2005 Ford FPV BF GT review

Ford FPV BF GT review:

The BF GT more than lives up to the famous badge. The muscle car for the 21st century. With 290kWs of Boss quad cam V8 power and the choice of 6-speed manual gearbox or the optional new ZF 6 speed high torque automatic. The GT is second-to-none for outright handling and driver comfort in a 5 passenger Australian built performance sedan.

Like the GT legends of the past, its styling is impossible to ignore, incorporating the new GT badge into the upper grille. The new retro-cool FPV side stripes and Boss 290 hood decal are options and a new FPV dual exhaust system, Brembo front brakes and 19" alloy wheels are standard.

Total Performance also means total driving comfort. The FPV cabin has been designed to help drivers perform at their peak. Crucial information is conveyed to the driver in a millisecond. FPV designers have taken enormous care to ensure that all instrumentation is clearly visible.

Leather-clad Sports steering wheel, aluminium short shifter gear knob, alloy drilled finish pedals and heavily bolstered FPV Sports seats could all be at home in a V8 Supercar. The same could be said of the FPV signature Starter Button. But that's where the similarities between the GT and race car end. The driver's seat is 4-way electrically adjustable and is finished in Le Mans cloth. Leather is optional. Both have suede feel bolsters, locating pads, new silver stitching and embroidered FPV identification. Also new are cloth and suede feel door trims with alloy finish inserts. The individually numbered GT build plate is set in the centre console. Premium Sound is standard and features a 6-stack 150-watt CD player. Dual zone climate control air conditioning is also standard and includes a large LCD control screen that's set in the Prestige Interior Command Centre. The FPV GT. Functionality. Luxury. Total Performance.

The Boss 290 combines the best of both worlds, with race-bred power and everyday comfort. The awe-inspiring Boss 290 is a powerplant unlike any ever built in this country and comes to life on Australia's only current V8 production line.

The Boss 290 was developed right here in Australia by Ford Performance Vehicles for our unique requirements and to meet the rising demands of a new breed of Aussie V8 drivers.

Its 5.4-litre capacity, 32 valves and double overhead camshafts per bank work in concert to produce 290 kilowatts of power and a phenomenal 520 Newton metres of torque. So not only is there free-revving top-end power but a wall of torque at low speeds as well. In combination with the tuned stainless steel exhaust system, it produces the trademark rumble that lets you know you're driving a real, blue-blooded Aussie V8. It has a quality that clearly communicates who exactly owns the road.

At FPV, we believe that safety is a major part of Total Performance. As such, all FPVs are monitored by Ford's advanced Intelligent Safety System. This Ford-designed high-tech software activates appropriate responses to potentially harmful road, traffic and driver situations.

The system co-ordinates the release and synchronisation of dual-stage airbags, side airbags (sedans only) and front seat belt pre-tensioners to maximise driver and passenger protection in the event of a mishap. FPV's stringent safety measures also include superior braking and handling together with ABS and traction control now available on all models. The safest car, of course, is the car that helps you avoid an accident in the first place. End of Ford FPV BF GT review.