FPV BF Range 2005 Review

What we liked
>> New six-speed auto
>> Revised front and rear styling
>> Great V8 and turbo 6-cyl engines

Not so much
>> Some trim items under-par
>> Rear and side vision in utes

OVERVIEW
FPV's BA range was a quantum leap for Ford's hot shop when it arrived a few years back. Until then, the Ford go-fast division (in the guise of Tickford) was the whipping boy of the home-grown performance market. It had good products, but always seemed to come up short against the boys from HSV.

The BA was a better looking and more refined package on which to build its affordable high-performance sedans -- it was a near perfect package and Ford and FPV's saving grace.

The new BF range continues FPV's advances -- not only in technology and performance but in the sales race as well. And while improvements have been wrought all through the cars, it's the ZF six-speed auto that will grab your attention should you temp yourself with a test drive.

Building performance driving machines, FPV has always had a healthy core of manual-driving customers who normally wouldn't swear off the stick-shift for a million bucks. But while the four-speed auto in the BA range was accomplished in itself, the new ZF unit will give die-hard manual drivers something to really think about.

FPV predicts around 50 per cent of customers will opt for the automatic transmission even though, it admits, there will be some who won't budge -- no matter how good the offering. But who can blame them -- the Tremec close-ratio manual is pretty darn good too. A manual will always be the choice of the true driving enthusiast...

While the auto is grabbing the headlines, the BF range also features mechanical and brake updates, restyled front and rear ends and plenty of other touches to tempt buyers to trade up, or dare we suggest it, swap camps.

Prices of the latest FPV BF offerings range from the entry F6 Tornado ute at $52,780, through F6 Typhoon at $59,810, Pursuit $54,170, Super Pursuit $59,200, GT $62,210, to the range-topping GT-P at $70,410. Automatic transmission is a $1250 option across the range -- including the F6 Typhoon and Tornado models for the first time.

Prices have gone up, yes, but so has the value. When you compare these cars against more exotic imports, be in no doubt, the home-brewed muscle makes for excellent buying.

FEATURES
The updated BF range of FPVs features newly re-styled front and rear bumpers to enhance the subtly aggressive performance look while giving the V8 and F6 models a visual point of difference. GTs and GT-Ps get twin exhausts too, while ute customers can order new hard tonneau covers with a 'power bulge' which apes the bonnet's heaving lump.

The V8-powered cars now boast 19-inch wheels fitted with 245/35 Dunlop SP9000 tyres while the F6 Typhoon and Tornado are equipped with 18-inch alloys with 245/40 Dunlops as standard. F6 customers can trade up to new 19-inch units with Dark Argent spokes if so desired.

A new line of optional stripes and hood decals -- along with three new colours -- is also available to provide customers with a still wider range of possibilities to personalise their cars.

COMFORT
Interior-wise there's not much to report. We are fans of the optional leather-trimmed steering wheel. It's chunky and well-formed and superb in feel. The seats are supportive and comfortable -- the top-spec models get electronic adjustment.

A comfortable driving position isn't hard to find. Indeed, the interior all works rather nicely though some of the trim and switchgear items are a little underwhelming, but this is balanced by the very competitive pricing.

SAFETY
FPVs brakes have always been up to the task but now the entire range benefits from an update. Braking packages have been improved across the board with the range-topping GT-P and Super Pursuit now boasting six-piston Brembo front calipers -- as seen on super-expensive AMG Mercedes models -- as standard equipment.

The rest of the range benefits from Brembo front four-piston and rear single-piston calipers. Optional upgrades for those wanting the top-of-the-range package are available for $4300. For the first time ute variants will benefit from traction control as a standard feature as well.

Other electronic safety goodies include four-channel anti-skid brakes (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags (with side airbags also in sedans), front seatbelt pre-tensioners, crash severity sensor and driver's seat sensor.

MECHANICAL
The big news under the bonnet is that FPV's engineering partner, Prodrive, has tweaked the V8 and turbo six-cylinder engines to meet the impending strict Euro III emissions standards well ahead of their scheduled January 1 introduction -- and all without any drop in performance. Top marks.

The V8 remains as thunderingly powerful as ever while the turbo six -- which only improves with the automatic -- really provides the customer with a genuine performance bargain in this category.

The V8 and six-cylinder attracts different FPV customers but it really is six-of-one half-a-dozen of the other. The V8 comes out on top in the horsepower race by 20kW but the turbo blows the V8 away in the all-important torque figure with an amazing 550Nm compared to the V8's 520Nm. But who cares about numbers -- all you need to know is that whether you choose the eight or six-cylinder you will have more power on tap than you are ever really likely to need.

COMPETITORS
HSV remains FPV's main competitor and while this continues the performance motorist is going to come up trumps as the two heavyweights go toe-to-toe in the showroom punch-out. HSV has long held the sales receipts as evidence its product is king, but FPV is fighting back strongly and its BF range is only going to improve its position.

FPV points out that it has won most of the sales contests (month-by-month) over the past 12 months and the blood-letting will continue -- all in the name of the consumer. Ding, ding. Let the battle continue.

ON THE ROAD
Well, of course, this is where it's all at with an FPV isn't it? Otherwise a base Falcon, or XR8 (both accomplished cars in their own right) would suffice. But no, thanks all the same we'll take the top models please.

CarPoint drove the entire automatic range through Victoria's Yarra Valley and the excellent tight and twisting tracks in the High Country leading to Mount Buller. And while we're dedicated manual drivers, the advanced automatic makes a good case to impress even the most performance-orientated drivers.

The ZF 6HP26 is one of the best self-shifters around and while German-designed has been thoroughly calibrated to suit the FPV's particular demands by Prodrive's local engineers.

The clever ZF unit shifts seamlessly and unobtrusively and always has the knack of finding the correct gears at the right time -- in the F6 especially. Indeed, the auto seemed to bring out the best in the turbo's torquey engine.

In Drive mode it is the perfect choice for laid-back city cruising but when you want to exploit the FPV's great potential, a quick flick to the left allows manual-type shifting that gives even more control over the car's considerable performance.

We would still pick the manual but could easily be tempted into the self-shifter, especially if city driving was at the core of our activities.

An added bonus with the auto option is that the new unit comes with a stronger outer casing which means less vibration and in-car noise. In fact the BF FPVs are the quietest, most refined models to come out of the Campbellfield factory yet.

Cruising in Drive with the windows up there is hardly any discernable noise intrusion, but if you are from the old school you can whip the car into manual mode, wind the windows down and plant the foot. The V8's low-down rumble and the turbo's primordial howl will quickly have you in aural heaven.

The brakes, too, are a great improvement. The base models with their four-piston front stoppers do an excellent job but the top-spec six-piston clampers fitted to the GT-P and Super Pursuit are simply awesome.

So confidence-inspiring are the brakes that driving hard through tight corners and sweeping bends is really smile-inducing with less white-knuckle moments -- you just know that you are going to get down to speed and, when needed, come to a complete stop without any worries what so ever.

If you are buying the GT, Pursuit, F6 Typhoon or F6 Tornado and you can stretch the budget that little bit more plump your cash down for the $4300 brake upgrade -- you won't be disappointed.