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NEWS
FPV to soldier on against renewed HSV
As HSV readies a new VF-based vehicle onslaught for mid-year, arch-rival FPV will make do without updates for another year at leastProduction of the Falcon-based FPV GT has returned to its roots after a 37-year hiatus, but while the location has changed, the recipe for the go-fast Falcons will remain unchanged until at least 2014.
Ford Australia President and CEO, Bob Graziano, told motoring.com.au that FPV would not respond to HSV's all-new range of vehicles, expected to arrive mid-2013, with a minor update, instead continuing with its five-year-old FG range of high performance vehicles.
"We've got a freshening [of FPV models] coming next year, so there won't be a freshening this year. We do all of our programs together," said Mr Graziano.
HSV is remaining tight-lipped on what new features it will introduce into its vehicles, but a new look is guaranteed thanks to the VF Commodore donor car's update, and engine power upgrades are also likely. New body panels for the VF Commodore presumably mean a migration away from the Pontiac G8-inspired look of current HSV models, but that doesn't mean the 'F-Series' HSV models will be any the less aggressive in their looks.
Currently the most powerful HSV in the range, the 6.2-litre V8 GTS produces 325kW/550Nm. The next-gen GTS is expected to rise to the challenge set by the FPV GT's supercharged 5.0-litre V8, which currently owns the competition producing engine output of 335kW/570Nm.
The FPV range will be given an overhaul in 2014 alongside the new Falcon (and Territory), which could be the last update to the iconic Australian family car until 2016, at which point the Falcon's future – and hence FPV's – becomes murky.
"The freshening will occur next year," said the Mr Graziano. "I don’t think we've announced a date on that. That's the next model freshening for Falcon and Territory and that'll occur in 2014."
One way in which FPV could maximise its advantage against fresh-faced HSV is to reduce prices. During a tour of the new FPV facilities at Ford's Assembly Plant 1 inside the gargantuan Broadmeadows manufacturing facility, Godwin Rapinett, who is in charge of the new FPV assembly area, explained that because of the new processes and elimination of "double handling" building the FPVs is now more cost effective to manufacture.
However when asked if FPV would pass on the savings to customers, Ford CEO Bob Graziano said the improvements would be passed on via improved quality.
"What we've tried to do is not only put efficiencies in, but improve the quality of build process. We believe that what we offer to the customer really represents great value for what they're getting, which is essentially a hand-built vehicle."
Mr Graziano wouldn't be drawn on whether the cars would be more competitively priced or offer more value by way of improved features.
"You'll have to wait to see how we progress with this. It's about efficiency, it's about quality enhancements that we have, and again you would have seen some of those and they may seem minor, but they improve overall quality. Whether its craftsmanship, squeak and rattle or absolutely quality from an exterior perspective," said the Ford Australia chief.
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Written byFeann Torr
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