First look: GT Falcon a star in stripes

THE first full details of the 2003 Falcon GT and the rest of the Ford Performance Vehicles range - the most keenly anticipated release this year for blue-blooded Ford fans - have been revealed.

The three car range which comprise the reborn GT, the top-spec GT-P and the Pursuit Ute have been pitched directly against Holden Special Vehicles' ClubSport and Maloo models.

The full story of what models line-up where and how much they cost is detailed below.

FPV has also revealed the technical story in detail, and there's so much to tell there we've devoted a separate story to that. Check it out in our Future Models file under the headline: "First look: FPV tech revealed".

The manual gearbox members of the FPV range go on sale in March, with the automatics not due until the second quarter.

"People who love performance motoring will love these cars. The very competitive pricing is just one more benefit they're going to love," said Ford Performance Vehicles Managing Director, Mr David Flint.

As a part of the pricing strategy, Ford Performance Vehicles owners will be able to participate in a performance-driving course in their home state at no extra cost.

"Offering the performance driving course is an important element of the Ford Performance Vehicles ownership experience and is very much integral to the entire FPV philosophy," said Mr Flint.

"Performance driving is not about how fast your vehicle can go in a straight line. In the real world, cars go around corners and are called upon to brake quickly at times. The performance-driving course will give owners avoidance and recovery skills in handling those situations and will also highlight just how good these vehicles are." Apart from all that, there have been some subtle but important styling changes made since the GT and Pursuit broke cover at the Sydney motor show last year, Ford responding to Blue Oval performance enthusiasts' requests for more visual impact.

A number of cosmetic improvements have been added to the original Falcon GT concept car revealed at last year's Sydney motor show - including horizontal GT stripes.

"The GT show car was voted the most popular exhibit at the Sydney motor show, so we came away confident that we had hit the mark with the design," said Ford design director Simon Butterworth.

"However, there was a small but passionate group who wanted to see more traditional performance cues from earlier GT models. As a result, the decision was made to offer a choice of exterior details to meet the needs of both groups of enthusiasts."The biggest change for GT is the addition of a simple, twin parallel stripe extending from the lower sides around to the front lights as standard.

The unmistakable GT styling cue is similar to that revived on FoMoCo's recent GT40 concept car, while Ford has also paid homage to the wild colour and stripe combinations of early GT models.

Falcon GT buyers can now order Winter White paint colour with Vivid Blue stripes or a Phantom purple model with orange stripes. Other stripe colours will include silver and black, which also have the model name in their graphics. Phantom, Citric Acid (lime green-yellow) and Blood Orange join Blueprint as exclusive exterior paint colours for XR/FPV vehicles.

Just as the Falcon GT can be ordered without stripes - in which case a separate GT badge is added to the rear doors - different stripes with the GT-P graphic may also be fitted to the less flamboyant, more highly specified GT-P model.

To go with the wild new paint schemes, a redesigned tri-slot air intake was added to the front bumper splitter for the base GT. Both upper and lower grilles feature a matt black mesh insert, with the lower air-dam mesh comprising FPV lettering, while GT-P models will carry a solid splitter with contrasting paint colour plus a satin alloy finish for the mesh surfaces.

Completing the visual package, the GT will wear what Ford calls an enhanced version of the BA V8 Supercar-like five-spoke alloy wheel design that appeared on the Sydney show car, while GT-P will get classier seven-spoke items (also 18-inch) that reveal less of the standard blue FPV or optional red Brembo brake callipers.

Of course, these changes are in addition to the extended bonnet power bulge announced since the GT's original appearance, while a final change is the addition of a centre support spar in the rear wing spoiler to provide a stronger and more structural appearance.

2003 FPV pricing:
FPV Pursuit ute (man): $54,850
FPV Pursuit ute (auto): $56,000
FPV GT (man): $59,850
FPV GT (auto): $61,000
FPV GT-P (man/auto): $69,8502003 FPV options:
Leather and suede style trim (sedan): $2750
Leather and suede style trim (ute): $1850
FPV performance steering wheel: $950 (standard on GT-P)
Prestige audio: $600 (standard on GT-P)
Premium audio: $900 (not in ute)
DVD satellite navigation: $3600 (not in ute)
Sedan floor mats $200: (standard in GT-P)
Ute floor mats $150:
Reverse parking system: $650 (only in GT-P)
Power adjustable pedals: $350 (standard in GT-P, not in ute)
Brembo brakes $5950: (standard in GT-P)
FPV body stripes: $495 (no cost in GT-P, not in ute)
Sunroof: $2090 (not in ute)

Why HSV should fear FPV

AS EXPECTED, Ford has announced pricing for its FPV range that positions it model for model directly against HSV's dominant sports sedan line-up.

FPV's 290kW sedan and ute arsenal does not quite undercut its opposite number in HSV's 260kW ClubSport sedan and Maloo utility range, but is positioned close enough to make its dominant local rival worry.

At $54,850 ($56,00 auto), the single-model FPV Pursuit ute is positioned midway between HSV's Maloo ute ($50,850 man/auto) and the $57,950 Maloo R8.

The entry level FPV GT manual is priced $1650 higher than the ClubSport manual at $59,850, with the auto GT costing $1800 more than the auto ClubSport at $61,000. The FPV GT is priced $9720 above the new XR8.

The more highly specified GT-P lines up with HSV's ClubSport R8, which at $68,860 is priced $950 lower than the $69,850 GT-P (both auto and manual).

Pricing for HSV's similarly specified Senator starts at $73,950, while HSV also offers 300kW GTS coupe and sedan models at $95,869 and $93,500 respectively.

For the full technical story check out our separate Future Models story: "First look: FPV tech revealed"