2008 FPV Range First Steer
May 15, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
2008 FPV Range First Steer
CarAdvice rating: 
(4.00)
Models driven: FPV GT E, GT-P, F6, Super Pursuit, Pursuit – all autos
- by David Twomey
The first word that springs to mind in regard to the FG Falcon based Ford Performance Vehicle range is ‘entertaining’, and the entertainment comes in bag loads provided you are aware of both your limitations and those of the cars.
Not that there are many limitations on the new FPV range, now a simplified collection of just GT and F6 variants, except for the utilities, which still retain the Pursuit and Super Pursuit names.
In line with the reworked naming of the mainstream models, gone are the Typhoon, Tornado and Force.
The bulk of the FPV range is still as in your face as ever, with bold striping and strong colours in evidence across the range, except for the pinnacle of the GT range the all-new GT E , which has been very much caste in the mould of the Euro executive express.
The GT cars all get the 5.4-litre V8, which has been the subject of no less than 29,000 engineering hours of work to squeeze more power from it and more refinement from the way it produces that power.
There’s a new twin plate throttle body, new camshaft profile, altered timing and new stainless steel straight-through exhaust manifolds, along with a higher compression ratio.
All this means an extra 13kW for a total of 315kW peaking at an all important 6500rpm – 500rpm more than previously. Torque is a fat 551Nm at 4750rpm.
On the road this engine feels eager and powerful, unlike the somewhat lazy version that we found in the FG Falcon XR8 when it was launched a month or so ago.
The V8 is happy to get on with the business and revs freely and strongly, hauling the not inconsiderable bulk of the GT models to very substantial speeds in seemingly short periods of time.
Dash is the dark metallic green similar to Holdens “Hot House” green, like on the Enforcer XR8.
Breeze seems to be almost halfway between blue and green. One of the XR6’s at my local dealer is in that colour and looks damn good to me.
Actually Iam like the whole colour range as appears to be a lot of effort going into selections. And it seems to be more then just OK!
Hey NM, you missed out on the child calling all of us ####suckers.
wow big jump from 6.1 to 5.5, well motor and drive seem to get the same times out of the ss-v 5.4-5.5 and the xr6t 5.1-5.2. I can also say the the hsv e series could hit 4.96 quoted by hsv but obviously there is no empirical evidence to support that claim as with your ba gt which is 0.6 of the pace and the gts is less than 0.3 of the mark. There alot of variables firstly the temperature, wind, humidity, and the driver reaction time etc. enough said, whatever you believe is right.
Watto but I won’t be going for the optional Colour Coded Dash that’s just too much or; as BM says too dickie.
wheelnut wait till series 2 active fuel mangement:), they should bring the colour fusion back similar to ignition
SS V ute you are getting Wheelnut is it?
Watto all the info [pros/cons] of a Roll-A-Back Tonneau cover vs a Normal Hard Tonneau Cover is on http://www.quig.com.au
There is also an image which shows you how much space you lose etc.
I like the rolla cover as its remote controlled and can be locked in various positions plus simply rolls outa site if u have to carry any tall items
Whereas if you have any items which stick up above the top of the tray and you have a hinged hard tonneau cover BY LAW you must take the cover off as it blocks your view
^There a good idea Wheelnut theres a guy in a magazine (cant remember which one) that owns a VU Holden Commy ute in silver with it and its called “ice”.
Yep, as I guessed. Nice option to have and made in Oz :-D I guess it depends on your needs.
The f6 is looking like an amazing car, it IS a dissappointment that there is no premium FPV car that takes the best of the G6ET interior to REALLY create a Senator rival that would be the undisputed understated luxury and sports car, I can’t understand why FPV can’t see the potential.
Senator – a number of my mates work at the factory and I have seen the various colours will be available on the series 2.. ignition is staying as its still quite popular the only other new colour I would consider is vivid which is a purple similar to that on th HRT Maloo
Yeah Duck an SS-V.. BMs Brother took me for a blast in his when I was staying with HER in Perth last week which convinced me that I Just Want One
A couple of months ago [in a Ute magazine - strangely enough] I saw a ute with a hard tonneau cover which had a border collie on it – facing the car behind you; and when you select reverse the dogs eyes light up
do you remeber the colour fusion it was present during the hsv e series, then all of sudden it was gone, nice colour. I think it’s the same colour on the pontiac g8 gxp concept.
Any more new things you might know of when series 2 comes out? will they got rid of the red top screen for the ss-v and get hsv binnacles just like the ssz and cv8z had.
And the binnacles should match the trim and dash instrutments for example red blue orange or grey background for the binnacles and in the case of a hsv it’s obviously white which matches the DASH instrutments. I think for the cv8z, ssz it came in orange, grey, red, and light blue depending on the colour of the car.
Fusion was the Sunset Orange colour Holden used specifically for the CV8-Z Monaros to make them stand out
Big Jim wrote: “FPV oughta export the F6 to the uk. Its definately a world class performance car that punches well above its weight, the poms would love the bang for their buck. And it would out perfom and undercut in price the gm hsv gts/vauxhall vxr8. It would become a cult hero car in the uk.”
My thoughts exactly Big Jim. Have Ford Australia ever exported the Falcon to Europe?
Have you considered the Mondeo Andrew? UK Autocar magazine rate the Mondeo above VW Passat. I live in NZ, the FG Falcon hasn’t been released here yet. I’m interested to know how the new FG compares with the Mondeo in terms of build, ride quality and refinement.
They look F*****g mean!
Ford GT,
you cant beat the falcon for ergonomics and comfort.
just a couple of weekends ago i jumped in the FG and mondeo back to back.
the falcon seats are (and always have been) unbeatable for comfort and quality.
even the so called “european design” in the mondeo seats arent even a drop on the falcons.
my mate gave me a lift the other week in his VZ ute, and i would say you would find more comfort in EF falcon seats
Watto,
the rolla cover has been around for a while now.
you lose length and width of the tray opening.
you wont realise how much space you have lost until you are craving that extra 100mm.
Wheelnut,
i suppose it told you on the rolla cover site that by LAW you must remove the hard cover if it obstructs your view?
does that also mean that you can not carry loads higher than your rear screen because they also obstruct your view?
Andrew M, does your mate think the same thing about the seats? Or did you tell him what you thought too?
^Stop lying so much Andrew M! How can EF Falcon seats fill more comfortable, than VZ’s?
There’s a age difference!
As I stated earlier I have to replace my VZ. I actually don’t find it that comfortable. I said I would only buy an import, and not buy another Australian car. I will change that, I won’t buy another Holden. I have been a huge Holden fan for as long as I can remember, but really, Holden pick up your game. I actually don’t mind the new G6E and I will probably buy that or a Passat. Also rather fitting that my anti-spam word was Daewoo, just like Holdenwoo
No Andrew M: a highway patrol officer mate of mine told me that if you have the hard tonneau cover up whilst in motion you could get pulled over and issued an infringement notice on a technicality – of impaired vison
I guess it depends on whether or he/she has met his/her quota
Not only that but if left up the hard tonneau cover could make contact with low tree branches break and cause damage/injury
whereas you can still carry loads which are taller than the tray [44 gallon drums etc] as you can/should arrange the load in such a way so that you can still see out the back which is why a standard soft tonneau or the roll a back is more suitable
Duck – in terms of comfort and support age has nothing to do with it. It all depends on the design; its ergonomics and functionality
I mean the seats in BMs M3 are a lot more supportive [both lateral and lumbar]and comfortable than those in a lot of more modern cars including Fords and Holdens – as they are a classic design [similar to that of Recaros] – perfect for a performance car.. whereas those in a number more modern cars; including XR8s and SS’s I’ve been in are more like church pews
Wheelnut,
well i ask what is the difference between someone with their hard cover up versus the impaired vision inflicted by an “XL” tray body, or a refrigerated container on the back of a ute?
hard covers dont stick all that high when thy are open.
if you are at risk of wiping it out on a tree branch, then your roof is also at risk of being wiped out.
i do agree though that if you are using your ute for serious work/carrying, the hard tonneau can pose limitations.
but in saying that, the rolla cover also restricts load carrying ability.
the soft tonneau is the most practical. anything other than that is just for a pose.
ive thought of getting a hard cover before, but i think it would annoy the hell out of me.
a rolla cover would too.
I hope ford ditch the high tech boss engine for a lighter push rod v8 5.0,i will wait 2 more years for this as i said before ford can do better.Fords xr6t is the new king,but i hope that will change in 2010.I own a ba xr8 but i must wait for the new v8 or trade it for a turbo, until then ford needs a new v8 to match hsv and they know it.
WHO CARES………..V6′S AND V8′S AND BIG CARS ARE ON NOSE AS PUBLIC PRICE CONSCIOUS!
PETROL AND CONSUMPTION!
I dont care about paying 1.50 a litre for fuel,if i did id be riding a nifty 50,and 6 and 8s are not on par as far a performance goes in 2008.Holden are going bigger,ford are going smaller in v8 cubes.Ford need to ditch to high tech v8 for a lighter one we need less weight over the front wheels its a fact.They will ditch both 6 and 8 in 2 years so its best to wait before handing over 45k.
Seems like you are in shrnking minority as big cars on slide and less new big cars getting sold!
senitor i never said the coupe 60 was ugly i said the front spoiler was ugly witch is personal opinion.
as for the fg only getting 4 stars in motor guess what the xr6 got 5 stars the ve has only managed 4 so the falcon must be more world class than the VE.
as for the new gt it was quicker around a track than any other cars witch includes the ssv so it can’t be to bad.
and as far as me being ford bias that ain’t true i just hate the ve with a passion because of the falcon shaped front lights the the stupidly oversize flared guards and the crappy tec v6 IMO the Ecotec was a better engine, but i love all commodore before that and most old Holden’s.
and the hsv 6.2L cant be that great of an engine when the 224kw mustangs in America are almost as quick as the new hsvs and the only a 4.6L v8 granted they weigh less just like the new hsv’s and the ssv’s do to the fpv’s.
and for the record i hate the new side stripes as well but love the new bonnet sticker makes the gt look tuff
and i didn’t say that the new hsv looks like a omega i said that you could make the omega look like an hsv just like you can make an XT look like a F^or GT and if hsv go to the coupe 60 vent that will be grate
Who cares? Ford needs to get its act together quick before i jump ship and it wont be to holden,i must say i like the look of audi rs4 small,light not too big and a 4.2 v8 that revs to 8000rpm.But i would have to pay well over 50k for that baby.
Big cars on the slide in australia? lol at nm,more like fords v8 performance is on the slide,its all about the 6 turbo for now but i hope that will change with a v6 and a new v8.Big cars will always sell here,but i need more power and less weight over the front wheels get it?
NM,
your minority stakes are wrong.
just ask holden how much their V8 sales are increasing…
and ford their turbo 6 range……
Andrew M, can you answer my question about the seat thing?
Andrew M, you are right holden’s V8 range is increasing so is ford’s I6 turbo range. Even with higher petrol costs, you’d think it would affect the sales (especially holden’s V8’s mainly!).
duck just because a car is new don’t mean the seats are more comfortable for example my old mans vs Calais seats a fantastic but when i first bought the Escort we couldn’t believe how much more comfortable than a car from 1995 and it was made in 79 and then a friend of mine has an XW falcon wagon and there even better
You’re joking about the seats aren’t you Duck? I found the seats in a ‘78 Cortina more comfortable than in an EB Falcon or VS Commodore. Newer isn’t always better by a long shot.
Actually ive changed my mine, come to think of it. The seats in VT and/or VX commodore i find are more comfortable than in a VZ. But they both can’t compare to a VE though.
commodore seats are too stiff.
thats my complaint
in the VZ its like they have a whole lot of humps and lumps going on, but they dont do jack.
Though Andrew M the VE seats are large improvement!
And the apparently shapeless and short-cushioned pews in a Citroen DS are just…Heaven :) (while we’re bring up old car seats)
I think after sitting in mates Monaro that seats in it make you feel like your sitting on top of them and not sculptured into them. My BF Falcon is similar and more serious homework has to go into the scupltured body hugging attributes of seats!
Then a mates Mercedes has wicked seats as banana leaf stuffing into it and is real stunning feel. Comfy, supportive and can sit in it for ages easy!
Duck,
am i still a liar in suggesting it is possible for an older vehicle to have the more comfortable seats?
No………..not really.
Anti-Spam word FPV. HA!
Andrew M, though did you tell your mate about the VZ’s seats? Your thoughts that the VZ’s seats aren’t comfortable and EF Falcon seats are more comfortable, did you tell him your thoughts?
no i didnt Duck.
and you know why? because i have respect for each others preferences.
he is a real holden fan and we just have digs at each other all the time.
he wouldnt have admitted it anyway ha ha ha ha ha
the funniest thing for him is that his father inlaw is a big ford nut and currently has an XR8 ute.
he quietly tells me that the XR8 is a bloody nice rig though. especially since the one he has now has the ZF6 in it
i dont have anything against you Duck, but i strongly feel that sometimes you let your bias really get in the way to a point where it sometimes becomes denial.
Oz used to be the same but for the blue oval.
he admitts now that he is a little more open minded than he used to be
Yeah noticed that with OZ as one cant out and out support one car maker enmasse across board as not every car in a car makers range is best in field. Seems to me some people think that that is not the case = a real joke and a laugh heaps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!