Ford have ripped the covers off their new Falcon range ahead of the 2008 Melbourne International Motor Show. The new FG Falcon is set to become Ford’s flagship product as they attempt to wrangle back some of the large car market share in Australia.

The FG Falcon range will be split into three main groupings, the Falcon XT series (entry level), G Series (stepping up a notch, ie. the ‘classy’/'executive’ range), and the XR series (the balls out sports range).

So how do they differ, particularly under the bonnet?

The XT comes with the choice of either an I6 petrol engine producing 195kW of power and 391Nm of torque matched to a new five-speed automatic transmission with Sequential Sports Shift (SSS), or an optional 156kW E-Gas dedicated LPG engine with a four-speed SSS auto.

The G6E Turbo is differentiated from the G6E by a range of performance-oriented features, including the I6 Turbo engine that produces 270kW of power and 533Nm of torque, matched to the ZF six-speed automatic transmission.

The FG Falcon XR6 Turbo includes a 270 kW / 533 Nm I6 Turbo engine, limited slip differential, upgraded front brakes and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The XR8 shares its major equipment specifications with the XR6 Turbo and is differentiated by its engine and signature bonnet power bulge. The exciting Boss 290 5.4-litre four-valve V8 engine moves to the XR8 with the introduction of the FG Falcon and is complemented by a new exhaust system with a Semi Active Muffler (SAM), said to amplify the sporty V8 exhaust note.

The FG range also raises the bar in terms of the safety features available on the Falcon range. All petrol Falcon sedans will come standard with an advanced safety package, incorporating driver and front passenger airbags, front side head/thorax airbags, driver and front passenger Beltminder® system, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control (TC), and Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA).Side curtain airbags, in conjunction with front side thorax airbags, are standard on premium sedan models, but are also available as an option across the rest of the sedan range.

A new reverse camera system is standard on G6E and G6E Turbo models, and optional on the overt sports XR range, while a reverse sensing system is standard on all G Series models and available as an option across the rest of the sedan range.

But, here’s my pick of the bunch, the FPV version. It’s picture alone just screams “GRUNT!!!”.

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