Ford Cars Australia rolled out a definite winner when it introduced the
Ford FPV F6. It features a lot of innovations and refinements to say the least. Take for instance the radically different colored panels at the front, which set the F6 apart from conventional Falcons, as does the colossal front-mount intercooler.
The interior is basically a copy of Ford’s new FG Falcon, but FPV has opted to dress up the Falcon’s plastics with dark walnut wood grain trim, a sports leather steering wheel and alloy pedals. The features that the two share include a punchy premium audio system which incorporates an AM/FM tuner, six-CD in-dash stacker, an LCD screen display capable of full iPod integration and a menu system that easily connects to your mobile phone via Bluetooth. Other standard gizmos include cruise control, power windows, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, electrically adjustable wing mirrors, and dual-zone climate control.
The controls are ergonomically designed and are very user-friendly. The seats are plush and comfortable and the range of adjustment to the driving position is superb. There is also plenty of legroom for front and rear passengers. Other perks include electric driver’s seat with three-position memory and fore/aft adjustment on the pedal box, as well as the reach/rake adjustable steering wheel.
The adrenaline starts pumping when you turn the key and push the starter button. The power plant of the F6 is a sleek and smooth 4.0-litre, inline-six-cylinder; turbocharged engine rated at 310 kW at 5,500 rpm and a hefty 565 Nm of torque. The specs are enough to have Ford claiming that the FPV F6 sedan is one of the best performing six-cylinder cars on the Australian market today. The wheezing and snorting masterpiece of an engine is mated with a six-speed automatic gearbox and independent suspension hardware. Ford claimed that the combined fuel economy of F6 is 12.1-liters per 100 km. The suspension comes with damper valving, spring-rates, and sway-bar thicknesses. The brakes, however, are a bit different but they are up to the task, featuring six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers that enable a larger brake pad to be utilized, thereby improving stopping power.
In terms of safety features, the F6 comes fully loaded. Front and side-airbags for the front seats are standard, as are full-length curtain airbags, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability and traction control, a standard-fit reversing camera and Beltminder technology for the driver. The F6 also features a remote alarm and ID Datadot identification to keep thieves at bay. The stability control system employed in the FPV F6 is worth extra attention as it is regarded as one of the best on offer in the market today.
The F6 is a wicked vehicle and a cracking drive. It is a comfortable cruiser and absolutely fun to drive and the car’s damping makes sure you won’t have a bone-crunching ride back home. Lastly, the induction noise in tandem with the silky smooth engine and gearbox will surely leave you lusting for more each and every time you take the
Ford FPV F6 for a ride.
