The truth behind the FPV cleanout - Page 3

**Fordman1** · 06-03-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackout

Hah.. would actually be interesting to see if FPV folded.

Why? Cos if FPV folded some other company would get in to do performance vehicles for Ford and oh my they might get something right.

I think that's a little harsh. I hope they really succeed next year with whatever they're doing with Orion.

I don't think they've done so badly in the last 4 years. I guess they've been hamstrung with their cost structure (building engines where volume today is probably MUCH lower than the original business plan numbers 4 years ago - XR8's not selling much at all).

I think it would be best for them if they could just bring-in an engine in a crate (ala HSV) and slip it into the GT instead of assembling it here.

FPV329 · 06-03-2007, 09:19 PM

barraxr8 said "I guess they've been hamstrung with their cost structure (building engines where volume today is probably MUCH lower than the original business plan numbers 4 years ago - XR8's not selling much at all)."

Thats a shame too because they are a damn great car.

05MkIIFutura · 06-03-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

I think it would be best for them if they could just bring-in an engine in a crate (ala HSV) and slip it into the GT instead of assembling it here.

Why they insist on building a version here is beyond me, surely Ford Global should just have a catologue of 20 engines worldwide for the locals to choose from. If they are modular they would be pretty cheap to make, and even share with Jaguar, Aston Martin, Mazda and the like.

Piotr · 06-03-2007, 09:47 PM

Why do Ford need a seperate performance outfit in each market? SVT in the US, TeamRS in the uk and FPV in Aus. If they had everything under the one brand they would cut overhead incredibly (Only paying for management once not three times).

Still keep the FPV name, I don't see a Falcon ST or Falcon RS being popular names, but have everything done by a central global company.

T3ts50 · 06-03-2007, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05MkIIFutura

Why they insist on building a version here is beyond me, surely Ford Global should just have a catologue of 20 engines worldwide for the locals to choose from. If they are modular they would be pretty cheap to make, and even share with Jaguar, Aston Martin, Mazda and the like.

The problem is Ford dont have a crate motor like the Boss. The closest thing is the 5.4sc which wasnt around when they designed GT. The other motors are too small for the weight of GT/XR8.

boris · 07-03-2007, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Do a Google mate I don't thing they'd be interested !

Yeah originally was supposed to be a joke, but I took your advice and now think maybe you should follow that same advice! There's a lot of history with ford, and they are just hired guns, kind of like Tickford!

henry 351 · 07-03-2007, 09:44 AM

The ironic thing about all these sackings I feel will be the following when an Orion based GT is released:-
If it's a success, the "new" team will get the credit, even though the old team were responsible.
If it's a mediocre failure, the old team will get the blame even though those higher up at Ford were to blame as they had some beans to count and an axe to grind.

I honestly feel we will end up with a car that has made some real progress from the BA-BF GT as far as dynamics are concerned and will have around 320-330kw. (Nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

SpoolMan · 07-03-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henry 351

I honestly feel we will end up with a car that has made some real progress from the BA-BF GT as far as dynamics are concerned and will have around 320-330kw. (Nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

Its getting 310kw the xr8 is getting 290kw.

henry 351 · 07-03-2007, 10:10 AM

Oh SpoolMan, don't pour diesel on my lawn....

That means currently a GT is 11.5% more powerful than an XR8, but with Orion it will only be 6.9% more powerful!!! Mmmm.. that will work out to about $1000 a kilowatt in sale price I would imagine...

Oh man, they have lost the plot.

**Polyal** · 07-03-2007, 11:50 AM

Interesting.

Just a quick one. What has Prodrive actually brought to FPV. From where I sit I see nothing other than some pommy accents.

The I6T development was nothing to ground breaking, I meaning turbo charging has been around for a while.

I remember when Prodrive came on board they talked about their years of motorsport experience being poured into Falcons....where exactly?

Personally I hope Ford buys out Prodrive, and keeps the FPV name. To drop FPV all together now would be suicide.

Jab · 07-03-2007, 12:37 PM

Anybody have any idea on what Prodrive's investment in FPV is actually worth ?
Would we be talking $2 million or $20 million or $200 million ?

Be interesting to know what 51% of FPV is valued at as distinct from there actual investment as well eh !

Jim.

T3ts50 · 07-03-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Interesting.

Just a quick one. What has Prodrive actually brought to FPV. From where I sit I see nothing other than some pommy accents.

The I6T development was nothing to ground breaking, I meaning turbo charging has been around for a while.

I remember when Prodrive came on board they talked about their years of motorsport experience being poured into Falcons....where exactly?

Personally I hope Ford buys out Prodrive, and keeps the FPV name. To drop FPV all together now would be suicide.

It was Tickford that brought in the T6 and most of the stuff found on the current FPVs. The Buyout wasnt until late 2001. I expect to see what prodrive can really do when Orion comes out.

**Fordman1** · 07-03-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Interesting.

Personally I hope Ford buys out Prodrive, and keeps the FPV name. To drop FPV all together now would be suicide.

In the current financial environment Ford won't be buying anyone out unfortunately.

Ford also don't see FPV as core business and would prefer someone else takes the lead with performance vehicles.

JPFS1 · 07-03-2007, 05:23 PM

The less Ford are involved with FPV the better.

This should be a good move for FPV and future product development and this is the real reason behind what has happened imo..

Bossxr8 · 10-03-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEM

The less Ford are involved with FPV the better.

This should be a good move for FPV and future product development and this is the real reason behind what has happened imo..

That doesn't make any sense as they said that by getting rid of the FPV staff then the Ford staff will have to take over their jobs, and also talk of Ford having more control over day to day operations. There seems to be about 4 different opinions about why the staff were sacked, everyone who has come out and spoken about it has given a different reason. Do any of them if even know why it was done or is it a cover up.

GT-E · 10-03-2007, 02:26 PM

If we got all the members on FFau to kick in $1,000 each we could buy out Prodrive and make a car for the fans. Can anyone say GTHO ?

:

Falchoon · 10-03-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piotr

Why do Ford need a seperate performance outfit in each market? SVT in the US, TeamRS in the uk and FPV in Aus. If they had everything under the one brand they would cut overhead incredibly (Only paying for management once not three times).

Still keep the FPV name, I don't see a Falcon ST or Falcon RS being popular names, but have everything done by a central global company.

Problem is what works in say Pommyland doesn't necessarily work here. What I'm trying to say overseas is a different market with different wants and need to Australia. Traditionally Australia has had a love affair with large RWD sedans powered by a V8. This may not be the case in say England or Europe - they may prefer smaller more hi-tech cars like a Focus (XR5T).

So I see a purely Australian performance arm is still needed.

paul351xb · 18-03-2007, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falchoon

Problem is what works in say Pommyland doesn't necessarily work here. What I'm trying to say overseas is a different market with different wants and need to Australia. Traditionally Australia has had a love affair with large RWD sedans powered by a V8. This may not be the case in say England or Europe - they may prefer smaller more hi-tech cars like a Focus (XR5T).

So I see a purely Australian performance arm is still needed.

Have to agree there. Ford Australia for many years built and designed cars that were meant for the Aussie environment, not snow covered mountains in the Alps or rolling freeways in the USA. Ford learnt some very painful lessons here with import stuff failing badly on our roads.

What's happened at FPV is a very real worry. For whatever reasons the staff were dismissed it just seems very wrong the way the whole sorry business has been carried out. Either these people did something very wrong or whoever sacked them ( commitee or individual ) is an all out ******.

I hope I'm wrong but unless someone out there has enough gonads to make this right, and quickly, there is going to be a ripple effect across sales. Could Prodrrive had done HSV a bigger favour if they tried?

ford1 · 18-03-2007, 05:51 PM

i heard that 3 fpv execs including sak ryoppen got driven home in HSVs the day they got kicked out

henry 351 · 18-03-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford1

i heard that 3 fpv execs including sak ryoppen got driven home in HSVs the day they got kicked out

Statesmans actually.

It appears FPV are struggling to replace some of those sacked, as anyone suitable in the industry have seen the way FPV treat their staff...

I also believe the new FPV boss (whose name excapes me) is putting many noses out of joint by turning up to work in his brand new 6 series BMW.

I don't care what he has in the garage at home, but at least drive the product to work...

**Fordman1** · 24-03-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henry 351

Statesmans actually.

It appears FPV are struggling to replace some of those sacked, as anyone suitable in the industry have seen the way FPV treat their staff...

I also believe the new FPV boss (whose name excapes me) is putting many noses out of joint by turning up to work in his brand new 6 series BMW.

I don't care what he has in the garage at home, but at least drive the product to work...

I heard Taxi's.....

ratman · 24-03-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford1

i heard that 3 fpv execs including sak ryoppen got driven home in HSVs the day they got kicked out

..........so they did go him in Taxi's

Sledgehammer · 24-03-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henry 351

I also believe the new FPV boss (whose name excapes me) is putting many noses out of joint by turning up to work in his brand new 6 series BMW.

Yes that true, Bryan Mears does drive a Beema.

chich · 24-03-2007, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEM

The less Ford are involved with FPV the better.

This should be a good move for FPV and future product development and this is the real reason behind what has happened imo..

I disgaree. You need to keep in mind that a GT starts life in exactly the same way as a XT on the production line. You can only do so much to polish a t**d - if the fundamentals (chassis design, vehicle layout etc) are wrong then FPV won't be able to deliver a properly designed & built product that meets their customers expectations.

FPV & Ford need to work together constructively as early as possible in the design process to ensure the basic architecture fulfils each companies requirements.

robertjp · 25-03-2007, 09:41 AM

Carrol Shelby said "You cant make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but you can make it a pretty fast pig!". FPV should remember what the P stands for and focus on that!