Force-fed Falcon shows its claws

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

The Falcon XR6 Turbo is one of the keys to the the future of Ford Performance Vehicles.

The company's new go-fast arm has been saying for some time that it won't necessarily concentrate on developing V8 Falcons to muscle up against V8 Commodore variants from Holden Special Vehicles.

Ford Australia president Geoff Polites and FPV managing director David Flint have said that the high-performance company could develop any Ford product as long as it makes economic and mechanical sense. That includes the line-up of V8s - and the 160kW Focus RS and 240kW Falcon XR6 Turbo.

Polites has said that FPV will get to work on a hotter version of the RS Focus if the hatchback gets the go-ahead for Australia and New Zealand.

The debate over what FPV should develop next continues on a Ford Australia website, where more than half the visitors to the site want an even faster version of the XR6 Turbo.

This isn't expected to pose a problem for FPV, because the boosted straight-six 4-litre XR6 engine recorded 350kW on the dynamometer during development.

The force-fed Falcon with its standard 240kW/450Nm output is turning out to be the jewel in the BA range crown.

It combines slingshot-like performance on the burst with a grippy, refined ride and quick steering, slightly vague on the straight-ahead but weighting up through the twisty bits.

Around town the XR6T is docile and flexible, with a low-speed ride that is firm but not harsh. The car uses the same fully independent suspension as the standard BA Falcon but with a lower ride height and handling bias.

This set-up drops the car's centre of gravity and adds to the car's overall balance.

The pick of the models is the automatic with manual override. The five-speed manual is meaty and fun on the open road but, combined with the equally heavy clutch, is a bit clumsy in traffic.

The automatic feels quicker, too, either in Drive, with its adaptive programming, or in sequential mode to the left of the gate.

The 182kW base engine uses a Garrett GT40 turbocharger to boost performance. Tickford did the revisions, using lower-compression pistons and heat-resistent exhaust valves.

Boost pressure is kept at 6psi to ensure the engine doesn't start letting go of its internals at high revs. The low boost minimises turbo lag and provides strong low-down performance. The result is an engine with brute force and refinement.

The BA cabin is much more refined and appealing than the old AU's. The XR6T costs $56,990.