The BF FPV Range.
Where the mainstream BF range focused on refinement, the FPV range was all about impact! While the FPV lineup certainly benefited from the BF refinement upgrades, the most significant of which being the new 6-speed auto, FPV spent its development dollars on a significant styling refresh. To my eyes, these were the best looking of all FPV’s created.
Staring with the styling, FPV invested in new front and rear bumpers for the V8 and F6 range, with specific treatments to differentiate each model in the range.
For the GT and Pursuit, the new enlarged lower grill opening had black mesh inserts and ornate foglamp surrounds. At the rear, the GT’s new bumper housed a new dual trapezoidal tip exhaust system and mesh inserts to provide some added visual impact. The GT-P and Super Pursuit differed in having stainless steel grill finishes and a full foglamp colour accent. The GT and Pursuit got the BA MK II GT-P wheels, while there was a new design for the GT-P and Super Pursuit. As had become tradition, the BF update brough with it a new stripe design, my favourite of all FPV stripe packages. GT and GT-P models got a new badge design, along with an additional badge attached to the upper front grill.
For the F6 Typhoon and Tornado, both got the new front bumper with the unique F6 mesh inserts and a body-colour foglamp surround that differed to the V8-series. The Typhoon also got the new rear bumper, but only had a singular exhaust tip. Wheels carried over from BA MK II, but buyers could also select the 19-inch Dark Argent wheels.
On the inside, the changes were less obvious. In addition to the new soft touch door handles with satin aluminum trim, there was of course the new automatic transmission shifter, GT-P now had 6-way powered driver's seat, along with the deletion of colour matched stitching and model logos on the seats, instead all models got universal silver stitching and silver FPV logos.
Mechanical changes were limited to the following –
-Availability of the new 6-speed ZF automatic, which also gave F6 customers the choice of auto or manual.
-New base level brake system, consisting of Brembo 4-piston front calipers and large single rear piston sliding calipers. As fitted to GT, F6 and Pursuit.
-New Premium Brake system, consisting of Brembo 6-piston front calipers and Brembo 4-piston rears. These were standard on GT-P, optional GT and F6 sedans.
-New Premium Brake system for Utes, which consisted of Brembo 6-piston front calipers, but paired with the large single piston setup from the base level system. This was to control pack knock-off issues experienced with the live rear axle.
-Strengthened differential transmission mounts
-Revised Boss 290 engine with new airbox,
PCM and Euro 3 emissions tune. (The new airbox was to reduce drive-by noises and replaced the previous pod filter arrangement.)
-Revised F6-270 engine to meet Euro 3 emissions (no power increase)
More FPV specific mechanical details here –
https://www.fordforums.com.au/showpo...07&postcount=7
It’s important to note that no BF FPV model was equipped with DSC, which was a strange decision when the XR6 Turbo and XR8 models did. This was purely a cost saving measure, FPV not wanting to stump up the cash to tune the DSC system to the larger FPV brakes, wheels and different powertrains. From memory, FPV defended this choice by saying the that the larger brakes, upgraded chassis and larger tyres helped reduce the need for DSC, which was pure PR bullsh.t. Either way, an FPV did not get DSC until the FG model arrived in 2008.
The BF and BF MK II FPV’s are my favorite of all FPV’s created. The styling was superb, aggressive but without the bloated look that came with the FG range. I also adored that FPV allowed customers to go as wild as they liked with the choice of colour and stripe combinations. Lurid lime green with black stripes? Step this way. Classic Blue with White stripes? Sure thing. Purple with orange stripes? Why not.
Always loved this combination, Menace with orange stripes.............
Can anyone spot the mistake in this image of the GT-P's interior? It also appears on the equivalent GT image (following post).
