Ford set to farewell Falcon with fastest XR6 Turbo yet

Better late than never for fast Ford fans, as the finishing touches are put on the quickest six-cylinder Falcon ever made.

Ford Australia plans to send off the Falcon on a turbocharged high with a limited edition model designed to boost sales in the iconic sedan's final months on sale.

It has not gone unnoticed that more than one-in-three Holden Commodores sold are the V8 performance models, and Ford now wants in on the action.

In a move likely to come as a welcome relief to diehard Ford fans, the 'Blue Oval' brand is set to add a high output version of its XR6 Turbo to the Falcon line-up to supplement demand for its supercharged XR8 sports sedan.

Ford massively undercalled the orders for the reborn XR8 when the final edition Falcon went on sale in late 2014, and quickly moved to double the original production run.

But even that is not enough to appeal to Ford fans who want to keep more than memories when the Broadmeadows car assembly line and Geelong engine plant fall silent in October 2016.

The project is so secret even Ford dealers are yet to be given any details

In much the same way as the modern XR8 has the hardware from the previous generation Falcon GT, the high output XR6 Turbo is understood to use all the best go-fast bits -- and big brakes -- from the superseded Ford Performance Vehicles F6 Turbo.

It means that Australia's most powerful locally designed, engineered and manufactured six-cylinder engine will go out on a high, with an expected output of 310kW and 565Nm, not much less than the XR8's supercharged V8.

However, the turbo six has proven to be quicker in testing than the V8 because the six-cylinder car is about 100kg lighter.

Ford is yet to confirm such a vehicle exists. The project is so secret even Ford dealers are yet to be given any details.

The high-powered XR6 Turbo is due in local showrooms at the very end of this year

However, CarsGuide understands the high-powered XR6 Turbo is due in local showrooms at the very end of this year or early next year priced from less than $50,000.

Ford reportedly has delayed the introduction of the special edition to maintain demand in the remaining 18 months of the Falcon's life.

However, based on the latest sales figures, it can't come soon enough.

Sales of the new Ford Falcon are down 12 per cent so far this year in a record new-car market.

Last year, Ford Australia sales fell to their lowest in 48 years, since 1966, the year decimal currency was introduced.