GT or not GT, is that the question?

[flappist]

There are many rumours about the "coyote" ute and the demise of the Pursuit and/or XR8 ute and I wonder if something as simple as a name change could increase sales.

Over the last 7 odd years it has become very obvious that the two most important things that FPV have in they marketing toolbox are the letter G and the letter T.

The GTs are the biggest selling model.

Despite being much quicker the GT outsold the F6.
Despite being far more luxurious the GT outsold the Force 8 and GT-E.
Despite being far more "up-speced" the GT outsold the GT-P.
Despite being more expensive for what was essentially the same car the GT outsold the GS.

It is very plain that there is a reasionable market for anything with a GT badge (and stripes of course).

So the question......

If the Pursuit was re-launched as the "GT Ute", one model with the same basic spec and options as the GT sedan would it sell more successfully?

I have seen quite a number of Pursuits/SPs with GT badges and comment like "it is not really a GT" tend to draw "interesting" replies.

[R-Design]

I think FPV have pimped the GT brand enough already. I'll pass on a GT-U.

The F6 shows they can create a valuable brand when they put their minds to it.

[|||]

i vote for a GT ute just to upset the gt clubs who are still getting their head around GT-Ps lol

[WASP]

Great topic.
I have personally never related to a Ute as being a GT of any model. Even the latest Cobra Ute didn't quite gel with me in concept, although that's not to say I don't like them.

Putting the Utes aside for the moment, I think the GT-P and GT-E models have demonstrated that changing the chemistry of what the GT marque represents can end up diluting the brand, even for the sake of improvement. The only reason I think the GT-HO got away with it is because it has earned the admiration and respect of the buying public in its own right as a hero model on Mount Panorama.

Getting back to the Pursuit, I think changing the Pursuit Ute into a ‘GT’ Ute is going to require a paradigm shift in target consumer thinking in order for it to translate into a ‘GT-like’ sales success. It too will need to prove its worth as more than just an extension of product line. If it can do this, along with all the other model extensions then I believe you will see that change in consumer thinking, and ultimate spending is very possible.

[BOSHOG]

there is far too many GT badges as is.

GT should be what GT-P is now
GS maybe go to what GT is currently
GT-E hasnt sold well so it should be dropped

[RedHotGT]

It is a long bow to draw... though people have been doing replica XY GT utes for quite a long time...

Changing a name = increased sales?? I doubt....
Better marketting = increased sales... For sure...

I never understood the idea of the Cobra GT sedan, nor the Cobra Ute... to me the whole idea was flawed and had no logic, but was just a clever quick sales pitch to people that were caught up in the madness in 2007 of the muscle car explosion...

I wonder if Ford/FPV had more to do with V8 Supercars, that there sales would increase... (we all know the slogan... wins on sunday, sells on monday)...
Perhaps this would also equate if there was more support to the V8 ute racing... ??

There are plenty of other names that they could revive... GS ute perhaps??

But slapping the GT badge on anything that ain't selling would be a bit of a dissapointment to me... and sets a dangerous precident...

[burnz]

Originally Posted by BOSHOG

there is far too many GT badges as is.

GT should be what GT-P is now
GS maybe go to what GT is currently
GT-E hasnt sold well so it should be dropped

what he said..

[Smoke Pursuit]

I nearly debaged my Super Pursuit and put GT-P bages on it..

I use to tell people what i drove and they would be like what? In the end i just use to refer to it as an XR8 ute.

[EASYBOSS]

Rename them Pursuit GT and Super Persuit GT-P

Best of both worlds

[GT0132]

I've always associated the GT badge with a sedan with 4 doors going back to the old era of the early Australian Ford GT's from the XR's in 1967 through to the XY's of 1971/72...Then along came the XA in 1972 which had the choice of GT in both 4 doors and a 2 door hardtop/coupe variant which I've always struggled with.

To go the step further and give the Ute a GT badge just wouldn't sit right with me. Would it sell better though?...probably not. Maybe it's my age but I've always looked at utes and panelvans as workhorse vehicles with 6cyl engines owned by tradies to carry around their tools and don't associate them with performance/sports vehicles whatsoever. Admittedly that's changed over the past 15 or so years

[RedHotGT]

Ironically (and its kinda funny...)

Super Pursuit has a great anagram that I just worked out...

True, Rips Up U's = Super Pursuit
(thinkin circlework)...

[sprint347dave]

2010..how could anyone even think of calling something with leaf springs a GT

[mik]

perhaps not a gt ute. gs would be grouse though.

[galaxy xr8]

I look at it this way, The Nameplate GT is synonymous in Ford's history, we know it, they know it, they tried to re-live the name as a way of their performace arm to show the way, in other word's they wanted to re-live history.


Albeit there was never a GT Ute made, but how many people these day's have "GT look a like" Ute's, XR-XB and even on the modern FPV Ute's they put GT badges on them.


Starting a new nameplate is all to confussing and make's the company look like the failed with the SP and P nameplate's, or they are trying to spruce it up, but any new name they come up with is not known or has a history behind it.
Returning the "GT" name to Ford's/FPV line up has done wonder's for the maunfacturer.


So why can't they listen to the general public and see what they want, a GT Ute would be on the card's if they did.
All FPV's these day's are the same anyway between Sedan's/Ute's, GT/GT-P, P-SP, they are pretty much spec'd the same repsectively, and they carry the same stripe package if optioned, like I said before , how many put a GT stripe on a XW/Y Ute and badge for that matter,
So I would be glad for them to realise and see how simple it would be for a GT Ute be made available.

[TRUBLU4DS]

Imo they should just stick to a GT sedan. By that i mean ONLY GT, no -P no -E.
GT should be available with whatever options that the P & E has. So one name, GT but with many options & ad a decent koni suspension package, r-spec was average.
FPV open your ears & eyes to what the enthusiast buyer wants, not what your suit wearing office design jock thinks we want.

[RedHotGT]

Originally Posted by TRUBLU4DS

FPV open your ears & eyes to what the enthusiast buyer wants, not what your suit wearing office design jock thinks we want.

Oh - I like that...

[Tucool]

Originally Posted by Boss315

I think FPV have pimped the GT brand enough already. I'll pass on a GT-U.

The F6 shows they can create a valuable brand when they put their minds to it.

Yep +1 GT gone from solid gold to gold plated.

[peeds13]

I like the idea of a GS ute

[Quicksand]

Originally Posted by TRUBLU4DS

Imo they should just stick to a GT sedan. By that i mean ONLY GT, no -P no -E.
GT should be available with whatever options that the P & E has. So one name, GT but with many options & ad a decent koni suspension package, r-spec was average.
FPV open your ears & eyes to what the enthusiast buyer wants, not what your suit wearing office design jock thinks we want.

And yet Holden seem to have had pretty good sales success by differentiating their models into SS, SSV, etc. Not only has it produced fairly good sales, the resale is better because it is differentiated to customers what they are getting. Options dont really help with resale, but differing models do.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by TRUBLU4DS

FPV open your ears & eyes to what the enthusiast buyer wants.....

They have, that's EXACTLY why they offer different model packs instead of large option lists.....

[TRUBLU4DS]

Thats what XR8 then GS was for. Resale? Do you actually think they care what your car will be worth once you drive it out of the showroom? Doubt it.

FPV dont listen, otherwise they would have different interior colour options rather than the dull & boring dark grey thats been around for 7 years now.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by TRUBLU4DS

Thats what XR8 then GS was for. Resale? Do you actually think they care what your car will be worth once you drive it out of the showroom? Doubt it.

FPV dont listen, otherwise they would have different interior colour options rather than the dull & boring dark grey thats been around for 7 years now.

Resale value is definitely one important aspect, FPV know it and do respect their customers, feeling a bit more special is another, people want to feel the extra spend is acknowledged on the car to set it apart, not just felt on the hip pocket.
They don't offer "rainbow" interior color options because 99% of people DON'T WANT THEM!!! plus the economics of offering options to a handful of people makes them enviable, dealers can change the int color if you really want.
Either way model differentiation instead of long option lists makes far more sense for everyone....

[BOSHOG]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Resale value is definitely one important aspect, FPV know it and do respect their customers, feeling a bit more special is another, people want to feel the extra spend is acknowledged on the car to set it apart, not just felt on the hip pocket.
They don't offer "rainbow" interior color options because 99% of people DON'T WANT THEM!!!
Either way model differentiation instead of long option lists makes far more sense for everyone....

agreed, i just think FPV need to use some imagination and come up with better names for the different models instead of GT-P and GT-E, just like HSV did with GTS, clubsport, grange etc

[flappist]

Originally Posted by TRUBLU4DS

Thats what XR8 then GS was for. Resale? Do you actually think they care what your car will be worth once you drive it out of the showroom? Doubt it.

FPV dont listen, otherwise they would have different interior colour options rather than the dull & boring dark grey thats been around for 7 years now.

So what colour have you changed the interior of your FPV to?

[TRUBLU4DS]

Only posers care about a name other than GT. Enthusiasts care about the name GT.
Anyway i love my Fords but imo they have lost it & wont be buying another new one.

[TRUBLU4DS]

Originally Posted by flappist

So what colour have you changed the interior of your FPV to?

Dont have to mate. What i'm saying is 7 years later its still the same.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by TRUBLU4DS

Dont have to mate. What i'm saying is 7 years later its still the same.

Ah so your GT has the boring grey interior then.
I did not like the interior in my 3rd one (F6) so I put GT-P seats in it.

Mine were Blueprint and then a couple of Lightning Strikes what color is yours?

[EASYBOSS]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but think its appropate to ask you guys opinion on this.

When my freinds ask, whats an F6X, I say its the Ford Performance Vehicals GT version of a Territory Turbo, and then they understand, I have no intention of ever putting GT badges on it, but I have put FPV badges on it

My question is, is my answer to whats an F6X is OK or wrong, in your oponion?

[DJM83]

Nope, Pursuit sat fine with me. Leave it at GS or nothing at all

[WASP]

In the past I have just described all other non GT branded FPV models as:

• A Ford Performance Vehicle V8 Ute
• A Ford Performance Vehicle Turbocharged Ute/Sedan
• A Ford Performance Vehicle Turbocharged SUV
• A Ford Performance Vehicle Premium series vehicle (Force series)
• I normally refer to the GT-P and the GT-E as 'premium' Ford Performance Vehicle GT models.

I must admit, with my BA Mk2 GT I still tend to refer to it as a Ford Falcon GT when people ask rather than an FPV GT.