FORD Australia badly needs the XR series Falcons. The XR6 and XR8 are the bearers of the company's hopes to project a more dynamic image, to convince potential buyers that Ford is a progressive, aggressive company that understands and expresses something of the Australian psyche. The latest, 220kW version of the XR8 does a pretty good job of doing that, with a wonderfully rorty, partly hand-built 5.0-litre V8 providing astounding performance and a well-sorted, fully independent suspension giving the sort of handling loved by purists. And does Ford charge any more for the 220kW V8? No.
![](/assets/contents/a8853e6063fc61e446107fa7fe54adebdf234523.jpg)
EL Falcon XR8
Released: September 1996
Ended: August 1998
Family Tree: FalconTHE XR8 has long been Ford's flagship performance model, with the EL XR8 making way for the all-new AU XR8 in September 1998. Its 185kW Windsor V8 was one of the few items carried over to AU, though for the AUII of April 2000 the XR8 scored a 200kW Tickford engine, which then became a 220kW unit in May 2001.
Facebook Twitter Instagram