After months of waiting and gossip Ford fans have the good news they’ve been waiting for. Ford Australia has confirmed it will release a limited-edition Falcon XR Series sedan sometime in 2016. Continuing the waiting game is obviously part of Ford’s marketing plan. May we suggest that if you are halfway serious about buying the latest limited-edition a call to your local dealer should be made sooner than later.
“There has been a lot of speculation around what our plans are for Falcon in 2016 and today we’re happy to confirm that Ford will build a special series to celebrate Australia’s large sedan,” according to Graeme Whickman, Ford President and CEO.
The limited-edition series will be called XR Sprint, a name already admired for many years downunder. The Sprint name was first used on the 1993 ED Falcon XR8 and delivered a Tickford-enhanced V8 with upgraded suspension and interior. More than 300 were built and today they are among some of the more collectible Falcons.
“The Falcon XR Sprint is aligned to the understated look of our notable historic performance Falcons; they will be styled with design and dynamic influences that are distinctly different in feel, presence and execution,” Whickman said.
“The XR Sprint will be a limited-edition series and one we think will be highly regarded by our Falcon fans. Ultimately too, like many of our performance Fords, we expect it to be a highly collectible car.”
The development program has utilised the full capabilities of the Ford You Yangs Proving Ground at Lara, including the emissions lab, ride and handling test track and durability circuit as well as real-world development kilometres on public roads. We were amongst a select group of journalists invited on a comprehensive tour of that facility earlier this month. We came away feeling very impressed with the work that is being done so that it can remain as a major player in Ford globally.
The Falcon XR Sprint series will be available as an automatic turbocharged six-cylinder and a supercharged V8, the latter offered with manual and automatic transmission.
Details are yet to be revealed, but Ford’s PR team advises us the XR Sprint will have a power increase, upgraded brakes, a new wheel design unique to the model, an exterior stripe design ‘Sprint’ badges on boot and front quarter panels. Inside, there will be unique interior trim on seats with ‘Sprint’ embroidery
Most importantly, in the world of collectable cars, there will be individually numbered build plaque on the engines
Ford tells us it will share more details about the Falcon XR Sprint early next year. Stay tuned.
