Ford shifts the stakes

A higher top gear, lower first gear and converter clutch lock-up increase perfomance and cut fuel use.

Ford is upbeat about its revised Falcon range in the light of its the Bathurst 1000 win, its first in seven years at the Mt Panorama circuit.

The new-look Falcon will be launched in New Zealand and Australia later this month, priced to be compete with the latest Holden VE Commodore.

Ford Australia President Tom Gorman says the carmaker has taken the deliberate strategic action of repositioning some of its most popular vehicles to ensure that the competitive prices are as customer-focused as the design changes.

"The large-car market is more competitive now than at any time in recent memory," Gorman says. "These pricing actions will allow Ford to maintain its strong share of this segment, which has been the genesis of our success over many decades.

"At the same time it will increase attractiveness of the Falcon range to other customers."

The new BF Falcon MkII range delivers new styling and features, including an optional Bluetooth mobile phone kit, as well the wider availability of the six-speed automatic transmission and stability control system.

Ford says fuel economy across the range, including LPG E-gas models, has also improved.

The ZF six-speed automatic transmission - the first six-speed automatic to be fitted to an Australian-built vehicle at BF Falcon - will be available on all petrol Falcon sedan models.

"The six-speed automatic transmission has proved to be a standout feature of the BF Falcon, especially for its ability to deliver a tailored driving experience for customers," Gorman says.

"Not only does it reward a sporty driving style with livelier performance and sharper responses, it also delivers significant benefits in terms of reduced fuel consumption and greater refinement, with smoother shift quality a notable feature during everyday use."

The six-speed automatic is high-torque capacity transmission with a low first gear, higher top gear and smaller and more graduated steps between each gear.

Ford says that the larger spread of ratios give the six-speed transmission real-world benefits in the traditionally divergent areas of performance and fuel consumption.

A low first gear greatly improves launch feel, while the larger and tighter spread of ratios delivers livelier performance, especially at wide-open throttle, plus smoother shift quality and reduced fuel use.

There are two versions of the six-speed automatic - a standard version with a torque capacity of 450 Nm and a performance version with a torque capacity of 600Nm.

The performance version features upgraded clutches, with extra plates in the clutch packs, to increase the torque capacity for use with higher torque output engines.

The ZF transmission is able to tailor its responses to individual driving styles by using software designed to deliver increased transmission functionality and performance, and a refined shift quality.

Torque converter clutch lock-up is available in all six forward gears, not just in the top two overdrive gears.

When towing heavy loads at low speeds, such as in city driving or through hilly terrain, converter clutch lock-up in all gears assists with better transmission cooling and reduced fuel consumption.

In addition to the wider availability of stability control and the six-speed automatic transmission, BF Falcon MkII introduces a host of exterior design and interior styling upgrades within the Falcon line-up.