More Ford Performance DNA for hot Territory

The generally disappointing response to the Australian International Motor Show reveal of Ford Performance Vehicles' Territory Turbo-based F6 X's (more here) has prompted the Blue Oval's go-fast arm to review final specifications for the model.

FPV's new General Manager Rod Barrett (pictured) confirmed the revisions this week. In an interview with the Carsales Network, Barrett revealed his team was "working around the clock" to give the new Territory-based hero model a stronger FPV flavour before it goes on sale early in 2008.

As predicted by the Carsales Network, production of the new turbocharged F6 X will be pivotal to keeping the wheels of the FPV operation turning between the last of the BFII runout models and the start-up of the new Orion-based range.

With FPV's new Orion range unlikely to hit showrooms until the end of May 2008, the interim success of the F6 X has become critical to FPV's production and sales volumes.

The reaction to the F6 X at last month's Sydney show is remarkably similar to that which greeted FPV's original BA GT on its reveal at the 2002 event. Following a lacklustre report card at the show, Ford and FPV staff were forced to hastily rework the GT's presentation over Christmas 2002 before the model went on sale in March 2003.

Unlike HSV, which has its own design staff, FPV remains dependent on Ford design resources not always familiar with local muscle car heritage. Both the original BA GT and F6 X emerged after periods when there was little or no FPV direction.

Back in 2002, new FPV personnel were able to quickly collate motor show feedback and guide Ford designers on the final production version. Five years later, Barrett appears to be repeating this process.

While tweaking the 2002 BA GT Sydney show car for its 2003 release, FPV management locked in the wide horizontal look of the XY Falcon GT as the DNA for all future FPV models. With each successive facelift, this more aggressive horizontal look has become even more pronounced. Specific grey accents were later reserved for the F6 models.

Barrett indicated this week that he is committed to maintaining the strong heritage of the original Falcon GT as the source of FPV DNA. However, he arrived at FPV on August 1 this year to find the trademark look defined over FPV's short five-year history missing from the F6 X.

Barrett has been forced to respond to the show feedback which suggested that visitors were not impressed by the paint accents and mesh added to the standard Territory styling. These seemed to make the F6 X look taller, not wider (and meaner) as expected of an FPV model.

Barrett acknowledged this week that he is working with Ford's designers to address this.

The issue of Ford's mass-market XR and the F6 X appearing to be at the same level (in terms of trim, etc) will not be so easily addressed. Barrett says that he is attempting to define a clear delineation between where Ford styling ends and FPV design exclusivity starts. He acknowledged its importance by indicating that he was currently working with Ford Australia president Tom Gorman to achieve this.

Barrett joked that if the Hume Highway that ran between the Ford and FPV's facilities narrowed down to one lane, the gap would be too small. He was responding to the observation that the dark grey accents on the F6 X and FPV's other F6 models, have since made an appearance on Ford's runout XR Falcons also unveiled at last month's show.

Observers commented the use of FPV styling cues on 'cooking model' XRs further eroded the premium position of the expected-$70K-plus F6 X. This impression was reinforced by the 'white goods' paintwork of the show car.

Barrett assured the Carsales Network that he was now looking at a range of options as an alternative to the Sydney car's extra paint to reinforce the positioning of the model above the Territory Ghia Turbo [Ed: and XR!].

Although time may have run out for FPV to swap the standard Territory's narrow lower grille and small round foglights for a more aggressive FPV front clip, Barrett said the body detailing will certainly be different on the production version.

Even if introducing more of FPV's F6 cues to the front of the F6 X will be easier than translating the wide, stable and horizontal look of FPV models to the Territory, Barrett said he won't be giving up on this aspect. 

As FPV staff did for the production BA GT in 2003, Barrett confirmed that one of FPV's options was to add stripes as a 'delete option' to the F6 X to give the front a more horizontal aspect, at least until a specific FPV front fascia is tooled. With the Territory range running ever closer to its first major appearance upgrade, this is the most likely option.

Barrett also indicated that he was looking at a less conservative alloy wheel style than those fitted to the show car.

"The final version [of the F6 X] will have a much stronger FPV character," Barrett told the Carsales Network.

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