G sensor for final FPV

A series of teaser images posted on Ford Performance Vehicles' official Facebook page over the last week reveals a G-force sensor will be among the unique features of its final and most powerful model ever.

FPV has confirmed the limited-edition GT F 351, which will be officially launched on June 10, will be the most powerful GT-badged Falcon ever produced by Ford Australia, producing 351kW of power and an unchanged 570Nm of torque from its supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine.

Just 550 sports sedans will be produced, alongside 120 examples of FPV's final Pursuit Ute, which will be powered by a 315kW/545Nm 'GS-spec' version of the same blown V8.

Officially, the GT F 351 sedan is priced at $77,990 and the Pursuit Ute costs $52,990 (plus on-road costs for both), but Ford has received unexpected demand for both models, allowing some dealers to charge more than $100,000 for the swansong models.

They will be the final two FPV models to be built before Ford axes its performance brand and launches its facelifted FH Falcon in October, including the born-again XR8 sedan (there will be no V8 ute), which will employ the same basic mechanical package as the GT F.

Similar to the braking, acceleration and cornering force meters found in performance models like the Porsche 911 and Nissan GT-R, the G sensor appears to be the only new element of a new colour centre stack display, which also presents a supercharger boost gauge (reading to a maximum of 1 bar), plus battery voltage and engine water temperature gauges.

Traditional analogue gauges showing boost pressure, water temperature and oil temperature are included in FPV's outgoing GT, which should continue alongside the centre stack's eight-inch colour touch-screen with reversing camera and Bluetooth/USB/iPod connectivity.

Among the other new details revealed by the teaser images is 'GTF 351' stamping on the engine (instead of 'BOSS 335'), matt-black 'GT F' body-side decals, a GT F badge on the grille, and red/black build number badges.

Ford revealed a new 'GT F 351' rear badge, which pays homage to the 351 cubic-inch (5.8-litre) V8-powered Falcon GTs that raced at the Bathurst 1000 in the early 1970s, when it started its slow-release reveal campaign on May 7.

As we've reported, the final FPV will be available in just five paint colours: Winter white, Kinetic blue, Silhouette black, Octane orange and Smoke grey.

Standard matte-black stripes will come standard with all colours, with a 'performance white' option available for Kinetic cars, metallic gold available on Silhouette models and silver stripe options on offer for Smoke and Silhouette.

The Pursuit Ute will be available with the same paint and stripe colour combinations, and fitted with a GT front bumper, F6 side skirts and GT wheels.

Essentially a GT R SPEC with more power and these cosmetic additions, the GT F will ride on that model's 19x9.0-inch rear wheels with 275/35 R19 Dunlop Sports Maxx tyres. It will also feature launch control, a recalibrated suspension package and six-piston front and four-piston rear Brembo callipers, which are optional on the outgoing FPV GT.

Ford says the changes will make the GT F quicker, more responsive, more driveable and more refined than ever, with superior cornering grip and 0-100km/h acceleration in less than five seconds expected.