Test Drive Review – FPV Ford Falcon F6 E
By Joey Leh, Photography by Duane Uyeda
With millions of copies sold over a history spanning fifty years, the Ford Falcon is one of the most popular cars in Australia. If you ever get the chance to visit, that fact will come as little surprise.
Photo by Duane Uyeda
The full size Falcon comes in more variants than you can imagine – XT, G6, G6E, G6E Turbo, XR6, XR6 Turbo, XR8, wagon, ute, FPV – with just as many options. The line-up covers almost all ages and creeds, using fuel-efficient six-cylinder engines and torque-laden V8s to lead large scale Falcon ownership.
While many inline-six Falcon XTs are used as taxis and daily transportation, higher models come packed with true factory hot rod performance. It seems, just like their American counterparts, Australians have a taste for rear-wheel drive power.
Judging by the number of used car dealers we saw selling slightly pre-owned 400hp machines, the Falcon has an enthusiast following similar to the Mustang here in the US. But while the Mustang is designed as an in-your-face coupe that can do donuts and powerslides with ease, the Falcon is a little subtler about it. Our first taste of the rear-wheel drive sedan would come behind the wheel of a FPV F6 E.
The Ford Falcon’s sportiest variants are the XR6 Turbo and XR8 models. A 362hp (270kW) turbocharged inline-six engine powers the XR6 Turbo while the XR8 ups the ante with a Boss 290 5.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 that pushes out 389hp (290kW) and 384 lb/ft (520Nm) of torque.
And when 389hp isn’t enough, there’s the FPV line-up. FPV stands for Ford Performance Vehicles, a separate sub-brand that produces a series of factory hot rods. FPV vehicles are the most powerful variants that can be purchased through the participating Ford dealer network and sport bigger brakes, more powerful engines, and aggressive looks.
The FPV F6 E is a gentleman’s sports Falcon, combining the 416hp (310kW) turbocharged 4-liter inline-six engine from the FPV F6 with the “executive” luxury of the FPV GT E model. In fact, what impressed us most about the F6 E were its interior appointments.
Photo by Duane Uyeda
More Ford GT than Focus, the F6 E sports dark grained wood accents, stitched leather seats (power adjustable for the driver), a thick leather steering wheel, and panels more tightly gapped than any Mustang we’ve ever seen.
Our test car also came equipped with the optional satellite navigation system, which includes a center-mounted LCD screen (also used for the reverse camera). We had gripes with the navigation system’s category-based POI menu, which made searching for specific names difficult, but the F6 E itself felt quiet and solid inside.
For us power-swilling Americans, being free of road noise helped us pick up on the addictive sounds of the four-liter inline-six engine. With a factory Garrett GT3540R turbocharger attached to the engine, the F6 E pushes out 416hp at 5,500rpm and 417lb/ft (565Nm) of torque from 1,950 to 5,200rpm. We expect 0-60mph times to be right in the low 5-second range. Another plus side of the turbo six was its fuel efficiency, which hovered around the 20mpg mark when driving normally.
The F6 E comes solely with a ZF six-speed automatic transmission, which is smooth during normal cruising but slow to kick down gears during full throttle maneuvers. There is a “Sequential Sports Shift” mode to the automatic but, like most manu-matic options, it doesn’t give you the crisply quick shifting of a dual-clutch or sequential unit. Those that absolutely must have a six-speed manual with this engine will have to stick with the standard F6 model.
Like many turbocharged engines, the four-liter produces a pause of boost lag when going full throttle, although the boost threshold is kept to a low enough rpm that finding torque is never really an issue once the turbo spools. In fact, the F6 E is ludicrous fun in the wet, breaking loose the rear tires with pretty much every full throttle stab.
The Dynamic Stability Control system’s traction control steps in quickly but is easily turned off with a button press. The Falcon is easily controlled in these conditions too, thanks to a mountain of torque and a well-tuned limited-slip differential. And, if things get too out of control, the F6 E comes equipped with massive Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes.
The latest Falcon chassis, called the FG, uses an independent double wishbone front suspension and the F6 E comes with a “Performance Control Blade” independent rear suspension.
We took the FPV F6 E out to Mt. Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, where the Falcon name has raced repeatedly over the years. Impossible to find in the US, Mt. Panorama is a state-maintained public two-way road when not closed for major racing events. There is a strictly enforced 37mph speed limit in place around the track, joggers and track-side houses abound, but 37mph down the steeply banked Esses section is still plenty quick.
Combined with 19×8-inch alloy wheels, the F6 E’s Dunlop tires provided plenty of grip. Turn-in and steering response were solid and we were surprised by how much grip could be found, especially considering the suspension’s softness. On the street, the F6 E’s rear suspension had a tough time soaking up quick dips or holes without compressing too sharply but the track displayed none of this. The F6 E’s suspension proved compliant over undulating surfaces and controlled – well matched with the tires.
With its long list of options, quality interior, solid fuel economy, and mountain of power, the FPV F6 E is one of the best sports sedans we’ve ever driven. Its smooth and powerful turbocharged inline-six alone is worth the price of admission. We ourselves would opt for the six-speed manual in the F6 model but for those looking for a grown-up, tire-shredding cruiser, it’s waiting for you. In Australia.
A 416hp 35r turbocharged six? I think we could really use this in the US. Maybe ecoboost the Mustang? Or the next Taurus SHO. That would be good.
Yes. We could all use more gt35r factory cars. These would be all over the Texas Mile.
Ford are you listening? We need this turbo engine in the US!