Falcon stirs the large car pot

 Reports of the demise of big Australian sixes are greatly exaggerated, with Ford's sharply- priced FG Falcons likely to tweak Holden's buttons, and catch some disenchanted SUV owners on the way, says DAVE MOORE.

Last month, we described the design elements used by Ford to set its all-new FG Falcon apart from previous models. We also covered-off the engine performance increases, chassis design and transmission changes. Now we bring you how much it will cost and what each model is like to drive and travel in.

Falcon XT

With five more kilowatts than the old model, plus a new-to-Falcon five- speed automatic, the XT is refined, quick (0-100km/h in seven seconds) and running on 16-inch alloys, the best riding model in the FG range.

It's also something of a bargain, with this entry-point car showing off best Ford's new "transparent pricing strategy" which is similar to schemes already established by Honda and Suzuki.

What it means is that Ford now has a price worked out from a predicted transaction price rather than a high-starting sticker from which a customer can strong-arm a lower spend. But the XT's $39,990 is still a surprise, especially when Ford tells us that there remains room for fleet negotiation.

What you get with the XT is the same 195kW DOHC six as the XR6, G6 and G6E models, running through its own five-speed automatic rather than those cars' ZF six- speeders.

The XT, like all FGs, takes front, side head and thorax airbags, dynamic stability control (DSC), traction control (TC), ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), and emergency brake assist (EBA).

It also gets climate control, and a monochrome version of the upper echelon Falcon's display screen.

On the road, the XT is hushed, even over coarse chip and possessed of a delightfully well-insulated reaction to bumps and holes.

It doesn't suffer on the handling front, either The XT turns-in faithfully, reacts well to sudden steering changes _ such as when when an opposing car tries to `borrow' your side of the road (the least said about that, the better!) _ and has a pleasing "heft" through the wheel.

A lot of this is to do with the new forward-mounted rack, which allows the steering a more direct feel, especially close to the centre point.

Sadly, the frontal treatment of the XT is too plastic looking for some observers and it's obviously the low- rent model in the range, but for me there's something of a Q-car about this, and I could certainly live with it in this bargain star of the FG line-up.

Falcon XR6

With the same motor as the XT, this time driving through the ZF six- speeder, and supplied with a limited slip differential, the XR6, at $45,990, costs $6000 more than the XT but is $4000 cheaper than the old XR6 and it looks much better than the XT, riding on 17-inch alloys and fitted with a more crisply design frontal mask, with, double "tear-duct" headlamps.

The XR6 remains refined and quiet enough, although it's a little firmer on the road, which is what you have to live with if you want the car's terrifically incisive steering and handling.

Falcon XR6 Turbo

What a difference a turbo makes. The XR6 Turbo, at $50,990, now puts out 270kW (up 25kW) thanks to exhaust, induction and turbocharger modifications.

But the big story is the 533Nm of torque, up by 53Nm over the old car, which translates into an addictive surge of mid-range acceleration, with zero to 100km/h being dispatched in just 5.1 seconds, according to Fairfax colleagues from the Sydney Morning Herald.

This makes the XR6 turbo not only a full second quicker than the XR8, but officially the quickest Australian mass production sedan, according to several Australian sources.

The Turbo takes the XR6's 18-inch wheel option as standard, and apart from black lock nuts and subtle badging, that's the only visual difference.

Falcon G6

Priced the same as the XR6 ($45,990), the G6 takes a slightly more luxurious angle. The G6 features more comfortable suspension and manages to traverse bumps and rills even more effectively than the XT.

The G6, which effectively replaces the old Fairmont model, looks a lot better, in my opinion, than the XR6 and XT, with an under-chin scoop that links it with the recently released Mondeo model and simple window brightwork instead of plain black.

It also gets front foglamps, more luxurious trim, a four-way power driver's seat, a leather wheelrim and unique tail lamps.

Falcon G6E

At $50,990, the G6E is priced the same as the XR6 Turbo, but adds further luxury to the G6 equation, rather than the hotter engine and is the FG range's equivalent of the old Fairmont Ghia.

It has standard leather trim, more chrome up front, a high-resolution colour information screen in the fascia and carbon fibre trim items in the cabin.

With Bluetooth and iPod integration, the G6E is high on equipment, which also includes an eight-way power driver's seat, and an eight-speaker stereo that could make your ears bleed. It also takes curtain airbags and a reversing camera.

The G6E is probably the quietest of the FG range, with the plush cloth carpets absorbing extraneous noise. It's also the best-looking, although the car's side badges, also seen on the turbo version, look like something from Star-Trek's props department.

And no, you can't delete option the badges for a simple triangular indicator repeater as on "lesser" Falcons.

Falcon G6E turbo

Luxury, combined with the hot 270kW six makes this the ultimate FG Falcon _ and with acceleration levels in the low five-second bracket, the G6E turbo ($55,990) must be one of the luxury performance bargains of the moment, anywhere in the world.

Insulated from proceedings so much more than the $6000 cheaper XR6, the G6E Turbo doesn't feel as quick as it is, which of course is no excuse, especially with the FG range's across the board "set-point" cruise control.

This clever device allows the driver to accurately tap the car's velocity up or down in single increments as speed limits change.

Press the control a little longer and it will automatically go up or down to the next 10km/h increment. After just a few minutes with the device you can use it without turning from the windscreen. It's not an option, every FG Falcon gets it.

Falcon XR8

Oh, well, all good things have to come to an end. While I have great affection for the V8 found under the hood of Falcons since the BA model, the car's refettled 290kW 5.4 is lost in the FG range.

The XR8 is only a second quicker than the base XT bonnet to 100km/h and a second slower than the turbo XR6 and G6E models.

It uses too much gas too, at 14L/100km, and the only thing it has to offer the Falcon range is a V8 sound signature.

Paying $52,990, or $1300 more than the XR6 Turbo for a car of identical specification that's slower and thirstier smacks of madness, even if it does make a nice noise.

* * *

Driving the complete range of new Ford FG Falcons over more than 650km brought me to several incontrovertible truths.

The first is that large cars may still have some relevance in Australia and New Zealand, and the second is that V8s have rather less time than sixes do.

A third and fourth are that the dux of the Falcon range is the entry- point XT model, while the dunce is the XR8.

If you're looking for a big six, the new Ford has the current high- ground in terms of space, pricing, dynamics and performance. But if a V8 is still your bag, Holden probably has your car.

Mind you, if you drive either of the turbo sixes, you might never consider a V8 again, Ford or Holden.

FORD FG FALCON

Drivetrains: XT, XR6, G6 & G6E- 3984cc injected 24v I6, 195kW at 6000rpm, 391Nm at 3250rpm. 0-100km/h 7.1 - 6.9 secs, 10.1 - 10.5L/100km. XR6 Turbo & G6E Turbo - 3984cc 24v turbo I6, 270kW at 5250rpm, 533Nm at 2000rpm to 4750rpm. 0-100km/h 5.1 secs, 11.7L/100km. XR8 - 5408cc injected 32v V8, 290kW at 5750rpm, 520Nm at 4750rpm. 0-100km/h 6.3 secs, 14L/100km.

Chassis: Virtual pivot control link front, control blade rear suspension. Variable ratio power assisted rack and pinion steering. Vented front, solid rear disc brakes. ABS, EBD, EBA, DSC and TCS standard, all models. Alloy wheels: XT 16 inch, XR and G models 17 inch, XR6 Turbo and G6E Turbo 18 inch. 19 inch optional.

Dimensions: L 4955 - 4970mm, W 1868mm, H 1433 - 1453 mm, W/base 2838mm, F/track 1583mm, R/track 1598mm, Weight 1704kg, Fuel 68L.

Pricing: XT $39,990; XR6 & G6 $45,990; XR6 Turbo & G6E $50,990; XR8 $52,990; G6E Turbo $55,990.

HOT: Vastly improved styling; sharp, well-contrived steering and chassis; excellent ride; horizon-sucking turbo performance; terrific pricing.

NOT: Disappointing V8; G6E models' badging very naff; diesel two years away; wagons and utes still have cart springs.

VERDICT: the demise of the large Aussie car is delayed a little longer by an astonishingly well-sorted range. Forget the XR8, though.

- © Fairfax NZ News