Swansong Falcon specials to revive Sprint name

Ford Australia has registered the Sprint nameplate, which is likely to be applied to three special-edition Falcon XR sports sedans that will send-off the Blue Oval's homegrown large car before production ceases by October next year.

As we revealed last November, Ford is working on a high-output limited-edition XR6 Turbo sedan that essentially takes the 310kW/565Nm turbocharged 4.0-litre inline six from FPV's discontinued F6.

Then in May we learned the project had been officially signed off and that a final limited-edition Falcon XR8 sedan was also a possibility – but without change to the existing model's FPV GT-spec 335kW/570Nm supercharged 5.0-litre V8, given Ford has ruled out the 351kW V8 from the FPV GT-F special for the XR8.

Now it seems Ford will revive the Sprint name – last seen on a special-edition AU Falcon dubbed the XR6 VCT Sprint but also used in the ED Falcon – for special-edition versions of the naturally-aspirated XR6, as well as the XR6 Turbo and XR8, if a recent trademark registration is any indication.

Lodged on April 1, the trademark registration describes three nameplates – XR6 Sprint, XR6 Turbo Sprint and XR8 Sprint – but includes no further details.

While the XR6 Turbo Sprint will employ the mighty 310kW turbo-six from the old F6 – up from 270kW/533Nm in the current XR6 Turbo and widely regarded as the finest all-Australian engine ever produced – the XR6 and XR8 Sprint specials are likely to feature only a unique body kit and interior badging.

Expected on sale by the end of this year – within a year of the Falcon's retirement – the swansong Sprint specials will be Ford's answer to Holden's final, MY16 Commodore range led by a 6.2-litre LS3 V8-powered SS.