FPV to release low cost ‘GS’ in September
August 3, 2009 by Paul Maric
If an FPV GT is out of your price range and you still want the FPV badge – sans the forced induction option – Ford Performance Vehicles is set to awaken your senses with a cut-price V8 model, badged the ‘GS’.
CarAdvice can exclusively reveal that the FPV GS will be powered by Ford’s renowned 5.4-litre BOSS V8. The GS engine will produce peak power of 302kW at 6000rpm (500rpm short of its 315kW GT sibling).
CarAdvice also believes the GS could be a move away from performance models for Ford, with that area being handed over to FPV.
When CarAdvice asked president and CEO Marin Burela at the recent announcement of the EcoBoost Ford Falcon about the future of the XR8 model he sidestepped the issue.
“Look today is all about wonderful fuel efficient engines, and our colleagues over at FPV have some fine performance cars and will do so even more in the future,” Mr Burela said.
In addition to the drop in power, the GS will weigh in at 1840kg. The weight gain of 3kg over its GT sibling places it at a weight advantage to its GT-P and GT-E counterparts, which weigh 1845kg and 1850kg respectively.
While FPV’s four-pot Brembo performance brakes will be an option on the GS, standard fitment will be a set of 322mm (ventilated front) x 303mm (solid rear) brakes – as fitted to the Falcon XR8 and Falcon XR6 Turbo.
Ford will also produce the FPV GS in utility form, which will miss out on the high-grade colour screen option.
The GS sedan range will follow with a similar feature set to the GT E, meaning it will receive a colour LCD screen and reverse camera as standard fitment.
You can expect to see the FPV GS on sale from September 1st, 2009. If insider sources are correct, Ford will also drop the XR8 moniker in favour of an FPV branch for performance vehicles, bringing the FPV GS in at around $55,000. It wouldn’t make sense for Ford to offer a 290kW V8, in addition to a 302kW and 315kW V8.
Print it: 
I was wondering when I would dee more details about the GS model, there was a brief article about in one of the weekend papers. $55 000 is still a fair bit of coin, esp. if the XR8 is going to be dropped.
~PRIMA!
Ford in Australia are going to have so many engines and fuel options available it’s hard to keep track!
4, 6, 8, petrol, diesel, lpg!
One would think a hybrid would be out some time in the future seeing Ford already offer that in USA.
More choices the better.
Just wait till the aftermarket guys get hold of the EcoBoost engine…..
Gibbo true, but you also get more kit than a XR8, so its still a good deal if you can stretch that far. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Ford drop the XR8, looking around I’ve barely seen any XR8 FG’s, whereas I’ve seen heaps of XR6’s and XR6T’s. Ford no doubt is trying to change their public image, explains their gradual pull-out of V8 Supercars, and the big fanfare about their plans for ecoboost engines.
ford and holden should make coupe’s and sell them
Sad to hear that the XR8 name will be dropped.
What kinda crapy name is GS? Sounds like a Lexus.
I recon an entry level FPV should still retain the 315 but with less equipment, kinda like a stripped down GT with the bare essentials… now that would be AWSOME!
A welcome idea but with $55K I could buy a GS, or with a little more I could buy a Ford Focus XR5 for myself and a Ford Fiesta for my wife. The choice is obvious.
I dont get it… the GS barely seems any different from a GT other than it being so much cheaper. Besides which, cant FPV just take over the XR badge like Tickford had it instead of bringing this new stuff out to replace the XR? I love that badge, to me, its everything that Ford Performance stands for. Cheap aussie muscle motoring!!! This new GS thing comes from no where…
The GS tag dates back to the XA,XB & XC Falcons off the 70’s
If Ford drops the Xr’s and drops the double scoloped headlights,I bet within two models they will be on Commodores?
Rowiti the GS dates back to the XY Falcon, I had one in the copper bronze colour with a 302cu V8 and 4 speed top-loader gearbox. I put a high rise Weiand inlet manifold and a Holley 780 double pumper carbi on it and I can tell you that thing went like a cut cat!! It seems a good move by Ford to drop the XR8 and hand it over to FPV in some form. I think its good for FPV as well ……especially if they get the Coyote V8 at some stage!! I wouldnt buy a V8 anyway….why would you when you can have that sweet Turbo I6 ?
I think XW Falcons had a GS model too……
For all those worrying about the cost of a GS, just pick up an F6 or GT second-hand for half the price.
$55k, wow, not value like the SV8 use to be [268kmh!], well i would/nt pay that, but i suppose Ford think some will if they are going to all this effort to make it.
On top of this if petrol races up to $1.70 like last year [well on the cards] big cars will once again become more and more difficult to move.
Aussie cars are to expensive and take a huge hit in depreciation, a letter in Wheels mag this month hade a HSV owner bleeding, only wanted to give him $20k for something he paid $80k for just a few years ago.
I will pass, but you that are buying, be happy and enjoy!
Tezzz,
I doubt people spending 70K on cars tend to “abuse” them, and after 12 months there are enough to chose from on the 2nd hand market.
This is certainly an interesting move. My biggest concern is the dropping of the XR8 nameplate.
Yes the GS is a nameplate that dates back many years, but as it was displayed by the posters above, not many people can obviously relate to it.
Best to keep the XR8 name and just place it under the FPV badge if you ask me like the days when Tickford badged some XR8’s
Im thinking there has to be some other reason to them wanting to take a “Ford badge off of the V8.
Do the new emission target laws exclude Performance brands or something???
Do they want to put the V8 model under FPV to lower the average emissions of the Ford badge???
if they want to do a budget V8 I reckon they need to put the 302 in it to keep some exclusivity in the GT badge
Angel…if petrol goes up to $1.70 then you have a choice of a gas injected I6 or a EcoBoost turbo 4……..if you want a V8 you buy one……..there will be a great choice of engines from Ford…….
Wouldnt a gas injected Turbo I6 be great!!!! Hope they bring that out……
that car in the drawing looks nothing like the real deal…. ive seen it and it looks great…. i think the XR8’s days are numbered…. and i dont think thats a bad thing… from what i know the GS isnt going to be too far away from XR8 pricing
Well, thanks friend for showing me the pics and why didnt you tell me earlier ?mmmmmmm………hahahaha
Ive seen pics on another site,but didnt like the badging…..
Make sure you share those pics my way too Tonyn old buddy/pal/mate/champ and many other sucking up words….
Why is there a reference to 3kg in this article???
Some of the weight references are very strange. If you can notice 3kg in an 1800kg vehicle you are full of it!
hahaha,Andrew . When we discussed Ford’s new car to be released in October ,neither of us would have picked this,would we ?
Yeah, bring back the GS!
The XR8 has a great recent history, but all you read is it being bested in comparo after comparo. The luxury pack on the XR8 barely got any attention when it needed a separate identity like SSV’
The GS was a great badge used from the 1969 XW to the 1978 XC as a monniker under which you could take a Falcon, Futura or Fairmont, and INDIVIDUALISE it, making it yours and special. What you did get was the GT dash, wheel, subtle stripes, full chrome wheel covers. The first GS continued on in the XT GT’s ‘discrete’ theme.
Back then it could be a 6, an 8; it could be luxury equipped or bare-as-bones sports focussed. You could pretty much specify a GT, and dodge the heavy insurance and police attention. The early 302 Windsor was the gem option, and allowed a test XW GS to do 13.8L/100km at an average speed of 80mph interstate in a magazine test done before speed limits. What a drive!
I truly hope FPV make this a regular production vehicle, that we are able to individualise and option up with a big list, to exactly what we require.
Great move.
Low cost? I don’t think so.
Ford should return the $5000 each tax payer puts into producing each of these cars!!
it looks grouse…. no pics i can give you… i had no camera!!
Forgot to mention the Tacho on my 302 XW GS reads only to 5200 unlike the XW GT’s higher revving 351 (5500 I think). If you ordered an XY or XA 250 2V GS, the Tacho only went to 4400!!
So in this respect the new GS is historically in spirit with the old, being able to rev 500rpm less than the GT.
Forgive me my GS indulgences. It’s the topic I choose when asked at a quiz! History nerd and all. Bavarian Missile, can you share the pics?
WRONG! Tacho in the XA-B GS Pack went to 7000rpm with 5500 Redline. The GS Pack was only an optional extra on any model – including the Falcom 500 (I had 4 of them back in the seventies – all 302s). The Dash and Tacho was identical to the GT. (although the XY GTHO tacho went to 8000rpm). Unlike the XR8, you only got the standard falcon 500 or Fairmont suspension on the original GS (Grand Sport) Pack – unles you ALSO picked the Sport Suspension Option.
Redlines of tacho, that was.
The Realist, I hear you with the cost. I’d love a lower initial cost, and then you can add what you want to it, raising the overall price….
Custom vehicles…
So in the last couple of years weve had the FPV GT; the Cobra [sedan/ute?] and now the GS what next the GXL or the ESP ?.
Or why not bring back the “Surferoo” [Fords version of the Sandman]; or even introduce “The Interceptor” ?
Thanks BM.
Ford forums also have a full size CGI of the GS. Cannot wait for the real thing!
That Clevo Tacho sounds menacing! There was also the Hi-Po 289 that could rev to 7000, and the Boss 302 Windsor was crazier, and music to my ears :)
Jack ,yeah I know all about the old stuff.
Spent many nights in garages whilst engines have been built for GTs, mine included . Phase 4 rods were good for 8000 rpm they say, only a few would know for sure I guess.
This article is full of rubbish. I think the whole GS thing is a fake and you’ve all been sucked in.