling? Nobody's going to be throwing these things into corners and trying to see how they go...

Ive heard some things about the Orion FPV's that sound pretty promising though.

[Blitz_]

^^ such as?

bah, HO HO HO :D

FPV tezza would have quite a small market, just look how many avalanches you see driving around. I can count how many ive seen ever with one hand.

[fpv_gtho]

Dont know about anything happening with the HO. What i do know though is Orion as a whole has the BOSS integrated far better than it was for BA, and all models will be 300kw+

[Blitz_]

Dont know about anything happening with the HO. What i do know though is Orion as a whole has the BOSS integrated far better than it was for BA, and all models will be 300kw+

Lets hope they distinguish models more so than with the BA / BF range. The current clubbies look nothing overly exciting nor evolutionary in design. Would be good to see the Falcons loss some weight as well :D

[fpv_gtho]

Well, that may happen too, but theyre not going to lose 100kg+ unless they drastically change the way theyre built.

[2ndclasscitizen]

They could get a fair bit off by ditching the iron blocks on the BOSS

[fpv_gtho]

Ive heard the cast iron blocks can be up to 3x heavier than equivalent alluminium blocks, but subsequently theyre also about 3x stronger. Something like an LSx obviously doesnt have issues with the lower strength block, but i'd have to wonder with the 5.4's higher piston velocity if its causing a big issue over block integrity.

[2ndclasscitizen]

I doubt it. The full on 7ltr LSxs still aluminium blocks, and only the real big horsepower LSxs need/use iron blocks.

[charged]

Theres a LS1 powered IPRA Commode that races that revs well into the 7's and has completed a heap of laps, be it race or practice without one DNF.The alloy block doesnt handle a heap of boost.

Alloy would be the go for the Boss engine and a stroke of about 3.5 inches so the thing will rev to 6500 instead of throwing a piston through the side.

[fpv_gtho]

Alloy would be the go for the Boss engine and a stroke of about 3.5 inches so the thing will rev to 6500 instead of throwing a piston through the side.

Youve actually pretty much described the 4.6, which IIRC has a square bore/stroke of about 3.55 inches...

[charged]

think the 351 were the same stroke as well with a 4 inch bore, one of the sweetest V8's ever, they certainly never lacked torque and revved well.
What would a 351 be like with alloy block, 4 valve heads and modern injection and engine management:D

Heres a list of the ford crate engines with basic specs
http://www.fordracingparts.com/download/charts/217.pdf

[fpv_gtho]

Probably going to see in a few years, pretty sure a 5.8L version is part of the new Hurricane/BOSS V8 program coming out of the states. Ofcourse, its going to be a continuation of the 4.6/5.4 and not the equivalent of a modified 351 though.

[nota]

think the 351 were the same stroke as well with a 4 inch bore, one of the sweetest V8's ever, they certainly never lacked torque and revved well.
What would a 351 be like with alloy block, 4 valve heads and modern injection and engine management:D

The current AMC mag (with the linamint XU-1 cover) has a feature on locally assembled De Tomasos via Ken Matthews, which has some info on why final Cleveland engine manufacture continued on after the engine was dropped as an OE Ford option

Also included is this:

Matthews put together a business case to take over Australian Cleveland V8 manufacture, believing there was a big enough market in marine and stationary applications, US performance and racing circles and De Tomaso supplies to keep it alive. To his dismay, he was too late. Ford informed him that all the Aussie Cleveland castings, tools and dies had been broken up only the day before!
Other bits of interest include that Ford supplied Clevelands wholesale to Matthews for $1900, compared to the $11,000 asked from Holden for their EFI group A Holden V8. Also of "certain special-build Federal government cars from the post 1984 all-six cylinder XF/ZL Fairlane/FE LTD era that had also been fitted with Cleveland engines (without any mention of this on their build plates)". And for you boating types, Ford supplied 351s for .. "a particular 'Mercruiser' inboard-outboard marine unit revered in certain boat circles"

[SlickHolden]

I like the Terra FPV pic, As i always been a fan of the Terra anyway.


I know holden can go to a lighter IRS set-up lighter materials etc, So then why can't the blade control be lighter also, If only in the FPV models.

[fpv_gtho]

Its a massive engineering effort, as youve basically got to redo all of the durability testing to ensure the new materials stand up to the abuse they'll get.

[SlickHolden]

But this is something they could easily have been doing over the past 4-6 years for the Orion. It would be good if FPV and HSV had lighter cars then what ford and holden have in there stables.

[fpv_gtho]

Ahh but what if FPV started developing something to come out for 2008 back in 2002, just for Ford to make a major change around 2004? If it was a definite known that the IRS was going to remain unchanged, then they couldve started planning well in advance. Even some small geometry changes could throw the plan into chaos.

[SlickHolden]

Then there communication would be bad, Unless Ford does it for FPV and hands it on as plan b?. We could do this and that but we will give that to you FPV first.