FPV confirms limited-edition GT Black

FORD Performance Vehicles has, as expected, announced a limited production run of the menacing all-black GT concept it unveiled at last month’s Melbourne motor show.

The Blue Oval performance brand today confirmed it will produce 125 examples of the limited-edition GT Black, priced $3000 higher than the standard GT at $74,290 plus on-road costs.

Like FPV’s inaugural concept car, the GT Black will wear black Silhouette exterior paint, a unique matt-black stripe package, black foglight bezels, black upper and lower grilles, gloss-black 19-inch alloy wheels, four black exhaust outlets, a black front bumper with black ‘eye patches’ and a black rear bumper with black diffuser.

Continuing the all-black theme is ‘Shadow’ leather interior trim instead of the standard GT’s cloth trim, piano-black finish for the centre console and door spears, a black gearshift badge for manual models and a reversing camera from the flagship GT-E ($82,540 plus ORCs).

Each GT Black will also come with a unique build badge and certificate of authenticity.

However, in a move that will disappoint FPV enthusiasts looking for extra performance to go with the cosmetic enhancements, the GT Black will not come with the concept’s track-tuned suspension, performance brake package, wider 19-inch alloy wheels or more aggressive front bumper design with extra brake cooling.

Left: FPV Concept.

The move leaves the door open for FPV to apply the new-look front end to its facelifted FGII Falcon-based range later this year, and to make the show car’s shorter, firmer springs and lighter, wider alloy wheels available on a future FPV model like the widely anticipated GT-HO performance flagship.

Instead of the show car’s one-piece forged alloys measuring 8.0 inches wide at the front and 9.5 inches at the rear (shod with 275/35 R19 Dunlop SP Sportmaxx GT tyres), the GT Black will wear gloss black-finished versions of the GT’s narrower 19-inch five/double-spoke alloys, with black wheel nuts.

Likewise, the GT Black makes do with the same four-piston front, single-piston rear Brembo brake callipers as the standard GT, rather than employing the six-piston front, four-piston rear Brembo callipers fitted to the GT-P and GT-E, though it runs the same 355x32mm front and 330x28mm rear vented and cross-drilled brake discs as all GTs.

Like the concept, the GT Black production car will be powered by the same glorious 335kW/570Nm supercharged 5.0-litre V8 seen in the GT, GT-P and GT-E.

As in those full-time FPV models, the Black’s locally assembled all-alloy Boss V8 will be matched with a full bi-modal quad-exhaust system – but not the upgraded stainless steel high-flow twin exhaust system.

FPV general manager Rod Barrett said the decision to produce the GT Black – which follows the announcement by arch-rival HSV to produce 254 examples of its cosmetically enhanced SV Black Edition ClubSport sedan, Maloo ute and Tourer wagon for a $4000 price premium ($71,990 plus ORCs for the sedan) – is in response to “overwhelming” customer demand.

“We were totally blown away by the positive feedback received from fans and show-goers on our concept,” said Mr Barrett today.

“We knew we had a winner with the black paintwork and we wanted to action something immediately.

“The public spoke and we listened and I am just thrilled we have been able to put the GT Black into production so quickly.”

However, it seems FPV’s first concept was destined for production even before it appeared at the Melbourne show on July 1, with the fine print on a downloadable GT Black brochure on the FPV website revealing it was printed in June.

Mr Barrett all but confirmed reports FPV has been taking orders for the production version since the all-black concept appeared a month ago, saying: “With only 125 units available, we urge interested buyers to act quickly, with a number of vehicles already pre-sold.” Unlike HSV’s SV Black special, FPV’s GT Black is available only with the stealth-look black exterior paint scheme and no all-black ute derivative has been announced, but Mr Barrett said the limited-run model was the first of a number of new products and designs from FPV.

“All the feedback received has been collated and the results present exciting possibilities for the FPV brand in the future,” he said.

“The GT Black is the beginning of some exciting times ahead as we continue to work on new product and design enhancements to reflect the needs and wants of the market.”

FPV sales are booming this year, following the release of the new Boss V8-powered GT models last October.

While FPV upped the price of its entry-level 315kW/545Nm blown V8-powered GS ute and sedan models by $1000 to $52,990 and $57,990 (plus ORCs) respectively in March, three months later in June it slashed about $10,000 off the price of its slower-selling F6 310kW turbocharged six-cylinder sedan to just $59,990 drive-away.

FPV GT Blackpricing:&nbsp
GT Black	$74,290