Ford Falcon XR8 priced at under $55k

Ford has returned a V8 engine to the Falcon XR Series line-up, with the announcement of the 2014 Falcon XR8 sedan pricing.

The V8 Falcon XR Series sedan has a manufacturers’ list price of six-speed manual for $52,490 (standard), and six-speed automatic – $54,690 (optional).

Falcon vehicle line director, David Wilkinson says: “We’ve brought the Boss 5.0L, supercharged all-aluminum V8 engine across to the XR Series and it’s the first time a performance V8 has been in the XR Series since 2010.”

Wilkinson says the development team wanted to deliver the ultimate handling performance for customers. “Compared to the last FG Falcon XR8, the 2014 Falcon XR8 has better turn-in, more rear grip, noticeably less body roll and an increased sense of control from behind the driver’s seat,” Wilkinson adds.

Ford has applied FPV GT RSPEC suspension on the Falcon XR8. In contrast to standard GT suspension, the XR8 gains:

• Retuned rear dampers and springs
• Larger rear stabiliser bar (up from 18 mm to 19 mm)
• Retuned front dampers
• Stiffer front upper spring mounts
• Stiffer front upper control arm bushing
• Front and rear suspension geometry adjusted to complement 275 rear tyres

The V8 features maximum power of 335 kW at 5750 rpm and maximum torque of 570 Nm at 2200-5500 rpm.

As with the rest of the Falcon range, the XR8 gains the SYNC2 system with an 8’’ high-resolution touch screen, emergency assistance, digital radio (DAB+) and Wi-Fi hotspot.

The pricing of the Falcon XR8 sedan complements the announcement of new MLPs for the rest of the 2014 Falcon sedan, which are:

Like the rest of the Falcon range, the Falcon XR8 will come with myFord capped price servicing as standard, which also includes the addition of auto club membership and roadside assistance.