2009 Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo Ute; 4.0-litre, six-cylinder, turbo petrol; six-speed automatic, Holden uses modern independent rear suspension. At the lower end of the model range, this gives Ford the advantage when it comes to load carrying capacity
engine in our test vehicle was Ford’s ZF six-speed automatic gearbox. Fitted to vehicles like the Maserati Quattroporte and the Aston Martin DB9, the fluent and accurate gearbox offers precision cog-swapping and a superb sport mode which holds gears and shifts down into high rev ranges during enthusiastic driving
full force of this turbocharged 4.0-litre engine isn’t felt until you unleash with a boot full of throttle. Once 2000rpm comes along, it’s every man for himself. The 245mm wide rear tyres are too narrow for continuous traction and begin chirping soon after a hoof of the throttle
During full-boost the F-16-like induction noise is met with a raspy snarl from the exhaust on the up-shift. While the rev limited intervenes at a relatively low 6200rpm, there’s more than enough of the 533Nm of torque to go around between 2000rpm and 4750rpm. the XR6 Turbo Ute is no different. While it still rides well unsprung, the rear end really drills down with a load over the rear axle.
