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Ford’s final V8 Falcon to match SS V Redline with $52,490 starting price, but with up to 75kW and 53Nm of extra grunt.
The Falcon XR8 is about to rejoin Ford’s model lineup for the first time since 2010, replacing the FPV performance brand when the FG MkII Falcon lineup bows out later this year.
The new V8 sedan will be the halo model for the FG X Falcon, the last Australian-built Ford sedan as the brand prepares to close its local manufacturing facilities in 2016.
Using the 335kW/570Nm ‘Boss’ 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that was previously exclusive to the FPV GT, the new XR8 is only bested by the 351kW FG MkII Falcon GT F for outright grunt when it comes to fast Aussie Fords.
But where the now sold-out GT F was limited to just 500 units for Australia and 50 for New Zealand, the new XR8 will be an ongoing model.
Priced from $52,490 with a six-speed manual transmission or $54,690 with the six-speed auto, the XR8 will also be significantly cheaper than the GT F’s $77,990 list price.
It’s not like has Ford cheaped out on the suspension either, as the XR8 gets the same hardware as 2012’s GT RSPEC and the GT F.
The new XR8 is only bested by the 351kW GT F for outright grunt when it comes to fast Aussie Fords
The RSPEC suspension adopts retuned rear springs and dampers, a thicker rear stabiliser bar, revised front dampers, stiffer front spring mounts and stiffer front control arm bushes over the standard Falcon.
The XR8’s tyres also mimic the staggered-fitment of the RSPEC and GT F, with wider 275mm hoops at the rear, while Brembo four-piston brakes feature up front with single-piston items at the rear.
On top of these additional features, the XR8 adopts a limited slip differential, quad-tip exhaust system, upgraded cooling fan, and sports steering setup.
It also rides on the same ‘shadow-line’ 19-inch alloy wheels as the RSPEC and GT F models, and features a bulging bonnet that is unique to the V8 hero model.
Other styling features include ‘W’ shaped daytime running lights, rear spoiler and more aggressive grille treatment.
Inside, the XR8 gains leather sports seats with grey inserts, sports pedals and steering wheel, satnav with traffic message channel, dual-zone climate control, and eight-inch display with Ford’s SYNC2 multimedia interface.
The system brings voice-activated satnav and climate control systems, as well as DAB digital radio and Wi-fi hotspot connectivity.
The XR8 Falcon will also be fitted as standard with a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers and front parking sensors on top of the rear sensors already fitted to current FG Series II sedans.
Ford has priced the new XR8 identically to its track-tuned Holden Commodore SS V Redline arch rival. However, the lion brand’s naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V8 pumps out 65 fewer kilowatts and 40 newton metres less in manual guise than the Ford’s blown 5.0-litre ‘Miami’ motor.
This gap widens to 75kW/53Nm when comparing automatic variants, with SS autos using the less powerful Active Fuel Management (AFM) equipped engine.
Ford are yet to make any performance claims for the new XR8, but 0-100km/h should be a match for the sub-5.0 second times achieved by the RSPEC with the same outputs.
Combined fuel consumption for the manual is 13.6L/100km and 13.7L/100km for the automatic.
Both models represent the last of the Aussie performance car genre and won’t be directly replaced once Ford and Holden close their local manufacturing facilities in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
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