FPV 5th Anniversary

In 2008, Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) celebrated its 5th anniversary of production.
 
Following the acquisition of the Tickford group of companies in 2002 by UK-based Prodrive, one of the world's leading motorsport and automotive engineering companies, the first FPV GT rolled out of its Campbellfield headquarters in April 2003.

FPV was formed as a joint-venture partnership between Ford and Prodrive, established to engineer and manufacturer a range of premium Ford performance vehicles for the Australian market.

First to wear the FPV badge was the return of the legendary Falcon GT.

Launched in 2003 and an instant success with the 'blue' faithful, the FPV BAII-model GT (and GT-P) lived up to its iconic name, offering a level of engine performance from its high-tech Boss 290kW quad-cam V8 that was superior to the competition.

The GT sedan was closely followed by the launch of its Ute variants, the Pursuit and Super Pursuit.

FPV continued to impress when in 2004 it launched the turbocharged F6 Typhoon; voted Australia's 'Performance Car of the Year' by Motor magazine in 2006.

The market also called for a Ute variant of the in-line six turbo, and FPV listened, producing the Tornado only a few months after the sedan was launched.

In September 2006 FPV produced two executive performance vehicles, the Force 6 and Force 8. Designed with an emphasis on luxury and the corporate commuter in mind, the vehicles featured all the premium components expected of the brand without the flamboyant colours, bonnet bulge and wings.

In March 2007, celebrating four decades since its original introduction, FPV produced a limited edition, 40th Anniversary GT in a tribute to the iconic nameplate.

Later that year, in August, Rod Barrett was appointed FPV General Manager, fresh from a similar role at FPV's V8 Supercar partner, Ford Performance Racing, and almost as a fitting tribute the dynamite F6 R Spec was released.

October 2007 saw FPV launch the limited edition Cobra at the spiritual home of Australian muscle cars - Bathurst. Such was its success that every car was 'sold' before the week was out.

In January 2008, FPV took a step outside its Falcon-based product line-up for the first time to launch the F6X.

Based on the successful Territory Ghia Turbo, the F6X was developed as the ultimate Australian-made performance SUV; producing 270kW of power and 550Nm of torque - figures that were unmatched by any local or imported luxury six-cylinder SUV equivalents.

In May 2008, the FPV FG-based range was officially launched, featuring a massive power increase on the V8 to 315kW and a whopping 40kW on the F6 to 310kW. Buyers were offered the choice of manual or automatic transmissions at the same price.

FPV has grown in only five short years to include two families - the GT and the F6, available in sedan, Ute and SUV models.

The arrival of the FG range also marked the first time that the FPV and mainstream Ford models were developed side-by-side, and launched to market very closely together.

Significantly, Rod Barrett, also announced that from FG onwards all FPV produced models would carry the FPV badge on both the front and rear of each vehicle.

There are now 81 FPV dealers throughout Australia and New Zealand.

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