FPV restructures

Updated: June 1, 2012

Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) has announced the surprise departure of its general manager, Rod Barrett, as part of a comprehensive business restructure that aims to ‘right-size’ the Blue Oval’s Australian performance division.

The sudden exit of Mr Barrett (pictured), whose general management role will be “absorbed into those of parent company Prodrive’s Managing Director Bryan Mears”, was announced in an FPV media release this morning.

FPV said “a small number of support staff” have also been dismissed and that a number of back-office functions were also being “reallocated internally”. Motoring.com.au understands at least one other senior FPV executive has also received a termination notice.

“This has been a very difficult business decision, and one we’ve taken with great regret,” said Mr Mears, who is now the managing director of both Prodrive and FPV.

“Unfortunately, today’s business realities are that we have to manage our business appropriately and that includes making the FPV business the right size for the market and taking advantage of better synergies with Ford and Prodrive.”

Mr Mears praised Mr Barrett for his achievements at FPV over almost five years, including the introduction of the Cobra special-edition, the launch of the FG Falcon-based range and, most recently, the introduction of the supercharged Boss V8 models.

“Rod leaves with our gratitude for a job well done and our best wishes for the future, and we will be supporting him in every way we can… as we will everyone affected by this decision,” said Mr Mears, who added that “some very exciting new product” would help increase FPV sales over 2011 levels when it is released later this year.

“The good news is that FPV is set for stronger sales this year than last, and we have some very exciting new product to talk about later in the year,” said Mr Mears.

Earlier this week Mr Barrett confirmed to motoring.com.au that at least one new FPV model – powered by “a version” of its localised ‘Miami’ blown V8 - would be released soon, following a tip-off that a new FPV model reported to go on sale in late August had been seen testing at Calder Park raceway in recent weeks.

“FPV is currently working on new product due for release sometime within the next 12 months,” said Mr Barrett. “A version of the supercharged Miami engine sits at its heart and whilst we are excited by the opportunities we cannot say any more at this moment.”

FPV’s media agency went further, confirming a number of new FPV models would be revealed soon.

“We do have new FPV products coming shortly, we don't actually have a confirmed date,” FPV Media Manager Vicky DeGeorge told motoring.com.au last week. “We're still in the process of sorting things out.”

Mr Barrett never concealed his enthusiasm to create a spiritual successor for Ford’s legendary Falcon GTHO, and previously said last year’s 40th anniversary of Allan Moffat’s famous 1971 Bathurst win in the GTHO would have been an ideal place to launch such a flagship for FPV.

However, Ford Australia President Bob Graziano subsequently poured cold water on the prospects of a born-again GTHO, which he said would need to offer significantly more performance than FPV’s existing V8 models to do justice to the hallowed nameplate.

FPV’s most recent new model was the limited-edition GT Black, which appeared in concept guise at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne last July, before going on sale a month later.

The GT Black featured a number of cosmetic enhancements, but failed to come with the concept’s track-tuned suspension, performance brake package, wider 19-inch alloy wheels or the aggressive new front bumper design that was expected to preview the styling of FPV’s facelifted FGII model range.

Mr Mears would not comment on unsubstantiated rumours about the ownership of FPV (in which Ford Australia has a 49 per cent stake, with Prodrive owning the majority share), or the Campbellfield premises in which it is based, when contacted by motoring.com.au today.

However, motoring.com.au has learned the 2.8-hectare site currently leased by FPV for its headquarters in Glenbarry Road is now up for sale. However, FPV’s current lease expires in July 2015 and the company has the option to extend for a further four years.

So far this year FPV has sold 379 vehicles. In the same period, its most direct rival in Holden Special Vehicles found 891 buyers.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...