GT-HO is back on agenda

Ford Performance Vehicles general manager Rod Barrett doesn't want buyers rushing to put in orders just yet, but he did let slip last week that he'd like to see the hot Ford back in circulation in 2010 or 2011.

It is all part of his FPV 'vision' of the future.

“I'm committed to that vision (of the GT-HO),” he says.

A GT-HO is on Barrett's “to do” list and he says he is constantly researching what it should be.

“As long as I'm here there will always be a commitment to do one, but I don't want people putting down deposits."

“Every time we mention GT-HO people get a little too excited.”

Barrett says his immediate focus is on the new Orion-based FPV Falcons, which go on sale on June 2, hard on the heels of the new Falcon.

“I don't think there will be more than four weeks between the two cars,” he says. “I don't want it to be months later. Why wait?”

At the launch of FPV's first all-wheel-drive turbo Territory last week, Barrett suggested FPV may move away from some of its “T” names.

“Tornado and Typhoon will never be lost from the models that are there, but moving on with the car we've got, I don't think we necessarily have to nickname them,” he says.

Carsguide understands the FPV turbo Territory was to be called the Tempest, but a change in Ford's naming strategy prompted the F6X.

Barrett says this decision was taken before he joined the company.

FPV as a brand is growing up and maturing, he says, and he can readily understand the HSV names and positioning of cars such as the Senator and Clubsport.

“But the GT badge says a lot in itself and I can do variants, as I'm going to do,” he says. “GT-P says something different.”

Apart from a GT-HO, Barrett is also entertaining the idea of small FPV cars like a Focus.

He says when the locally built Focus comes on stream in 2011 it will provide a perfect platform for an FPV version.

“It's 2008 now, it's not that far away. We're planning that far in advance,” he says. “That way we can determine what we want in a mother car.

“I think the business model we have is the right model . . . and just be patient in developing what we have, then move into a smaller market in a couple of years.”

He says a locally built FPV Focus would offer economies of scale and attract new FPV buyers.

Barrett has been in the top job for six months and is firmly focused on FPV's future rather than its turbulent recent past, during which eight senior executives were sacked.