Rivalry? What rivalry?
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday October 31, 2009
THEY'RE both performance versions of Australian-made large cars that compete for the cut-throat fleet market and families alike. Each also capitalises on the success €” or otherwise €” of cars on the race track.Talk to HSV, though and it doesn't think its most natural rival on paper €” FPV €” is even a competitor to the brand that has for more than two decades all but dominated the locally produced muscle car market.HSV managing director Phil Harding says most of the cars being traded on new HSVs either wear a German badge or are older HSVs.€śThis is what the dealers tell me,€ť says Harding, who points out that €śthere's a difference between things that can be used as a benchmark and things that are competitors€ť.€śPeople who come and shop our cars don't shop the way you think they do. I've only got one example of a guy who crossed the floor from the red garage (HSV) to the blue garage (FPV).€ťHarding isn't against his V8-powered cars being compared with FPVs but he also wants people to consider any car in the HSV price range as a competitor. That could entail a list as long and diverse as an Audi A4 to a Porsche Boxster. And, possibly, an FPV.It's a different story for Ford's performance brand, FPV, which says HSV is €ś100 per cent€ť a competitor, according to FPV general manager Rod Barrett.FPV has taken a while to find its feet €” and a name. First it relied on the Tickford badge, then FTE and now FPV.Barrett agrees that €śanything with a steering wheel€ť is ultimately a competitor but that HSV is very much in the crosshairs.€śWe're both in the performance car market,€ť says Barrett. €śI believe they are the one and only competitor [to FPV] in the Australian performance car market.€ťBarrett also welcomes the competition and believes it can benefit both brands.€śIf I was about to buy a HSV or FPV I would look at both. Take away the tribal aspect . . . and as a consumer they would check [both showrooms].€ťTOBY HAGONHOW MUCH? From $80,990, plus on-road and dealer costsVITAL STATISTICS 6.2-litre V8; 325kW/550Nm; 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto; 14.8L/100km (man), 13.9 (auto); 352g/km CO2 (man), 329g (auto); RWDHOW MUCH? From $54,950, plus on-road and dealer costsVITAL STATISTICS 5.4-litre V8; 302kW/551Nm; 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto; 14.2L/100km (man), 14.0 (auto); 340g/km CO2 (man), 334g (auto); RWDHOW MUCH? From $36,990 drive-away(limited offer)VITAL STATISTICS 4.0-litre inline six; 195kW/391Nm; 6-speed manual, 5 or 6-speed auto; 11.1L/100km (man), 10.5 or 10.1 (5 or 6-speed auto); 264g/km CO2 (man), 251 or 239g (5 or 6-speed auto); RWDHOW MUCH? From $39,490 drive-away (limited offer)VITAL STATISTICS 3.6-litre V6; 210kW/350Nm; 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto; 10.2L/100km (man), 10.1 (auto); 242g/km CO2 (man), 241g (auto); RWD
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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