Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) today launched the first supercharged V8-engined GT in the 43-year history of Australia's most iconic performance nameplate
Wednesday 6 October 2010, 2:10PM
By Tom Clancy, Ford Motor Company of New Zealand Limited
1205 views
FPV’s high-tech, all-new, supercharged 5.0 litre V8 engine produces 335kW of power and 570Nm of torque, and is standard fitment across the GT, GT-P and GT E models.
It is the most powerful GT in the history of Ford’s most famous Australian-made model.
To visually mark the arrival of FPV’s new supercharged engine, the sporty new GT and GT-P feature distinctive new body graphics, including a ‘hockey stick’ stripe package and “Boss 335” identification, reminiscent of the famous 1970 Boss Mustang.
The luxury GT E model retains its low-profile demeanour sans stripes.
“FPV is extremely proud of our new GT range, and very excited about what we have created,” FPV General Manager Rod Barrett said.
“The new engine is amazing, its all-round performance frankly sets a benchmark for Australian-made cars, and the exciting thing is that it has been developed here, for our cars.
“FPV’s customers certainly won’t be disappointed by the performance of the new GT range, or in the way the cars drive, and they have real presence with the new graphics package.
“We’ve created cars that fully deserve to be part of the Falcon GT heritage and, I think, will write an exciting new chapter in the model’s history.”
Developed locally by Prodrive in a $40 million program, the new FPV GT engine is based on the ‘Coyote’ Ford V8 first introduced in the American Ford Mustang earlier this year.
It’s a sophisticated all-aluminium design with double overhead cams and 32 valves configuration, is individually hand-built for each car, fully EuroIV compliant and offers improved fuel efficiency.
The supercharged V8’s compact size – 47kg lighter than the outgoing 5.4 litre Boss 315kW engine – offers packaging benefits which enhance the handling performance of FPV’s new GT range.
“FPV’s GT range now offers a whole new drive experience,” Rod Barrett said.
“Thanks to the most modern engine ever offered in an FPV, all three GTs now provide tremendous, previously unheard of performance but do so in the smoothest, most responsive manner possible.
“They feature a brilliant engine, and thanks to a huge amount of work, make exactly the right noise too.
"At the same time, the GTs’ handling has benefitted the lighter engine so turn-in response is sharper, and the whole car is more nicely balanced. The ride is also improved because we’ve be able to more finely tune the suspension front-to-back.”
A feature of the new GT, GT-P and GT E models is a quad-pipe bi-modal exhaust system which enhances both performance and the all-important exhaust note of the new cars.
Together with the new bodyside stripe, the GT and GT-P models get matching bonnet and rear wing graphics, and increased FPV identification via badging on the steering wheel, instrument cluster and key fob. There’s also a new-design build badge.
This increased FPV branding is also featured on the GT E model.
Adding that final touch, all three GT models have new wheels as standard equipment.
The GT gets 19in five-spoke alloys with a machined face and Dark Argent accents, the GT-P gets 19in five-spoke alloys with a machined face and Sparkle Silver accents, and the GT E gets 19in 10-spoke alloys finished in Alpine Silver.
Available in 11 colour and three stripe combinations the GT and GT-P have the choice of three interior trim colours, while the GT E has eight exterior colours and two interior trim combinations.
New FPV GS Sets Entry Level Performance Benchmark
Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) today confirmed the launch of its exciting GS sedan and Ute, as permanent additions to the niche manufacturer’s V8-engined range.
Impressively, the new 5.0 litre GS sedan and Ute eclipse the performance of FPV’s previous range-topping 5.4 litre GT models!
The heart of the GS is FPV’s all-new lightweight supercharged V8 engine, developed and hand-assembled locally, and which produces 315kW of power and 545Nm of torque.
FPV’s first-ever supercharged engine, the all-new 2010 V8 is a sophisticated all-aluminium design with double overhead cams and 32 valves configuration, and is fully EuroIV compliant.
The new GS sedan and Ute have been added to FPV’s V8 range after the success of a similarly-named limited-edition model, introduced in late 2009 to test the market for a distinctive entry-level FPV model.
“Last year’s limited-edition GS simply reinforced what we suspected, that there is absolutely a market for an entry-level FPV model,” FPV General Manager Rod Barrett said.
“The GS provides our customers with a more affordable entry into the range. It broadens the market for potential FPV purchasers, and at the same time delivers tremendous value.
“Perhaps the most exciting thing about our new GS is that while it matches the output of our previous Boss 5.4 litre V8, it actually smoothly out performs it in every way.
“It’s faster and it’s more fuel efficient, but perhaps most importantly, the supercharged configuration provides a tremendous ‘drive’ … this is a fun car, and we think it’s going to be enormously successful for us.”
Picking up the limited-edition GS’ stripe graphics on the bottom of the doors, the 2010 version adds bonnet stripes and Boss 315 identification for a truly unique look.
Retained too at the five-spoke alloy wheels, now in silver finish rather than graphite, and FPV branding has been increased via badging on the steering wheel, instrument cluster and key fob, plus a new-design build badge.
Eleven exterior colours are offered on the sedan, 10 on the Ute, with three contrasting stripe colour options and a further three interior trim colours.