Supercharged V8 could revive Falcon GTHO

[csv8]

Supercharged V8 could revive Falcon GTHO
TOBY HAGON
April 7, 2010

Ford is said to be working on a supercharged version of its upcoming new V8 engine to up the ante in the local muscle car market.

Ford is reportedly working on a supercharged version of the new V8 engine that's due in the locally made Falcon within months.

The new engine could finally see the V8 return as the performance hero in the Falcon line-up. In recent years the turbocharged six-cylinder in models such as the Falcon XR6 Turbo and FPV F6 Typhoon has offered better performance and lower fuel economy than the more expensive V8.

A report from industry website GoAuto claims documents filed with the government regarding regulatory homologation suggest Ford will introduce a supercharged version of its V8 to boost power and efficiency.

The new US Mustang-sourced engine could even be fitted to the upcoming new Falcon XR8, which Drive reported would live on with the introduction of the new 5.0-litre V8 - codenamed Coyote - to be introduced in July to meet stricter new emissions regulations.

At the time Ford Australia president Marin Burela hinted there was something special in store for the XR8.
"All I say to the fans of XR8s, performance vehicles, XR6s... 'Just bear with us, there is some exciting stuff out there,'" he said at the time.

The current, soon-to-be-discontinued 5.4-litre V8 produces 290kW while its Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) offshoot delivers 315kW.

Ford's upcoming 5.0-litre V8 is significantly smaller than the rival 6.0-litre V8 used in Holden Commodores and the 6.2-litre used in HSVs.

Supercharging would be a relatively easy way to produce more power, although it adds cost to the engine, something that's particularly important with Ford's entry-level V8 model, the Falcon XR8.

Details of the new 5.0-litre V8 suggest the engine would produce 307kW of power in the United States, suggesting a supercharged version could be seriously potent, potentially rivaling European-sourced V8s - from the likes of Mercedes-Benz's AMG division - that produce upwards of 375kW.

Ford refused to comment on the prospect of a supercharged V8.

"We will tell you what we're doing with our V8s at the appropriate time," said Ford Australia communications manager Sinead McAlary.


The prospect of a high-performance V8 for the Falcon lends hope to suggestions the legendary Falcon GTHO - arguably the most sought-after Australian muscle car - could be revived.

Since his appointment in 2007, FPV general manager Rodd Barrett has said he wants to revive the GTHO.

He's since said he will "pursue the GTHO as long as I'm at FPV", claiming it will be a very special Falcon with significant mechanical changes.

Details of the new supercharged V8 are not known, although there are suggestions Ford could be working on various tunes for different models.

Ford and rival HSV have long been in a power war that's seen V8 outputs jump by more than 50 per cent over the last decade.

Whereas 200kW was once seen as solid power for a V8, the benchmark is now 300kW and above. The most powerful locally made car sold was the 375kW HSV W427, which struggled in a climate of rising fuel prices and economic uncertainty.

Six-cylinder engines from Ford, Holden and Toyota now produce more power than V8s of 10 or so years ago.

[DevilishChick60]

hmmmm a FPV GTHO... I'd love to see the hardcore purists of the 351 GTHO approve of that...

Personally I'd like to see it.. but.. in saying I'd still prefer the 351... :nutsycuck

[XRFutura]

I must say, I'm looking forward to having a modern day GTHO if it happens. I know the purists will cry fowl if it happens, but I think my generation (gen Y) of ford supports need a hero car like a modern GTHO, like the purist did back in the day.

And i think FPV know how much the GTHO means to people, I don't think they'll stuff it up.

[Busted]

Don't get me wrong I'd love to see a blown factory FPV V8 but don't call it a HO. Be good if they pumped it to 351kw and just called it a FPV GT351.

[Wretched]

To bring back the GTHO, FPV or Ford (whoever does it) will need to make it Ford GT good (American GT), power, handling, etc. It doesn't need to be cheap it needs to be good, real good. Anything less would be an insult.
I fear though the latter will occur.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Busted

Don't get me wrong I'd love to see a blown factory FPV V8 but don't call it a HO. Be good if they pumped it to 351kw and just called it a FPV GT351.

Agreed

[andrewts]

I think doing a modern day GTHO is jumping into the deep end for sure, and If I were Rodd Barrett, I would want that car would roll out of the factory with no less than AWD, 8 speed ZF Auto and leather made from very fat and happy looking Japanese cows.

It really has to be special, a cut above... or not at all.

[SVTVNM]

After reading all the threads about the "rebirth" of the GTHO the more I think about it the more I would rather see GT-351 badge make a return on the Falcon. XRFutura I see you point of having something for your Gen to look up to but I think GT-351 would do the job nicely, For us it was 351cubes for you guys its 351kw.

[Falcon Coupe]

The blown FPV GT will most likely have around 350kw even if the badge doesn't say so.
An HO branded model will need well over 400 so as not to be looked down on in a few short years like we now do a 185i Clubsport.

[tezxr8man]

I think if the GTHO comes back it'd have to be a track weopon wouldn't it? keep all the crap you don't need like satnav Climate control and such then hav track focused suspension and driveline with brakes to match and make it 385kwor to relate to the Phase 3 with 385hp
have it cheap enough to race in the production series with evo's and wrx's to wipe them off the mountain it writefully owns

[Paull]

It wouldn't matter if the GT-HO only had another 25 Kw on top of the GT, they would sell for whatever Ford/FPV were asking.

[Falc'man]

Csv8, luckily you don't know how to post links, because "Drive" don't deserve any hits to their site for this article. Sorry to be negative about it, but the quotes Toby's using are a few months old. And some are a year old. And some are two years old.

[GTpilot]

Blah, Blah, Blah.
375Kw GT-H, Late next year........... next...

[chevypower]

Have a 351 kw motor and calling at a "351" blasphemy! It's like having 351 parts in the engine and calling it a 351. You could get a 351kw turbo 4 banger and call it a 351 too! I think Ford should build an alloy block version of the 6.2, with DOHC and EcoBoost. Or a 5.0 Coyote EcoBoost, and that should be the GTHO.

[Falco GT51]

Any new model should be called something different, till it proves itself on the racing track and earns the right to be badged the HO, as it did back in the day when the GT was born. Don't just hand the HO Monica out without earning it!!

[ebxr8240]

Some guys need to get there heads out of the sand...
An H.O is an H.O no matter what engine size etc...
But as said it better be up to the task..
Comparing the two is dumb, the world has moved along way since the XY days..
Do you still want cart springs in the back to keep it like an H.O also ???
With drum brakes on the rear??
I'd like to see a light weight model much like the Corvette, Porsche, Bmw's etc..

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Csv8, luckily you don't know how to post links, because "Drive" don't deserve any hits to their site for this article. Sorry to be negative about it, but the quotes Toby's using are a few months old. And some are a year old. And some are two years old.

Agree... must have been a slow news day, the article is a mish mash of old and existing comments stirred together with the usual unfounded speculation..

Do we really need a new thread every time the word GTHO turns up in a news article? Especially when there's already enough threads to cater for this in the coyote section?

[ebxr8240]

Correct but not everone goes to the Coyote section..

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Correct but not everone goes to the Coyote section..

The problem is there's nothing new in these articles, they just keep recycling the same old quotes and speculation.
FPV have confirmed nothing, Barrett has basically said "he'd like to maybe one day, if the time is right..." which in reality means absolutely nothing other than to lead people on and keep the door slightly ajar...

If anything it may hurt sales because people keep holding off "just in case"..

In fact i know 2 people who have been holding off buying a GT "just in case"... These people maybe lost to the brand if something isnt done to be more up front with people.

To be honest i wish Barrett would just come clean and tell us there is no GTHO planned for the current model cycle so FPV can focus on moving these great new S/C GT's...

Hopefully when the range is announced the GT-H will end speculation once and for all.... it should satisfy most people and provide a halo model which people seem to "need"..
That's if its not being held off till the 40th anniversary of the H3 next year...

[RG]

They're wrong.

GT-HO will be a blown V10 diesel.

[RedHotGT]

Originally Posted by andrewts

It really has to be special, a cut above... or not at all.

We've had this argument MANY times already, but this answer confuses me...

What you're saying andrewts I do agree with in theory because of the multiply FPV already available... but why do we want it to be that far above what is currently out there? (ie:W427 from HSV)

Lets look at an XY GT-HO vs an XY GT...
were there really that many differences?

If you look at the interior of an XY GT vs an XY GT-HO... tell me the difference..
If you look at the exterior of an XY GT vs an XY GT-HO... front and rear spoiler...
If you look under the bonnet of an XY GT vs and XY GT-HO... ok you've got the HO spec 351 4v... but they aren't 'that' different

So why wouldn't a simple Coyote Supercharged V8 under the bonnet be enough for it to be called a HO? I agree that 351kw would be ideal so it could be called a 351GT...

The purists will agree that it will never be considered a real genuine 'HO' anyways... it will not be a race-bred car... built to race... as the previous HO's were...

It will happen... and we'll all critisize it and pick it to death when it does happen... Mark my words...

Wonder what will fill the fordforums then?? hahahaha

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by chevypower

I think Ford should build an alloy block version of the 6.2, with DOHC and EcoBoost. Or a 5.0 Coyote EcoBoost, and that should be the GTHO.

I think part of the problem is that we're looking at the HO as a one off model. I don't see why we can't have a High Output Supercharged 5.0 Coyote now (Phase V) and then when the EcoBoost Coyote comes on stream in a few years an updated model (Phase VI). The HO should be no different to what the STI is for Subaru or the EVO for Mitsubishi.

Regardless of what happens to Falcon in the next 5-10 years, the speculation around its future will make these cars a hit with punters. God forbid, if this is the last true Falcon (Australian designed, build & RWD) they will no doubt become very desirable in the future. If you need an example just remember how highly the ESP's were regarded before Ford reentered the V8 market. Time’s a wasting FPV, get on your bike and start pedaling!

[MAD]

It cant be called a HO without a V10.

I think the problem, is the fact there was even a HO to start with.
The three level model name is the issue I reckon. Falcon - GT - HO.
Whereas our GMH brethren had the kingswood, OR a monaro, then a GTS version.

Somehow it is different and it seems not so bad to reintroduce the name.

[bernadette86]

I think it should be like the old HO long range tank big V8, make it a mans car, old HO was practical fast, long distance, tire shredder, sounded spectacular and had/has road presence.

[bang_on33]

http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2010...-the-usa-18579

[glavas]

Originally Posted by MAD

It cant be called a HO without a V10.

I think the problem, is the fact there was even a HO to start with.
The three level model name is the issue I reckon. Falcon - GT - HO.
Whereas our GMH brethren had the kingswood, OR a monaro, then a GTS version.

Somehow it is different and it seems not so bad to reintroduce the name.

why a v10? why not a v12 or that engine from the verion with 4 turbos. you have no logic in that statement

[MAD]

Originally Posted by glavas

why a v10? why not a v12 or that engine from the verion with 4 turbos. you have no logic in that statement

It's an old Fordforums joke.

[Auslandau]

No really .... next person who brings up ANY reference of a GTHO without a factual build sheet and video of Marin Burela standing next to it pointing at the badge and saying "THIS IS IT" ..... will be religated to "Commodore Driver" for the duration of the year. News articles or even Barrett himself even slightly suggesting will not be enough to convince me otherwise.

Anyway .... number 437 HO thread gone.



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