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SVTPerformance's Chain of Restaurants
Road Side Pub
FPV's New Cobras
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<blockquote data-quote="OZ Dude" data-source="post: 5610891" data-attributes="member: 24398"><p>It's true that all Oz cars will be subject to Euro IV standards from next year and yes, we are seeing some changes to which cars are being imported as well as subtle changes to local offerings.</p><p></p><p>Several weeks ago Tom Gorman (Oz Ford CEO) stated that the loaac engine plant will close because it would cost far too much to change the Inline 6 to meet the new standards. In place of the I6 will be a fully imported V6 which has caused some packaging issues, primarily in the Territory SUV, but nothing that won't be overcome. One of the positives to come from the Territory change is maybe they'll then offer a V8 as opposed to the I6 & I6T versions of current. I wouldn't give up my Explorer for a Territory first and foremost because of that fact... Also, the V8 has been dropped in all Falcons except the XR and FPV ranges (DOHC motors) due to emmissions.</p><p></p><p>I know you guys seem to constantly cry out for the Falcon but as has already been pointed out, GM took the Monaro (GTO) over there because it was gonna be the next best thing and it just didn't take. The question is why.</p><p></p><p>From what I can see in the USA if it's not a muscle car then it is either big and soft or small and compact. You guys don't have the same vision of a family car that has developed here primarily because our market traditionally survived on locally produced full size cars and after our "supercar" scare in the early 70's that killed off genuine performance cars, our scene has been several levels of mediocre up to what manufacturers got away with calling a "performance" car when in fact they were comfortable, semi-quick family sedans. Proof of this is Ford's FPV cars in V8 form have rarely cracked a 13.XX quarter rather than running mid 14's. Admit it, if Ford tried to sell you guys a "red hot" performance car that couldn't pull a 13 or better, it would be labelled a pig and tomatoes would be hurled...</p><p></p><p>Further to this is the fact that the Turbo I6 is being accepted in greater numbers by tuners because they can actually do something with it. Also there was an article in one of the Oz motoring mags that explained the little things that were now being altered in the 5.4 V8 motor to allow it to rev (current spec has several weaknesses that will result in failure if the motor sees heavy duty above 6,000rpm). If it can rev without breaking, it will be allowed to. Also, if they want to keep up with the LS2 and LS3 motors they have to do something...</p><p></p><p>Now on to the good news for those of you who beg for this car - the new "Orion" Falcon due early 2008 has been engineered from the ground up as a dual drive vehicle. By that I mean that the DNA of the shell allows it to be built as either RHD or LHD. Both GM and Toyota have made their cases locally to stay open through exporting at least 50% of production to LHD O/S markets and it would appear that Ford are now following suit, albeit dragging their heels. </p><p></p><p>That's how GM was able to bring the GTO to the USA - their car already was designed for it. Take it from someone who drives a LHD-converted-to-RHD Cobra, you make certain concessions when the car was never originally designed to be in that configuration so the current Falcon was never going to be exported no matter how many people jump up and down about it.</p><p></p><p>Oh, and for those who have noticed, yes the local car now comes with a superb 6 speed auto that gives little away in performance to the manual (partly because the manual is sloppy to use). It also looks the part in the cabin. I've even wondered a couple of times what it would take to put one in the Cobra for peak hour traffic <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>IF they do bring it to market the obvious question is badging. FPV is not a US brand and outside of performance enthusiasts who know it, there is no recognition OR value in having that badge there. Would SVT put their moniker on the back of it? The only way I can see that happening is if they are allowed input into the vehicle otherwise the public would cry "fake". The one thing that has been overlooked however is the fact that the "Falcon" nameplate was originally American and if it was going to be brought online, then why not use the existing badging and bring a Falcon GT to the USA market?? No baggage (like calling it Taurus) and a nice historical link to revive the name with the added bonus of the familiarity via Mustang of the GT designation.</p><p></p><p>As you basically only have the Crown Vic to fall back on, the Falcon would make a handy addition to the USA lineup for the family who want a car with a bit of go but can't justify a Mustang due to impracticality. I'm guessing most would be sold as autos once again due to the whole performance angle being reserved for the Mustang GT500.</p><p></p><p>It would make for a nice comfortable family "performance" car with all the creature comforts.</p><p></p><p>Oz</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="OZ Dude, post: 5610891, member: 24398"] It's true that all Oz cars will be subject to Euro IV standards from next year and yes, we are seeing some changes to which cars are being imported as well as subtle changes to local offerings. Several weeks ago Tom Gorman (Oz Ford CEO) stated that the loaac engine plant will close because it would cost far too much to change the Inline 6 to meet the new standards. In place of the I6 will be a fully imported V6 which has caused some packaging issues, primarily in the Territory SUV, but nothing that won't be overcome. One of the positives to come from the Territory change is maybe they'll then offer a V8 as opposed to the I6 & I6T versions of current. I wouldn't give up my Explorer for a Territory first and foremost because of that fact... Also, the V8 has been dropped in all Falcons except the XR and FPV ranges (DOHC motors) due to emmissions. I know you guys seem to constantly cry out for the Falcon but as has already been pointed out, GM took the Monaro (GTO) over there because it was gonna be the next best thing and it just didn't take. The question is why. From what I can see in the USA if it's not a muscle car then it is either big and soft or small and compact. You guys don't have the same vision of a family car that has developed here primarily because our market traditionally survived on locally produced full size cars and after our "supercar" scare in the early 70's that killed off genuine performance cars, our scene has been several levels of mediocre up to what manufacturers got away with calling a "performance" car when in fact they were comfortable, semi-quick family sedans. Proof of this is Ford's FPV cars in V8 form have rarely cracked a 13.XX quarter rather than running mid 14's. Admit it, if Ford tried to sell you guys a "red hot" performance car that couldn't pull a 13 or better, it would be labelled a pig and tomatoes would be hurled... Further to this is the fact that the Turbo I6 is being accepted in greater numbers by tuners because they can actually do something with it. Also there was an article in one of the Oz motoring mags that explained the little things that were now being altered in the 5.4 V8 motor to allow it to rev (current spec has several weaknesses that will result in failure if the motor sees heavy duty above 6,000rpm). If it can rev without breaking, it will be allowed to. Also, if they want to keep up with the LS2 and LS3 motors they have to do something... Now on to the good news for those of you who beg for this car - the new "Orion" Falcon due early 2008 has been engineered from the ground up as a dual drive vehicle. By that I mean that the DNA of the shell allows it to be built as either RHD or LHD. Both GM and Toyota have made their cases locally to stay open through exporting at least 50% of production to LHD O/S markets and it would appear that Ford are now following suit, albeit dragging their heels. That's how GM was able to bring the GTO to the USA - their car already was designed for it. Take it from someone who drives a LHD-converted-to-RHD Cobra, you make certain concessions when the car was never originally designed to be in that configuration so the current Falcon was never going to be exported no matter how many people jump up and down about it. Oh, and for those who have noticed, yes the local car now comes with a superb 6 speed auto that gives little away in performance to the manual (partly because the manual is sloppy to use). It also looks the part in the cabin. I've even wondered a couple of times what it would take to put one in the Cobra for peak hour traffic :) IF they do bring it to market the obvious question is badging. FPV is not a US brand and outside of performance enthusiasts who know it, there is no recognition OR value in having that badge there. Would SVT put their moniker on the back of it? The only way I can see that happening is if they are allowed input into the vehicle otherwise the public would cry "fake". The one thing that has been overlooked however is the fact that the "Falcon" nameplate was originally American and if it was going to be brought online, then why not use the existing badging and bring a Falcon GT to the USA market?? No baggage (like calling it Taurus) and a nice historical link to revive the name with the added bonus of the familiarity via Mustang of the GT designation. As you basically only have the Crown Vic to fall back on, the Falcon would make a handy addition to the USA lineup for the family who want a car with a bit of go but can't justify a Mustang due to impracticality. I'm guessing most would be sold as autos once again due to the whole performance angle being reserved for the Mustang GT500. It would make for a nice comfortable family "performance" car with all the creature comforts. Oz [/QUOTE]
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