Road Test: FPV F6

Review by Feann Torr - 24/February/2009

When Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) unleashed its F6 Typhoon in 2004, it reshaped the performance car market in Australia.

The turbocharged 6-cylinder sports sedan was massively powerful and quite a handful at full throttle, but it's dynamic accelerative force and a reputation as one the world's fastest saloons ensured intense interest.

It also left arch-rival Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) bruised and battered.

So here we are, almost a half decade later, driving the new FG-based F6 model. 

What's to make of it?

Well, it's lost the Typhoon moniker but has been on a high octane diet, outputting even more power and torque than its predecessor. The interior has a fresh feel and the chassis has also been upgraded with new front suspension and bigger brakes.

But will this boosted 310 kilowatt engine make it even more of a handful, or can the new FG chassis tame what is one of the world's most powerful 6-cylinder engines?

Let's find out:

Drive: 4.5/5

Cruising along the Calder Freeway to a destination near Castlemaine, you wouldn't think the FPV F6 is Australia's fastest 4-door performance saloon. 

It rolls down the road smoothly exhibiting a level of ride refinement that wouldn't be out of place on a European luxury sports car.

Lost in our own thoughts, the missus was reading a glossy magazine as I was weighing up the aeons-old argument of turbocharging versus supercharging.

Turbocharging is the way to go methinks...

The cruise control is set on 113km/h and we're approaching a semi-trailer. Indicator on, I drop the boot to overtake the truck and find myself assaulted with the kind of blue language which I would have thought impossible from such a pretty lady.

You have to hand it Ford Performance Vehicles. The F6 has always had street cred but the FG model series improves the formula in many respects without tarnishing its hardcore reputation.

Floor the throttle at any legal road speed and the car takes about half a second to drop a few cogs, the turbo spooling up at the same time, and then the background starts to blur as the FPV F6 scorches ahead with unparalleled ferocity.

The F6 is faster - a lot faster - than its predecessor, with more power and torque from a re-jigged powertrain. But almost as impressive are the improvements in refinement, especially in regards to the chassis.

FPV's F6 retains all the things that make the FG Falcon such a great car - compliant ride, roomy interior, good ergonomics - only it looks tougher and has an engine that beggars belief.

When you're driving from A to B and just tickling the throttle, the car is smooth and user-friendly. But give it some shtick and 565Nm of torque is almost instantly unleashed on the rear wheels. The resultant reaction is staggering, but the ensuing commotion is never coarse or uncivilised.

Even when the speed limit isn't 100km/h and road isn't twisting and turning, the F6 is a rewarding car to drive thanks to the effortless way in which it motivates. There's no turbo lag, no power spikes - just lashings of smooth-as-you-like high cholesterol double cream.

It glides along like any other Falcon when commuting but flex your right foot and it turns into a 4-wheeled dynamo the likes of which has rarely been seen nor felt on Australian roads before.

Accelerating from standstill with a higher level of forceful conviction than perhaps any car we've tested, Italian exotics included, the FPV F6 is smoking hot.

While ridiculously powerful, the engine always remains refined and consistent and never runs out of breath or gets thrashy at the top end.Even as the tachometer needle passes 5000rpm there's barely any let up in the acceleration and the gear shifts are fast enough to keep the turbo fully spooled so the cascade of torque remains frighteningly constant.

The FPV street machine's 4.0-litre forced induction engine churns out 310 kilowatts of power and peak torque of 565Nm which is enough fizz to arc up the rear wheels mid-gear. Even with traction control switched on the rear tyres will squeal, smoke, and fight for grip under full loads in first gear.

At times I found it was prudent to turn off traction control and just let the engine's brutal torque have its way with the rear wheels.

The F6 can be an everyday driver, no sweat. The damping rates are nicely tuned so you won't be jostled around unnecessarily like in some ultra-high performance vehicles. However the spring rates are fairly stiff and with chunky anti-roll bars and good quality tyres it grips well through corners and can be a very satisfying machine to exploit.

If you're game, it'll chew up corners and spit them out for hours on end. But like all Aussie sports sedans the FPV F6 suffers from obesity.

The steering is precise and the front-end feels fairly planted through fast corners, which together with a mountain of power makes the car very compelling to drive. The 245/35 ZR19 Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres are also fairly grippy things, but the rears often struggle to contain the volcanic levels of torque.

At first I thought the car was unbeatable, grinning from ear to ear as I got used to its centre of gravity and steering feedback, but the harder I pushed the car through corners, the more I came to dislike the increasing levels body roll.

It feels nicely balanced and tips into corners confidently and feels planted blasting out of corners at mid throttle, but at times the car's hefty weight can make for heart-stopping moments.

After passing the apex of a corner, my usual response in a performance car is to floor the throttle. But too much gas on corner exits in the F6 results in the rear-end constantly fighting for traction. Obviously it's not hard to change your driving style, but this tends to sap your confidence and particularly with a dire need for wider rear tyres.

Thankfully the dynamic stability control and traction control are rather clever and don't hamper you're rhythm. In fact they allow for a touch of sideways tomfoolery here and there as the extreme torque pummels the rear hoops.

FPV's F6 is not always content handling high lateral G-forces as its heavy weight sometimes dogs its ability to hold its line through a corner, but generally speaking the F6 is an incredibly satisfying sports car. 

The brakes are very strong, which is always comforting in a car of this size, and will take a fair bit of punishment before they start to fade. Large 355 x 32mm cross drilled and ventilated front brake discs with 4-pot Brembo calipers live either end of the front axle and deliver excellent response. The rear brakes are 328 x 26mm cross drilled and ventilated rear rotors with single pot calipers. There's also optional 6-piston front Brembo calipers for improved stopping power and would be worth getting if you plan on booking track days.

The FPV F6 is almost flawless and the level of performance this vehicle possesses is simply awesome. If you wanted a European sports sedan with similar levels of acceleration you'd be paying about three or four times the $65,990 this asphalt assassin will set you back.

It outperforms all other locally-made V8 performance cars - rivals and stable mates alike - and is a brilliant testament to Australian engineering. In a word, the F6 is extraordinary.

Engine: 5/5

This turbocharged straight six engine is, without doubt, one of the best engines ever built in Australia and arguably one of the best turbo engines on the planet.

Capable of motivating the F6's considerably chunky bulk of around 1850kg from 0-100km/h in under 5.0 seconds, it rivals vehicles like the Audi RS4, BMW M5, Porsche 911 Carrera in terms of accelerative performance.

Yet even with 310kW (415hp) and 565Nm of torque it's got a level of refinement and a smoothness that rivals BMW's acclaimed inline 6-cylinder powerplants.

The smooth operation and low levels of vibration or harshness, right up until the rev limiter, make this engine a show-stopper just as much as it's ability to flay the rear hoops with nonchalant ease. 

The standard 4.0-litre 6-cylinder engine outputs 191kW but with a new front-mount air-to-air intercooler (larger than the previous F6's) plumbed into a Garrett GT3540 turbocharger blowing 13.3psi (0.91bar) of boost, power rises to 310kW @ 5500rpm.

A short-path air intake, lower compression ratio of 8.47:1 (down from 8.7:1), revised cam timing and a high-flow exhaust system also contribute to the F6's awesome power output. But one of things that makes this engine so memorable is the instant torque: peak twist hits @ just 1950rpm, which is one of the reasons why it's so quick off the line.Here is my attempt at describing what it's like to experience a full-throttle launch in this Australian-made speed machine: 

Your foot presses the accelerator pedal to the floor, but in the instant before it's even touched the carpet the car begins to surge forward with compelling vehemence.

You feel your innards shift under the increasing G-forces and then, as your torso is gently pushed into the plush seats at around 3000rpm in first gear, the rear wheels start to chirp as 565 Newton metres of torque looks for somewhere to go.

By now the F6 car has hit 60km/h, the traction control system has resolved the rear-end grip issues and the level of acceleration only seems to be increasing the faster you go.  If the road's long enough you can probably spend another handful of seconds testing the cars speed limiting software...

It's just insane.

Hands down, this is one of the best engines you'll find in Australia, and it gives the car plenty of character. On top of the mild whine from the turbo as you plant the foot there's a burble-pop sound during full throttle gear shifts in the ZF 6-speed automatic we tested. Together with a subtlewaste-gate noise as you ease off the throttle, the car is satisfyingly talkative.

The acceleration is utterly addictive but it can make the car very thirsty. Ford Performance vehicles claims an average fuel consumption of 12.1L/100km, but the best we could achieve was 14.7 litres of fuel per 100km.

Exterior: 4/5

Compared to the first generation F6 Typhoon model, the FG Series F6 is an altogether different looking beast.

It's a more sophisticated sports sedan, but it's got a more aggressive character which is rather fitting when you consider how easily it pumps plumes of grey-blue tyre smoke from underneath the rear guards.

Based on the Ford Falcon and tricked up with a range of sporty-but-stylish aerodynamic body parts, the new FG-series FPV F6 design is appealing on a number of fronts. And for mine, the car finally looks the part.

With an aggressive stance and a sleeker overall design than its predecessor, the FPV F6 successfully communicates its performance potential.The front end features blacked-out areas, almost like a mask, and tasteful fog light bezels, all of which alerts drivers who look in their rear-view mirror to the vehicle's distinctive persona.

The F6 has a purposeful, determined look that shows off its performance components: it sits on Graphite accented 19-inch alloy wheels that are filled out with big brake discs and red Brembo calipers and due to the removal of a grille on the lower air dam, a large intercooler is also a highly visible performance feature. This last design cue adds a lot of street cred, giving the car an touch of aftermarket appeal. It's a practical solution too, improving intercooler efficiency.

Ford badges have been replaced with FPV badges front and rear, along with 'F6 310' badging on the rear and sides of the car.

Viewed from the rear, the FPV F6 has a low rise spoiler and a mild rear diffuser below the boot, plus a single chrome exhaust outlet. Though it doesn't look as good as the V8 models with their dual exhausts, it's still a very appealing overall design.

Interior: 4/5

Step inside the FPV F6 and one of the best things you'll find are the seats. Upholstered in a sporty suede-cloth mix, they look good and feel good.

The front pews have decent lateral bolstering so your torso won't move around too much when cracking the whip and the cushioning is just right, keeping driver and passengers comfortable on long road trips.

The redesigned dashboard carries over from the FG Falcon and looks good in this application, particularly when surrounded by things like alloy pedals, a turbo boost gauge and 260km/h speedometer, FPV and F6 insignias on the dashpad, scuff plates and seat cushions, plus a hand stitched leather centre armrest. Fit and finish is also fairly decent and the car makes used of good quality dash plastics.

Safety systems like dynamic stability and traction control, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution are reassuring whether you're flying at triple figures or hitting the anchors in wet weather.

The car does have a Falcon feel - not a bad thing in my book - but don't try putting the key in the ignition. The FPV F6 has a bright red starter button instead.

Ergonomics are impressive with a sensible interior layout and an thickly contoured leather steering wheel mounted with audio and cruise controls. An adjustable pedal box is available with the automatic tranny and together with enough room for five fully-grown humanoids it's a pleasant mode of transport.

Measuring 4.95 metres long and 1.86 metres wide, the FPV F6 is a large-sized car and interior room for front and rear seat passengers is excellent as a result.

Dual zone climate control is always a plus, and Bluetooth mobile phone and iPod integration are also standard features. The premium stereo can be cranked to "very loud" without too much distortion and the 7-inch colour screen and menu system is highly intuitive and adds to the quality feel of the cabin.

Reversing sensors ensure that parking the F6 isn't too haphazard and you can option a reversing camera if you really don't like parking.

Overall: 4.5/5

One of Australia's best performance cars has upped the ante.

FPV's F6 is a more polished, more refined, and ultimately more rewarding sports car than its predecessor, one that takes the iconic XR6 Turbo to an all-new level. 

Powered by one of the most impressive engine's we've ever had the good fortune to test, the FPV F6 is truly in a class of its own.

Simply put, there is nothing on the market for this price that offers the performance, let alone the large car practicality. It may be one of the world's fastest sports sedans but it'll happily swallow all your camping gear with its extra large 535 litre boot.

No other large Aussie performance sedan can touch it in a straight line and though it handles better than its predecessor it's still in need of a few chassis tweaks to negate body roll, such as an adaptive damping system. And much wider rear tyres would help with traction issues.

Only one car has ever managed a perfect score on the Motoring Channel, and FPV's F6 came agonisingly close to matching the Audi RS4. While it's not perfect, the FPV F6 comes tantalisingly close to achieving the impossible. Highly recommended.