FPV (Ford Performance Vehicles) Collection

[Yeahone]

Dedicated to the Hi-Res Hideout. Please move it there. Thanks in anticipation.


The birth of a second Australian only factory tuner

The 1991 started collaboration with automotive engineering company Tickford (Ford Tickford Experience (FTE), dealer network launched in 1999)) was made in order to create a counterpart to Holden's factory tuner HSV and came to an end in 2002 when the British engineering and motorsport company Prodrive purchased Tickford. In its early years FTE was participated in the introduction of the succesful XR6 and XR8 performance specifications of the Falcon fullsize sedans. The last car of this co-production was based on the AU-coded 6th generation of the Falcon was available in different versions like TL50, TS50 and TE50.
Ford Australia decided to keep the option of having an own factory tuner. So the former FTE-brand got replaced by the new introduced FPV-name. The abbreveation stands for Ford Performance Vehicles. The Falcon should stay the base for all cars that FPV produced over the following years.
The 2003 introduced BA-coded Falcon XR8 (a relaunch of the 6th generation AU) was the base of the first FPV-tuned Australian only Fords.


FPV (BA) GT (2003)

The GT marked the first base model of the new brand. The 5.4 liter Modular V8 from the stock Falcon XR8 was upgraded with DOHC 4-valve cylinder heads from the Mustang Cobra R engine. FPV called the new creation "Boss 290". The numbers display the power output of the engine in Kilowatts. It deliverd 290 KW (394 PS, 389 bhp) at 5500 rpm and 520Nm (384 ftlbs) of torque at 4500 rpm.

The GT received several upgrades concerning suspension and brakes aswell as a unique bodykit. It consists of deaper reaching bumpers and skirts allround. The 3-parted frontspoilerlip reaches now deaper to the ground, the center intake is like a larger version of the XR8 upside down and and the foglamps are surrounded by vents. The rearbumper has an integrated diffusor which repeats the 3-parted design of the frontspoiler and comes with a large dark plastic filled vent that should hint a large outlet. The sides show some bold sills with another indecated vent before the rearwheels covered by bodypainted blades. The large rearwing is an eyecatcher which will mostly be assumed with the FPV-version of the Falcon while it seems to be influenced by the 2nd generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution models. GT-badges under garnish moulding of the reardoors and on the right side of the trunk aswell as FPV-signs on the frontfendertrims and the left half of the boot and FPV half-oval logos on the center of new designed alloys explain the viewer which car he is looking at.

The interior comes with additional a leather-wrapped fatframe steeringwheel (for better grip), blue dials on grey checkered gauges with FPV-prints, an additional start-stop button (brushed aluminium, red glowing circle when activated andwithout lettering) on the left next to the speedometer-gauge and bucketseats (optional with leather) upvalue the interior.
The 2003 FPV GT was available for at least AU$69,850.

[Yeahone]

FPV (BA) GT-P (2003)

The GT-P is the upmarket version of the GT. The bodykit carried over from the GT has a slightly larger rearwing with an additional center holder, a matte grey middle part of the frontspoiler and reardiffusor, larger wheels with 7 spokes design and grippier tyres and Brembo-brakes. The GT-P badges are put on the same places like on the GT but hab´ve a blue middle-line. One more FPV-sign has been added to the lower frontgrill. The interior features larger seats with better sidegrip (and GT-P badges), adjustable pedals and a fancy central control unit that displays what is often a confusing amount of telemetry, such as outside temperature, distance to empty, average fuel consumption and so forth.

[Yeahone]

Engine and interior shots...

[Yeahone]

...In motion and in the showroom...

[Yeahone]

...Detail view...

[Yeahone]

..."GT-P, GT-P, why do you have such a big mouth?"

GTP: "Because the Boss (290) needs alot of air to soak up the street!"

[Yeahone]

FPV (BA) Pursuit and Super Pursuit (2003)

The also in 2003 launched Pursuit called model was identical equipped to the GT sedan but sold in the Ute bodystyle. Only logical that the GT-P Ute is named Super Pursuit. It came with a hard-tonneau cover with bolted on rearwing. While the lower spec just sais Pursuit on the sidesills and trunk the Super Pursiut wears the letters on a checkered badge with the profile of a falcon's head.

FPV (BA MkII) GT, GT-P, Pursuit and Super Pursuit (2004)

In the year 2004 the hole FPV range got an update. The cars received a new stripe package with bonnet decals, a six-speed Tremec T56 manual and 19" five-spoke alloy wheels. Hard to notice the versions with matte grey front-insert have now a 3-parted vent in their center.

[Yeahone]

FPV (BA MkII) F6 Typhoon (2004)

Showcased first as a concept car the F6 Typhoon the V8-fans smiled at it at first glance. But based on the (BA) MkII Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo people should have known that a downsized performance car wouldn't be called Typhoon without a reason. The 4.0 liter Barra 24V turbocharged inline 6 is capable of impressive 270 kW (360 bhp) at 5250 rpm and a massive torque of 550 Nm (410 ft·lbf) at 2000-4250 rpm.
Instead of the slower GT and GT-P automatics it was only available with a Tremec T-56 6-speed manual gearbox. Besides track-approved suspension it has PBR 325 mm (12.8 in)/2-piston brakes offered as standard but also optional 355 mm (14.0 in)/4-piston Brembos. Custom 18 inch 5-doublespoke rims with high-performance tyres, a lower 3-point standalone rearspoiler (than GT and GT-P), lower hood (no power bulge), a silver triangleshapes meshgrill, red F6 badges on the left of the grill and right of the trunk (with a Typhoon plate) and dark grey inserts (middle frontsplitter, reardiffusor and sidesill-blades) identify the new specification with smaller engine but overall superior performance to the overestimated V8s (unfortunately not in topspeed because it is limited to 200 Km/h if my sources are correct).
The interior looks like in the GT-P and has 2 additional instruments attached to the center console.

[Commodore GS/E]

Any infos on the mileage of the XR-6 engine?

[Yeahone]

@ Commodore GS/E: I wrote down everything I found about the stock Barra 4.0 Turbo in the Hideout "Ford Falcon" thread, in posts: #27 (BA gen) page 2, #40 (BF MkII) page 3 and #45 (FG gen, while it is almost the same as in the F6 Typhoon) on the same page.

Because "mileage" has different meanings in English I don't know exactly how to answer your question. Sorry.



Officially FPV claimed to introduce the F6 Typhoon into the range because it should bring younger customers to the brand

but actually it is a car with several examples in use of the Queensland Police Service, too.

Controverse, ain't it?

[Yeahone]

Another set of this high-performance bullit. this time in red.

[Yeahone]

FPV (BA MkII) F6 Tornado (2004)

Also launched in 2004 was the F6 Tornado called Ute. Same engine, same transmission and same frontend like the Typhoon sedan just as identical sideskirts (but without badging) and rearbumper like the Pursuit (and Super Pursuit).
Larger wheelbase, different rearaxle and higher curbweight cause the differences to the sedan's performance.

Studio shot shows optional tonneau with rearwing.

[Yeahone]

FPV (BF) GT (2005)

2 years after it was introduced into the Australian market the GT received a relaunch. All models share the same six-speed manual and were now offered with an optional SS made ZF six-speed automatic (the same as featured in Jaguars and BMWs).
Besides it was just a visual makeover. Front- and rearfascia got completely redesigned, added GT-badge (with orange center line) on theleft of the grill, the rearwing was carried over from the former GT-P and new alloys (19" 5-spoke) marked the main changes on the outside. The new front center-intake, foglightframes and reardiffusor (which now also wears mesh behind) are painted in silver or dark grey while the frontblades (which are holding the foglamps) are coloured in piano black. The exhaust was converted into two-way type. The decals changed (former 2 big parallel lines) to 2 smaller stripes with one large in their middle and the GT-badge on the reardoors is now part of the decals set.

[Yeahone]

The Interior shows now light coloured stitches (and points) on the leather, same gauges as the former GT-P (with falconhead profile), the center-console wears the same 2 additional instruments as the F6 specs and the motor got a new cover in blue.

[Yeahone]

More close-ups and paint job change.

Because they are based on the stock Ford Falcons the FPV models also received the same paint option updates.