Ford Establishes Global Engineering Team For Future Performance Vehicles

R-Design · 10-02-2010, 01:50 PM

I wonder what this means for FPV?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viknesh Vijayenthiran February 9th, 2010

Jost Capito. The name should ring a bell for most Ford performance fans but for the uninitiated he is the current chief of Ford's global performance vehicles and motorsports business development and one of the key men behind the 305 horsepower Ford Focus RS super-hatch sold overseas. With such credentials it's little wonder Ford has enlisted Capito to oversee the operations of all of its performance teams, working to create a "universal feel" for its lineup of performance vehicles sold around the world.

Capito's role will be to head Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in America and its RS team in Europe. By integrating the two divisions, future sporty Fords will be able to benefit from a single set of performance criteria and the latest in Blue Oval technology and know-how. The move also reaffirms Ford CEO Alan Mulally's desire for a unified Ford empire consisting of global engineering teams.

Speaking at the launch of the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500's aluminum-block V-8 engine, Capito explained that engineers will be flying back and forth between North America and Europe and are already working to fine-tune a common set of parameters used to evaluate a vehicle's handling and performance capabilities. Additionally, the move will also allow Ford to better integrate its motorsports developments into its road cars.

The good news for consumers is that future performance vehicles will be able to move from one region to another with only a little fine-tuning, paving the way for future versions of European-only models like the Fiesta RS and Focus RS to eventually be sold in North America--just don't ask anyone at Ford when this going to happen.

http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1...mance-vehicles

Road_Warrior · 10-02-2010, 01:57 PM

Probably nothing, FPV volumes are too small for Detroit to worry about and half of it is owned by Prodrive anyway

**Polyal** · 10-02-2010, 02:02 PM

In a fantasy world I wonder if the GRWD performance sedans will be based here. Who knows, alot of crap flying about lately.

FPV · 10-02-2010, 08:04 PM

Anyone able to shed any light on the implications for FPV? This announcement is just a tie-in to Jost Capito heading over to the U.S early last year to start this performance car amalgamation process. Capito reportedly visited Australia to test the FPV models, possibly FG prototypes according to Motor magazine. Not to mention some people have mentioned that FPV may not just be developing their new V8 for themselves.

The FPV brand appears to be established in the Australian market, it would be a shame to see any changes made to the brand. Best case is that this new development allows FPV a broader pool of technology to implement into its products.

**Luke Plaizier** · 10-02-2010, 08:24 PM

Established? So we mean established in terms of the whole Tickford/FPV period, or just the FPV period?

Prodrive haven't been around for that long in Australia remember. What would it mean to us if Ford pulled out of that patrnership and simply announced that they'd go it alone as SVT or RS in Australia? Would they still own the IP developed from the partnership with Prodrive? No one other than the partners would know the details of the business partnership between Ford and Prodrive. But being a partnership, I don't expect there to be contractual periods like TW has for HSV right?

However, given that Ford have the controlling stake, I'd imagine that Prodrive would probably just have to roll with whatever decision Ford makes.

It would be nice, though, if it meant the Focus RS made it out to Australia via FPV.

Should we be launching an email campaign to get FPV out to declare what this means for them?

Lukeyson

FPV · 10-02-2010, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

Established? So we mean established in terms of the whole Tickford/FPV period, or just the FPV period?

Prodrive haven't been around for that long in Australia remember. What would it mean to us if Ford pulled out of that patrnership and simply announced that they'd go it alone as SVT or RS in Australia? Would they still own the IP developed from the partnership with Prodrive? No one other than the partners would know the details of the business partnership between Ford and Prodrive. But being a partnership, I don't expect there to be contractual periods like TW has for HSV right?

However, given that Ford have the controlling stake, I'd imagine that Prodrive would probably just have to roll with whatever decision Ford makes.

It would be nice, though, if it meant the Focus RS made it out to Australia via FPV.

Should we be launching an email campaign to get FPV out to declare what this means for them?

Lukeyson

Just the FPV era, though you could take it as far back as Tickford. The FPV era is now heading to its 7th year, time sure does fly...

http://www.fpv.com.au/news/news-arch...t.aspx?ID=1363

According to the above link, the initial Ford/Prodrive partnership agreement was for a five year term, ending in 2008, so I guess they just extended it?

For me its mainly not losing brand identity, if Ford brought FPV in-house and this enabled the FPV range to achieve a greater overall package for its vehicles then thats excellent.

You would think the Focus RS business case would be revisited with the strength of the Australian dollar of recent. It was the very reason Mr Barrett ruled the vehicle out late last year. You have to wonder if a sole Falcon focus would provide FPV a sustainable future?

**SSD-85** · 10-02-2010, 10:12 PM

Like Road Warrior said, probably wont mean much for FPV, other than engineering input/output with overseas. If anything itll be a good thing.

morak001 · 11-02-2010, 02:05 AM

Yeah, I don't think it'll mean much. FPV will, as usual, take the fords best and make it better..........

Bossxr8 · 14-02-2010, 07:24 PM

There was word that FPV would become part of the team early last year, but I never heard anthing else about it so who knows what happened?

gtfpv · 14-02-2010, 07:39 PM

its ashame the yanks own ford . the falcon to me is better than any mustang ever.
it's aussie orientated and family based. i drove a mustang convertable in 1997 brand new with a v6 in it . the EL shat all over it in every way, and my xr8 left it for dead . if the mustang had a v8 that was 3 seconds quicker . i'd still prefer the falcon .
i dont know if australia has a national dish , but the falcon is our national heritage , and its ashame the yanks control it . i DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE AN AMERICAN FALCON

XR8putts · 14-02-2010, 07:58 PM

The Yanks created Ford Motor Company, owning it is a bi-product.

Bossxr8 · 14-02-2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtfpv

its ashame the yanks own ford . the falcon to me is better than any mustang ever.
it's aussie orientated and family based. i drove a mustang convertable in 1997 brand new with a v6 in it . the EL shat all over it in every way, and my xr8 left it for dead . if the mustang had a v8 that was 3 seconds quicker . i'd still prefer the falcon .
i dont know if australia has a national dish , but the falcon is our national heritage , and its ashame the yanks control it . i DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE AN AMERICAN FALCON

Have you forgotten that the Falcon was pretty much all american until the XA?

XR Martin · 14-02-2010, 09:12 PM

Driving a '97 convertible Mustang V6 (a rental I assume) and using that as an opinion on the whole Mustang series of cars is quite ignorant.
Be like driving a EA 3.2 auto and claiming all Falcons are crap...

**Luke Plaizier** · 14-02-2010, 09:16 PM

All opinions are valid though, even if your opinion of his opinion isn't very high.

Lukeyson

**ebxr8240** · 14-02-2010, 10:11 PM

Keep in mind Lincoln / Mercury is made by Ford also..

chevypower · 15-02-2010, 03:35 AM

I don't think FPV will change, until 2014. I think eventually the Ford perfomance divisions will be consolidated in to a global brand, I personally don't care what 3 letter acronym Ford uses just keep making good products.

Outback · 15-02-2010, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtfpv

its ashame the yanks own ford . the falcon to me is better than any mustang ever.
it's aussie orientated and family based. i drove a mustang convertable in 1997 brand new with a v6 in it . the EL shat all over it in every way, and my xr8 left it for dead . if the mustang had a v8 that was 3 seconds quicker . i'd still prefer the falcon .
i dont know if australia has a national dish , but the falcon is our national heritage , and its ashame the yanks control it . i DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE AN AMERICAN FALCON

Well Australians were drive US designed Falcons from 1960 to 1972, the XA was the first all Aussie designed Falcon.

Wally · 15-02-2010, 09:12 AM

Well not really all Aussie. It was designed in 1968 by a pommy import stylist wasn't it? Then it was clay modelled in Dearborn where some US signatures were added. At least that's the story we were told when they went on sale .. history is such a fickle thing.

gtfpv · 15-02-2010, 12:23 PM

i'm trying to keep a little significance of australian engineering , our cars i think are suited to us and we like them . americans and europeans may not be suited to our cars or like them as much as us . i understand this , because thats the way i feel about thier cars . i'm just talking falcon and holden here . . nothing wrong with other makes , but they arent a falcon or commadore . do i want a BMW or merc AS A DAILY NO . AS A WEEKENDER YES . but my falcons go everywhere are comfortable for my roads and i can afford them because they are designed for australia for australians . a mustang , or merc , is not .

**Luke Plaizier** · 15-02-2010, 02:15 PM

Well, the Shelby GT500 managed a credible LAST of the cars that were still running at the end of the day in the Bathurst 12 hr with Jason Bright at the wheel this last weekend.

If that's what the SVT boys come up with, do we want SVT to be doing the work in Australia or FPV?

http://www.bathurst12hour.com.au/live_results.html

Lukeyson

Chopped · 15-02-2010, 02:38 PM

Re Bathurst 12 hour >

Mustang Shelby fastest lap 2:33.8961 (finish time 12:02:39.7697)
-----
Clubsport R8 wagon - fastest lap 2:34.8274 (finish time 12:02:21.2155)
-----
FPV F6 Sedan - fastest lap 2:36.0153 (finish time 12:02:31.0364)
-----
BMW 335i Coupe - fastest lap 2:31.4736 (finish time 12:02:07.7469)

Germany still leads the way !

outback_ute · 15-02-2010, 03:42 PM

Can hardly use a race car built days before the race with no shake-down as an indicator of its performance...

Scott · 15-02-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outback_ute

Can hardly use a race car built days before the race with no shake-down as an indicator of its performance...

Correct. If the GT500 gets another run next year and developed/tested accordingly, it will be doing laps as quick if not quicker than anything else out there. To drop it off the hoist onto the racetrack at Bathurst and put in 120 laps within 2.5 seconds of the fastest car there is quite amazing. Imagine if they had time to test & tweak it!

Chopped · 15-02-2010, 04:39 PM

How does the GT500 fit under the $125000 cap ???

**Luke Plaizier** · 15-02-2010, 04:43 PM

OK, I missed something here. Someone needs to point me to the article that says the GT500 was not race prepared, but every other car was.....

Lukeyson

bathurst77 · 15-02-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

All opinions are valid though, even if your opinion of his opinion isn't very high.

Lukeyson

whereas my opinion of your opinion his opinion of his opinion...
hang on im confused

Ghiadude · 15-02-2010, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

OK, I missed something here. Someone needs to point me to the article that says the GT500 was not race prepared, but every other car was.....

Lukeyson

I'm pretty sure what he meant was that the car was new and has not had a lot of development time. That Beemer has been part of the championship for a while.

R-Design · 15-02-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevypower

I don't think FPV will change, until 2014. I think eventually the Ford perfomance divisions will be consolidated in to a global brand, I personally don't care what 3 letter acronym Ford uses just keep making good products.

That makes a lot of sense considering the Falcon will be based off a global platform going forward. What's the point in having a separate division in Australia engineering specific vehicles for the local market?

Scott · 15-02-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghiadude

I'm pretty sure what he meant was that the car was new and has not had a lot of development time. That Beemer has been part of the championship for a while.

In essence.. Others far more in the know can come along and tell the whole story but the nuts and bolts of it are that the GT500 was basically delivered, stripped to a shell, put back together in race guise just in time to arrive for scrutineering.

**data_mine** · 15-02-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chopped

How does the GT500 fit under the $125000 cap ???

Easy, they're only like $50k in the US.

And if you're importing it for race only (i.e. don't need to RHD it) it'd be cheap.