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Marton Pettendy3 Oct 2014
NEWS

Born-again Falcon XR8 from $52,490

Ford announces pricing and 335kW supercharged V8 engine details for hottest FG X Falcon

Ford Australia will charge $52,490 plus on-road costs for the flagship version of its final Falcon range.

The Blue Oval has also confirmed the born-again XR8 sedan – the first since 2010 -- will be powered by a 335kW/570Nm supercharged 5.0-litre V8 lifted directly from the discontinued FPV GT.
The sedan-only FG X XR8, the first V8-powered Falcon in four years, will cost $2200 more in six-speed automatic form, at $54,690 plus ORCs.
The $52,490 starting price for the six-speed manual represents a $9500 price premium over the 2014 XR6 Turbo manual ($42,990) and is $5940 more expensive than the most expensive facelifted Falcon, the G6E Turbo auto ($46,550).
Perhaps more importantly, the reincarnated XR8 is also $9500 pricier than Holden's cheapest Commodore SS ($42,990), although the SS V-Series costs $46,490 and the top-shelf SS-V Redline is identically priced at $52,490.
Apart from bringing new-look front and rear styling, the 2014 XR8 comes with all of the new technologies found in the rest of the facelifted FG X Falcon range, pricing for which was announced last week
However, confirmation that it will employ the same 335kW/570Nm blown V8 as FPV's previous GT ends speculation of a more powerful version packing the limited-edition FPV GT F 351's 351kW/650Nm V8 – just as the 2014 XR6 Turbo will eschew the discontinued FPV F6's 310kW/565Nm turbocharged 4.0-litre straight six for a carryover 270kW/533Nm turbo six.
Handling will be as per the FPV GT RSPEC though, with Ford adapting that vehicle's sharper suspension tune rather than the standard FPV GT suspension.
That means retuned rear dampers and springs, a larger rear stabiliser bar (up from 18 to 19mm), retuned front dampers, stiffer front upper spring mounts, a stiffer front upper control arm bushing and revised front and rear suspension geometry to complement 275-section rear tyres.
Other performance upgrades over the XR6 include Brembo four-piston calliper front and single-piston rear brakes, limited-slip differential, sports steering gear, heavy-duty battery and higher-spec cooling fan.
“We’re very proud of the work that’s gone into the XR8,” said Falcon Vehicle Line Director, David Wilkinson.
“We’ve brought the Boss 5.0-litre supercharged all-aluminium V8 engine across to the XR Series and it’s the first time a performance V8 has been in the XR Series since 2010.
“Compared to the last FG Falcon XR8, the 2014 Falcon XR8 has better turn-in, more rear grip, noticeably less body roll and an increased sense of control from behind the driver’s seat.
“Customers will also appreciate the levels of refinement in the new XR8.”
As seen in the first images released in July, the new XR8 retains its unique bonnet bulge and also features quad exhaust outlets, powered side repeater mirrors and unique shadow-line five-spoke 19x8.0-inch front and 19x9.0-inch rear alloy wheels.
Victory Gold is the XR8's new hero colour, while other exterior paint hues will include Winter White, Lightning Strike, Smoke, Vanish, Silhouette, Kinetic and Emperor.
Naturally, the XR8 shares the XR6's distinctive new front-end, dominated by W-shaped daytime running lamps in the new slimline headlights, plus its split LED tail-lights and new rear bumper.
Other standard XR8 features include new perforated leather seat trim with grey inserts, contrasting Shadow headlining and upper cabin trim, alloy scuff plates, sport seats, sports XR instrument cluster, sports shifter, sports pedals and a sports steering wheel.
Of course, as with the rest of the FG X Falcon range, the XR8 gains a reversing camera and the voice-activated SYNC2 multimedia system with eight-inch high-resolution colour touch-screen, Emergency Assistance, Digital Radio (DAB+) and Wi-Fi hotspot. 
The most expensive Falcon also scores satellite-navigation with Traffic Message Channel, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate-control and front/rear parking sensors.
MyFord capped-price servicing, including auto club membership and roadside assistance, is also part of the package.

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