Expanding The Fpv Line-up

[BA_Turbs]

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 Expensive Daewoo 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

As taken from CarsGuide

[BA_Turbs]

This is the thread for all things FPV, so, what do we all think?

In my humble opinion, decent 4 cylinders have a place. As long as they are not just suspension and bodykit specials like the FTE Cougar . The talk of a High/Low range, diesel Territory has caused heart palpitations as well.

Dare I say it, Ford looks like they may be taking some market initative?

[ZAP]

In the UK, Prodrive (owners of FPV) make hotted up focus'es.

I am suprised they have not sent any here already and just rebadged them. I think they were 160kw.

[MRDOHC]

In the UK, Prodrive (owners of FPV) make hotted up focus'es.

I am suprised they have not sent any here already and just rebadged them.  I think they were 160kw.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

mmmm .. RS focus.ese..sese ... a PROPER FREKIN FOCiii !!!

or that lovely 4WD version ... mmm TX3s come back to me

Time for Ford to let loose big XR6T and little Killer focuses .... driving your missues car could become fun again

[rusht]

Dare I say it, Ford looks like they may be taking some market initative?

Ford isn't new to market initiative imo (XR6T, Territory, F6, DOHC V8s)

[Mr Turbo]

In the UK, Prodrive (owners of FPV) make hotted up focus'es.

I am suprised they have not sent any here already and just rebadged them.  I think they were 160kw.

mmmm .. RS focus.ese..sese ... a PROPER FREKIN FOCiii !!!

or that lovely 4WD version ... mmm TX3s come back to me

Time for Ford to let loose big XR6T and little Killer focuses .... driving your missues car could become fun again

Like an AWD XR4 Turbo but not a hatch back, more like a evo style

[351]

I stiil think they should get the v8s right first

[FPV GTHO]

They probably will start just importing the Focus ST's as FPV now, since theyve got the 160kw Volvo engine in the new model

[xr6t ute]

I stiil think they should get the v8s right first

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Make the gt and typhoon the aussie stand out performance cars before worrying about anything else

Shane

[theeone]

I dont doubt for one second that theres a market for hot Focus's and FIESTA'S( not Festiva's, Roger Gray Head of Marketing) :banghead:

But it should not be associated with FPV.

HSV tried it and all the model's they tried it on are veiwed as lame, not one of their best descisions, and one FPV could do well to learn from!