Falcon XR8 at least 12 months away
Ford's V8 sedan is coming but has been pushed down the priority listPlans to revive the Ford Falcon XR8 are still alive – but the V8 performance sedan has been pushed down the priority list by more economical models.
The XR8 was discontinued in June 2010 because Ford did not update it to meet Euro IV emissions – leaving Ford Performance Vehicles with the only V8 option for Ford fans.
But, as reported earlier this year, customer backlash prompted Ford Australia to reconsider its XR8 decision.
The XR8 was initially due to be re-introduced in the second half of this year but Motoring.com.au understands it has been put at the back of the queue behind more urgent models such as the just-released LPG Falcon and the imminent four-cylinder engine, due early next year.
Motoring.com.au understands Ford Australia was wrestling with two options for the XR8: a less powerful version of the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 used in the GT Falcon, or using the non-supercharged version of the 5.0-litre V8 that powers the Mustang in North America.
Using the Falcon GT’s supercharged engine would reduce Ford’s development costs given that the work has already been done by FPV (it could easily trim power by cutting the rev limit). But this option would increase Ford’s manufacturing costs given the extra hardware in the supercharged engine and the handling between FPV and Ford.
Motoring.com.au understands the most likely scenario is that Ford Australia will simply adapt the standard 5.0-litre V8 from the Mustang and engineer it to suit the Falcon.
Although this sounds straightforward, there is still a significant cost to calibrate and validate the 5.0-litre V8 engine for the Falcon. However, once this is done, the piece cost of the engine itself would be much cheaper than the supercharged V8 used in the Falcon GT.
A Ford executive told Motoring.com.au that the XR8 project is not dead, but is not yet completely over the line. However, the executive said, the XR8 had a greater chance of being revived than not.
If all goes to plan, the re-introduction of the Falcon XR8 is now likely to be in the second half of 2012.
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