The four-cylinder Falcon EcoBoost is expected to offer the promise of lower fuel consumption without much of a performance drop. In an attempt to offer customers a Falcon with improved fuel economy and regain some lost sales, Ford Australia has taken the turbocharged four cylinder engine from the Mondeo EcoBoost and slotted it into the FG Falcon.
Ford executives had previously hinted the Falcon ‘EcoBoost’ as it will be marketed, would take the emphasis off the four cylinder aspect (negative marketing), costing slightly more than the six cylinder Falcon that for more than 50 years been the staple seller of the local range. In it’s current Mondeo form, the 2.0-litre 4 engine develops 149kW of power and 300Nm of torque, down on the 195kW and 391Nm respectively of the traditional, six cylinder version of the Falcon. Ford has previously said it is targeting a claimed average fuel use figure of close to 8.0 litres of fuel per 100km, which is 19 percent less than the 9.9L/100km of the most economical six cylinder Falcon.
Power figures have not been released yet, but the Falcon EcoBoost is likely to produce near to the 177kW and 320Nm of torque from 1800rpm similar to power figures that the same engine delivers in the Volvo S60. That would give the 60 kilogram lighter Falcon four cylinder EcoBoost product positioning between the mid-size Mondeo and the Falcon big six-cylinder.
While as part of a recent factory price cut, the updated FG Falcon Mark 2 will sell from $37,325, but the four cylinder price details have not been released yet. Ford is still secretive on pricing, but is considering stepping away from a suggested premium price as Australians don’t like paying more for fewer cylinders especially in larger cars.
Cosmetically, there is a new front bumper that receives horizontal fog lights similar to those on the recently updated Ford Territory, a unique grille to help differentiate it from regular Falcons. Inside, the new Falcon has picked up some of the changes made to the new Territory SUV, including a touch-screen display with increased functions.
The bottom line remains though, the biggest hurdle facing the Ecoboost Falcon will not be product placement or price, but a cultural issue. The EcoBoost Falcon is due to be launched around the country, early 2012.