RE: FPV GT

Thursday 3rd June 2004

FPV GT

Ford’s new FPV GT makes trucks quiver with its extreme torque. Darren Cottingham peels up the tarmac down under.


 

Over the last three decades Australian motorsport has embedded a Ford versus Holden battle in our psyche with King of the Hill at the legendary Bathurst circuit being the aim. For the past few years, Holden’s HSV with its lion badge has ruled the jungle, but hot from recent V8 Supercar success, Ford Performance Vehicles’ new GT is billed as the ‘lion tamer’.

We couldn't take the GT to the wildebeest-infested grassy plains of the Serengeti to test its ability against the big cat, so we settled for something equally as wild: Te Henga (Bethells Beach), about an hour west of Auckland, New Zealand. This rollercoaster of a road winds from Swanson through the Waitakere Ranges foothills and out to one of the most beautiful beaches on the west coast. It’s here they filmed Hercules and Xena on land still owned by the Bethells family, and the road is a test of any car with its sudden elevation changes, adverse camber corners and blind brows.

The GT is based on Ford’s ubiquitous Falcon and has been developed in Australia by Ford Performance Vehicles using race car technology. What you get for your money is stuff that makes it go round corners faster (suspension tuned by V8 Supercar and Nations Cup driver John Bowe, a body shell that’s 88% stiffer than the previous model, and a torque sensing limited slip differential); and stuff that subjects you to extreme longitudinal g-forces via the pedals (a thirsty V8 and some huge brakes).

 

So capable is the GT that you find yourself catching up with the wildebeest of the car world with alarming regularity. They can be dispatched cleanly after a short chase, though, despite the GT’s bulk. Acceleration is not a problem, with 100kph (62mph) coming up in around 5.8 seconds. Equally impressive are the twin-piston brakes with their grooved and vented rotors allowing you to brake late, balance the car on the throttle and rocket out of a corner.

But GT stands for Grand Tourer – am I in danger of driving it like I’d drive a Porsche 911? Probably. Certainly it’s got some racing genetics, but Grand Tourers should be comfortable enough to conquer the motorways – which this is - and have a turn of speed to make it fun and blurry, which it does very adequately. In fact, turn on some calming music through the 100-watt stereo, use about a quarter throttle and you can waft along relatively serenely at camera-challenging speeds, not even aware there’s an enormous V8 lurking under the bonnet. But, bury the drilled aluminium pedal into the carpet and you won’t be listening to the stereo as the exhaust itself is a symphony.

The crescendo of sound is orchestrated by the 5.4-litre Boss V8 and it sounds different to an HSV. The Boss V8 is essentially a truck engine developed for Ford’s Expedition – an SUV so enormous you could fit motors and a family of koala bears in the engine bay. Except it’s been squeezed into the GT, leaving its bonnet with a feature that would require contours on a topographical map. Looking at the bonnet you’d think there would be some gigantic forced induction system perched on top of the block ready to suck in small birds and frail old ladies, but it’s a result of Ford’s mandate that there must be at least a 20mm gap between the engine and the bonnet.

You don’t need traction control, mate

All these cylinders add up to a whopping 520 Newton-metres of torque and 290kW (390bhp), which makes you glad for traction control, especially around tight and windy roads like these.  You’d have to be an absolute lunatic to turn traction control off in the wet, though in the dry the Dunlop 245-width tyres don’t easily get the better of the tarmac – it’s relatively safe.

The fact that the Ozzies have made the traction control switch so accessible is almost like saying, “We only gave you traction control as a token safety device, but are you a bloke, or a sheila? You don’t need it, mate .” With 390 horsepower and enough torque to peel the crust from the earth I’d expect to need some secret code and government permission to disable it.

 

If you want to have some fun the handling and oversteer points are fairly predictable with traction control off, but only if you’re using the sequential gear change, as it has a tendency to kick down fiercely in auto mode, and I’d rather not end up trading blue paintwork with a roadside kauri tree. Unfortunately, though, the sequential changes are tad sloppy on the upshift and slightly jerky on the downshift. Perhaps an electronic ‘blip’ of the throttle on the downshift would have helped. Ford NZ didn’t have a manual version for this test, and my left foot was itching for the extra control a clutch gives you.

Still, if the only driving you’re going to do is on a motorway or smooth, sealed roads, and you need a bit of grunt to get by the odd old fella towing a caravan, the GT is more than capable. At cruising speeds, it’s quiet – you can barely hear the engine noise. The seats are extremely comfortable and have just the right amount of support. The driver gets an electronically adjustable seat which has so many permutations and combinations I spent five minutes trying decide exactly which position was the most comfortable. A steering wheel as thick as a tree python feels satisfying, but the attached switches for the cruise control and stereo sometimes gets in the way.

520+390=17/100

Pressing the loud pedal results in a roar worthy of a lion. But, the GT has an unannounced 6000rpm redline, despite the rev counter displaying a tantalising 8000rpm with no redline area. The first time I reached this in sequential gearchange mode I wondered what the hell had happened as the engine cut out – I was expecting at least 7000. Leave it in auto, though, and you’ll never experience this. What you will experience is a large petrol bill. My over-exuberant right foot, combined with the ample power and torque delivery meant I had to go on a long motorway journey afterwards to get back down to a reasonable fuel consumption figure - 17 litres per 100km, or about thirteen miles per gallon.

Windows 3.1

The GT makes a statement. It has presence, but not overly so – it doesn’t turn everyone’s head, and that’s probably a good thing. The things that set it apart are the 18-inch wheels housing monster ventilated brake disks and blue callipers, the angular rear spoiler and bulging bonnet. And, underneath the bonnet the engine has an air filter the size of a bucket of chicken, but most of the rest of it is hidden beneath a huge cover.

The cabin is a bit spicier than run-of-the-mill Fords. You sit quite high with good visibility and all the controls are easy to reach. Looking through the windscreen, you at first notice the bulbous bonnet which has the same appearance from the driver’s seat as the scoop on a Subaru WRX.

 

There’s a feature centre console which looks great, but the plastics are a little bit cheap and whoever designed the graphics for this interface obviously liked Microsoft Windows 3.1. The screen has all your controls for the stereo, and tells you what aircon setting you’re using. It’s far easier to use than BMW’s iDrive, but then, so is an F-18 Hornet.

There are some nice touches in the cabin like the blue glowing dials, GT stitched into the seats, and the drilled pedals. But there are some try-hard ‘features’ as well. Starter buttons are fun the first time, but all they do is delay your progress as you have to use both hands to start the car. Also, the fake carbon fibre style trim is, well, fake.

FPV do a GT-P version, which has some premium upgrades like Brembo brakes, climate control, a six-CD stereo and better seats; a Pursuit model which is a ute (i.e. no weight over the rear); and there’s an extensive list of upgrades, like a 13-speaker audio system – lucky for some. Oh, and for another NZ$14,000 (~5000GBP) you can get a 400kw version (~530bhp)!

Lion tamer or automotive wildebeest?

So is this Ford really the lion tamer it purports to be? Does it ‘out-bloke’ the HSV? Well, the GT is a car for guys – especially guys with something large to tow, like an oil tanker. This is a good car. Gargantuan torque, coupled with a willing engine and those comfortable leather seats is a great formula. At NZ$75,500 it’s certainly cheaper than an equivalent 300kW (400bhp) HSV Monaro, but it doesn’t quite tame the lion. It’s more of an equal on the Serengeti.

Thanks to: Bethells Beach Cottages
Some photos courtesy of CJ Due Simmons:
http://nordynz.deviantart.com/

© 2004 Darren Cottingham

Author
Discussion

jagsy

Original Poster:

1,462 posts

250 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
Nice to know the Lion still roars.

Nice looking car though - better than the UK Mondeo he he

toppstuff

13,698 posts

246 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
Agreed. These antipodean muscle cars are very appealing.

They have lots of excess grunt. Lovely.

Rather strange that they are coming from a country that has strangled the fun of driving through regulation and scameras.

Australia is no place to own a performance car.

Bearded-lada-man

436 posts

238 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
Still have the HSV though.....

dejoux

772 posts

282 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
People who dont get them. Dont feel too bad.

Theyre good for towing a Caravan or something but I wouldnt call them sporty.

Theyre certainly not a cut price M5.

Still far better than most of the boring saloons we get here (plus the paint range is pretty nice )

dinkel

26,889 posts

257 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
toppstuff said:
( . . . )
Australia is no place to own a performance car.


Says who?
www.jolyon.tv/puretone_stills.html
www.lastinterceptor.com/

D-Angle

4,467 posts

241 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
The rumour mill says Ford is thinking of re-introducing a big model to their range in Europe, which they haven't done since the Scorpio. I wouldn't mind seeing these in the local dealership...

ohopkins

708 posts

239 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
Thanks, I enjoyed that Last Interceptor link.

However, if you read the history section, you can see that Australia is indeed no place to own a performance car.

From the website :

I am often asked just how I go with the legal aspect of the Interceptor, e:mail inquires often ask "Just what do the Police and law enforcement authorities say?"
Well the answer to this is that the Interceptor is not compliant with Australian road law. The original movie Interceptor was not, and then even less so by the second film. I will cover the details in a second, but driving the Interceptor on the road will result in apprehension by Police ... on sight. The apprehension then results in a tedious inspection during this time the Policeman tells me how irresponsible the vehicle is, (and of course I am) and how dangerous the Interceptor is. USA readers would laugh at what makes the Interceptor "dangerous" Australian road law is not always supported with logic. What ever the attitude of the Police I always try to not take it personally, my most memorable line from a Policeman was:
"Mate this is awesome, I love it! But shit, it just ain't a ROAD car, but good God .. what a mean bastard it is".

Anyhow when the inspection is done, there is surprise surprise, an issuing of a "canary". To Australian performance car owners a "canary" is not a small harmless bird, nope a "canary" is a yellow decal affixed to the passenger side of the front windscreen, and it is anything and anything but harmless.
This "canary" now indicates that the vehicle is "Not Roadworthy", from the time of "canary" attachment you have a 7-14 day time span (depending on the Policeman's mood on the day), this time is given for you to correct the defects in the cars presentation. These "defects" as noted by the Police are just the tip of the iceberg, in order to remove the "canary" the vehicle is required to be presented to an official Road Traffic Authority inspection station, and this inspection is the RTA's version of the "Duck's guts", they miss nothing, high quality performance cars have failed here for reasons like "Those wiper blades look a bit dry". Anyhow enough said, failure to to present the vehicle for inspection will cause the registration of the vehicle to be revoked, when registration is revoked driving of the vehicle is prohibited.
So what's wrong with the Interceptor? Well firstly understand that Australian vehicle laws are at times ridiculous. I could actually feel sympathy for the Police because on some occasions the law can be so stupid it must be embarrassing for the Police to enforce it. You the readers should be able to sort the stupid from the sane in what follows.

Here is the major issue list


1. The tires are over-width, in Australia you are not allowed to increase the production track-width by more than 1 inch each side.


2. Reverse dish rims, to achieve the rim offset of the Interceptor the rims are custom made and welded together reverse style. They are also too wide, the maximum approved width being 8 inch


3. Exhaust outlet, if it was connected, add on too loud, also a connected exhaust outlet point must be in excess of 18 inches from nearest opening window. If not connected, no matter, you will get busted for the protrusion beyond the natural line of the body.


4. Obscured vision. This is the big one. That supercharger means that even if you were allowed to run one (illegal to force induct a V8 in West Australia), you would still be busted for vision obstruction, exposed pulley wheel and unsealed bonnet (hood) area. So what if you do not connect it, like on the movie car?... well the vision obstruction and unsealed bonnet area still stand.


5. Roll cage, nope sorry ... nice and safe well yes, increases the structural stability of the car well yes ... not allowed

planetdave

9,921 posts

252 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
And be sure to visit the 'Interceptor' at 'The Cars The Star' in the lake district.

I was amused to see it running on leaf springs

I know mine does - but I'm not putting out outrageous power (and it can get VERY iffy on bumpy roads at 3 figures )

darren

94 posts

283 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
jagsy said:
Nice to know the Lion still roars.

Nice looking car though - better than the UK Mondeo he he


I'm sure if Ford had given me the NZ$30k difference between the HSV and the GT I could have rustled up a few mods to make the lion cower in corner.

The chassis is definitely better though - put your foot down coming out of a corner and the back end just squats like a girl going to the toilet in a forest, and you gain momentum rapidly. There's very little wheelspin (in the dry). The HSV in similar circumstances would likely trade some rubber with the tarmac and your arms would get a workout.

razzle99

165 posts

242 months

Friday 4th June 2004
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Respect to the grunt & general V8-ness of the Falcon & HSV, but just can't get to grips with the looks of either. I know it's very personal opinion, but I feel the same way about the Impreza WRX and Evo Mitsu's.

The Interceptor on the other hand is an absolute weapon !!

Do feel sorry for Aussie petrolheads though, I have a couple of mates who live over there. They could seek some solace from the fact that we'll be in the same boat soon - seen the thread about the old guy who lost his license for warning drivers abour a speed trap ???!

Sorry for the long post - post pub ranting...

orisha-oko

15 posts

255 months

Friday 4th June 2004
quotequote all

Well to say i'm rather unimpressed by the performance of the car. With 390 hp and 0-62 in 5.8 is not that quick at all. I would say that is a waste of horsepower that you cant use. Even the Pontiac GTO/Holden monaro(345)with 55 Hp less is faster(5.3). I do like the interior/exterior of the car! Looks neat!!! I seen lots of cars in the same category that can beat this car in heartbeat like the Nissan Altima; A FWD with the 3.5 V6 with 245 hp Goes at 5.9( by motor trend). And the fuel economy is even worse at 13mpg the GTO/Monaro makes 18/27 MPG and is a bigger V8
the venerable and redesigned 5.7 . What I can Wait to see is the new Cadillac CTS V series Plus that is comming next year with even more HP(470-500)

LuS1fer

41,086 posts

244 months

Friday 4th June 2004
quotequote all
In the looks department, I'd say the Monaro and this car were separated at birth and that's not necessarily a good thing. Sequential shift, RS style interior, 13mpg and no, not for me.

darren

94 posts

283 months

Friday 4th June 2004
quotequote all
orisha-oko said:

And the fuel economy is even worse at 13mpg the GTO/Monaro makes 18/27 MPG and is a bigger V8
the venerable and redesigned 5.7 .


That is not the official figure. That was my figure after trying to push the right-hand pedal through the carpet around a road which is essentially like a bad British B-road in the Pennines. It's full of corners marked 25 or 35kph.

Holden's quoted figure will be for driving it like a nancy...and you wouldn't be reading this site if you drove like a nancy.

Re the poor acceleration figures: it does seem to be geared for very little wheelspin, and it's got plenty of urge up around 60mph. Not as much as, for example, and STI WRX, though.

Not that I'm trying to justify anything, though

dinkel

26,889 posts

257 months

Friday 4th June 2004
quotequote all
ohopkins said:
Thanks, I enjoyed that Last Interceptor link.

However, if you read the history section, you can see that Australia is indeed no place to own a performance car.

( . . . )


Breaking the law kind of goes with this kind of machinery.

Imagine the Aussie "Vanishing Point" with an Interceptor ploughing its way thru the dessert . . .

robbo64

299 posts

242 months

Friday 4th June 2004
quotequote all
Looks like one of those Honda/Acura R-SXs from the front... Something else they don't sell over here

Like it though

Road_Terrorist

5,591 posts

241 months

Monday 7th June 2004
quotequote all
Personally I'd rather the XR6 Turbo version, much more discreet looking and far more potential for performance. The tested model was also an auto which would blunt performance a bit.

Oh and the actual Interceptor from the movie was just a stock six cylinder car with V8 sounds dubbed in, and it would be quite legal if you go the appropriate engineers certificates, well maybe not the forward view obstructing scoop but most people just put them on after the inspection.

As for being defected, well just part of life here, just dont get caught Normally its max power types who are the victims anyway. The more obvious the modification the more likely to get pulled over. Hence the proliferation of modified Q cars here. Modifications and road rules vary from state to state, the Northern Territory for instance has some sections of no speed limit road, though its hardly an autobahn and you'll have to dodge 'roos, poisonous snakes, crocs, road trains and homocidal locals on your way. Anyway its all part of the fun, up until recently the fine for obstructing a number plate was about a quarter of the price of the average speeding fine, so government stupidity can sometimes work in your favour .

pombstard

6,729 posts

241 months

Monday 7th June 2004
quotequote all
I reckon I could almost go an XR6T too - styling's finally smoothed over the AU wobble and everything I read and hear about is all good. Would like to have a go in a Typhoon too.

Still got a looooooooooong list of fixits for the BA Falcon before I could ever commit to buying one though, not least the build quality. XR6T could do well in Europe, as long as Ford didn't try to take on Merc, BMW, Audi et al.

NDT

1,753 posts

262 months

Monday 7th June 2004
quotequote all
Incidentally FPV is a joint venture between Prodrive and Ford of Australia.
If anyone wants more information then just ask!

Nero5

17 posts

239 months

Monday 7th June 2004
quotequote all
Given that the typhoon will reputedly have the highest torque figure for a production car released in Australia it will be interesting to see how it goes. It is also rumoured to get the 6spd auto....which seems unusual for the reputed 500+lb/ft of torque.
Australia seems the last bastion of RWD GM and Ford platforms.
As to the sti/evo vs comparison...the Ford/GM products do not compare well in speed/$ nor in fuel economy. However drive accross Australia or from Adelaide to Melbourne (tow of the closest state capitals at 750km) and the appeal of the STI/EVO type cars wanes considerably...let alone if you happen to want to tow a car on a trailer.