Ford Falcon V8 dead?

EcoBoost could spell the end of the Blue Oval’s XR8

Sometimes it's the things not said that speak volumes. Amidst the euphoria of Ford's decision to add EcoBoost, liquid injection LPG and turbodiesel engine options, the future of the company's 5.4-litre Boss V8 engine is far less certain.

The current 290kW unit does not meet EuroIV emission standards set for introduction on July 1 next year. Despite speculation that the new 5.0-litre V8, codenamed 'Coyote', will find its way into the XR8, Ford Australia president Marin Burela didn't reveal any details at today's announcement.

Interestingly though, when asked about the future of the V8 locally, Burela made no mention of Ford and XR8 at all and instead focused his response on Ford Performance Vehicles.

"There are customers in the landscape that want V8s. We have a great offering through FPV that meets the needs of those consumers," Burela said. "You know, quite frankly, even with our performance vehicles the demand has been growing over recent months.

"The team over there, in conjunction with [Ford Australia sales and marketing manager] Beth Donovan and her sales and marketing team we are making good progress.

"But today is not about V8s; today is about a great four-cylinder engine for the Falcon, a diesel for the Territory and liquid injection technologies for the Falcon. What a great day it is. We are talking about a change in the automotive landscape of Australia and the Ford Motor Company is leading that change."

Indeed, the Australian motoring landscape could change dramatically if Ford decided not to include a new V8 -- Coyote or otherwise -- in the Falcon line-up from July next year. It would leave Ford free to promote the Falcon on its economical and environmental strengths and give FPV free reign to chase the V8 audience.

Maybe they are just finally acknowledging that with the I6 Turbo they don't need a V8

its common news in the auto industry that the 5.4 V8 is doomed ..... a 5.0 ltr OHV is set to replace it ..... when will you turbo types stop playing with your weeners and admit the V8 will always be here ..... it stands to reason that with motorsport will always have V8's ... not inline6turbo supercars ... or new world record ..... inline6turbos run a 4.3 sec 1/4 mile pass .... get your hands off it and wake up and smell the racing fuel.

ThMule wrote:the V8 will always be here ..... it stands to reason that with motorsport will always have V8's ...

They will always have V8's but sounds like there won't be Fords in the lineup....

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Ford Performance Vehicles appears poised to launch a less powerful version and cheaper version of its V8 Falcon range.

Pictures of a new special edition GS Falcon have appeared on a dealer website ahead of any official news from FPV or Ford.

Apart from GS decals, the car also has 302 stickers on the end of its rear wing spoiler, which suggests the car will produce 302kW, instead of the 315kW in the top-of-the-range GT models.

The 302 number is of special significance to Ford fans as it was the cubic capacity of the small-block Cleveland Ford V8 of the seventies, while the GS badge was regularly used on sports models of the Falcon in the seventies.

Ford last used the 302 moniker in October 2007 when it released a special edition GT Cobra and Cobra ute to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ford’s famous 1-2 victory at the 1977 Bathurst 1000 race.

The 2007 Cobra was powered by an upgraded version of the 290kW Boss 5.4-litre V8 engine that debuted in the BA version of the GT. It produced 302kW, which became the default power output for the GT until the release of the latest model FG range.

FPV spokesman Dave Harding refused to comment on the pictures.

“I don’t know what you’ve seen and we don’t know anything about the vehicle you’re talking about. I can’t confirm or deny anything,” he says.

“We are not releasing any information on any new FPV models at the moment. I’m aware that the GS name has history but I’m not in a position to say anything about FPV’s future build plans.

“All we’ve announced is that we will be an F6E (turbo six-cylinder model) and another vehicle later this year.”

Ford enthusiast websites have posted the photos, which show the GS decals and the 302 badge on a rear spoiler that more resembles Ford’s XR sedan than FPV’s GT series cars.

Speculation among bloggers is that the car will be positioned between the 290kW Falcon XR8 and the 315kW GT range.

It would also provide a stepping stone between the XR8 and the GT for Ford enthusiasts.

At the moment, there is a substantial price difference between the two cars, with the XR8’s recommended retail price starting at $46,990 and the GT kicking off at $67,890.

A special edition could include bigger brakes than the XR8 and some visual differentiation.

The Boss 302 engine in the Cobra was based on the Boss 290, but featured a different camshaft profile, a higher compression ratio and changes to the valves and springs.

There is speculation the GS will also get the GT’s suspension tune.

Here's hoping FPV start making the XR8, they already make the XR8 engine anyway so putting it into an XR8 car shouldn't be a problem.

FJ wrote:Here's hoping FPV start making the XR8, they already make the XR8 engine anyway so putting it into an XR8 car shouldn't be a problem.

And they could call it the F8

Good idea.....