Ford Performance Vehicles

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The current FPV logo

Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) is the Melbourne-based official performance tuning division of Ford Australia, founded in 2002. FPV can trace its roots back to 1991, when the Prodrive-owned Tickford joined with Ford Australia as their tuning division. The Ford Australia/Tickford partnership produced the original Falcon XR6 and XR8 models. In 2000, the FTE (Ford-Tickford Experience) outfit was formed in an effort to counter Holden Special Vehicles. It was under the FTE banner that the acclaimed T-Series was launched.

FTE's products were generally well-received, but sales were below targets. In 2002, Ford Australia launched the all-new BA Falcon. To complement the launch of the new Falcon, Ford decided that FTE needed a radical makeover. The FTE name was replaced with the new Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) moniker, an all-new range was devised (headlined by a new Falcon GT), and all Tickford branding disappeared.

Despite appearances, most of the personnel from the Tickford days remained. Through FPV, Ford Australia sought to rival Holden Special Vehicles, something which FTE emphatically failed to do. Sales steadily increased, and by 2006, FPV sedans were consistently outselling HSV sedans. FPV's products are generally highly rated by the motoring press (the current model F6 Typhoon was crowned Australian Performance Car Of The Year by Motor magazine.)

Contents

1 Models

1.1 2003 BA range
1.2 2004 BA Falcon MkII update
1.3 2005 BF Falcon

2 Performance

2.1 Engine specifications

3 Motorsport
4 External links

Models

FPV's acclaimed F6 Typhoon

The vehicles produced by FPV are all based on the Australian Ford Falcon, a large family-size sedan, with ute (short for utility, the Australian word for a pickup truck) derivatives. The current FPV range is a mix of turbocharged inline 6-cylinder and V8-powered Falcons.

2003 BA range

GT
GT-P
Pursuit (ute or pickup truck).

The GT was the entry level vehicle, with an RRP of AU$59,850, featuring 18" wheels, cloth or leather trim, CD player, air-conditioning, dual airbags etc. The GT-P was the upmarket version of the GT, with an RRP of AU$69,850, it featured a unique multi-spoke 18" alloy wheel, unique seats with cloth or leather trim, four airbags, climate control, large Brembo brakes measuring 355 mm front and 330 mm rear. The Pursuit was a ute (utility) version of the GT, featuring the same seats, basic dash/interior package and wheels.

All three were powered by a 5.4 litre DOHC 32-valve V8 dubbed by FPV as "Boss 290," producing 290 kW (389 hp) @ 5500 rpm and 520 Nm (384 ft·lbf) @ 4500 rpm. They featured either a four-speed automatic featuring a tiptronic function that Ford dubbed Sequential Sports Shift, or, a five-speed Tremec TR3650 manual.

2004 BA Falcon MkII update

GT
GT-P
Pursuit.
Super Pursuit
F6 Typhoon (sedan)
F6 Tornado (ute).

The GT, GT-P and Pursuit received a new stripe package with bonnet decals, a six-speed Tremec T56 manual and the GT-P received 19" five-spoke alloy wheels. A new car and ute were added to the range, the FPV F6 Typhoon (sedan) and FPV F6 Tornado (ute).

They were FPV's version of Ford's hugely popular Falcon XR6 Turbo, featuring a 4.0 litre DOHC 24-valve turbocharged inline-six with variable cam timing, which produced 270 kW (362 hp) @ 5250 rpm and 550Nm (406 ft·lbf) @ 2000 - 4250 rpm - the highest level of torque in any Australian production car to that date. They were available with the T56 six-speed manual only. They also released the Super Pursuit, which was a Pursuit ute filled with GT-P extras.(The Boss 290 is also rumoured to have increased power to 315 kW or 423 hp according to some experts as of the MKII upgrade.) No change to 290 power output, but better mapping flattened the torque curve and fuel economy.

2005 BF Falcon

GT
GT-P
Pursuit.
Super Pursuit
F6 Typhoon (sedan)
F6 Tornado (ute).

Engine specifications remain unchanged. All models share the same six-speed manual and are now offered with an optional German made ZF six-speed automatic (the same as featured in Jaguars and BMWs). The GT received the GT-P's old 19" wheels, and the GT-P & Super Pursuit got their own design. Typhoon & Tornado customers got the option of the 18" wheel design used on the previous model or a new 19" design with black spokes. All models had subtle changes to the bodykit.

There is no change to the engine output during the BA1 to BA2 change, although the fuel economy improved slightly with the six speed manual.

Performance

FPV Falcon GT
*0-100 km/h: 5.77 seconds
*Standing 400 m: 13.85 seconds @ 176 km/h
*Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited)

FPV F6 Typhoon
*0-100 km/h: 5.35 seconds
*Standing 400 m: 13.95 seconds @ 170 km/h
*Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited)

Engine specifications

FPV 5.4-litre Boss 290 V8 (Fitted to GT, GT-P, Pursuit and Super Pursuit)
*Power: 290 kW @ 5500 rpm
*Torque: 520Nm @ 4500 rpm

FPV 4.0-litre F6 270 Turbo Inline Six (Fitted to F6 Typhoon and F6 Tornado)
*Power: 270 kW @ 5250 rpm
*Torque: 550 Nm @ 2000-4250 rpm

Motorsport

FPV have always made a big deal about the link between their vehicles and the V8 Supercars, and nothing epitomises this more than the their very own factory team, Ford Performance Racing (FPR), which started in 2003. Not being a consistent front-runner, the team's highlights were second place finishes at Bathurst 1000 in 2003 and 2004. FPR have had drivers in the championship top 10 in 2003 (Craig Lowndes) and 2005 (Jason Bright). FPR's driver lineup for 2006 consists of former Bathurst winner and championship runner-up Jason Bright (Car #6) and new recruit Mark Winterbottom (Car #5) who previously raced with the Larkham Orrcon team. Previous drivers for FPR are Craig Lowndes (2003-2004), Glenn Seton (2003-2004), Greg Ritter (2005) and David Brabham (2005).

Given the team's huge budget, the team's performances have been disappointing in their first few years. However, FPR look to be reversing that trend in 2006, with consecutive podium finishes to both drivers in the early rounds.

External links

Ford Motor Company
Platforms | Engines | Vehicles |

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Automobile Engineering (Tuning) companies
Australian companies: FPV \| HSV \| Tickford
Belgian companies: Gillet
British companies: Prodrive
Danish companies: Kleemann
French companies: Renault Sport
German companies: Abt Sportsline \| AC Schnitzer \| Alpina \| AMG \| BMW M \| BRABUS \| Carlsson \| Gemballa \| Hartge \| Irmscher \| PPI Automotive Design \| Reiger \| RUF \| Steinmetz
Italian companies: Racing Dynamics
Japanese companies: Autech \| HKS \| Mazdaspeed \| MINE'S \| Mugen \| Nismo \| Ralliart \| Spoon \| STI \| TRD \| Veilside
Swiss companies: Rinspeed
US companies: GM Cadillac V-Series \| GMPD \| RDSport \| lingenfelter \| RENNtech \| Saleen \| SRT \| SVT
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