2008 Ford FG Falcon range overview
April 14, 2008 by George Skentzos
The second half of Australia’s family car rivalry has today been unveiled, with Ford having announced the official specifications for its new FG series Falcon range.
CarAdvice’s first impression of the new Falcon fleet is promising, with the more specialized line-up receiving rave reviews due to the addition of the brilliant new G Series range, and far more inspiring XR sports range.
“For the first time in Falcon’s history, the new model will come to market with three distinct faces on the vehicle, offering both private and fleet customers, and both sports and luxury customers, a new Falcon to suit their lifestyle.”
There are now three families in the Falcon range, including:
All Falcons will feature an advanced safety package as standard, incorporating driver and front passenger airbags, front side head/thorax airbags, driver and front passenger Beltminder system, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control (TC), and Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA).
Premium models also add side curtain airbags, in conjunction with front side thorax airbags as standard – also available as an option across the Falcon sedan range.
The G6E and G6E Turbo sedans also receive a new reverse camera system as standard, which is optional across the sports XR range.
The Falcon sedan range begins with the XT. Designed to meet the requirements of fleet buyers without the stereotypes of an entry-level model, the XT focuses on interior appointments and standard safety features.
The first of the G Series range and no doubt the best option for private buyers is the G6 sedan, matching the XT for standard equipment albeit in a far more handsome package with a few more added creature comforts.
For those who prefer to lead the quieter life in uncompromising comfort, the G6E offers the highest standard equipment levels in the FG range without the force-fed powerplant.
Adding a few more performance-oriented features to match its 270kW turbocharged I6 engine, the G6E turbo sedan cements its position as the flagship model in the new FG Falcon range.
Life in the fast lane begins with the new Falcon XR6, sporting a normally aspirated inline-six engine and signature XR styling, including a new Tremec six-speed manual transmission as standard, or optioned with either the five-speed automatic or the ZF six-speed automatic transmissions.
Arguably the new flagship for the Falcon performance range, the XR6 Turbo will for the first time be specified to the same levels as the XR8 – differentiated only by its 270kW turbocharged I6 engine.
Standing beside the XR6 Turbo is the new XR8, developing 290kW from its BOSS 5.4-litre V8 engine, differentiated only by its trademark bonnet power bulge. For the iconic presence and sound of a V8 delivered through the unique active muffler design, buyers cannot go past the new XR8.
Fuel consumption across the range has also improved as follows:
4.0L DI-VCT I6
5-speed Auto – 10.5L/100km – 1.9% Improvement
4.0L DI-VCT I6
6-speed Auto – 10.1L/100km – 1.0% Improvement
4.0L DI-VCT I6 Turbo
6-speed Auto – 11.7L/100km – 4.9% Improvement
5.4L Boss 290 4v V8
6-speed Auto – 14.0L/100km – 6.9% Improvement
Print it: 
“Standing beside the XR6 Turbo is the new XR8, developing an identical 270kW from its BOSS 5.4-litre V8 engine, differentiated only by its trademark bonnet power bulge.”
^Is that an error or did Ford reduce the XR8’s kilowatts?
ill take a G6E turbo in that greeny grey colour with a beige interior thankyou very much
According to ford website the XR8 develops 290kW, not 270 as stated above.
Haha Oz, beat me to it.
I agree O!!!
Give me a G6E Turbo with yellow Cashmere leather!
Sorry guys, typo – all fixed.
LOL Titan, I noticed it’s been changed now!
Ford have the model line up just right.
In the $40 – $50K price range they have a big choice depending on style/power/luxury.
The XT will give them the volume, the higher models will give them the profit.
Should sell 3500 – 4000 consistently every month.
What amazed me was the new FG looks very different when you see it in the videos.
hehe…Anti-spam word= FASTER :D
I predict XR6-T will be BFYB winner for 08 :)
of course it looks different in the flesh. and for those people who say the fg looks like a bf, thats because ford designed the bf2 to look similiar to fg
g6e TURBO badge letters look better than xr6t. anyone agree?
(spam word Falcon :)
I agree with Bucket,unless motor pull some swifty
I am sick of the new Falcon. Caradvice NO more posts for at least a little while PLEASE!
There are many, MUCH more interesting cars in the sea than this glorified taxi!
UTES NOW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!
(and no bench seat)
^Its just a taxi.
Andrew M, the ute wont be out for a couple months after the release of the sedan. So i say it wont come out.
Jimbo, it was the same for the VE.
Car Advice call the news as it comes- go buy yourself a box of Kleenex’s
It is not a glorified taxi. It is a car chosen by Taxi Drivers for I6’s reliability and ability to cope with higher heat levels that the octane rich LPG burns at. That my friend is the beauty of an Iron Block.
This car is a vital development in Australia’s Automotive History. It proves we can build a world class car with out the need of a global chassis or engine (ala Commodore)
It is THE last wholly made Australian Car. Holden threw in the reigns a long time ago. As an Australian car enthusiast you should treat this car with the esteem it deserves.
No Doubt a lot of blood and sweat would have gone in to the development of this car and it is astounding for FoA can do with 750 Million- a heck of a lot more than Holden can do with 1 Billion!!
You are watching History as it unfolds Jimbo- whether that means something to you or not. You have just witnessed the last Iteration of a wholly Australian Built/Developed Car.
Have a cup of toughen up Luv.
F6: 310kW, 565Nm @ 1950rpm.
GT, GT-P & GT-E: 5.4-litre V8, 315kW @ 5500rpm, 551Nm @ 4750rpm.
^^bret is that true? I heard that the F6 will be 300kw.
Officially released figures!
Where from?
Duck,
you dont make sence.
are you saying the utes wont come out?
ive read the utes will also arrive in may.
what makes you think otherwise?
Duck, where did you see F6 will only be 300KW?
Bucket (Formerly Known as Chris), Whoa……………. Take it easy mate………Credit where credit the new falcon is a good car, though a little short sighted in its design.
I would have loved it if the internal design was better thought out and they offered a 3.0L Diesel.
I have seen one up close alongside a Mondeo and I’m sorry to say as a patriotic Australian the Mondeo is a much better car. It has a bigger interior, a bigger boot, a nicer interior and its engines are better suited for the current trends. I would like to test drive the two (say and XR5 and an XR6) so I can compare the driveability and the handling before I made a definitive choice.
Based on logic and aesthetics I think an impartial foreigner, without any patriotic feelings considering the two for their next family car. I think would choose the Mondeo.
I like this web site for its informative posts and it’s VARIETY. This month the Falcon has been over represented. Two maybe three posts a week maybe but not this many with little else.
Rod Barrett
Bucket, your exactly right. A brilliant new car is about to go on sale and here comes Jimbo telling the site to no longer post anything about it’s release. Obviously brings up “Taxi” because he can’t find any other reason.
Hey Jimbo, so you have personal issues with any kind of car that gets used as Taxi?
jimbos hard feelings towards the falcon can prob be put down to the chance that he was hit by one when he was a boy
i hate to say it but with the BF all of them really looked the same except XRs and even then it was hard from a distance.At least with this model the taxis will be all XTs and now the other models look very differnt which is a plus.Also ford made the BFII look like the FG to ease the transition into FG so that people didnt go what have they done it doesnt look like a falocn.Also for those who complain have a look at the commodore VE next to VY-VZ it looks the same except for the flared cuards and a better stance
Cool, looks like an article for the FPV range is coming!
Jimbo,
Yea I unleashed on you. Glorified taxi is an insult to the people at Geelong that have invested the last 4 years of their time into this car.
Mercedes and BMW’s are used in Europe as Taxi’s but for some reason have a huge wank factor here in Australia and other parts of the world.
The Mondeo (in particular the XR5) is a great car but falls into another class like the Vectra VXR in Europe. The FG Falcon will be more at home here in Australia for things like Towing and the Huge market for RWD Cars and SUV’s that exists here in OZ. For my Needs, i’d go the XR5 but an XR6T thats capable of 13.3 Passes effortlessly could sway me.
I’m sure things will be business as usual come June but in the meantime, put up with the FG Press or go browse on Autoblog.
Cant wait to test drive the turbo models especially with the launch control, When i settle with my apartment and sell the car, might think of the G6E turbo model instead of the evo just for the sake of a good balance of performance and comfort
Oh, ok i tohought it would be a bit longer. Why does the commodore ute come a year after the sedan?
Sorry Andrew M
The new Falcon looks the part for the modern age and really has the performance to match it. The XR6 Turbo is probably the stand out for me so far and is definetley one of the most popular and highly regarded as a true performance hero in Australia’s automotive history. Don’t get me wrong the new XR8 is superb as well, you really can’t beat the sound of a V8, but the XR6 Turbo just has the acceleration and instant power to boot. It has been proved on a number of sites that the XR6 turbo goes from 0-100KM/H in 5.1 seconds and does 1/4 mile in 13.4 seconds. this is accurate information that was obtained from Drive’s website, which was done with satelite based timing.
All I can say is well done Ford.
Cheers
Prim
according to some sources i know , the FG base line 4.0Litre I6 has increased its low RPM torque too.
from 360Nm at 1500rpm on BA182/190 , it now has close to 380Nm at just 1500rpm.
when using RON95/98 you get just over 400Nm at 1500rpm.
thats V8 torque.
some 220kW is estimated at 5700-6000rpm when using RON98
and 198kW on RON95.
cheers
i know people who have touched 450Nm and 250kW by just installing extractors, tuning the engine management and installing K&N filter. on their stock XT 2003, 2004, 2005.
that is just amazing , bang for a buck , potential just waiting in that old warn out 2002-2007 BA/BF I6 engine.
thats just under 250kW and just under 450Nm by investing $3000-3500 in to the engine with out altering mechanicals, just exhaust/ engine management, air intake.
how does 438Nm sound like on a dyno at just 1200rpm on a stock 4.0Litre I6 Barra182. Thats V8 like torque!!!
cant wait what will the FG bring.
i am totally getting a standard XT in 4 months!!!
Ok ok I’m sorry if I have upset anyone. I want to hear about the new Falcon too. Just not this much.
Since I was little the family car has almost always been a Falcon. I do have a soft spot for the old Taxi.
My point with the Mondeo IS that it is classed smaller, but offers a bigger car. This is exactly my point. I was expecting more from the new version of my old family friend. Ford had a chance to deliver and they just served up the same old dish. They just rearranged the plate!
However If I had to choose one, it would be the G6E Turbo.
I’m sure in three years I will be able to pick one up for 20 grand.
Jimbo……..if yu call a totally new body, new front suspension, new steering, new transmissions, new wheelbase and tracks, totally new interior, new rear suspension except for 2 parts, major engine changes and totally new exterior just rearranging the plate what do you call a new model? VE was called a new model and it has the same engines and 4 speed auto and the Aurion was called a new model when it is just a V6 Camry !!!!!!!! The FG looks better every time i see one.
Iam a bit more convinced that front and back wont be heaps negative as not heaps similar to current BF Falcon. In the pics seen here Iam more then happy of this fact. This car is hot and nicely done and will be awarded with awards as like reviews I seen it is ahead of current awarded cars……. bring on the utes! GO FORD AS THIS CAR IS A WINNER! And as for some critism of not enough differentiation…. this may be the case! Who cares as it still looks hot!
Yeah don’t expect resale on the G6E turbo to be like previous Fairmont Ghia’s. That turbo helps out alot, much like the V8 did for resale. By the way a good 2003 Fairmont Ghia is still asking $18000.
Rogue….I know, I know but it just looks the same. And the boot is tiny. And the inertior space could be better. I’m repeating my self, but no one has argued these points.
And don’t get me started on the lack of Curtian airbags on basic models that add an extra 70% to the chances of surviving a side impact.
However after reading more about the new Falcon in particular the G series; I think it only needs a Diesel engine, and it would easily out sell the Commodore because it is a better car. I have driven the new Commodore and it is disappointing. I prefer the old model Falcon to the new Commodore.
I think a Diesel engine (say 3.0L – 150kw, 400nm) would give the Falcon an edge over the Commodore. Lets face it, as awesome as they have made the 4.0L, People/Fleet buyers want economy, more than power.
Oh yeah and we should make the Diesel in Geelong
Well welcome back to the Australian car market Ford. This is something the ford punters should be proud of.
Im a Holden fan through and through but ill acknowledge a good car when I see one no matter what the badge on the front says.
The inclusion of the G series is great, but I think it may hurt ford getting rid of the Fairmont badging, just as other brands have found when changing the name of a much loved nameplate.
The new FPV range is a step in the right direction as the BF FPV’s were struggling against E series HSV’s.
Good job Ford, now we wait for Holden to play their card.
Quote Bucket:
“It is a car chosen by Taxi Drivers for I6’s reliability and ability to cope with higher heat levels that the octane rich LPG burns at. That my friend is the beauty of an Iron Block”.
Hehe, funny stuff mate. It has nothing to do with it being an iron block (Ecotec V6 was also iron, and DIDN’T feature alloy heads), plus the extra heat generated is negligable.
Did you guys heard that Ford Australia isnt promising the V8 would last past 2010… ford may drop the V8 in 2010… as going by Drive website.
Due to emission restrictions… saying this they have also stated that Ford Aus might source the next V8 from America which could be a 5Litre V8 from the Next Gen mustang….
I’m just going off what numerous Taxi Drivers have told me.
Other reasons i’ve heard are to do with…ah stuff it, i’ll quote Marco of Phorums.com.au
“I believe it’s due to only having three coils, with two plugs per coil.
Instead of the plug sparking once in the cycle, it sparks twice (between
compression and power strokes, and exhaust and intake strokes). The spark
occuring just before the intake valve opening creates the risk of igniting
the gas still in the intake, with explosive results ;-) This applies to the
Buick 3800 and Ecotec engines, the new Alloytec may run individual coils,
and as such be immune from this problem.”
Either way, it’s a Crappy engine not capable of good power and amongst the Taxi Bretheran, very unreliable on LPG.
Now if its not for those reasons, pray tell- why didn’t you give me the explanation instead of just telling me I’m wrong?
ChopstaR87,
Ford will update the current 5.4 for the emission standard FOR 2010, they will not “drop the V8 in 2010″. The future beyond that date is not certain, however.
ChopstaR87, Did Ford say they will abandon V8 models or just abandon the 5.4?