Ford Falcon EcoLPi 2011 Review

Ford Falcon sales are in deep doo doo slumping to unprecedented lows. But the Blue Oval is fighting back with some new, thought provoking products that deserve to win back customers.

There's a turbo four-cylinder Falcon coming sometime in the future and next week sees the arrival of the EcoLPi model, a six-cylinder car that has great potential for the company.

One of the biggest problems facing Falcon and Commodore for that matter, is a private buyer drift away from large cars to small sedans and compact SUVs. This is driven as much by weekly running costs as it is by practicalities. Pragmatic buyers are voting with their wallets, which plays right into Ford's hands with the Falcon EcoLPi.

LPi Technology

Because it uses LPG fuel, injected into the engine in liquid form not as a gas, weekly fuel costs would be nearly half that of petrol - based on 70 cents a litre for LPG and more than $1.40 a litre for petrol. It's a big saving at a time when household budgets are under extreme pressure from all quarters.

EcoLPi ushers in new technology that means owners don't have to put up with reduced performance using LPG as has been the case in the past. On the contrary, the EcoLPi Falcon delivers better overall performance than its petrol stablemate - noticeably better.

Fuel use is up by about 20 per cent on the petrol figure, but when you are paying half price for the fuel, what does it matter? EcoLPi stands for Liquid Phase injection of liquid propane gas - LPG. It's the most advanced LPG technology currently available and has been under development at Ford since 2007.

EcoLPi produces 27 per cent more power and 10 per cent more torque than the previous E-Gas LPG system. The system doesn't compromise passenger space and comfort but with the optional full size spare, a sizeable part of boot space is lost. Buyers can choose from a tyre mobility kit (pump and goo), a space saver or (optional) full size spare.

The new injection system follows a similar fuel induction configuration to the petrol six cylinder engine courtesy of a new injector-based, high-pressure fuel rail that delivers liquid-state LPG fuel directly into the intake port. This is a more precise and controlled system that boosts engine efficiency.

The system also adapts to LPG of varying quality to deliver the same performance. EcoLPi adds $2500 to price, before applying the government rebate of $2000.

Performance

The EcoLPi generates maximum torque at lower engine speed and is now geared lower for better response. It's been durability tested over 550,000km locally including hot and cold start performance.

What's it like to drive?

Better than the petrol Falcon by a significant margin, much better than the petrol Commodore too - both engines. We now have to rethink our personal car preference to include this impressive, cheap to run Falcon.

FORD FALCON EcoLPi

Models: XT, G6, XR6, G6E (sedan); XL and R6 (ute)
Engine: 4.0-litre six-cylinder
Fuel: LPG only
Power: 198kW
Torque: 409Nm
Transmission: Six speed auto
Economy: 12.5-litres/100km