FPV and Falcon GT Stop Operations Ahead of Factory Closure

Ford plans to release a series of limited edition GT models in 2014, the company said.

Ford Australia confirmed the decision in a media statement this afternoon. The announcement will likely come as a shock to Ford fans. many of whom planned to buy one of the latest Falcon GTs and keep it as a collector's item.. Instead, Ford will revive the Falcon XR8 when the new model goes on sale, using a less powerful version of the GT Falcon's supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine.

A media statement released by Ford this afternoon said the return of the XR8 is timed to coincide with the release of the 2014 Falcon sedan and refresh of the Territory SUV. closing of Ford Broadmeadows and Geelong factories no later than October 2016.

As the Falcon XR8 returns to the Ford lineup, the Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) lineup, which includes the iconic GT Falcon, will be phasing out, Ford confirmed in a media statement. Ford plans to release a series of limited edition GT models in 2014, the company said.

Ford took control of FPV late last year and brought GT production back in February 2013 for the first time since 1976. But now Ford has decided to end production of the GT as well.

This is the second piece of bad news for Australian V8 fans in two weeks. News Corp Australia reported exclusively last week that a leaked South African government document showed that By 8 or 2016, the Holden lineup will not have the 2018 V engine..

Encouraged by a string of victories at Bathurst, Ford sold more than 12,000 1968 Falcon GTs in the eight years from 1976-21. However, as a sign of a changing market, it took 1992 to sell the same number of Falcon GTs from 2012 to XNUMX.

"FPV has been very successful over the past 12 years and our relationship with Tickford has been going on for many years before that," said Graham Wickman, vice president of marketing, sales and service, Ford Australia.

“We appreciate all the amazing team members, dealers, customers and fans who have supported FPV throughout its history. We look forward to sharing more details on the final FPV models and the new XR8 in the coming months."

“We have received a lot of interest and constant requests from Falcon fans to bring back the XR8. The reintroduction of the XR8 sedan packaged in our redesigned Falcon will bring our renowned locally designed and built V8 engine to a wider group of people.”

This reporter on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling