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GTHO blow
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A boosted version of this engine, which is
likely to be developed for high-performance
Mustang variants, would provide the perfect
powerplant for a GTHO model.
If the GTHO survives the business case this
time around, it is almost certain to wear the
Super Roo logo, which features a tyre-smoking
kangaroo and was fi rst introduced on the XW
GT 351 of 1969.
GoAuto understands FPV is saving the
Super Roo logo for the GTHO.
“It will be used when the time is right to use
it,” Mr Barrett said.
The FG GTHO project was long dead before
Mr Barrett joined FPV in July last year.
A special-edition Falcon GT released four
months before Mr Barrett arrived at FPV came
close to wearing the Super Roo logo. The 40th
Anniversary GT, which was painted black and
ran gold stripes over the bonnet, roof and boot,
was initially meant to wear Super Roo logos but
cost-related issues saw the decals removed.
While Ford Australia was not prepared to
push through with a supercharged GTHO for
the FG range, Melbourne tuning house Herrod
Motorsport already builds its own versions.
The respected engine tuner offers intercooled
supercharged kits using a Yella Terra Whipple
supercharger that runs at 9 to 10psi boost for
Falcon BA and BF V8s.
The $14,000 upgrade lifts the output of a
standard XR8 Boss 260 to a healthy 390kW
and around 580Nm. Fitting the kit to the Boss
290 V8 yields around 400kW and 600Nm.
Herrod Motorsports even fi ts the upgraded
engines with a special engine badge that reads
GT-HO or XR8-HO, with ‘Herrod’ written
beneath the H and ‘Option’ written bellow the O.
Herrod Motorsports knew Ford and FPV were
considering a boosted HO for the FG program
and put together a proposal to do the engine
work for
the proposed
high-performance
model which did not
materialise.
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A PRIL 16, 2008 Page 2
Offi cial: New FPV F6 to offer 565Nm of torque
IT IS offi cial: Ford Performance Vehicles’ new
FG Falcon-based range, due to go on sale
in June following its media launch in four
weeks, will be headlined by a 315kW Boss
V8-engined GT.
The FG-series FPV fl agship’s peak power
output now comes 1000rpm higher up the
rev range than the current Boss 302 engine,
indicating a signifi cant hardware upgrade
for the all-new sedan and utility range, while
maximum torque of 551Nm (up from 530Nm)
also occurs 250rpm higher, at 4750rpm.
The Boss 315 engine’s output was revealed
indirectly last week, when the press launch
invitation was issued containing a full-frontal
shot of the new FPV GT, complete with
aggressive new bonnet bulge decals. FPV
says the “Boss 315” logo will also appear on
new engine covers for the GT E, GT-P and GT
sedans, as well as the FG-series Pursuit and
Super Pursuit utes.
The 13kW peak power hike for FPV’s
5.4-litre DOHC V8 may or may not come as
welcome news to Ford faithful, however, given
that HSV announced two weeks ago that all
of its Commodore-based vehicles will come
powered by a 317kW/550Nm 6.2-litre LS3 V8
from this month.
The HSV running change will be
accompanied by relatively small fuel
consumption and price increases, but only
time (and power-to-weight ratios) will tell
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whether the revised HSV V8s will continue to
offer real-world performance advantages over
their opposite numbers at FPV.
Two FPV models that HSV will not have
answers for are the wild new turbocharged F6
sedan and ute stablemates. The F6 twins will
come with an extra 40kW of peak power, with
performance rising from 270kW at 5000rpm to
310kW at 5500rpm – falling just 5kW short of
the FPV V8, but bettering the output of Ford’s
blistering new XR6 Turbo by 40kW.
The biggest news, however, is that peak
torque for FPV’s 4.0-litre DOHC inline turbo
six rises from 550Nm between 2000rpm and
4250rpm – fi gures that saw it produce more
torque than any Australian-made vehicle ever
– to a bullocking 565Nm from just 1900rpm
and extending all the way to 5200rpm.
While full details, including fuel consumption,
are yet to be revealed, FPV claims the I6’s
superior outputs come courtesy of stronger
pistons, more turbo boost pressure and a larger
intercooler mounted in front of the radiator.
Both F6 models will wear “F6 310” badging
on their sides and rear ends, as well as on
their airboxes.
“After two years of testing and development
we have two new engine variants that will
deliver big performance,” said FPV general
manager Rod Barrett.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
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