Motor Sept 2005 - BFYB - Another FPV failure!

[MrSparkle]

Well another BFYB and another predictably poor showing by the FPV models. In the $50-80k segment, out of 9 contenders, the XR8 placed 8th, the GT 7th, and the F6 4th. In fact, the best result for Ford was in the sub-$30k bracket, where the new Focus Zetec overcame the might of it's sole competitor, the new Suzuki Swift e

Lap times for the big FPVs were predictably aweful, the GT getting the best result out of the Blue Oval pack with a 1:13:00. Commendably though, the GT DID beat the SV8 and GTO in it's best lap time, which the F6 and XR8 failed to do. The XR8 got the quickest 400m time of 13.99 while the F6 was fastest to 100kph at 5.71sec.

The biggest embarrassment for the Ford range though was the cornering speed, which frankly was RUBBISH. For those reading along, page 91 has a breakout where Motor diagnoses this as the main problem with Fords and lap times. The F6 and GT carried 104kph through turn 9, while the XR8 did 105kph. In perspective, a Hyundai Tiburon did 106kph, the Renault Sport Megane also 106kph, SV8 Commodore 107kph, Mini Cooper 108kph, and SS Commodore 110kph, with the STi doing 113kph. Uniformly rubbish corner speeds for the Ford range. I, for one, would like to hear the "official" explanation for this from somebody at FPV.

Overall winner was the recently be-diffed STi, and looking at it's solid results it's not a real surprise. It was actually the quickest of the pack around the track which was a bit more surprising.

May post some tables of data if I can be bothered, or if nobody else jumps in and does it! :