Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo 2008 Review

V8 assassin

The world of Australian performance sedans has a new king, and its name is the XR6 Turbo. Just take a look at the acceleration figures, and then look again: zero to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds, the standing 400 metres in 13.4. Yes, the numbers might be on par with an LS2-powered HSV GTS, but the $30,000-odd cheaper XR6 leaves the HSV in its dust on bang-for-buck. A Commodore SS? Forget about it; the General's V8 flagship is half a second slower than the turbo Falcon. Even BMW's mighty 309kW M3 only just manages to better this pumped family sedan for straight-line speed.

The short story is that if the previous BA to BF XR6 Turbos were V8-bashers, then the FG is in another league again. The acceleration figures we achieved - and yes, they were done under our usual test conditions and are not manufacturer claims - confirm that all the talk about improving the turbocharged straight six is more than just idle chatter. Ford has managed to produce a world-class rocketship.

Intriguingly, too, we only tested the six-speed automatic version because manual FG Falcons hadn't yet been built at the time we went out to play. It is possible the manual XR6T, with its launch control system for delivering the optimum turbo torque on take-off, will go quicker again. It would be no surprise in the future to see this car - minus Wheels' obligatory 85kg passenger, and maybe half a tank less fuel - dip below the five-second barrier for the 0-100km/h sprint.

The sidebar to the Turbo's performance story is just how easily it cranks on the acceleration. Even the slightest throttle input has it surging onwards and upwards, making its cruise control (with a new, digital speed read-out and tiny incremental adjustments) a necessity to curb inadvertent excursions over the limit. Squeeze the right foot hard and it's like a second-stage booster rocket has been lit; 80-120km/h comes up in just over three seconds, all handled serenely by the auto gearbox.

Tackle Ford's durability circuit with its highway surface, steep gradients and some wicked off-grade cambers and it is clear the XR6 Turbo is one wild child. The rate at which it builds speed is quite extraordinary, and with power-on out of corners, the winking DSC light on the instrument display confirms the rear end is scrabbling for traction. It changes direction far more rapidly than the vehicle size and weight would indicate, feeling at once light on its feet yet packing a killer punch from the rear wheels. Thrills never came so fast, and so affordably.

The only wish is that the XR braking package with its larger front discs gave more stopping power and faded less. Because in every other respect this is a serious performance package clothed in the body of a five-seater sedan, and one that will not only scare, but pummel most V8s of the same ilk.

XR6: No poor relation
You wouldn't expect the naturally aspirated version of the XR6 to match the Turbo on thrills, but it isn't short on ability. If the Turbo isn't on the shopping list don't fret; you'll save $6000 and still have a car with charms.

The main one is balance, for without the Turbo's bulk torque trying to shred the rear tyres, the XR6 is well within its limits when driven hard, and the FG's fine steering and grippy rear end combine nicely. Performance isn't any greater than a identically-powered Falcon XT (we did 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds and 400 metres in 15.4 in the XR6 auto) but the more tightly screwed down suspension package and meatier 245/45R17 tyre package give far more control than either the base model or the G-Series models. The brakes, too, seem better suited to the slower car.