NEW FALCON: Feel the serenity

Used to be it was enough to 'build out' the rattles and squeaks, install a quiet exhaust and Bob's your uncle. In the noughties, however, new cars are quieter than ever and aspects of sound quality are just as important as sheer noise levels.

Ford Australia claims the new FG Falcon has introduced an armoury of new features and systems to improve overall refinement across the vehicle's model range. Indeed, from the vehicle's base structure through its powertrains and interior fit and finishes, enhanced sound character and lower noise levels have been considered at all stages.

As detailed in our engine (more here) and packaging (more here) overviews, aspects such as the I6 engine's new intake manifold and the new inset doors have, in part, been developed with aural sensitivities in mind.

The new door systems allow the use of a new continuous triple-element door seal system. Coupled with the new inset design, and the elimination of the A-pillar overlap of the front doors (as appeared on the BA-BF series Falcons) wind noise has been significantly reduced, Ford says.

The new A-pillar design is more 'slippery' and in conjunction with a new de-coupled mirror design, this is another wind noise source that has been minimized.

A new firewall panel has fewer voids to eliminated noise pathways into the cabin.

With a 30 per cent reduction in air leakage, the FG's cabin is the best sealed Falcon ever, says the company. There's even a new labyrinthine cabin air extraction system that utilises the low pressure area at the rear of the car, thus miminising noise intrusion.

Road noise has been targeted via new tyre and suspension designs and is influenced by the FG's better body structure which reduces body panel "interaction". Even the designs of the steel and alloy wheels have been influence by NVH considerations.

Under the bonnet new manifolds help tune the engine noise character on the six-cylinder models while revised air intake systems reduce inlet noise further, says Ford. New engine mounts have been specified.

The V8's Semi Active Muffler gives the Boss 290 a new throatier engine note at high engine revs -- proof positive, the Ford boffins assert, that refinement isn't always about removing noise.

The end result is a car that is a measurable 3db quieter which exhibits a "more refined" sound quality at higher engine speeds, says Ford.

Further the company claims the new FG Falcon has delivered a 5 per cent reduction in road noise and is 10 per cent better in terms of wind noise at high speed. In-cabin speech intelligibility is claimed to be improved markedly.

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