Ford Falcon Ecoboost 2012 review: road test

Remember the mobile phones of yesteryear - the ones they used call 'the brick'? 

They were soon replaced by iPhones and similar advanced devices, much smaller, with more features and much greater efficiency.

Such is the tale of the Ford Falcon Ecoboost, a full-sized Falcon powered by an engine half the capacity of the regular 4.0-litre straight six, but with better performance, and much better economy. 

Explore the 2012 Ford Falcon range

• Ford Falcon Ecoboost 2012 review: snapshot
• Ford Falcon Ecoboost 2012 review
• Ford Falcon Ecoboost 2012 review: road test
• Ford Falcon Ecoboost XT 2012 review
• Ford Falcon Ecoboost G6E 2012 review

The just-released car will almost certainly give the Falcon, which has rapidly dropped off the top 10 list in national sales and is in danger of extinction, another go at immortality. 

More than a new heart, the Ecoboost also gains improved road manners and driving refinement.

Technology

The 2.0-litre engine is a marvel. Made in Spain, it's choc-full of good stuff like twin cams with variable valve timing and silent chain-drive, sodium-filled valves, direct fuel injection, coil-on-plug ignition, a balance shaft and a state of the art stainless steel turbocharger. 

The eager motor puts out 179kW at 5500 revs and 353Nm of torque at 2000 revs, pretty close to the big six's 195 and 391. Transmission is by a six-speed ZF auto, with sequential mode. 

The suspension geometry has been tweaked and stiffened  by 13 per cent in front and 40 per cent at the back, and the car is 74kg lighter. 

Also, sound-absorbing materials in the windscreen and behind the dash have made for a quieter interior. Features have been upgraded with an 8-inch colour touch-screen with integrated audio and (non-brick) phone functions as well as satnav on the G6E. Improved aerodynamics include wind-cheating shields under the car.

The range

Ecoboost is available on Falcon XT, G6 and G6E models and Ford folk say it will later extend to more than 80 per cent of all models.

Costs are the same as the 4.0-litre models, starting from $37,235, and although Ford knows there will be people who reckon a four-cylinder should cost less than a six, they say the gains in fuel economy make the Ecoboost a comparative bargain.

The drive

We got to compare the new model with a regular 4.0-litre big-six in acceleration tests at Hobart's Baskerville Raceway, and yes, the iPhone beat the Brick: 6.68 to 7.13 seconds. Ford also says the Ecoboost whips the 3.0-litre Commodore by about a second over 400m and returns better fuel economy.

On a 200km run on Tasmania's swoopy, undulating roads, we cruised along and got 8.8 litres/100km, close enough to Ford's official figure of 8.1. It increased to 9.6 in spirited driving, but that's still way better than a Falcon six could hope for  even with a monster tailwind. 

Best improvement overall is the car's new-found flexibility. It's considerable torque comes on early, it runs along easily and it has a solid punch in reserve for quick overtaking. Where the six-potter scores is in towing. It can lug 2300kg, the Eco 1600kg.The recalibrated suspension is also a big step forward, giving the Ecoboost exceptional agility and a composed ride on all surfaces.