NEW FALCON: base six gets 200kW potential

Time is running out for Falcon's inline six, but you wouldn't know it given the depth of redevelopment the locally sired engine has undergone for its role in the new FG Falcon range.

A new DOHC cylinder-head design, a composite variable-length tuned intake manifold and other changes have resulted in an engine with 200kW potential. Indeed, even when using 91RON fuel, the engine produces 195kW.

The FG's inline 24-valve six retains Ford's dual independent variable camshaft timing (DIVCT) but gets revised engine calibration to produce what Ford Australia says is "its best inline six-cylinder engine package yet".

As noted above, maximum power has increased by 5kW to 195kW at 6000rpm. Torque meantime is up 8Nm to 391Nm at 3250rpm.

When run on 95RON fuel, peak power and torque outputs rise to 198kW and 409Nm respectively. And says Ford: "Courtesy of the engine's dual knock sensors and individual spark control, customers can obtain even further performance benefits from using 98 RON premium unleaded fuel."

One of the most obvious changes to the engine is the new inlet manifold. The elaborately ribbed composite component incorporates a new electronic throttle body and fuel rail assembly as well as a Manifold Tuning Valve (MTV) which effectively 'tunes' the length of inlet tract to maximize torque throughout the rev range.

The component's design has been optimised to reduce unwanted noise and delivers a weight saving (4kg) as well as performance benefits.

Less visible but no less important is the six's new cylinder-head design. Used in both the I6 and I6 Turbo (see separate story), Ford's new 'fast burn' cylinder-head is claimed to deliver high levels of combustion efficiency via revised intake port profiling and new combustion chamber.

The cylinder-head features a 'high-low' inlet port configuration that effectively aims the incoming fuel-air mixture at different parts of the cylinder to maximize the blending of the gases. In addition the combustion chamber shape has been altered and valve 'masking' has been used.

These features jointly produce more turbulence within the combustion chamber, which allows the ignition phasing to be retarded at part throttle and thus improves part-throttle performance and fuel efficiency, says Ford.

The development work on the updated engine was not outsourced but rather was performed using Ford Australia's own engineering resources.

Check out our detailed coverage of the new Falcon engine variants via the links below

4.0-litre I6 engine - more here
4.0-litre I6 Turbo - more here
Boss 290 - more here
4.0-litre I6 E-Gas - more here
New transmissions - more here

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