Road Test: FPV F6 Typhoon

By Feann Torr - 22/Feb/2006

The showdown between HSV and FPV - two of Australia's most popular home grown performance car tuners - has reached another level as HSV dumps an even chubbier V8 into its range.

But despite the fact that HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) now has a more powerful mechanical heart driving its hero models, FPV (Ford Performance Vehicles) still has an ace up its sleeve, and that's a blown 6-cylinder model.

HSV's last 6-cylinder model was the often-overlooked supercharged XU6 of 1998, and since then it has concentrated on its 8-cylinder models. Which is where the fire-breathing, stump-pulling, and generally mad F6 Typhoon comes in, giving fans of 6-cylinder large performance sedans something to sing about.

And sing they will, because this bad boy is, um, very bad. In a good way. Even though it's not the most expensive model in the FPV range, it's arguably the fastest, with internal testing putting the 0-100km/h figure at under 5.5 seconds, and also making it the quickest Falcon in Ford's history.

All this despite no changes to the engine since the hi-po turbo F6 arrived in early 2004 - though it should be said that a new 6-speed ZF automatic gearbox makes the cut, once the exclusive domain of Jags and Aston Martins - as does a new suit and few electronic aids under the new bodywork.

But will this be enough to keep HSV at bay?

Make: Ford Performance Vehicles
Model: F6 Typhoon
Price: $61,060
Transmission: 6-speed automatic w/sportshift
Engine: 4.0-litre, inline 6-cylinder, turbo, petrol
Seats: 5
Safety: 4 airbags (front driver/passenger, front sides (thorax)), ABS, T/C