Updated Falcon boasts new technology

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

A number of features in the updated BA Falcon range reveal a new chapter in Ford Australia's performance history - with special editions to come.

The line-up of powerful new straight-six and V8 engines use electronic throttle control, a drive-by-wire system standard across the range.

The electronic set-up replaces the traditional mechanical cable and linkages. Drive-by-wire enables pedal responses to be tuned individually to suit the engine/transmission combination in each BA Falcon model. The throttle is adapted from an international design developed by Ford and supplier Visteon.

Ford also uses for the first time electronically adjustable foot pedals, adapted from the system first seen on the S-Type Jaguar.

The pedals can be moved electronically to and from the driver via a switch on the steering column.

Ford Australia is trumpeting first-time technology in the BA as it seeks to get back on a equal sales footing with the Holden Commodore.

It is championing the power advantage its new twin-cam 4-litre straight-six engine has over the standard Holden 3.8-litre V6 - 182kW/380Nm against 152kW/305Nm.

The turbocharged/intercooled variant in the XR6 has a huge power advantage, too - 240kW/450Nm against the boosted Holden's 171kW/375Nm.

"The new six-cylinder was designed in Australia. It is the best, most high-tech engine we have built," said engine design supervisor David Mitchell.

The 5.4-litre V8 is from the Ford stable in America. But Mitchell says the two BA Falcon versions - 220kW/470Nm and 260kW/500Nm - have considerable Australian input, between 20 and 25 per cent.

"We like to say we have ownership of the 260 engine in Australia," said Mitchell. "Some very senior people in Detroit are jumping down the phone line at the potential of this engine."

The engines are mated to a new four-speed sequential transmission or five-speed manual.

Ford says the four-speed gearbox with manual override better capitalises on the new engines' flat torque spread.

The 260kW engine will power the new XR8 and three GT models built by a new subsidiary company, Ford Performance Vehicles, a partnership with specialists Tickford and Prodrive.

But it will deliver a substantial power increase over its mainstream Ford equivalent. Said Ford Australia president Geoff Polites: "The kilowatts are not bad, but it is not our end game. The kilowatts will be what the kilowatts will be."