While the future of the Ford Falcon as well as the Blue Oval’s Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) division in Australia remains undecided, the company went ahead and revealed its fastest ever model with the GT RSPEC Limited Edition.
The Falcon-based model is said to have been developed to deliver “racetrack-inspired handling” and features an assortment of upgrades over the regular GT variants such as a significantly recalibrated suspension, new wider rear wheels with 275/35 R19 Dunlop Sports Maxx tires and, in an FPV first, Launch Control.
“From the outset with the GT RSPEC we wanted more agile handling with better traction, and so the suspension had to be considered holistically, unlike the aftermarket, where you might bolt on a set of wider tyres and hope for the best,” said Chief Engineer Prodrive Australia, Bernie Quinn.
In regards to the new Launch Control, Quinn commented:
“We have created a Launch Control feature on both the manual and automatic transmission that tailors torque delivery to ensure launch performance is optimized. The system is automatically enabled when the vehicle is started and is designed to give drivers a smooth, consistent launch on typical road surfaces.”
The GT RSPEC Limited Edition is powered by FVP’s all-aluminium ‘Miami’ BOSS 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine delivering an output of 449hp or 335kW.
On the outside, the performance model’s graphics are inspired by the 1969 and the modern-day Boss Mustangs while there’s also a unique accent package including the lower and upper grille surrounds, fog lamp bezels, mirrors scalps, high performance spoiler with GT decal, and black painted exhaust tips.
Inside, FPV fitted the car with Shadow leather sports seats featuring the GT logo embroidery and a piano black finish around the ICC unit, tissue box and door spears.
Ford’s HSV rival said that production of the car will be limited to 350 units, 175 of which are committed to the ‘hero’ color scheme of Silhouette (black) with Vixen (red) accents, and the rest made up of Winter White, Vixen (red) and Kinetic (blue) with Silhouette (black) accents.
Prices in Australia start at AU$76,990 (US$80,900 or €65,800)
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