Reviews
Gallery 1
The unwritten law that automatics shouldn’t slot behind enthusiastic engines is beginning to change. And so it should.
This review was first published in MOTOR Magazine’s December 2005 issue.
More than 90 percent of the volume in the Australian car market is in autos, so you’d expect a few research dollars to be funnelled towards making slushers do everything bar make brekky.
Covered in more detail last month, the six-speed tranny is one of the best in the world – and only 1kg heavier than the four-speed auto Falcons have traditionally run. But it’s not the whole story with the XR6 Turbo.
Besides tuning the noise and meeting Euro III emissions regulations, it’s eliminated a lot of unwanted vibrations, with the remaining noise just “real character”, according to Ford’s product and development vice president, Trevor Worthington. It’s also going to be a faster, stronger car in daily life.
Ford’s new big PCM is a far more capable unit and while the Turbo engine delivers only 5kW more power, torque is up 30Nm, so it’s a better thing for cruising around town and it’s a better thing when punching hard. The ratios are closer together, and first and second are shorter, so that’s a good start.
Ford reckons it isn’t choking the car down, claiming the extra 5kW and 30Nm could have been higher but for the need to meet Euro III – yet it still feels like it’s got more to offer.
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Classic series?
A well-driven manual will still be more fun for the skilled – seamless, heel-and-toe downshifting is a skill worth learning – but for 98 percent of XR6 Turbo buyers 98 percent of the time, the ZF six-speed is going to be brilliant.
BF Ford XR6 Turbo Auto specs: ENGINE: 4.0-litre DOHC intercooled turbo in-line six, variable cam timing POWER/WEIGHT: 245kW/1694kg DRIVE: rear-drive PRICE: $47,655
