FPV GT F Driven Review (Part 2)

FPV GT F Driven Review (Part 2)

RSPEC also donates its suspension tune to GT F, gaining firmer dampers all-round, stiffer upper strut mounts and control arm bushings to the front and firmer springs, thicker 19mm anti-roll bar a stronger lower control arm and altered toe setting for improved steering response. Specific to GT F are the adjustable rear camber bolts which allow for chassis fine tuning. RSPEC’s 275/30/19 Dunlop Sport Maxx rear tyres, along with 245/35/19s up-front, shroud Brembo’s premium brake package, fitted standard to GT F.

FPV GT F interior

As the cars were stripped of their silk covers, to reveal an automatic in exclusive-to-GT F ‘Smoke’ dark grey and a Kinetic manual, Ford Australia design manager Nick Eterovic took the stage to reveal the design philosophy.

“We had to celebrate an icon so some of the design cues trace their heritage back to the Ford GTs of the 1970s,” Eterovic said. “There is a true sense of history and celebration with this car but we wanted to make sure that we retained the most exciting elements of the current range.”

The result? Well, you can see that for yourself. The black, full-length stripe theme not only harks back to Falcon GTs of old, but also takes in some Shelby influences.

FPV GT F front view

Inside, the central ICC displays the vehicle build number on start-up before transferring to a ‘virtual’ gauge display, showing boost pressure, engine temperature and either transmission temp (auto) or battery voltage (manual). There’s also a g-meter on display, primarily to distract you...

But enough preamble. We’re here to drive.

We’re thrown the keys to a manual GT F development vehicle and sent out for some 160km/h laps of the You Yangs’ high-speed bowl. What a treat.

We’re encouraged to sample the launch control program and with a momentary twist of wheel spin, the GT F bellows forward before I slam into second and reveal the truth behind the power figures: this thing hauls as hard as it howls. "We anticipate this will be a ‘mid-four’ [0-100km/h] and ‘twelve’ [0-400m] car,” suggests Justin Capicchiano, FPV project supervisor, and there’s no reason to doubt this. It’s also incredibly linear in its delivery, another key outcome of the Prodrive calibration program.

FPV GT F steering wheel

I slow in third before mashing the throttle. The traction control light flashes, but it’s merely trimming the excesses while still thrusting us hard forward where an earlier FPV would slither and slow before trying again.

“Basically, [the system] gives you the maximum torque available, given parameters such as steering angle and yaw,” continues Capicchiano. In my short drive, I’m also able to test the Brembos (which have a strong, consistent pedal) and note the nicely weighted steering.

FPV GT F wheel detail

We are then transferred to the handling circuit for a final passenger hot lap in GT F production cars. Driven by one of Ford’s ‘top-tier Stigs’, grunt and grip are deeply impressive for a car of such mass, so much so that 1.0g is recorded on the meter as I slide around the passenger seat.

The chassis is nose-heavy but glued, with the Bosch DSC barely intervening. It assists performance rather than hinder it when it does come to the party.

FPV GT F back view

As I return to normalcy beyond the You Yangs’ grounds, any doubts I had about the GT F not supplying the performance to back up its final edition boasts have been blown out of the water. It’s a GT-HO in everything but name, and a true future legend.