FPV GT Mark II review by CarPoint

[gazza6]

FPV GT Mark II: Quick Spin words - Feann Torr
photos - Brad Nucifora
A ludicrously rapid vehicle with more power than you'll ever need the new FPV GT MkII is a satisfying car to drive hard, and a lot more fun than I remember
» Get the best price on a new FPV FPV GT Mark II
Quick Spin

What we liked
>> Interior room
>> Ride-handling balance
>> Supercharged V8 insanity

Not so much
>> Where are the LED running lights
>> Touchscreen system needs more doodads


The ingredients are simple -- supercharger, V8 engine, six-speed manual gearbox. The premise compelling -- rear-wheel drive, large sports sedan with touch-screen infotainment system and a few other bells and whistles besides.

But it all comes down to execution. If the fine tuning and little compromises are too great, it will all be for nought...

Thankfully in the case of the updated FPV GT MkII it's a well-sorted behemoth.

Belting out an ungodly 335kW/570Nm the FPV GT MkII is not short on power. You'll pay $71,290 for the privilege, but it's not something you'll quickly forget. The 5.0-litre Coyote engine is mated to a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual cog-swapper and together they deliver power in a most enjoyable fashion.

The gear shift is a little notchy and heavy, but the short throws feel precise time and again, and the clutch is light (enough) for something kicking out almost 600 Isaacs. Getting the power down effectively is not difficult in the big GT, nor unenjoyable, as peak torque arrives at a user-friendly (licence unfriendly) 2200rpm and is sustained until 5500rpm. In other words, the GT's rear end will crab sideways slightly if given a bit of a poke, even with stability and traction control switched on.

With a touch of supercharged whine in the background, the engine will happily wind out to 6000rpm but delivers massive punch from half those revs.

Acceleration is not a problem for this Australian-built, American-engined muscle car. During the test we also happened to have a BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG and Lexus IS-F in tow and the FPV was quicker than all the Germans for mid-gear, roll-on acceleration; and was bested only by 6.2-litre Merc’ when push came to shove in a straight line pursuit.

Through corners the FPV does a good job, considering its lardy kerb weight of 1835kg. The steering is reasonably accurate and delivers good feedback, particularly when navigating tight hairpins the wet. Even with a touch of throttle-induced oversteer the car can be casually controlled through the corner. Indeed, communication is good. Better yet, it would appear as though the rack rattle that has beleaguered almost every FG Falcon and derivative to date was not evident in our red GT. I'm not going to celebrate just yet, but I am cautiously confident...

FPV's GT is a satisfying car to drive hard and a lot more fun than I remember, though you will learn its limits pretty quickly. It's chubby mass means it'll want to push wide if you get overconfident and at higher speeds narrow roads can get a little foreboding. The Brembo anchors do a good job of washing off speed and it should be said the suspension was better than most at soaking up bumps in the road -- which came in handy on poorly surfaced sweeping corners.

As a cruiser the FPV GT Mk II is a no-brainer, though shifting gears did get tiresome in heavy traffic. If you plan on commuting, the ZF six-speed auto would be worth looking into. The auto is a no cost option too, which makes the choice an easy one.

So the powertrain hasn't changed for the MkII update but the mid-life update brings one cosmetic exterior addition - projector beam headlamps – as well as infotainment system improvements.

Our GT wasn't equipped with sat nav, but the new infotainment system is a big improvement on its predecessor, now a touch-screen affair. Unfortunately it's still not as good as the Holden-based iQ system arch-rival HSV offers, called EDI or Enhanced Driver Interface, but it is a step in the right direction.

The touch screen works well, is colour and of a high resolution. I just wish it had several different telemetry readouts for real-time torque output etcetera. Not because it's useful but because it looks cool.

Another new entertainment feature is that all FPV models now get an updated USB input for MP3 audio file playback, which can work support storage devices of up to one terabyte.

The FPV GT delivers a slightly more upmarket experience thanks to the modernised infotainment system, and small touches like the reversing camera add value. It's still a ludicrously rapid vehicle with more power than you'll ever need (or use for the most part), but it's nice to know it's there.

[FG_Frodza]

Where are the LED running lights...?

Good review, hopefully enough people read it..

[raptorv8]

Originally Posted by FG_Frodza

Where are the LED running lights...?

Good review, hopefully enough people read it..

But the fully Sick GTS has em bro

[Stefan]

Good review..seems good value for the $$$

Still I hardly seem to see them on the road in Sydney.

[Chopped]

Originally Posted by gazza6

......and was bested only by 6.2-litre Merc’ when push came to shove in a straight line pursuit.......

The C63 Merc is a dead set beast.

Nice review for the GT too.

[Bent8]

Originally Posted by Chopped

The C63 Merc is a dead set beast.

Nice review for the GT too.

Don't forget the C63 is over 100kg lighter than the GT...

[Simple6]

Where are the LED running lights

What?

That's ridiculous! It's like saying "where's the little grille in the guard that pretends to be a cooling duct". It's a design feature that not all cars have or need to have!

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by fowlerj

What?

That's ridiculous! It's like saying "where's the little grille in the guard that pretends to be a cooling duct". It's a design feature that not all cars have or need to have!

And not everyone wants either.

[Deco28]

Originally Posted by fowlerj

What?

That's ridiculous! It's like saying "where's the little grille in the guard that pretends to be a cooling duct". It's a design feature that not all cars have or need to have!

I'd say it's a feature that particular writer was looking forward to on this vehicle.

Impressive review for the GT!

[mik]

who gives a continental about led running lights for gods sake, when did led running lights become mandatory? some of these journo`s........ rhymes with tankers !

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by mik

who gives a continental about led running lights for gods sake, when did led running lights become mandatory? some of these journo`s........ rhymes with tankers !

You wait, in a minute all the whingers and nitpickers will be in here bleating and moaning about how the car doesn't have this "feature" and that Ford and FPV are crap and deserve to die and I'll never buy another and there's no triple automatic xenon sunroofs with computer torque control and and ftrhiew0hnr;yhu0=5pfffftttt

[flappist]

What no holden bias.......much

Australian built...american engined....

still not as good as the Holden-based iQ system.....

blah...blah...blah....

Obviously the FG2 GT is just fast and furious enough for Feann (call me Dom) Torr......

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by flappist

What no holden bias.......much

Australian built...american engined....

Only thing that bugged me about the article. FPV spend big money on the V8 and not shoehorn one in and its still American.

[Fev]

Good review. Every review needs something bad about it, otherwise its going to to considered biased. The writer probably doesn't care about the DRLs not being there but had to stick something in the not so good column because the car is really that good. Having a few nitpicks gives it a bit more credibility to being an honest review.

[DBourne]

Way I read it, the only downside was something that really doesn't matter, so he is praising the car very nicely (in my own opinion)

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

Way I read it, the only downside was something that really doesn't matter, so he is praising the car very nicely (in my own opinion)

Agreed, its one of the best reviews of an FPV ive read. Some people will always pick faults but.

[BigAL_250]

Yeah, when the best things you can come up with as negatives are, a lack of rather pointless LED's and that the computer could do with a few more tricks, then it must be doing pretty well.

[superfly]

Great review. I personally don't care for DRL's. They look crap.

[FG_Frodza]

Originally Posted by gazza6

Not so much
>> Where are the LED running lights
>> Touchscreen system needs more doodads

Seems like the writer of the article wants the car to appeal to DH's like the fully sick HSV.

[cham]

Originally Posted by FG_Frodza

Seems like the writer of the article wants the car to appeal to DH's like the fully sick HSV.

Yep smart comment. Your quality post just proves that there are plenty of DH's driving Fords too.

Not all HSV's are owned by DH's (as you so eloquently put it). Some of us enjoy cars simply for how they perform, sound, look, etc., and don't stoop to immature levels by labelling other car brand owners.

I have owned plenty of Fords, and have recently changed to a HSV for much less than an FPV would have cost me with heaps of extras. And you never know, I may go back to a Ford one day.

So enjoy your fully sick Ford mate and grow up.

[FordACE]

Seems like a good review.. But why wasn't the GT compared to a GTS as far as power and acceleration goes?

[Fev]

Perhaps HSV did not want to give them a car to compare them to as they know they'll be embarassed?

[charles_wif_xf]

That's as postitive a review I have read about the FG.

It was able to put the power down? Have Ford and FPV done something to the rear end in the MkII's?

[psychoticgroove]

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

That's as postitive a review I have read about the FG.

It was able to put the power down? Have Ford and FPV done something to the rear end in the MkII's?

I was thinking the same thing!! Given that the tyres are still 254s at the rear, have they had some suspension changes for such a comment to be made?

[SM1DY]

No mention of the seating position??? I thought that was a review staple for the Falcon.

[Fev]

He's either a bit Ford biased or he's gotten over it

[My poor XF]

Originally Posted by Fev

He's either a bit Ford biased or he's gotten over it

Or genuinely enjoyed the drive.

[No.6]

Did fpv change anything with the suspension set up or tyre size with the fgII update? I thought the journos had problems with too much power not enough grip or handling when they reviewed the previous model.

Also, dont flame me for having an opinion, but it would be a nice addition if the infotainment system had a few extra boy racer or technoflabby options to differentiate it from the standard taxi HMI.

Good to see a positive review about the car though. It really is a good value.

[Bossxr8]

No suspension or tyre changes, but driving though Sydney you aren't exactly going to be pushing it hard like other writers do on a track, so maybe it was a non issue for the way he drove it in the choosen location.

And i'm glad FPV didn't waste any money on that ****y driver interface crap the HSV's have, i'll bet nearly every person who has bought a HSV with it has only used it once and then forgotten about it. Useless feature for anyone except people who do serious club racing.

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

And i'm glad FPV didn't waste any money on that ****y driver interface crap the HSV's have, i'll bet nearly every person who has bought a HSV with it has only used it once and then forgotten about it. Useless feature for anyone except people who do serious club racing.

If its the ****y doodad that sells the car, then whether or not the new owner uses it only once is hardly relevant. From a new car makers perspective.

But you are right, its a pointless addition. FPV possess too much logic & common sense.