V8s are a bit scarce in Ford’s FG Falcon sedan line-up. If you want a bent-eight there’s only the $61,790 XR8. Luxury G6E models (previously Fairmont) now have a European flavour and are either normally aspirated or turbocharged.
Step up to Ford’s Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) brand and it’s a different story, with five of the seven vehicle line-up propelled by a barnstorming 315kW V8.
That’s because Kiwi and Aussie petrol heads love their V8s. It’s all about Bathurst, GTHO Falcons, that sexy eight-cylinder burble, and bragging rights while standing around a barbecue.
Times Motoring tested FPV’s turbocharged six-cylinder F6 last year. The big sedan’s balance, refinement and immense acceleration impressed, to the extent that this long-time V8 owner had to admit that it’s a better car (albeit marginally) than the V8 GTs.
However, there’s still something special about this GT-P, the most powerful and fastest GT Falcon ever built. It’s not as quick off the mark as the F6, but the difference is negligible and once rolling it’s amazingly quick.
With FG, FPV has managed to engineer in a decent exhaust note, which as any V8 owner will attest, is a big part of the experience.
Better still, the stability and traction control system has a high threshold. Nail the throttle on a dry road and the GT-P will spin its rear wheels before traction control kicks in, instead of killing the acceleration and creating a big flat spot. It might not be particularly PC, but it’s a lot of fun.
This boost in power doesn’t come at the expense of fuel consumption, as the new GT-P uses 4.8 per cent less fuel. That is, of course, if the GT-P is driven for economy. Yeah, right. We averaged 15.5 litres per 100km over a mix of city and rural roads, and regularly saw the naughty side of 20 litres per 100km when giving it a fang.
Our example had the excellent ZF six-speed automatic. Well suited to the V8’s torque delivery, the auto shifts firmly under hard acceleration, and holds a gear when you come off the gas in a hurry.
The V8’s redline is 6500rpm, and with the auto in manual mode the free-revving engine will bounce of its rev limiter in first and second gear if you’re not careful. From 4000rpm the GT-P’s a missile.
While slightly heavier in the nose than the six-cylinder F6, GT-P is still a surprisingly good handler for such a big car.
It feels communicative and composed. Grip is high, and mid-corner bumps don’t upset the suspension’s composure. Better still, the Brembo brake package is superb. Stopping power is immense, there’s no fade, but pedal feel is only average mainly due to the car’s bulk. Those red brake callipers look good too, poking out between the 19” alloy wheels’ spokes.
Big V8s don’t make a lot of sense in these environmentally and economically tough times, but the buying decision is often made with the heart rather than the head.
The $87,990 FPV GT-P makes you feel good when looking at it, and even better when driving it. Isn’t that what this kind of car is all about?
