drive.com.au tests new Ecoboost Falcon!

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I'm lead to believe that there are no technical issues holding back the I-6, even for post 2016 use....

Funny how everyone just naturally assumes that Ford has already signed off next big car as FWD.

Packaging, performance and possibly fuel economy *might* be issues.

Lets face it, FoA don't have the development funds to spend on engine development that Ford Global do.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by SteveJH

Packaging, performance and possibly fuel economy *might* be issues.

Look at Ecoboost Falcon and Ecoboost Mondeo and tell me that..
Not too many FWD Cars falcon's size can match Ecoboost package.

Lets face it, FoA don't have the development funds to spend on engine development that Ford Global do.

Because they don't need to.....If Ford keep I-6, the govt will pay for Euro5 & 6 upgrades.

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Mad_Pom

According to http://www.ford.com.au/cars/new-falc...s/spec-options

Dif Ratio is the same for I6, Eco LPI & EcoBoost - 2.73

box ratio and diff ratio is the same, so the engine rpm's are the same at 100 kph.

unless tire size isn't the same..

[prydey]

Originally Posted by burnz

box ratio and diff ratio is the same, so the engine rpm's are the same at 100 kph.

unless tire size isn't the same..

not necessarily.

[burnz]

Originally Posted by prydey

not necessarily.

has to be!

the only varyable is the tire's, unless ford web site is wrong.

[prydey]

nevermind

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by .FoMoCo.

That thing is an animal...270 KW@5000 RPM ; an incredible 570 NM @2500 RPM!
...90% of the torque is available at 1700RPM...

In the F150 it is EPA rated at 18MPG or 13L/100KM in a beefy 2200KG vehicle.

It can tow 5 tonnes...

It pushes the F150 to a 0-60 time of around 6.5!!

Apparently it is cheaper to build than the diesel engines as well.

Can you imagine that thing in a falcon?

They have dropped that engine in the Taurus SHO in the states, and it shoots it to a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds. Not sure why, but torque on that engine is down to 475NM.

They had to cut the torque to avoid killing the transaxle in the Taurus. Its not strong enough. They didn't need to do that with the F series as it uses the Ford built ZF copy, which we all know can take a beating. I'd only want to see an Ecoboost V6 in a Falcon if it was north/south RWD, so it can take everything its got, not have to be cut down to protect a wimpy FWD/AWD transaxle. Ghey.

Originally Posted by Mad_Pom

According to http://www.ford.com.au/cars/new-falc...s/spec-options

Dif Ratio is the same for I6, Eco LPI & EcoBoost - 2.73

Then they should both sit on exactly the same revs at 100.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I'm lead to believe that there are no technical issues holding back the I-6, even for post 2016 use....

Funny how everyone just naturally assumes that Ford has already signed off next big car as FWD.

There's no technical issues, but i'd call a serious lack of development cash to be a much bigger problem, and with the Libs looking to cut funding I wouldn't be relying on the government for money, as Gillard is gone.

They know Euro 5 is doable, but would require serious cash to make it to production.

[drwevil]

Having driven both ecoboost and Ecolpi back to back the LPI has noticeably more go.

The Ecoboost just gets up and goes but the Ecolpi when you put your foot down there is a very satisfying growl and launches into going faster. There is also a very noticeable difference between he petrol l6 and the gas version. The LPI wins hands down.

Look I'm no expert but I think it's the difference of having more torque and more power over the ecoboost. Not that there is anything wrong with the ecoboost. Where the ecoboost wins over the 6's is in the handling it's an easier drive and for most people has way more than enough grunt.

Or to put it another way the ecoboost corners like its on rails....

[csv8]

WTF !!! todays Cars Guide, Courier Mail, Glover approves of the Ecoboost Falcon !!!!!!!!!!!!

[drwevil]

See told you there is something special about the ecoboost...

Im sure Ford worked in a little magic too...to make even some of the hard core synics believers. ;-)

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by csv8

WTF !!! todays Cars Guide, Courier Mail, Glover approves of the Ecoboost Falcon !!!!!!!!!!!!

[csv8]

New Ford Falcon four-cylinder: first drive review
By Paul GoverCarsguide24 April 2012EmailPrint+-
I would happily welcome an EcoBoost Falcon as my new company car. Photo Gallery
Paul Gover road tests and reviews the new ford Falcon four-cylinder.
The Falcon four works. It's lively and responsive, cushy and quiet, and it has the right numbers for the 21st century.
Related CoverageFord Falcon four-cylinder takes a riskFour-cylinder Ford Falcon confirmedFord Falcon gets a lifelineFord Falcon four-cylinderFord Falcon EcoLPi cheaper than small carsFalcon for saleMore on FORD
The new EcoBoost mechanical package scrapes the barnacles off the homegrown Falcon and could - should - at least slow the showroom death spiral which means Ford Australia is only committed to its homegrown hero until 2016.
A 2.0-litre four in the front of the Falcon would have been craziness just a handful of years ago, but the blue oval brand's global focus on EcoBoost technology in everything from the Fiesta up to the F-Series truck brings big benefits for Australians.
Now, if Ford can just get people to take a test drive... "I think it's a landmark car in the history of the Falcon. It changes the perception of what people expect in a Falcon," the president of Ford Australia, Bob Graziano, tells Carsguide.
The EcoBoost Falcon is not as punchy as the regulation inline six, and it pays a penalty in towing power, but the green-focussed turbo motor does the job with power of 179 kiloWatts, torque of 353 Newton-metres, fuel economy of 8.1 litres/100km, the ability to run on 91 unleaded and parity pricing that starts at $37,235. And, before you ask, it cannot be converted to run on LPG.
VALUE

The EcoBoost engine package costs more than the inline six, and it has to be shipped from Spain instead of rolling down the road from Geelong, but Ford has decided on line-ball pricing for the new Falcon fighter.
That means a $26,990 kick-off for the Falcon XT and a top end at $46,735 for the G6E model, which now seems a little strangely named with a six in the badge and a four in the nose. Ford has its global EcoBoost boss in Hobart for the Falcon launch and he is clear on the objectives. "One common theme ins around the globe - customers are concerned about the cost of ownership," says Andrew Fraser.
The EcoBoost cars benefit from the FG Series II upgrade at the end of last year, which means plenty of standard equipment and genuine luxury in the G6E. But value also means what you pay at the pump, and the Falcon four makes a big breakthrough with a truly economical engine that's not a compromise on performance.
The car also picks up the capped-price servicing package introduced by Ford last year. Against its rivals, it has an obvious marketing advantage over the basic Commodore with 3.0-litre six, as well as better numbers, and Ford sees it doing well also against the latest Toyota Aurion and the ageing Honda Accord V6.

TECHNOLOGY

Switching from a six to a four is not a simple as it sounds. The EcoBoost transformation - and it is just that - means a lot more than a straightforward engine swap.
The shorter four goes in easily enough, and brings a 74-kilogram weight advantage, but there is a lot of plumbing to be changed - intercooler, piping, exhaust and more go in - as well as complicated stuff in the suspension and even low-rolling resistance tyres and an 'acoustic' windscreen to cut noise.

The end game is more than just a nice number for fuel economy. "We see ourselves as an enthusiast brand. So it must be fun to drive," says Fraser.

So the suspension has had a lot of tweaking, the calibration of the six-speed auto has been adjusted - with help from the variable valve timing - to virtually eliminate the dreaded 'turbo lag', and even the exhaust note has been tuned to prevent the car sounding wheezy or overworked.
"We did not want this to seem like a busy four-cylinder engine in a big car. We wanted six-cylinder performance with four-cylinder fuel economy," says David Wilkinson, who is the Falcon project leader at Broadmeadows.
DESIGN

How do you pick the Falcon four? Look for the EcoBoost badge, because that's the only hint. The EcoBoost model sits a little lower, but it's only a little. And that's it. Still, the latest Falcon has a solid stance, looks more classy than a taxi, and the cabin is loaded with features.
But, as a Carguide reader recently told us, the dashboard fits in the Falcon are not as tight - or as consistent - as you would hope and it's definitely not as good as an Aurion on the overall quality front.

SAFETY

The EcoBoost Falcon is a five-star car, and there are six airbags with the usual ESP and ABS. Ford has tweaked the stability control to take account of the changes to the weight balance and suspension tuning and chassis chief Alex de Vlugt says the low rolling resistance tyres still have proper grip and don't compromise the car.

But we now wonder how long it will be before Ford Australia fits Isofix child seat mounts - since the system is now finally approved for local use - to boost the safety of kids in its local car.

DRIVING

This is where the EcoBoost story comes to life. Turn the key and the first thing I notice - or don't - is the flat, farty exhaust note of the regulation six-pack. The Falcon four is quiet and refined. Slip the car into drive and it eases away, tip into the accelerator and it gathers pace without fuss or bother. Most people, I'm sure, would not pick the four in the engine room.

Kick down for a lane change or stoplight sprint and the EcoBoost responds eagerly, with plenty of pull from as little as 1500 revs and a solid spin to the up change point at 6500 revs. It does not have the instant midrange thump of the six, but that's the only thing missing. Head out of town, which is easy with the EcoBoost fleet running from Hobart, and the car feels quieter than any other Falcon, also lighter on its suspension and with lighter steering.

Basically, it feels like a smaller car. That's good for the driver in all conditions, but especially on a twisty road where the car is more eager to turn and feels more like an Accord Euro than a LandCruiser. If you think I'm a fan, you're right. But I'm not the only one, as the editor of Wheels magazine keeps saying "This is a good car, no a great car" from the passenger seat.

He's right, and it is. Actually, the EcoBoost Falcon is a reminder that Australian engineers can still do world-class cars when they have the the right tools and funding for the job. So it's such a pity that so few people are expected to be won to the new-age Falcon, and that it really won't influence the long-term future of the car or company in Australia.

The final kicker comes on a quiet highway cruise back to Hobart, as the fuel economy readout in the trip computer settles at 6.9 litres/100km with the speedo sitting on 100km/h. Last week I go 6.6 in a Subaru Impreza, and that is in a different class completely.

VERDICT

It's a winner. I would happily welcome an EcoBoost Falcon as my new company car and will recommend it to friends. It's a sweeter car than the Falcon six, more impressive than the 3-litre Commodore Commodore, and finally drives the big Aussie battler out of the rust belt at a time when Ford desperately needs another hero. Take one for a drive and you won't be disappointed.
Ford Falcon EcoBoost

Price: from $37,235 (XT) to $46,735 (G6E)
Warranty: 3 years/100,000km
Resale: 53 per cent
Service interval: 15,000km/12 months
Safety rating: Five star
Engine: 179kW/353Nm
Transmission: six-speed sports automatic, rear wheel drive
Thirst: 8.5 / 100Km

[prydey]

how do they work out the resale on new cars?

[Bossxr8]

Notice that Gover still has to add to his mission to bring the death of Falcon, mentioning it a number of times in the article that he thinks it will be dead soon.

He can't help but mention it every single time he writes about Ford, and even adds it to articles he writes about Falcons competitor cars.

What he gives with one hand he wipes away with the other.

[4.0i OHC]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Notice that Gover still has to add to his mission to bring the death of Falcon, mentioning it a number of times in the article that he thinks it will be dead soon.

He can't help but mention it every single time he writes about Ford, and even adds it to articles he writes about Falcons competitor cars.

What he gives with one hand he wipes away with the other.

Yup. Not to mention a dig at one of the best engines around. "Flat, farty exhaust note"? Does he say the same about BMW's 3 litre inline six, because as far as I'm concerned, these engines sound pretty much exactly the same. I'm thinking he really struggled for ways to gratuitously bag the Falcon this time around.

[Rodge]

Its overwhelmingly a positive review. There was a similar one along much the same lines in N.Z.'s biggest weekend paper the N.Z. Herald today.
Hopefully the message will get out to the masses and we will at least have assured supply of the Falcon untill the end of 2016.

[jpd80]

Flappist was right suggesting a letter writing campaign against Gover, notice how he changed his tune after
40 zillion responses to his last piece. I think the guy is getting the message that he is out of step with his audience..

Even Drive has been reasonably fair and even handed with their Ecoboost review - that's a major tick in my books...

[drwevil]

Ford's gotta be happy with the reviews so far.

At where I work the is a real inserest in the new Falcon even amoung the die hard holden fans.

[Elks]

I can't wait to drive one. It's an amazing package FoMoCo need to market the 3 sustainable competitive advantages of the Falcon.

1. Low fuel consumption/emmisions
2. Interior space - perfect for our ever widening population
3. RWD Dynamics.

Sell sell sell

[Elks]

I'd love to see FG replacement developed as the GWRD platform.

EcoBoost 4
EcoBoost V6 (even the Taurus 475nm will do) LOL
Coyote 5.0
with FPV maintaining the Miami 5.0 S/c

What an awesome range of vehicles that would be.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

There's no technical issues, but i'd call a serious lack of development cash to be a much bigger problem, and with the Libs looking to cut funding I wouldn't be relying on the government for money, as Gillard is gone.

They know Euro 5 is doable, but would require serious cash to make it to production.

Yes, I'm curious about the opposition calling into doubt Funding to Holden if they are elected,
that does throw an icy shiver through the chances of Ford developing another evolution of Falcon.
Surely, it must be cheaper to develop a local product than pay to close down assets and then
pay for RHD volumes to be produced in another country that is subject to climatic disasters...

[mike_nofx]

Ecoboost falcon Vs phase III GTHO around Bathurst.... Outcome?

[prydey]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Ecoboost falcon Vs phase III GTHO around Bathurst.... Outcome?

ecoboost would smash it. a normal falcon would smash it.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Ecoboost falcon Vs phase III GTHO around Bathurst.... Outcome?

Another useless Gover article.

[drwevil]

From memory the final drive ratio is different on the ecoboost maybe Auslandau can remember exactly what Ford said...

It was in answer to a question from one of the journos ..

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Elks

I'd love to see FG replacement developed as the GWRD platform.

EcoBoost 4
EcoBoost V6 (even the Taurus 475nm will do) LOL
Coyote 5.0
with FPV maintaining the Miami 5.0 S/c

What an awesome range of vehicles that would be.

Hell yes, no complaints from me!

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Elks

I can't wait to drive one. It's an amazing package FoMoCo need to market the 3 sustainable competitive advantages of the Falcon.

1. Low fuel consumption/emmisions
2. Interior space - perfect for our ever widening population
3. RWD Dynamics.

Sell sell sell

For it to sell, sell, sell Ford need to market the thing, which it seems like Ford aren't going to do, so it will more than likely go down as another excellent product that failed because stuff all of the buying population were even aware of it, just like LPi. Beats me why you would spend millions of dollars bringing a product to market yet do 2 fifths of f all marketing it so the public know your new expensive to develop product even exists.

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Ecoboost falcon Vs phase III GTHO around Bathurst.... Outcome?

It was done a number of years ago when a base model Falcon 6 was lapping quicker than what the PhIII was doing back in the 70's. Thats progress for you, better tyres, suspension, brakes etc.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by carsguide.com.au

If you think I'm a fan, you're right. But I'm not the only one, as the editor of Wheels magazine keeps saying "This is a good car, no, a great car" from the passenger seat.

"So just because I'm a ********, I'll score it a high C."

Glover is such a dipshit.

[Angeldust]

biggest issue here i see is the pricing.

37k for a base model car is way way too steep, when u can get a top line asian import for less than 30K.

You can almost have 2 kia/daewoo base model for that price too.