Ford Falcon XR 2004 review

Small, discrete MkII bootlid badges, new wheels and some fresh paint colours are the only official exterior changes from the first BA.

The big changes are tucked away and limited to the XR performance end of the paddock with an all-new, six-speed manual for XR6 Turbo, XR8 sedans and utes.

So Ford Australia president Tom Gorman says this is not a freshening of a successful car, rather an evolution.

"The BA Falcon represented a big step forward for Ford Australia when it was introduced in 2002," Gorman says.

"Now this new BA MkII Falcon is destined to build on the success of that model."

The BA brought five new engines, a fresh body and cabin plus an all-new rear suspension to the local Ford family sedan two years ago. And, according to Ford, customers are happy with the car.

So this BA II receives minor changes, such as auto-off headlights and cruise control across the range. There are those new alloy wheels here and there, side airbags added to Futura models and reverse sensing system added to Fairmonts.

The average price increase across the range is 0.8 per cent.

But it's the XR Falcons that have been the showroom heroes for the BA, increasing their share from 6.8 per cent of Falcon sales in 2002 to more than 27 per cent this year. Marcos Ambrose holding the V8 Supercar crown sits well among this renewed passion for performance Fords.

And with that in mind, it is the XR range that most benefits from this BA II evolution.

Ford has added a six-speed manual transmission to the 240kW XR6 Turbo and 260kW XR8 variants. The XR8 also picks up some suspension tweaks with firmer spring rates to give the V8 car a flatter ride and sharper handling, more in line with the Falcon GT.

The Tremec T56 gearbox had to be quiet, flexible and durable while working with the turbocharged six-cylinder's 450Nm of torque and the V8's 500Nm.

Ford was chasing a precise shift and a transmission with a closer and more linear spread of ratios. There was a hunt for gears able to cope with 60km/h in fifth, pull from below 100km/h in sixth and run past 100km/h in second gear.

The T56 was then further tuned to match the engines' characteristics. The final drive ratio for the XR8 has changed from 3.23 to 3.46; the XR6 Turbo final drive has shortened from 3.46 to 3.73.

The XR8 runs on 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, which are wrapped with low-profile rubber.

On the road

HEAD for the XR6 Turbo or the XR8 if you want to feel the improvements of the BA MkII upgrade.

The new six-speed manual gearbox is the biggest and, some would say, only noticeable change for the new model.

We picked an XR8 for some city work and the long haul to Bathurst.

Ford has done a lot of work to the Tremec manual gearbox, including fitting double synchros on all six forward gears.

The result is a nice piece of work. The six-speed is tractable, and on the V8 there is little grumble in pulling away from 60km/h in sixth.

The gearbox works well with the muscular engine. You can easily run along in sixth at 2000 revs.

First impressions suggest this is a strong and smooth gearbox, well matched to the engine.

The gearbox has a firm and positive feel. Unlike some six-speeders there is little doubt that the transmission has engaged. Shift quality is up there with the best from Europe.

It is a massive jump forward from the clunky five-speed it replaces.

Suspension changes on the XR8 have sharpened the car's front end and there is a tad more positive feedback from the front wheels.

The suspension is supple and soaks up a lot of the bumps that can spoil a nice drive in the country.

This is one area in which the XR8 has an advantage over the Holden Commodore SS.

The hot Holden feels sharper, and is a hoot during a blast along twisting roads, but its firmer suspension can pass on more of the bumps and jolts to the occupants.

The XR8 is not light at 1797kg, but it feels solid and sure on bumpy roads at highway speeds.

In some ways it is a gentle tourer, yet you shouldn't be fooled. When the foot goes down and the revs lift, the 5.4-litre bent-eight engine rises to the occasion with a full-throated bellow. There's plenty of torque here, available nice and early, too.

Nothing much has changed inside and the interior is more practical than stylish.

That said, you wouldn't want to change things, including the seats, which are comfortable and supportive.