Ford Performance Vehicles today confirmed it will add a high-performance turbo-charged six-cylinder utility to its range in early 2005.

To be called the F6 Tornado and due for release in January 2005, this vehicle will expand the appeal of the FPV range and push the boundaries of the Australian performance utility segment.

The F6 Tornado is the workhorse sibling of the exciting F6 Typhoon sedan, powered by the same F6 270 Turbo six-cylinder engine with close-ratio six-speed manual transmission.

The F6 Tornado will become the entry ticket to the FPV family with a recommended retail price of $51,950 – excluding dealer delivery and statutory charges.

“The performance utility segment of the Australian market has experienced significant growth over the last few years,” Managing Director of Ford Performance Vehicles, David Flint, says.

“The FPV F6 Tornado adds an exciting new dimension to the burgeoning ute culture, and will be a car that will literally blow our customers away with its performance, handling and value for money.”

The turbo-charged and intercooled 4.0-litre DOHC six cylinder engine in the F6 Tornado delivers 270kW of power at 5250rpm and 550Nm from 2000-4000rpm.

It features all the upgraded mechanical elements of the F6 Typhoon sedan, including a 50 per cent larger twelve-core intercooler, dual entry ram airbox, heavy-duty conrods, high-strength valve springs and FPV oil cooler.

The F6 Tornado will be available exclusively with the FPV engineered version of the close-ratio Tremec T56 six-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 final drive ratio and AP Racing twin-plate clutch.

The F6 Tornado will come equipped with FPV Performance brakes with twin-grooved 325mm front and 303mm rear rotors with blue twin-piston front and single-piston rear calipers or the optional Brembo brakes with cross-drilled and ventilated 355mm front and 330mm rear rotors with four-piston calipers. Both packages have a three-channel ABS system with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

It will follow the same exterior and interior design styling as the F6 Typhoon, including the stunning 18x8 double five-spoke alloy wheels, FPV front bumper with exclusive high-tech grille mesh and F6 badge, FPV Sports seats with Technik fabric trim and FPV logos, and signature dash-mounted starter button.

The F6 Tornado will come standard with air conditioning, power windows and Prestige Sound consisting of a 100 Watt system with a six-disc in-dash CD player. It will have a soft tonneau cover as standard fitment with an optional alloy Sports bar. A lockable hard tonneau cover featuring a rear wing can also be ordered.

And, as is the case with all FPV vehicles, each customer that purchases an F6 Tornado is entitled to a Performance Driver Training Course and exclusive owner gifts.