While FPV refuses to acknowledge the power war between itself and HSV, its new FG arsenal is proof positive that one exists.
“This is not a power war – it’s not about a badge on a boot; we are not chasing numbers,” said FPV head honcho Rod Barrett at the new model’s introduction last night.
He almost sounded convincing…
The past two days have seen both HSV release its 317kW LS3 and the Federal Government reveal its new luxury car tax (which effectively stopped HSV from revealing its new pricing).
But at last night’s introduction the members of the team introducing FPV’s new cars had the glow of well-fed cats. Almost every question was answered with a ‘wait until you drive it’, followed by a smirk, grin or wink.
While we wait, here are the facts.
Like its Ford Falcon derivative, to appeal to a broader audience the FPVs are split into three distinct platforms.
From the wildly tattooed GT and Pursuit V8s to the sleek new exec-express GT E V8 and the toothy turbocharged F6 wolf barely covered by its sheepskin, Ford’s performance vehicles are more diverse and more powerful than ever before.
But while the Boss V8 is expected to snare more than 70 percent of sales, the V8 and its blown six sibling are sitting on an even monetary playing field for the first time. The Pursuit V8 and F6 Ute kick off at $57,990, while the GT and F6 sedans start at $65,990 (see below for full model details).
Previously reserved for the top-shelf GT-P, the choice of ZF automatic or manual transmission is now a no-cost option across the range, and hints at FPV’s new sports-and-luxury philosophy.
“Got a wallet? This car is for anyone, anywhere,” said Barrett.
FPV GT E
The standard safety story is a good one: DSC stability control, six airbags, and those huge brakes. Reversing cameras are optional on the sedans (standard on GT E).
Unfortunately, the luxury car tax initiatives released on the same day as the FPV range have made these standard features a slight liability, pushing the cars well above the price threshold.
As Barrett puts it: “We could sell a car (under the threshold), but we would have to strip most of its standard features out of it. What does that do for the customer; what does that do for its safety?”
This is the most powerful FPV range yet, and to release it without DSC and airbags would surely be commercial suicide.
FPV F6
FPV says the recalibrated 4.0-litre six underwent 23,000 hours of testing in the Geelong engine plant, Ford’s You Yangs proving grounds, Winton Raceway, and transmission testing on German autobahns. The result is 310kW at 5500rpm and 565Nm between 1950-5200rpm.
It's a torque curve flatter than Paris Hilton on a karaoke mike. The curve is quite phenomenal (see graphs below), with a completely straight line from 1950rpm through to 5250rpm, where the power band picks up the slack without so much as a dip and continues to the 6250rpm rev limit.
The modifications to the engine for this long-awaited 500rpm have been extreme. With a higher threshold and boost at 0.9 BAR, reliability forced a total redesign of pistons, conrods and cams, while optimising the timing between spark and boost (both electronically and physically) to produce the magic 310kW.
That troublesome AP dual-plate clutch is replaced with an LUK single-plate jobbie which should improve pedal feel, linearity and position – we shall see on the drive program today.
Suspension is carryover XR componentry with revised spring rates and new aluminium arms – five percent stiffer in front, six percent softer in the rear, which should plant the back end more firmly on rutted roads without upsetting the balance, particularly on powerdown.
Suspension changes in the V8-engined cars were more focussed on the front-end, to reduce the previous FPV generation’s dialled-in understeer and nose-heaviness.
FPV says that to get the balance of power and weight just right, the 5.4-litre Boss V8, now with 315kW, underwent 6000 more man-hours of testing, including time at ProDrive’s Milton Keys test facility in the UK.
“We wanted (the V8) to feel lively, light and alive when you drive it,” said FPV’s head powertrain engineer Bernie Quinn.
“We allowed it to breathe better, altered the gearing, increased the engine revs and totally recalibrated the engine.”
A new twin-plate throttle body and major cooling and filter improvements up front is matched to a straight-through three-tier exhaust, which Quinn claimed was tuned for performance without NVH drone issues at low revs or sixth-gear highway speeds. Again, the power curve is impressive – nowhere near the F6’s, but developing power strongly right up to its new 6500rpm peak. That 315kW max power arrives at 6500 rpm and 551Nm maximum torque at 4750 rpm (beating HSV by 1Nm, I might add).
And yes, just like the one in the new Territory F6X, the tacho finally gets a redline.
By the look of things, the design department had just as much fun as engineering, particularly with the challenge of making the GT E into a luxury sporting saloon without losing the instant brand recognition of the GT and GT-P.
FPV Design guru and sometime WADA judge Graeme Wadsworth summed up the range succinctly: “When you’re at a barbeque and people ask you what you do … I tell them I design cars. They sometimes ask, ‘why do all cars look the same?’ Well, I can take them outside and show them this.”
The FG FPV range is on sale June 2. Stay tuned for the drive impressions.
At a glance
F6 Range
F6 Ute
4.0 litre turbocharged DOHC 24 valve in-line 6
$57,990 6-speed manual
$57,990 6-speed automatic
12.8/13.0L/100km (M/A)
F6
4.0 litre turbocharged DOHC 24 valve in-line 6
$65,990 6-speed manual
$65,990 6-speed automatic
12.3/12.1L/100km (M/A)
GT Range
Pursuit
5.4-litre Boss V8
$57,990 6-speed manual
$57,990 6-speed automatic
Super Pursuit
$62,990 6-speed manual
$62,990 6-speed automatic
14.7/14.4L/100km (M/A)
GT
5.4-litre Boss V8
$65,990 6-speed manual
$65,990 6-speed automatic
14.2/14L/100km (M/A)
GT-P
$75,990 6-speed manual
$75,990 6-speed automatic
As above.
GT E
$76,990
5.4-litre Boss V8
6-speed automatic as standard
14L/100km
Chrome accents, subtle lip spoiler, body coloured bumpers, red or black leather interior.
Check out the full spec sheets here:
F6 sedan
F6 Ute
GT and GT-P
GT E
Pursuit and Super Pursuit