Ford to close FPV?

[Lukeyson]

dont make it look like a cats anus, badge it XR8 351kw. Have Brembo option and luxury pack interior, and we can talk

[roberts]

Originally Posted by mac_man_luke

Says no more FPV but where does it say no more GT?

mustangs wear the gt badge always have always will or most of the time

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Well if you compare GS Sales to GT sales then yes...

Anyhow Ill see which way the wind blows.

Ford have done this for a reason, A) to milk the FPV brand, and B) To milk the GT brand.

Who knows they might not even build an FH... Whats the bet now? All I know is theres going to be people left right and centre ordering GT's now, works in Fords favour doesnt it.

Well the first prototypes are done and only just recently .

[FPV8U]

This is good for Ford, FPV, GT & XR8 Fans.

The GT is getting a decent send of, the FG model has been popular but sales had stalled due to many wondering about "The last GT" well now there is no more wondering, if you want one gets on the phone because now is the time.

I've been waiting for the XR8 to come back and my choice will be between a "First" Mustang and a Last Falcon XR8, i was all but sold on a Mustang in my near future but the XR8 announcement instantly has me excited.

Considering they are saying Sedan only I'm expecting the GT335 (Maybe called 330 or 325..) spec engine, as if they were using the GS version there would be little reason not to build a ute as it was always a popular version.

[SpoolMan]

http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2013...o-retire-39914

Ford pulls the plug on separate performance brand, but reintroduces XR8 for 2014 Falcon
Ford Performance Vehicles will be officially axed with the introduction of a new Falcon late in 2014.

The local manufacturer, facing an end to car building in Australia from 2016, announced today that there would be no new FPV-branded models after the introduction of a final Falcon range late next year. The performance arm was previously brought in-house by Ford, after the company acquired Prodrive's share of the high-performance vehicle operation back in August. It has since been rumoured that Ford would market its high-performance sports-oriented sedans under the Ford brand, ending FPV as a subordinate brand.

There is some good news for performance Falcon fans though, with Ford also announcing the return of the V8-engined XR8. According to the same press release that declared an end to the FPV experiment, Ford will revive the XR8 variant in the new Falcon range, due for launch late next year. An update for the Territory SUV is expected to arrive at the same time.

The engine under the bonnet of the XR8 will remain the Miami V8, but the XR8 variant will be priced at a level more "accessible" for V8 Falcon fans.

“We have received a lot of interest and continued requests from Falcon fans to bring back the XR8,” said Graeme Whickman, Ford Australia Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service.

“Re-introducing the XR8 sedan, packaged in our updated Falcon, will make our renowned locally-engineered and manufactured V8 engine available to a broader group of people,” Whickman was quoted saying in the press release.

In FPV's last 12 months, Ford plans to mark the occasion of its passing with final FPV models, but the company is releasing no further details at this time.

“FPV has been very successful for the last 12 years and our relationship with Tickford for many years before that,” said Whickman.

“We appreciate all of the great team members, dealers, customers and fans who have supported FPV through its history. We look forward to sharing further details of the final FPV models and the new XR8 over the coming months.”

from
http://www.motoring.com.au

[Charliewool]

Hmmmm, "How we gunna tell the unwashed masses that we're binning FPV forever?"
Silence and pencil twiddling for 1/2 hr or so...
"I've got it!... We'll start the press release with.. The (re) wheeling out of a "brand new" XR8!!
"Put SEDAN in small print though so the bogans don't get the idea that they're getting anymore V8 utes"

Fancy attempting to put a positive spin on such tragic news?
They really take us for patsies, don't they?
I know where they can stick their bloody "new" XR8!

[06txr]

So this means the death of the F6 too... :(

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Sinead Phipps

Just to clarify: the XR8 program is one single model, sedan only. There also won't be a GTHO before FPV retires. We've always said - right from the start of FPV - that we would only do a GTHO if we could really do it justice. That hasn't changed, in fact it's probably arguably even more important now.

So what WILL the last GT's be?
My dealer wants me to sign up for $90k, sight unseen...

So WHAT exactly are we getting for the extra $20k?

Or is this just Ford fleecing its fans again?

[anto]

So does end of fpv mean the end of GT ? The GT nameplate was fords before it was an FPV, why can't they continue to use it ? Perplexing ....

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Or is this just Ford fleecing its fans again?

<Cough> Dealer fleecing due to silly people jumping at a new and improved sticker pack.

Ah-La the 40th and Cobra special runs.

Anyone willing to put more than a hold on one at this stage has complete rocks in their heads and should be driving golf carts with roberts....

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by 06txr

So this means the death of the F6 too... :(

Yes but the XR6 Turbo will have the 310 running gear! Will make the SS look like a boat anchor, not that I have anything against Holdens, looks like ill end up owning one now!

[roberts]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

So what WILL the last GT's be?
My dealer wants me to sign up for $90k, sight unseen...

So WHAT exactly are we getting for the extra $20k?

Or is this just Ford fleecing its fans again?

exclusivity has always cost more money, $20k is a lot for a warm fuzzy feeling though, but you do get bragging rights and your dad will think your a champion I don't know what else to say 90k is a lot of dollars for a 4 door taxi, your in to GTR territory at those prices, 3.5 twin turbo 4 wheel drive 2 door chicks dig skylines

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

So what WILL the last GT's be?
My dealer wants me to sign up for $90k, sight unseen...

So WHAT exactly are we getting for the extra $20k?

Or is this just Ford fleecing its fans again?

Expect another R Spec...

They tell me is going to be called "arsed Spec"

[roberts]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Yes but the XR6 Turbo will have the 310 running gear! Will make the SS look like a boat anchor, not that I have anything against Holdens, looks like ill end up owning one now!

huge step backwards

[GS608]

not a fan to be honest..what a way to give a big **** you to anybody who have spent big coin buying a GT or GS recently..give everyone a ****** XR8 with the exact some motor (de-tuned or not) as the 70k flagship..

and to not do a ute? cost cutting at its finest..

[Smoke Pursuit]

They can't fit the 335 to the ute... That is why there will be no V8 ute. I suspect they will still make a base model / XR6 and possibly XR6 T ute though, if they continue.

I think they have to do some crash testing to the FH to do with front end protection etc, not sure if it has anything to do with the likes of adaptive cruise control but one would guess that the FH would have adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring etc the same as the VF Commodore.

That in itself lies the problem, do you buy a runout GT with 10 year old technology or an XR8 in new clothing with the same performance. Both badges have their relevance, and if they can price the XR8 right they could be on to something. But with what time they have left it all seems like a bit of a shambles to me!

[GS608]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

They can't fit the 335 to the ute... That is why there will be no V8 ute. I suspect they will still make a base model / XR6 and possibly XR6 T ute though, if they continue.

Unless the XR8 will have 335 then points invalid..since it's only just a tune why not milk the market some more? give the XR8s 300kw (just so us new GS owners don't get the ***** even more) still plenty more power than the SS

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by fiveohGS

not a fan to be honest..what a way to give a big **** you to anybody who have spent big coin buying a GT or GS recently..give everyone a ****** XR8 with the exact some motor (de-tuned or not) as the 70k flagship....

Sooooooo, like a gs?

[RHR]

Must be **** canning the ute come fh

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by fiveohGS

not a fan to be honest..what a way to give a big **** you to anybody who have spent big coin buying a GT or GS recently..give everyone a ****** XR8 with the exact some motor (de-tuned or not) as the 70k flagship..

Same thing with BF to FG. It was always going to happen, its called progress.

[BennyH]

Can anyone with certainty explain why the ute wasn't mentioned in the press release? Surely the 8cyl ute won't be discarded? Changes my plans severely if that's the case.

[GS608]

Have a feeling ute will be **** canned come FH..its not selling so why bother? Holden will more than likely do the same thing.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by fiveohGS

Unless the XR8 will have 335 then points invalid..since it's only just a tune why not milk the market some more? give the XR8s 300kw (just so us new GS owners don't get the ***** even more) still plenty more power than the SS

Why would you downgrade something when its your last shot? They only have one go at the XR8 and to make it work it needs to be good. Just think you got the last v8 ute. As above its been done like this for the last 50 years, why would they change to suit the old buyer now!

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Why would you downgrade something when its your last shot? They only have one go at the XR8 and to make it work it needs to be good. Just think you got the last v8 ute. As above its been done like this for the last 50 years, why would they change to suit the old buyer now!

XR8 will be 335 kW I bet

[mr smith]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Well the stupidity has already started.
Current stocks of GT’s are being snapped up, and my Ford dealer has already taken 5 orders for the 2014 model, at $90k a pop.

They'll be about as collectable as this years Trax models.
You know what they say about a fool and his money.

[PepeLePew]

Excellent. Not much room for speculation

Given the relative lack of popularity of GS though that price would want to be very very sharp. Though I'm betting the 'FH' is something quite special

For once we can't complain we're in the dark, the roadmap is pretty clear.

[GTPete]

My guess is 351 KW GT sedan with attached sticker pack, this will be the final sign off for FPV. Not a HO but probably the next best thing. Of course it will have way more KW's then that, possible 400 odd.

[DJM83]

This might sound corny, but doesn't Falcon XR8 just roll off the tongue so easy or is just me?
Im chuffed to see XR8 return, hell it may even get me back into a falcon depending on price but id say it will be out of my reach unfortunately.
I remember I posted somewhere sometime ago, Long live the XR8, well it just got to live a little longer.
Bitter sweet we never got to see another GT Falcon.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by roberts

good long live tickford and long live nismo, hsv your still my enermy

They are brands of three multinationals for goodness sake. Enemies??? Get a grip.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by roberts

doesn't surprise me with the 100,000 emails that got sent out like the one above, 90K a pop 30 years time plus inflation should sell for 1.5 million bit coins or credits or 1 ounce of gold or 2 chickens, should be a sound investment but 30 years is a long way away.

A few of those BF Cobra buyers will be snapping one up - just as soon as the Cobra sells.....