Ford Falcon Sprint one step closer

The biggest clue yet that Ford is cooking up something special to say goodbye to Falcon has emerged with an image of a Falcon seat embroidered with the Sprint logo appearing on the FordForums website.

It's been long-rumoured that Ford Australia is planning to revive the 'Sprint' nameplate to say goodbye to a special batch of XR6 Turbos, just as it revived the XR8 name for the FG X to give the V8 a fond farewell.

Details are still thin on the ground and Ford is keeping its lips sealed, however it's expected that the former FPV F6's 310kW/565Nm 4.0-litre turbo six will find its way under the bonnet.

*artist's impression

This will be matched the the R-Spec suspension tune, wider 275mm rear rubber and Brembo front brakes lifted from the current XR8.

We have heard whispers, however, that to avoid upsetting existing F6 owners by offering identical power, the Sprint will retain the XR6 Turbo's smaller turbocharger for greater response and mid-range, while sacrificing some top-end power.

With Falcon production wrapping up in October 2016, should the Sprint appear (and it seems it will) it will do so shortly, though other reports of a January unveil would seem unlikely to avoid stealing any of the new Mustang's thunder.

The XR8 has been a runaway success for Ford, with its initial production run of 1200 lifted to 2800 following huge public demand. It's likely that a last-of-the-line XR6T Sprint would be every bit as popular, allowing locally-built fast Fords to bow out on a high.