Holden proberly knows exactly as much as Ford itself about series II etc, just as Ford no doubt knows a lot about Holdens unreleased products. If Holdens getting it only source of information from fordforums then they would be very confused! Both companies share a lot of parts suppliers, they are in the same industry and go for the same market so they could predict roughly what kind of moves the other would make. Which is what many people do here.. and some are pretty close.
With holden releasing a new engine, I think its highly likely Ford will want to keep a bit of a power and torque advantage in the I6. Given that the typhoon has the VCT units actually working most of the time not just at idle, gives some support that Ford is most likely going to get VCT working fulltime and most likely to get improved power, torque, fuel economy etc.
195Kw and 400Nm sound about right and belivable, easy ~10Kw, and should keep it just ahead of the HFV6. Maybe just for N/A XR6 for now..
Transmission update for XR6T seems right concidering what a bagging its got, also to releave some of the development costs for Typhoon.
A rejigg of the suspension setup, XR range should get a firmer option, and FPV I think should also get somewhat firmer.
add some new colours, trim, equipment levels, options, maybe a redesign for a few interior peices so they are better and its basically a series II..
Lighter bodywork peices also sounds beliveable, ford has played with this before. I guessing it will be a option for the FPV range. Ford already has a alloy 5.4 V8 block they could make it a cost option or standard on the FPV range, allowing for a decent chunk of weight to be removed. A alloy or composite roof/bonnet/guards would also be a cost option lowering the center of gravity, lowering kerb weight, etc.. However if they are going to provide so many light weight parts I would expect a special model, wearing all of those parts (ie like the M3 CSL)..
A new model for FPV, a GT-L? With alloy block, roof, bonnet, guards, rear quarters and boot. Carbon fiber driveshaft, lighter flywheel, alloy diff housing. Removal of some heavy features (aircon optional etc) Weighing ~150Kg-200kg less. Costing $10k more... Supercharger adds the letters HO and removes the L? $10K on top of that? Who knows...
I still think the Turbo Ghia is the car Fords got to have, hopefully in series II. Luxury pack on the XR's is nice, but its still a XR/FPV and thats not what everyone wants. Some people like the idea of a velvet glove and a iron fist and the XR range hasn't quite become as common as to be being the basic car ford makes blending in a supermarket carpark. It still visually tells "look at me! Here I am! Me Fast!". Use some of the mapping from the typhoons engine, ~255kw, 4 speed (6 speed option?) or 5 speed(yes! a manual damit!), premium brakes standard, unique trim, 18" versions of the Ghias alloys, HID highbeams (do it!), more sound deadening, unique ICC colour settings, LSD, black intercooler, no turbo badging. Upon a casual glance it just looks like a Ghia that appears to be a little diffrent, a little lower maybe, wheels a little bigger, a bit sporter, but you can't put your finger on why. Parked next to a XR it would have just as much presence but it visually murmers "I have purpose but I'm not showing you it". Thats why I think Phantom would be a good choice, being a darker colour, even a colour people have seen before on falcons, but not on a Ghia.. Mercury silver, Silhouette, Harvest green (maybe), Luscious, offshore, Phantom and possibly Vixen.. Restricting the colours and adding a manual option (even if its just for the first series and a limited number) adds to it being special. Not Monaro CV8R special, I mean real special.
And its the kind of car that would have a excellent flow on effect for the rest of the Ghias and the rest of the regular ford lineup. Show the Calias for what it really is, a chromed up low tech commodore. Let them fear the dynamically superior, faster, highly refined, technologically superior Ghia.
I don't think the turbo motor will work in the LWB cars. People expect big V8's. a lump in the bonnet will blow cover. Maybe a highpo 5.4 3v engine? Surely 235Kw is possible.
FPV LWB car.. Well that could get away with a lump. But that galaxie thing is the wrong way to go about it IMHO.. It looks crazier than a GT! Certainly less cohesive, there are a bunch of things you could do to make it work better styling wise.