FPV GT F Revealed

18 June, 2014

 


Ford have marked the end of FPV in style with the recent release of the GT F — F standing for final.

As we reported a few months back, the cars would feature design cues inspired by high-performance Falcons of days gone by. Besides that though, information available prior to the vehicle’s launch was minimal.
We can now report that they run a 351kW version of the supercharged five-litre Coyote motor, the capacity a nod to the 351 Windsor V8s of old. The extra power over the 335kW engines found in other FPVs comes care of a retuned ECU.

While Ford haven’t provided any 0–100 times, with the vehicle’s built-in launch control system and wide rear tyres, we’d expect it to hit the magic number in the high four-second zone. While that may be slower than its main rival, the 430kW HSV GTS, it still makes for a seriously rapid performer, and the quickest sedan Ford have ever offered.


The vehicles feature a ‘unique to FPV’ driver-optimizable suspension setup, which according to FPV Chief Program Engineer, Peter de Leur, “allows for a performance upgrade without impacting the all-round drivability of the car”. He goes on to say, “We were also able to add things like rear camber bolt adjustment on the rear suspension so it can be adjusted for track days, if a customer wishes.

“Our goal was to create the best vehicle we could; a vehicle that pays respect to Ford GTs of old yet celebrates all that is good about Ford’s performance credentials.”

In terms of exterior, the cars feature gloss black ‘racoon eyes’ as per some earlier version FPV products along with matching black door handles, wing mirrors, and rear diffuser. The black bonnet and roof stripe is reminiscent of that found on the bonnet of XW GT Falcons of 1970. This is a theme carried over to the interior, where orange stitching has  been used, again a feature used in the XW GTs. Besides the custom embroidered seats and interior badging, the built-in colour display screen features a series of digital gauges including a G-force meter.

Just 500 of the cars will be produced, 50 of which will head to New Zealand and are apparently all sold. There’s also a limited run of 120 Pursuit Utes being made, which run a 315kW version of the same naturally aspirated engine available in previous FPV utes.

A star in their eyes – 1968 Ford Galaxie 500

“Everyone asks that until they take a closer look,” says its owner today, Brent Harris of Auckland. “They also ask if I’ve done the restoration myself, and I have to tell them no, it is 100 per cent original. It’s the paint listed in the handbook.”
It was the original condition of the car that won Brent over from the moment he first saw it — that and the fact “it just looks stunning”.
Brent had owned a 1968 Mark II Cortina for four years. It was in need of some work and the question arose whether to spend the money or get something different. You don’t get much more divergent than Ford’s different approaches to its markets in the UK and the USA.

Bob’s Bambina video

Bob McMurray has spent a lifetime inside Formula 1, including 33 years he and wife, Shaune, spent working for McLaren from his earliest days as a mechanic through to watching Scott Dixon’s first Kiwi win at Indianapolis. Bob is now one of our top motorsport commentators and Toyota Racing New Zealand’s ambassador, a role he relishes.
Bob now owns this restored Fiat 500 F. The story of how he became its owner almost by accident and of its restoration is one of those that has ended well, and it was a bit of a laugh getting there. Bob’s Fiat actually has a distant McLaren connection.
This is a short video of Bob’s Fiat Bambina shot by Classic Car magazine