FPV and Falcon GT being axed ahead of factory close

Ford will axe the iconic Falcon GT by the end of 2014 -- two years before the Broadmeadows factory is due to close.
Ford Australia has confirmed the decision in a media statement this afternoon. The announcement will likely come as a shock to Ford fans, many of whom were planning to buy one of the last Falcon GTs and keep them as collector pieces. Ford will instead revive the Falcon XR8 when the new model goes on sale, using a less powerful version of the GT Falcon's supercharged 5.0-litre V8.

A media statement issued by Ford this afternoon said the return of the XR8 is timed to coincide with the introduction of the 2014 Falcon sedan and Territory SUV update, ahead of the closure of Ford's Broadmeadows and Geelong factories no later than October 2016.

As the Falcon XR8 returns to the Ford range, the Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) range -- which includes the iconic GT Falcon -- will retire, the Ford media statement confirmed. Ford plans a series of limited edition GT models during 2014, the company said.

Ford took control of FPV late last year and brought production of the GT back in house in February 2013 for the first time since 1976. But Ford has now decided to wind up production of the GT as well.
It's the second dose of bad news for Australian V8 fans in two weeks. Last week, News Corp Australia exclusively reported that a leaked SA Government document revealed that Holden will not have a V8 in its lineup by 2016 or 2018.

Buoyed by a string of Bathurst victories Ford sold more than 12,000 Falcon GTs in the eight years from 1968 to 1976. As a sign of the changing market, however, it took 21 years to sell the same number of Falcon GTs from 1992 to 2012.

"FPV has been very successful for the last 12 years and our relationship with Tickford for many years before that," said Ford Australia Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service Graeme 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."

"We have received a lot of interest and continued requests from Falcon fans to bring back the XR8. 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."

http://www.carsguide.com.au/news-and...paign=theguide

Not surprised in the slightest. Ford obviously has seen the writing on the wall that there is no competition with HSV anymore and doesn't need to keep models going that aren't bringing in sales.

Obviously XR8 will come back, would also not be surprised if it only lasted until the stock of Miami V8s has depleted.

A detuned 5.0 Miami.....not bad when a tune & filter can get you 300+rwkw.

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Originally Posted by AD07

A detuned 5.0 Miami.....not bad when a tune & filter can get you 300+rwkw.

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Especially if they are priced close to ss money

I would expect the GT to go out with a big bang....... GTHO maybe ?

A detuned miami like in the current GS will see tune only XR8s hitting about 350-380rwkw... not bad if they can price them about the $50,000....

a ford spokeswoman on the fordforums clarified that there would be no FPV GTHO... I'm tipping a sticker special. I doubt ford would have the money to do anything vast in 2014...

I recently bought a brand new GT, and hopefully it leaves the factory this week for me to collect next... When i ordered, i was sort of thinking that FPV would shut up shop next year, especially with the persistent rumours. Whilst i don't think the GT will ever be worth much money in 20-30 years time, but it would be nice to have the last of the FPV GT to pass on to the kids.

You are talking about a supercharged miami 5.0 ?

Yep, the supercharged 5.0

Edit: An intercooler and power upgrade is also unlikely. The GT 335 already makes a real world figure of 375kw, and an insider on the fordforums has suggested that when ford tested an intercooled version the firewall couldn't handle all the extra torque during the vigorous torque testing, and started to split, requiring even more strengthening again over and above what had already been strengthened for the 335 motor.

At least this will give the broader Ford dealer network access to a V8. Not just those who are FPV approved dealers

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Originally Posted by jkgmh

I would expect the GT to go out with a big bang....... GTHO maybe ?

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That will not happen....It could, easily, but Ford will not spend the money on R/D to get the car past ADRs etc,.....so, I say, there may well be several "special editions", but there will be NO factory power upgrades, & just let me say this, there is no greater Allan Moffat fan than me, so there should DEFINITELY be a "final" GTHO, or Allan Moffat special or whatever...but there will be no extra power.
Cheers, Pickles.

Here is a copy of the email I received as a FPV owner. Note the Mustang is coming to Australia
"Late yesterday, we announced the Ford XR8 sedan will return to our Falcon line-up in late 2014. Since you have contacted us in the past about FPV, we want to inform you directly that this occasion will also mark the retirement of the FPV brand.

This marks the end of a celebrated era, a wonderful history going back 12 years as FPV and of course many years before that in our performance relationship with Tickford. You have been a part of this journey, this history and we thank you for your support and passion in making the FPV models and engines celebrated successes.

We have planned a series of actions during 2014 to ensure the final FPV models’ iconic status is appropriately celebrated.

But that’s not all.

Performance is part of our history and will always be in our DNA. We’re bringing new performance engines and technologies in more varied models to our shores – from Fiesta ST to the soon-to-be-released Mustang.

We invite you to be part of our future performance journey."

one of my good mates is kicking himself more now, he had the last gt-p to come off the fpv production line but traded it 3 months later on a r35 gt-r. while the gt-r is great, he misses the gt-p as it was a great daily driver unlike the gt-r

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Originally Posted by JimmyXR6T04

Yep, the supercharged 5.0

Edit: An intercooler and power upgrade is also unlikely. The GT 335 already makes a real world figure of 375kw, and an insider on the fordforums has suggested that when ford tested an intercooled version the firewall couldn't handle all the extra torque during the vigorous torque testing, and started to split, requiring even more strengthening again over and above what had already been strengthened for the 335 motor.

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Yes, I've heard about the "chassis twisting" stuff,....I also heard that Prodrive built a complete car around a more powerful engine, which they presented to Ford, who wouldn't have a bar of it.
Cheers, Pickles.

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Originally Posted by Pickles

Yes, I've heard about the "chassis twisting" stuff,....I also heard that Prodrive built a complete car around a more powerful engine, which they presented to Ford, who wouldn't have a bar of it.
Cheers, Pickles.

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Wouldn't surprise me! Would have been nice to see an intercooled, beefed up GT. The potential is clearly evident from all the after market upgrades and tuning shops getting easy power. It's a shame FPV didn't do it 'right' straight from the start!

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Originally Posted by Pickles

Yes, I've heard about the "chassis twisting" stuff,....I also heard that Prodrive built a complete car around a more powerful engine, which they presented to Ford, who wouldn't have a bar of it.
Cheers, Pickles.

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Hey Pickles any links or pics of said prototype? Would love to see what Prodrive would have created.

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Originally Posted by JimmyXR6T04

Wouldn't surprise me! Would have been nice to see an intercooled, beefed up GT. The potential is clearly evident from all the after market upgrades and tuning shops getting easy power. It's a shame FPV didn't do it 'right' straight from the start!

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What did FPV do so wrong? There is nothing that FPV can do about a chassis that isn't strong enough, that goes back to the basic engineering of the car, Ford were designing a family car not a super car. HSV have been better served by the VE/VF being stronger cars to begin with and therefore can credible handle 430KW and 740Nm from the factory.

As for the aftermarket tuners and their customers, they don't care whether the chassis can handle more power, let alone be ADR/Emission compliant, they just want more power.

Cheers, Matthew

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Originally Posted by Jag530G

What did FPV do so wrong? There is nothing that FPV can do about a chassis that isn't strong enough, that goes back to the basic engineering of the car, Ford were designing a family car not a super car. HSV have been better served by the VE/VF being stronger cars to begin with and therefore can credible handle 430KW and 740Nm from the factory.

As for the aftermarket tuners and their customers, they don't care whether the chassis can handle more power, let alone be ADR/Emission compliant, they just want more power.

Cheers, Matthew

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I'm simply saying that the GT 335 should have been what the current R-Spec is right from the get go, proper suspension, wider tyres and maybe some more features... Not blaming them for any chassis problems. In the real world, i doubt that people running bigger power/torque would see any firewall problems as found by FPV during their testing when they upped the power.

Their testing would have been so much more vigorous than any street driving, so perhaps only the people who are constantly at the drags loading it up with drag tyres will have any issues.

Edit: As we all know, the GT puts out about 375kw from the factory anyway... Badging it as such probably would have done a fair bit for the marketing and promotion... Especially if it was spec'd like the R-Spec from the start.

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Originally Posted by HSV,_I_GOT_ONE

Hey Pickles any links or pics of said prototype? Would love to see what Prodrive would have created.

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No, nothing like that, I wouldn't think anyone would.
I heard it from someone who was involved on an executive level at the time.
Cheers, Pickles.

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Originally Posted by JimmyXR6T04

Edit: As we all know, the GT puts out about 375kw from the factory anyway... Badging it as such probably would have done a fair bit for the marketing and promotion... Especially if it was spec'd like the R-Spec from the start.

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It seems as though ford threw in the towel years ago when it comes to marketing. Badging their GT with a 335 sticker was like getting an excavator out to dig your own grave. I have no idea what the rationale behind that was, but I believe it was outright stupid. HSV come out with the GTS, tell the world about its 430kw output and people fell of their chairs. There hasn't been this much hype behind a GTS since the VX with the 300kw C4B (at the time, a sedan with power to rival the best).

It's a shame that Ford are in the situation they are, but in my opinion, they've never tried to help themselves crawl out of the grave they dug. It's sad especially when the FPV range is the best they ever had. The die hard ford fans are hanging for this new model and are talking about it like Fors have reinvented the wheel. But why would a company with no money, that has a car which will no longer exist after 2016, which only sell 500 units per month, dump every last cent they have into the falcon, a car nobody wants?

As discussed, the commodore is not far behind. But we are very lucky holden decided to follow many of the clever euro trends when building a performance car and gave us cars that truly perform (and not just in a straight line).

RIP FPV and the Falcon. It was nice while it lasted.

Yep, agreed... If FPV badged their GT at 375kw, it would have created a lot more hype for the brand. Maybe 375kw was too politically incorrect in 2010!! Who knows. The hype about the GTS is so big because to the general public it looks like a near 100kw leap, when we all know it's no where near that in the real world.

Having said that, the GTS is now the pinnacle i believe. The GT is awesome for a family car that goes like stink, the GTS takes it up another few levels on the track.

My plan is to park my GT 335 in the shed after 5 years and use it as a weekend thrill, keeping it for kids... My new car will probably be a GTS, but having said that i'd also like a 'last of' XR8... won't seem like much point if it has the same engine as my GT though..

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Originally Posted by calais190

It seems as though ford threw in the towel years ago when it comes to marketing. Badging their GT with a 335 sticker was like getting an excavator out to dig your own grave. I have no idea what the rationale behind that was, but I believe it was outright stupid. HSV come out with the GTS, tell the world about its 430kw output and people fell of their chairs. There hasn't been this much hype behind a GTS since the VX with the 300kw C4B (at the time, a sedan with power to rival the best).

It's a shame that Ford are in the situation they are, but in my opinion, they've never tried to help themselves crawl out of the grave they dug. It's sad especially when the FPV range is the best they ever had. The die hard ford fans are hanging for this new model and are talking about it like Fors have reinvented the wheel. But why would a company with no money, that has a car which will no longer exist after 2016, which only sell 500 units per month, dump every last cent they have into the falcon, a car nobody wants?

As discussed, the commodore is not far behind. But we are very lucky holden decided to follow many of the clever euro trends when building a performance car and gave us cars that truly perform (and not just in a straight line).

RIP FPV and the Falcon. It was nice while it lasted.

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I can still see Ford managing to bring out a FH GT. No point killing the FG GT market now by telling them there will be a last one because of course there will be. A car like that just doesn't go out like it is now. I was assured there would be a next GT from someone I can trust so that's what I'm going to wait for. Even if it's a sticker special XR8 with brembos and 350kw. If that fails it will have to be a G6ET with bi-xenons.

I too think they'll bring out an FH GT. It just won't be an FPV GT... If that does happen, i just hope i'll get a decent change over on my 2013 GT!! On the same token, i don't know that ford will really want to make new body kits, and everything else that makes the GT unique... It would make a lot more financial sense to simply stick with the XR brand.

Part of me hopes that the GT ends with the FG FPV, and it's simply the XR8 from here on in...