FPV hangs tough

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
FPV hangs tough
Continued from previous page
“In terms of the numbers going
through the business, it is less than the
previous year, which was less than the
year before that,” said Mr Mears.
“I’d like to take a bigger market
share. I’m disappointed that we’re not
selling as many of these vehicles that
the investment warrants.
“Having said that, the last couple of
months have been stunning. I’m very
happy with the results.
John Mellor’s
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“I’d certainly like more. We don’t
talk about numbers, but in the order
of about 2000 units a year is not a bad
starting point.
“We’re getting back to the numbers
that is counter to the trends in the
marketplace. So what we’re doing in
the market is we’re getting back to
the running rates that I’m much more
comfortable with.
“You know all the factors affecting
people’s confi dence. There’s a lot of
that in the mix. So if a lot more people
have a lot more confi dence in the
marketplace or what’s happening in the
Australian economy and all of those
things, people will come in. I do think
there is a pent-up demand.”
Mr Mears described the latest
cutbacks at FPV’s Campbellfi eld
headquarters just north of Melbourne
– which is believed to have made
around 12 staff members redundant
– as necessary to address “a major
structural problem”.
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Aug 15, 2012 Page 2
FPV admits ‘Panther’
program is overdue
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS
FORD Performance Vehicles (FPV)
has admitted that its new ‘RSPEC’
chassis tune program – known
internally as ‘Panther’ – delivers the
driving experience that the current V8
model range should have received on
release two years ago.
FPV managing director Bryan Mears
said timing and resource constraints
made it impossible to launch the
optimal chassis tune with the ‘Miami’
V8 engine program – a $36 million
redevelopment of the US-designed
5.0-litre supercharged Coyote V8 –
when it introduced the FG-series GT
range in 2010.
Since then, FPV is understood
to have spent about $4 million
improving the suspension and
drivetrain for a measurably
more responsive and “hardcore”
experience.
“It’s where we wanted to be when
we released the Miami, but for
several reasons couldn’t achieve it
at the time,” said Mr Mears at this
week’s launch of the limited-edition
GT RSPEC sedan.
Among the RSPEC changes are
stiffer engine and transmission
mounts (to cut driveline movement
under load and improve ride quality),
higher rear spring rates, retuned
dampers front and rear, reinforced
rear lower control arms, stiffer front
upper control arms and a larger rear
anti-roll bar.
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