The new generation of one of the best selling vehicles in Australia has been presented today. The all-new Ford Falcon, also known as FG (for Fairmont Ghia, a previous version of the car), features three versions, the basic XT, the luxury G (Ghia) and the sporty XR. Each of these versions presents a different front end, but changes go well beyond that.
The G line comes to replace the Futura and Fairmont models, and there will be no V8 option for this range. In place of the Fairmont V8 Australian customers will have to choose the new G6 Turbo or to change their option to the XR8, equipped with the BOSS 290 5,4-liter V8 engine delivering 290 kW (394 cv) at 5,750 rpm and a peak torque of 520 Nm at 4,750. Anyway, the inline six-cylinder turbo engine of the G6 is also able to provide lots of fun at the wheel, generating 270 kW at 5,250 rpm and a better torque, of 533 Nm between 2,000 rpm and 4,750 rpm.
Though the engines can provide more power, they are also able to present a better mileage, achieved with enhancements in all engines and the use of new transmissions. The I6 Turbo, especially, uses a cylinder cut system that has been developed to provide sportier gear changes, but most surely has helped the engine reach a 10% reduction in fuel consumption.
Besides this, the new Falcon also uses the Virtual Pivot Control Link front suspension, which has been inherited from the Territory SUV and is said to provide better handling, a variable ratio steering, recently introduced to Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the CLC-Class, and an Australian first self adjusting park brake, according to Ford.
The company has not provided an official press release of the vehicle, though most of the new car details can be checked on Ford’s website. The car will be officially unveiled to the public at the Melbourne Motor Show, starting February 29, 2008, and sales will begin next May.
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