Review: FPV FG GS (2009-14)

Review: FPV FG.I GS (2009-11)

Overview

Released in August 2009, the FPV FG Mk.I (FG.I) GS was a rear-wheel drive, performance sedan. Manufactured in Campbellfield, Victoria, the GS was initially powered by a 5.4-litre V8 petrol engine that was mated to either six-speed automatic or manual transmissions. In October 2010, however, the 5.4-litre V8 petrol engine was replaced with a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 unit due to the introduction of Euro IV emissions standards.

Boss 302 and Boss 315 engines

Of the engines,

• The 5.4-litre Boss 302 V8 petrol engine had a cast iron block, cast aluminium cylinder head, forged steel crankshaft, cross-bolted main bearing caps, sintered connecting rods, double overhead camshafts (DOHC) per cylinder bank, roller finger followers, four valves per cylinder, twin knock sensors, coil on plug ignition and a compression ratio of 11.0:1. Compared to Boss 315 engine in the FPV GT Series, the Boss 302 engine differed in that it had a recalibrated ECU and lower 6000 rpm maximum engine speed; and,
• Developed in Australia by Prodrive at a cost of $36 million, the 5.0-litre Boss 315 Miami V8 engine was based on Ford’s Coyote V8 engine that was introduced in the 2010 Ford Mustang GT. The hand-built Miami V8 engine had an aluminium block and cylinder head, an HTV 1900 supercharger (developed by Harrop Engineering and using Eaton Twin Vortices Series technology) providing maximum boost pressure of 0.34 bar (4.93 psi), a forged steel crankshaft, powder sintered forged connecting rods, double overhead camshafts, variable intake camshaft timing, roller finger followers, four valves per cylinder, and a compression ratio of 9.25:1. Due to its aluminium construction, the supercharged Boss 315 engine was 47kg lighter than the Boss 302.

Transmissions

The FPV GS was available with six-speed Tremec TR6060 manual or six-speed ZF 6HP26 automatic transmissions.

Replacing the Tremec T56 manual transmission, the Tremec TR6060 had triple synchromesh on first and second gears and double synchromesh on all other gears (including revrese) which reduced gear shift efforts and shift travel. The reduced shift travel also provided increased space for the use of larger, stronger gears for greater durability.

The FPV GS was fitted with the high-performance ZF 6HP26 transmission which was rated for 600 Nm applications and had upgraded clutches with extra plates in the clutch packs. For the FG range, the 6HP26 transmission had a cylinder cut function whereby the fuel injectors would be deactivated during gearshifts to reduce shift times.

For the supercharged Boss 315 engine,

• The TR6060 transmission was fitted with a new bell-housing to suit a new twin-plate clutch system (shared with the Mustang GT500) and revised second gear synchros were implemented; and,
• The 6HP26 transmission was upgraded with a new 7-plate clutch pack and 4-planet planetary gearset for improved torque capacity.

Dimensions

The FG GS was 4956 mm long, 1868 mm wide, 1466 mm tall and had a 2836 mm long wheelbase.

Suspension

The FG GS’s double wishbone front suspension had two lower ball joints that connected the separate lower arms to the suspension knuckle. These two lower links created a virtual pivot of the lower arm – hence the ‘Virtual Pivot Control Link’ name – and allowed the suspension to behave as though the lower pivot point was at the intersection of the two arms. Due to the use of aluminium and high strength steels, the Virtual Pivot Control Link suspension was 22 kg lighter than that in the BF GT .

The independent rear suspension (IRS) had three control arms:

• A forged upper control arm;
• A stamped front lower control arm; and,
• A stamped rear lower control arm.

Each control arm had a cross axis ball joint on the wheel assembly end and was attached to the subframe and knuckle. Furthermore, the ‘Control Blade’ was a stamped trailing arm which provided lateral support and acted as a vertical pivot point.For the FG GS, the roll centre height was increased to reduce in-corner roll and improve straight line stability, while toe-angle was revised to improve steering feel and stability.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the FPV FG GS included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners.

Brakes

Like the Ford FG Falcon XR6 Turbo and XR8 , the FPV GS had 322 mm by 28 mm vented front brake discs with two-piston calipers and 328 mm by 26 mm solid rear discs with single piston calipers.

Features

Standard features for the FPV FG GS included 19-inch alloy wheels, a seven speaker sound system with six-disc CD player and auxiliary inputs (MP3/iPod), dual zone climate control air conditioning, a seven-inch colour display, four-way power adjustable driver’s seat, front seat adjustable lumbar support, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, front fog lamps, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, remote central locking, tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel, multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows and mirrors, 12 volt power outlets, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

The FPV FG GS was also fitted with a limited slip rear differential.

Brochure

• Brochure: FPV FG.I Range (October 2010)

Review: FPV FG.II GS (2011-14)

Overview

Released in December 2011, the FG Mk.II (FG.II) GS introduced subtle interior and exterior updates. Inside, there was a new Interior Command Centre (ICC) with an eight-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system and auxiliary USB input for the use of memory sticks, flash drives and external powered hard drives with memory support up to 1TB.

Visually, the FG.II GS could be identified by its new lighting package with ‘precision design’ projector headlights and black bezels, front fascia and bumpers with winglets and pronounced sculpting around the fog lights and lower grille, black grille mesh and chrome/silver fog light accents.

Features

Compared to its FG.I predecessor, standard features for the FG.II GS were extended to include a prestige audio system, reversing camera, rear parking sensors and an alarm.

Brochures

• Brochure: FPV FG.II Range (January 2012)
• Brochure: FPV FG.II Range (May 2013)

Related links

• Wikipedia.org: FPV FG GS