Ford & Holden Models Leaked: Ford & Holden Not Happy

Motoring Channel Staff - 5/October/2007

Sydney, Australia — It happens quite a lot in Europe and America, but rarely does an Australia media outlet break an embargo placed on a new vehicle launched. One of Australia's most respected automotive magazines has broken the embargo on not one, but four new Aussie vehicles that were set for their world wide debut in Sydney on the 11th of October.

The HSV Maloo, FPV Cobra GT, FPV F6 X and the Holden Commodore Sportwagon have all been leaked by the magazine, which is believed to have told both Ford and Holden that it would not publish the details until after the Australian International Motor Show began on the 11th of October.

Unsurprisingly both Holden and Ford are none too pleased that this information is now all over the Internet, after thousands of the magazine's subscribers got the information from as early as the 4th of October, a full week before the motor show's media-only preview in Sydney.

Holden Leaks

Though Holden has been regularly denying, or at least refusing to confirm the Commodore wagon's existence, it's ironic that our first look at the real thing would be in the form of a pre-embargo leak. As you can see from the image, the new vehicle is very stylish and far less utilitarian than the wagon that replaces it.

Believed to be called the Holden Commodore Sportwagon, the new model is aimed at premium European estate or wagon models from BMW, Audi and other brands. The new style will be main focus of the Commodore Sportwagon at its launch during the AIMS in Sydney next week, which is far more sophisticated than the VZ wagon it replaces. 

Most of its internals are directly carried over from the VE Commodore sedan. Power will come from 3.6-litre V6 and 6.0-litre V8 engines developing between 180 and 270kW, and pricing is expected to be slightly higher than the standard sedan. We'll have more information on the trendy new Holden Commodore Sportwagon after the AIMS launch.

FPV Leaks

The new FPV models, the Cobra GT and the F6 X, will take pride of place at the Ford exhibit at the AIMS. The FPV Cobra GT is reworked FPV GT, featuring more power and torque and Cobra GT badging while recalling the famous vehicle of the same name that went on to win the 1977 Bathurst 1000 (driven by Colin Bond and Allan Moffat). Fittingly, the modern day Cobra GT will be seen at the 2007 Bathurst 1000 race.

Unlike the 1978 Ford Falcon Cobra GT, which was based on the XC coupe, a 2-door model, the new version is a 4-door sedan and only 500 units will be built - 100 utes and 400 sedans. These limited edition models will only be offered in white with blue GT stripes, and will available from April 2008, priced at$62,200 for the ute and $65,110 for the sedan.

As well as the GT Cobra badging and the limited edition decals, the iconic FPV Cobra GT will feature a tuned version of the company's powerful 5.4-litre V8 engine. This engine has a higher compression ratio of 10.8:1 (up from 10.5:1) and features new cams and valves taking power to 302kW, up from 290kW. Peak torque is also improved, now rated at 540Nm.

This is still a few kilowatts and Newton meters shy of arch-rival HSV's 307kW and 550Nm 6.0-litre V8. It will be interesting to see if the next generation FPV models, arriving in 2008, will be powered by the same 5.4-litre engine as this new Cobra GT, or whether they'll try and out gun the HSV's Chevy-sourced engines with 310kW of power and 560Nm of torque.

Including the new Cobra GT colour scheme, the new model gets 19-inch alloy wheels with sports rubber and the stiffest suspension ever offered on an FPV model, which should result in better handling dynamics.

The second FPV to have been leaked is the F6 X, based on the Ford Territory. This power-packed SUV gets the same engine from the FPV F6 Typhoon which will ensure the vehicle is one of the fastest SUVs on the planet. The 4.0-litre inline 6-cylinder engine outputs 270kW of power and 550Nm through all four wheels, and is expected to be priced at around $75k when it goes on sale early in 2008.

Representing the only the third body style in the Ford Performance Vehicles range, after the Falcon ute and sedan, the new model gets harder suspension than the Ford Territory Turbo, large Brembo brakes, DSC, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The hood scoop is finished with a dark trim and leather seats will be standard. 

HSV Leaks

The fourth vehicle to have been leaked a week before its embargo was lifted is the HSV Maloo, the hard core performance version of the VE Holden Commodore SS Ute, which we tested late last month. With its 20th anniversary coming up, HSV fans will be pleased to know the new Maloo is the most powerful Australian ute ever made.

While the engine type and transmission were never in dispute, it doesn't take away from the fact the 6.0-litre LS2 engine is supremely powerful. With 307kW of power and 550Nm of torque, the ESP system is going to get a huge work out on this model, which is expected to sprint from zero to 100km/h in just over 5.0 seconds.Priced from $59,990 for the 6-speed manual and $61,990 for the 6-speed auto, the new HSV Maloo will also feature reverse parking sensors, a remote-release hard tonneau rear cover and a wild new design that won't be mistaken for a standard Commodore Ute.