Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) Typhoon 2006
July 15, 2006 by Alborz Fallah
You know I am sure you are wondering how the heck this car made it to this list, I mean all the other cars come from Japan and you might have picked up by now that I am not Ford or Holden’s biggest fan when it comes to performance cars. Nonetheless, I honestly couldn’t let this car drop out of the top 5 sports cars in Australia. This is a car made in Australia that caused such a stir when it first came out, when the clutch failure put it out of contention, and when it came back. This is the best thing to have ever come out of Ford’s performance division (Ford Performance Vehicles – FPV). It is, the Ford Typhoon.
I want to meet the people who decided that ford needed a Turbo version of the Ford Falcon XR6, I really do, because they are the people who brought Ford’s performance cars back into the spotlight. Currently destroying the Holden S/SS/SV6/SV8 and any other names Holden have given their ageing Commodores. Ford’s XR6-Turbo has been a car for those who have been enlightened by the fact that a Turbo Charged straight six engine can produce not only more power and torque than a V8 but also better acceleration and fuel efficiency, not to mention that we really need to realize that V8s aren’t as cool as they used to be.
It was Ford’s decision to sell the XR6-Turbo (which is the most successful model of the XR lineup) that led FPV to produce an even better car. There were some rumors flying around when the XR-6 Turbo first came out that Ford was forced to down tune the XR-6’s engine so that the performance figures would be lower than the Ford Falcon XR-8 for marketing purposes. The rumors were never confirmed, nevertheless it was obvious that either the Ford engineers were lazy in getting the most juice out of the XR-6 Turbo or they wanted FPV todo the work or they wanted to sell a few XR-8s and hence they took a little life out of the XR-6 Turbo.
Why do I say it was obvious? The XR-6 Turbo is already a bloody fast car! It produces a massive 245kw of power and an unbelievable 480Nm of torque, and gets to 100km an hour in just 6 seconds. However, with a little tinkering with the Turbo that figure sky rockets to around 260kw of power. So Ford had left this tinkering to FPV and they didn’t disappoint!
The FPV Typhoon’s engine produces 270KW and 550Nm of torque, if you love torque, than you should know that there is nothing in the FPV or HSV lineup that will beat this engine, and at 550Nm of torque, the Typhoon took the honour for the most Torque generated for any car ever built in Australia.
The Typhoon gets from 0-100km hour in an unbelievable 5.3 seconds. It is faster than the Mazda RX-8, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi and the Nissan 350z. So why is not up the top at number 1? Well, because, its a Falcon. The 4.0L straight 6 engine uses enough fuel as it is already, but with a massive turbo charged attached to it, fuel economy is at 13.5L/100km for city and highway driving. Unfortunately for Typhoon lovers, that 13.5L figure is simply a lie, unless you are going to drive the TurboCharged beast without getting past 3000rpm, fuel usage is going to be around a more realistic 16-17L/100km.
So you get Traction control as standard, and best of all you can even turn it off! What I loved about the Typhoon most was the centre mounted gauges above the AirCon vents that show the car’s turbo boost and oil pressure. It is little things like this that make the Typhoon a true sports car. Th close ratio six-speed Tremec manual transmission which has seen use in many high performance cars (HSV included) is also a great match to the car and comes with features such as an electronic lockout for reverse gear. The clutch feels light and as I mentioned already, it had caused the Typhoon a great deal of Drama when Wheels magazine fried two clutches in one day of testing.
You get massive Blue caliper performance 325/303mm brakes as standard, but if you’re feeling a little rich on the day you can opt out for the red caliper 355/330mm Brembos for a bit more. Other standard equipment includes FPV badged sports seats, dual climate airconditioning and a reasonable sound system. The rather oversized Momo steering wheel is not suited for everyone, as it is massive! Compared to the steering wheel found in a WRX the Typhoon’s fits the overall shape of the car since it matches the big and beefy feel you get when you sit inside.
The Typhoon is going to be one of those cars that will be looked back on in 20 years time as being not only ahead of its time but overcoming prejudice towards big turbos and setting a precedence for the future of Australian performance motoring. If I had to buy an Australian made car, this would be it.
Standard Features of the FPV Typhoon include:
- 6 Speaker Stereo
- ABS (Antilock Brakes)
- Adjustable Steering Col. – Tilt & Reach
- Air Cond. – Climate Control 2 Zone
- Airbags – Driver & Passenger (Dual)
- Airbags – Side for 1st Row Occupants (Front)
- Alarm
- Armrest – Rear Centre (Shared)
- Body Colour – Bumpers
- Body Colour – Fittings
- Body Kit – F&R Spoilers
- Skirts
- Rear Apron
- Body Side Mouldings – Colour Coded
- Calipers – Front 4 Spot
- Calipers – Painted Front
- Calipers – Painted Rear
- CD Player
- CD Stacker – 6 disc In Dash/Cabin
- Central Locking – Remote/Keyless
- Chrome Exhaust Tip
- Control – Traction
- Courtesy Lamps – in Doors Front
- Cruise Control
- Data Dots – Part Identifiers
- Disc Brakes Front Vented Drilled/Grooved
- Disc Brakes Rear Vented Drilled/Grooved
- Drive By Wire (Electronic Throttle Control)
- EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution)
- Electric Seat – Drivers
- Engine Immobiliser
- Fog Lamps – Front
- Headlamps Automatic (light sensitive)
- Independent Front Suspension
- Independent Rear Suspension
- Intermittent Wipers – Variable
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Leather Trimmed – Centre Console
- Limited Slip Diff
- Map/Reading Lamps – for 1st Row
- Multi-function Control Screen – Colour
- Multi-function Steering Wheel
- Over-head Centre Console – Front
- Pedals – Sports
- Performance Brakes
- Power Door Mirrors
- Power Steering
- Power Windows – Front & Rear
- Premium Sound System
- Remote Boot/Hatch Release
- Remote Fuel Lid Release
- Scuff Plates (on door sills)
- Seat – Drivers Lumbar Adjustment Manual
- Seat – Passenger Lumbar Adjustment Manual
- Seatback Pockets – 1st Row (Front) seats
- Seatbelt – Pretensioners 1st Row (Front)
- Seats – 2nd Row Split Fold
- Spare Wheel – Alloy Wheel
- Sports Instruments
- Sports Seats – 1st Row (Front)
- Sports Steering Wheel
- Stainless Steel Exhaust – Dual system
- Subwoofer
- Tacho
- Trim – Cloth
- Trip Computer
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Thats ok im upgrading to a gt or gtp soon,yes im new and ford fanatic.GTHO 351kw 6.0 v8 real grunt.
I’m betting Orion will have enough airbags to suffocate a person, but it means little to me. As long as a car has front bags (the most vital), the extras are more added weight.
I saw pics of the XA’s exhaust. Sweet.
Absolutely Watto……….I don’t know about you but my car has 4 my previous Volvo had 4 and the current Cobra also 4!!
Where do airbags end anyway! and how reliable are they????
If you rely on airbags to save you in crash then take some defensive driving lessons!!!!!
I’m back. 5-Star safety ratings are expected for the Orion, that means as you said watto_cobra, enough to suffocate someone.
What are those airbags on the front seats of the FPVs for? BM should know.
Not wrong. The Lancer ad where you see all the bags deploy, I can’t help thinking “geez, that’s over the top”.
As you said, if people drove better, there would be less emphasis on how many bags a car has.
Even the best drivers may get caught out which is why the main bags should be mandatory, but now it seems like you have to stick in 15 bags to get approval from the masses.
Airbags on the front seats? Not sure what you mean Oz.
yeah only front bags are vital i reckon. that and ABS.
the falcon has shown through its past history that iut has always been the safest in its class. im sure the orion will just reinforce the past.
some cars just need airbags to make them safe. the falcon doesnt need them as much, its just the public perception that will put pressure on ford to install more
Yes I agree….
Watto, what I mean It says SRS Airbag on the front seats of the FPVs. the question is what they are.
You should survive in a bigger car compared to a small car like astra,barina.
Side airbags…………..come out of the seats!
Ones in the M3 come out of the door?????
Ah, Oz I didn’t realise you were Me.
Yes It’s just that MatthewM acidently called me “OZ” last night And I was looking for a better name. THANK YOU MATTHEW!
AHHH, so that’s what they are, when I thought “side airbags” It had to be on the door, Thanks Bavarian Missile.
The f6 over shadows gt and xr8 same as xr6 t,i test drove the turbo before the 8.5 speed is crap and 4 speed auto is a lil dated.But the xr8 with 4 speed auto is real smooth and manual mode is good too.The turbos are great but ford turbos have been around since early 90s.f6 vs gts no mention of gtp, turbo 6 were around just not factory.see what i mean.wow its a garret turbo didnt they use them on vl turbo?
f6 have stronger internals,rods,valves,yes the xr6t can go just as quick but also can break just as easy if pushed to hard,yes it can be tuned 300kw any more it will break internals,the heads need to be rebuilt to f6 specs and that costs maybe 5k for a power up grade to handle it.sure you can have quick xrt but how long will it last? 6T OR 8?
It’s funny alot of people say mod a v8. Has anyone who mentions this looked into the cost and work involved in making a fast v8. How many upgrades and hours labour are needed. Personally i have never driven an F6, but the guy who tunes my turbo 4 owns a BF mkII typhoon, This man was a die hard HSV fan, owned 12 HSVs before venturing to the FPV. the reason for this swing was the potential of a forced 6 cylinder. He since fitted a full exhaust system, bigger injectors and a quick flash tune and with no more work than that runs a 12.0 quarter mile. All these upgrades cost him around the $2000 after purchase price. name one HSV which will run a 12.0 after a meer 2 grand has been thrown at it. Excluding the 7L v8 hats off to holden for introducing something new into the australian market, for a price of course :p