FPV reveals F6 E Concept

Ford Performance Vehicles is contemplating a turbo-six version of the GT E. The F6 E already exists as a pre-production model to gauge public reaction to the car and the manufacturer anticipates a selling price around $78,190.

Here at the Carsales Network we enquired on the release of the current FG range as to whether there was a luxury F6 variant in the works (more here). At the time, FPV managing director Rod Barrett didn't discount it out of hand, but allowed the company the luxury of some time to see how sales of the new range went before considering this type of vehicle -- one that takes FPV in a slightly different direction from its traditional demographic.

"Feed back from our customers leaves us confident that the F6 E will be a hit with those looking for something more from their performance vehicle," Barrett now says about a prospective production model.

"With the release of this concept we will test the market's reaction before deciding whether or not to put the F6 E into production."

The F6 E shares its 4.0-litre turbo six-cylinder engine with the standard F6. Peak power is 310kW and the 565Nm torque figure applies across the rev range from 1950 to 5200rpm. Driving through the standard ZF six-speed automatic transmission, the engine uses 12.1L/100km of fuel in combined-cycle testing. Braking is addressed by 355x32mm front-disc rotors and 330x28mm rear-disc rotors. Both are cross-drilled and ventilated, with Brembo supplying the six-piston calipers for the front and the four-piston calipers for the rear.

Barrett doesn't explicitly outline what sort of buyers will opt for the F6 E, should it go into production, but believes they will be enticed by the car's subtler approach to styling and finish.

"The F6 E suits those drivers who want the same power and performance of an F6 but finished in a more conservatively styled package that isn't going to leave everyone staring at them."

"As opposed to the overtly sporty F6, the F6 E is more subtle, with striking chrome accents and a refined lip spoiler replacing the bright colours, and large rear wings found on the other models -- the colour coding of the 'racoon-eyes' also helps the F6 E to keep a 'low profile'."

If the production model goes ahead, FPV will offer it in the following colours: Winter White, Silhouette, Lightning Strike, Velvet, Sensation, Steel, Ego, and Seduce. Standard wheels are 19-inch alloys in an Alpine Silver finish. Inside, the trim comprises shadow leather and dark walnut woodgrain veneer. As standard, the production model would come equipped with a reversing camera, reverse-parking sensors, ABS/EBD and stability control.

The F6 E will be present at the Melbourne International Motor Show opening this week. According to FPV Communications Manager Dave Harding, a decision will be made "within six to eight weeks".

"[FPV has] done a full business treatment on it, purely because they wanted all the numbers to be correct," he explained to the Carsales Network when we put it to him that the company having already settled on a colour palette for a production model suggested a strong probability that the car will go into production.

"But secondly," he continued, "because it's based quite heavily on the F6 and we also have a lot of the GT E components involved in the car, it wasn't rocket science to work out what colour palette will we apply to it."

"We knew that we weren't going to put it out in 'Dash' and 'Nitro' -- all the hot colours, the electric colours, because it's a subdued model. That was easily enough taken care of.

"As far as the engineering side of it, it's essentially an F6 and that was the comeback to someone who asked the question the other day: 'Didn't you already try this with the Force 6 a couple of years ago?'

"Well, no, because the Force 6 was based on an old F6. This is the new F6, which everyone loves. It's predominantly the new flagship of the FPV fleet. We would assume that it would travel a lot better than the Force 6.

"Then again, it's up to the public as to whether they want it or not," he concluded.