Ford Performance Vehicles
| Ford Performance Vehicles
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|---|---|
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| legal form | Private |
| founding | 2002 |
| Seat | Melbourne , Australia |
| Website | www.fpv.com.au |
Ford Performance Vehicles ( FPV ) is the tuning department of Ford's Australian branch that was established in 2002 . In 2014, the FPV brand was discontinued, two years before Ford stopped producing the Australian models.
history
FPV's roots go back to 1991 when Ford Australia and Tickford teamed up to offer enhanced local Ford models. The result of this cooperation were the first Ford Falcon XR6 and XR8 models. In 2000 the company FTE (Ford-Tickford-Experience) was founded, with which Ford wanted to counter the successful HSV models based on Holden .
The FTE models (namely the T-series) received a lot of applause, but sold fewer units than the factory expected. As a result, Ford founded its own tuning department with FPV in 2002, the name Tickford disappeared.
The attack on HSV succeeded with FPV; sales rose steadily and finally exceeded the HSV numbers in 2006. The FPV vehicles are highly acclaimed by the Australian trade press and the FPV F6 Typhoon was named 2006 Australian Performance Car of the Year by Motor magazine.
Models
Most of the cars offered by FPV were based on the Australian Ford Falcon, a sedan of the upper middle class, including its Ute version (pickup); the wheelbase was 2821 mm for the sedan and 3095 mm for the Ute. The drive was a turbocharged straight-six or a V8.
Model year 2004: BA series
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The following were offered:
- GT (sedan)
- GT-P (sedan)
- Pursuit (Ute)
The cheapest model was the AU $ 59,850 (about 37,000 €) GT, which was equipped with 18-inch wheels, fabric or leather seat covers, air conditioning and two airbags. Above that was the GT-P with a price of AU $ 69,850 (approx. € 43,000) with special 18-inch wheels in a multi-spoke design, sports seats, four airbags, automatic air conditioning and Brembo brakes. The Pursuit was the Ute version, the equipment of which corresponded to that of the GT.
All three models were powered by a V8 named Boss 290, a variant of the 5.4-liter engine from Ford USA with four overhead camshafts and the four-valve head from the Ford Mustang Cobra R. It developed 290 kW (389 hp) at 5500 / min and offered a maximum torque of 520 Nm at 4500 rpm. A four-speed automatic with Tiptronic mode ( called Sequential Sports Shift by Ford ) or a Tremec five-speed transmission of the type TR3 650 took care of the power transmission .
Model year 2005: BA MkII series
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The program has been expanded for the new model year:
- GT (sedan)
- GT-P (sedan)
- Pursuit (Ute)
- Super Pursuit (Ute)
- F6 Typhoon (sedan)
- F6 tornado (Ute)
The GT, GT-P and Pursuit received new decorative stripes and a six-speed Tremec T56 transmission, and the GT-P also received five-spoke 19-inch aluminum wheels. The F6 Typhoon and the F6 Tornado were new.
Typhoon and Tornado were powered by a turbo version of the Ford Barra in-line six-cylinder engine from the Ford Falcon. This four-liter engine with dual overhead camshafts, 24 valves and variable valve timing came to 270 kW (367 hp) at 5250 min -1 and 550 Nm at 2000-4250 min -1 - the highest-ever torque value than ever an Australian engine achieved . Only the T56 six-speed gearbox was available. Due to problems with the supplied two-plate clutch, only a very small number of F6 models rolled off the production line in the 2004 model year. Ford temporarily stopped production and converted the F6 to a reinforced twin-disc racing clutch from another supplier, which worked without any problems.
The Super Pursuit was a pursuit with the equipment level of the GT-P.
The engine output of the eight-cylinder remained unchanged at 286 kW (389 hp), but modified engine control maps resulted in a flatter torque curve and lower consumption.
Model year 2006: BF series
The model range remained unchanged:
- GT (sedan)
- GT-P (sedan)
- Pursuit (Ute)
- Super Pursuit (Ute)
- F6 Typhoon (sedan)
- F6 tornado (Ute)
The engines remained unchanged compared to the previous year. All models had the six-speed gearbox or, on request, the new ZF six-speed automatic transmission of the type 6HP26, which Jaguar and BMW also used. The GT received the 19-inch wheels, GT-P and Super Pursuit wheels previously used on the GT-P in a new design. Typhoon and Tornado buyers could choose between the previous 18-inch wheels and new 19-inch wheels with black painted spokes. The sills and spoilers were carefully changed on all models.
Model year 2007: BF Mk II series
- GT (sedan)
- GT-P (sedan)
- Pursuit (Ute)
- Super Pursuit (Ute)
- F6 Typhoon (sedan)
- F6 tornado (Ute)
- Force 6 (sedan)
- Force 8 (sedan)
From autumn 2006, the model range was supplemented by the Force models, which were characterized by more extensive equipment, including leather interior and a ZF six-speed automatic. The 5.4-liter V8 now officially developed 290 kW (394 hp).
Performance
- FPV Falcon GT
- 0-100 km / h: 5.9 seconds
- 400 meters with a standing start: 14.1 seconds, top speed 165 km / h
- Top speed: 255 km / h
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FPV F6
- 0-100 km / h: 5.4 seconds
- 400 meters with a standing start: 13.5 seconds, top speed 175 km / h
- Top speed: 200 km / h (electronically limited)
Motor data
- FPV 5.4 liter Boss 290 V8 (for GT, GT-P, Pursuit, Super Pursuit and Force 8)
- Output: 286–290 kW at 5500 rpm (measurements on the test bench resulted in up to 430 hp in some cases)
- Torque: 520 Nm at 4500 rpm
- FPV 4.0-liter F6 270 turbo in-line six-cylinder (for F6 Typhoon, F6 Tornado and Force 6)
- Power: 270 kW at 5250 rpm
- Torque: 550 Nm at 2000–4250 rpm
Motorsport
FPV always attached great importance to the relationship between the production models and the Ford touring cars that compete in the Australian V8 supercar series. In 2003 Ford founded a works team called Ford Performance Racing (FPR). Most of the time, the team did not race for victory, but achieved good placings, such as second places in the Bathurst long distance races in 2003 and 2004. In 2003 and 2005, Craig Lowndes and Jason Bright finished in the top ten in the championship. In the 2006 season, former Bathurst winner and championship runner-up Jason Bright and Mark Winterbottom drove for FPR. Past pilots were Craig Lowndes (2003-2004), Glenn Seton (2003-2004), Greg Ritter (2005) and David Brabham (2005).
Given the high budget of the team, the results in the first three years were considered disappointing. In 2006, however, FPR was able to achieve a number of podium places and pole positions.
