Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo 2011 Review

When the Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo first hit the scene in late 2002, it blew away all preconceptions of what a big, six-cylinder Aussie sports sedan could do. I remember the first time I drove one in 2003. I was completely flummoxed by the car's audacity, its power... much more so than previous attempts.

Holden has toyed with supercharged 3.8-litre Buick-sourced V6s in the past, the Commodore VY S an example, and they were rapid vehicles. But Ford's silky smooth 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine mated to a low-boost intercooled turbocharger took sensory feedback to the next level.

Here we are, almost a decade after Ford's giant-killing turbo six hit the scene. So what's new?

We've seen three models, from the BA, to the BF and now the FG in the time between, so there have been several evolutionary changes. The car looks different, has more advanced suspension, additional interior space, improved safety systems and better fuel economy. And it's faster. Much faster. But more on that later...

Fitted out with leather upholstery, the Falcon XR6 Turbo makes a strong first impression. Subtle touches add to the sporty theme in the form of blue stitching on the seats and door inserts matched by blue back-lit instruments.

Ergonomics are very good, starting with ingress and egress, all assisted by the relatively high seats (yet surprisingly, head room isn't lacking). At 186cm tall, I did sometimes feel perched a little high on the seat, but this could have been due to the fact the steering wheel doesn't tilt high up enough. Even at the highest setting I found the bottom of the tiller was a little close to my lap.

Nevertheless the car is a comfortable cruiser, and there's an enormous amount of rear seat room and luggage space in the boot which makes trips to the beach with the in-laws a doddle. Fit and finish in our test car was impressive, with high quality soft-touch dash plastics, nicely stitched leather upholstery and no rattles or squeaks. The odo showed around 4000km.

The steering wheel-mounted buttons for audio and cruise controls are intuitive and make freeway cruising a cinch, while the iPod connectivity is another nice touch. There's also air vents in the rear to moderate rear cabin temperature.

Driving the car down the Western Australian south coast, we recorded impressive initial fuel consumption figures of 9.0L/100km (involving a small amount of city driving and the majority of driving at 110km/h). The first journey saw us endure a 300km trek from Perth to Yallingup, and by the time we had arrived at our destination slightly more than a quarter of a tank of fuel had been used. Not bad that.

Ford's official figure for the combined cycle is 11.7L/100km, with CO2 emissions of 278g/km, which gives it a three out of five Green Star Rating.

However the following 200km that took us down the south coast past Augusta recorded much higher consumption, getting up around the 16s. But it was worth the price as the XR6 Turbo is a grand tourer at heart that will eat up long sweeping corners as easily as it devours lengthy stretches of freeway.

One of the things that many new owners will want to try after running in the car and bedding in the engine will be to sink the boot in. And what a rush! There's something to be said about the way large, rear-wheel drive sports sedans motivate, and this one in particular has such a sweet power delivery it's hard not to smile wistfully just thinking about it.

Peak power of 270kW hits at 5250rpm; do the maths and it's about $188 per kilowatt - good bang for your buck. In comparison the BMW M3 costs around $470 per kilowatt, but I digress.

In a straight line, the XR6 Turbo is an animal, occasionally fighting with its own traction control systems (and momentarily overwhelming them) when you stab the loud pedal with gusto, then launching forward at astonishing velocities.

There's a real vehemence to the way this car accelerates, yet there's never any histrionics or carryon. The car's engine emits a turbine-like drone that rises into a jet-like howl, but it's never loud or intrusive - just a presence that lets you know it's not an ordinary motor.

Overtaking is another delight, so creamy smooth is the power delivery that your passengers will still be mid-sentence before they realise you've passed that ageing, smoke-belching delivery truck.

Much of the XR6 Turbo's incredible force can be put down to its massive 533Nm of torque on tap from just 2000rpm, a rise of 83Nm over the BA model's 450Nm that first arrived in 2002. The original model also had two less gears and no stability control, and was also thirstier.

And it's that 533Nm that helps deliver rapid standing starts but also effortless overtaking, the six-speed automatic ZF gearbox putting in an Oscar-winning performance for best supporting role. The German gearbox is quick to shift when you're in a hurry, yet also well-suited to stop-start urban traffic.

There is a sport shift (tiptronic) mode available should you feel the need for more control (and it will hold gears to the rev limiter) but unless you're towing (up to 2300kg) or really want to scrub every last skerrick of tread from the tyres, the auto-shifting mode should suffice.

Some turbocharged passenger cars suffer from turbo lag, or a propensity to feel listless under full throttle until the turbo spools up, but this issue doesn’t affect the Falcon, largely because it generates a low level of turbo pressure, around 0.4 bar (6 psi).

Boasting one of the most involving powertrains ever made in Australia, the FG XR6 Turbo has a good, rather than outstanding, chassis. While the independent suspension and shock absorbers do an excellent job with its hefty 1704kg mass -- it has excellent ride quality -- body roll prohibits the car from really attacking the tight and twisty stuff.

The Falcon tracks keenly through long, gently winding sweepers, but when push comes to shove on tighter bends it leans heavily on its outside wheels, resulting in reduced grip levels. It's not a deal breaker, far from it, but the body roll is noticeable. The brakes are generally very good, but repeated punishment from higher speeds will see a slight drop in pedal response.

By and large, there's a lot to like about this car. It’s easy to recommend for buyers looking for a performance car that has family car levels of practicality and can be used as an everyday A to B vehicle. It's got a five-star ANCAP safety rating, will happily sip cruddy grade 91 RON fuel, is very comfortable, and all the while develops V8-like power but with six-cylinder efficiency.

Indeed, the current XR6 Turbo is arguably one of the best large sixes built in Australia and makes a mockery of its naturally aspirated V6 Holden counterpart in the power stakes. It's hugely satisfying to drive and if you've never driven a turbo six before, get one before they're gone - they won't last forever.

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