BF Falcon and SY Territory target safety and refinement
CarPoint - September 2005
Ford has announced further details of its BF Falcon and SY Territory updates. Joe Kenwright reports the maker has targeted safety and refinement...
Ford Australia has revealed the balance of the BF Falcon/SY Territory updates. And the news is the maker has targeted safety and refinement, in addition to the performance and fuel economy improvements announced recently.
In its quest to strengthen the case for its large car, in the face of rising fuel costs, Ford has implemented major upgrades. A traction control system will be standard on all BF Falcons, the latest Bosch Electronic Stability Program has been added to certain Falcon models (making the car the first Australian V8 as well as the first manual model to have such a feature) and the Territory has received the first local production reversing camera. See separate story…
The safety changes are backed by under-the-skin structural improvements that improve refinement across the Falcon range.
Despite the low key exterior changes, all this adds up to a comprehensive and expensive facelift at the three-year point in the BA body’s model life. Interestingly, many of the structural improvements are being introduced to the last of the BA Mark II models as a running change which should make them feel quite different from the same model of 12 months ago.
Safety upgrades in detail
The advanced Bosch ESP system which debuted on the AWD Territory as DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) now appears as standard on the SY Territory Ghia RWD, BF Fairlane Ghia, G8 and LTD, Fairmont Ghia, XR6 Turbo and XR8. It is also an option on SY Territory TS and TX RWD.
Ford has developed no less than four sets of DSC calibrations consistent with the character and application of each model. The system also features Cornering Brake Control which recognizes and corrects for an oversteer situation if the brakes have to be applied in a corner.
The Territory has its own calibrations. The long wheelbase Fairlane-based models share a calibration where DSC interventions are early and subtle. In the Fairmont Ghia, the interventions arrive slightly later to match its sportier approach. DSC responses in the XR6 Turbo and XR8 occur later again in keeping with an XR driver’s desire to feel in control while retaining the safety net. All applications can be switched-off if required.
Brakes
Ford has developed a new Performance brake package for the BF Falcon based on new hardware developed for the Territory. The new brakes outperform and therefore replace the previous premium brake option and are now fitted as standard to the XR6 Turbo and XR8 sedan/ute, and in conjunction with the 24-valve V8 engine in the Falcon XT, Fairmont, Fairmont Ghia, Fairlane G8 and LTD.
The package includes new pillar ventilated front rotors 322mm diameter by 28mm thick and new pillar ventilated rear rotors of 328mm x 26mm. These are substantially bigger than the standard 298 x 28mm ventilated fronts and 303 x 16mm solid rears.
As this set-up also surpasses the standard FPV brake package, it will prompt a brake upgrade for FPV’s BF range.
ABS and Traction Control
The standard ABS system has been upgraded.. Ford claims it is less intrusive with a more gradual pulsing feel through the brake pedal. It is standard on all sedans and utes except the XL/XLS utes where it is an option.
The traction control is also upgraded and is now standard on all SY Territory versions, all petrol-engined Falcon sedans, wagons and XR utes. It is not available on dedicated LPG models in the absence of the fuel-injection control unit of the petrol-engined models.
Tyres
Ford and Goodyear have developed a new asymmetric tyre for the Fairmont and Fairlane Ghia, Fairlane G8 and LTD. Called the Excellence, the new 225/50 R17 94V tyre is claimed to offer extra driving comfort, refinement, lower noise levels and better tyre life.
The Excellence features a very distinctive tread pattern that looks like several different tyres have been combined to make up the width.
Falcon commercials also gain new tyres including a new Dunlop 225/55 R16 95W silica tyre for the XLS SSB ute that shares the same tread pattern as the sporty SP Sport 3000A fitted to XR utes. The hard working XL ¾ tonne ute also gains a new silica-based 215/60 R16 99H tyre developed to meet the high load capacity while maintaining grip, low noise levels and steering and handling response.
Refinement upgrades in detail
Ford claims that its new BF Falcon and SY Territory will be the quietest and most refined vehicles ever to leave its Australian assembly line. The BF entry levels now match the refinement levels of the BA Fairmont Ghia, while the Ghia has been further lifted with a sound abatement package that targets the rear cabin.
Although the aim was to reduce the decibel level inside by a significant margin, Falcon buyers made it clear that they wanted to hear and enjoy the pure sound of their car’s engines. Annoying high frequency and other distracting noises have been targeted. Ford says it has also achieved a nine per cent improvement in the articulation index -- a measure of the ability for occupants to converse.
A major change is the cars’ retuned exhaust systems. The exhaust drone that has characterized every Falcon six since 1966 has been targted. The Barra 190 features a new front resonator which dramatically filters out the old resonances and allows the retuned centre and rear mufflers to deliver a cleaner note. All body and exhaust hangers have been re-engineered to isolate muffler vibration from the body.
The Barra 230 V8 meantime gains its own low back pressure exhaust system which generates more power and answers owner demands for a cleaner V8 exhaust note compared to the BA V8 which was fed through the six-cylinder muffler.
Sound abatement measures include:
Lofted Outer Dash: As the name suggests, this is a thick fibre dash pad added to the Falcon/Territory firewall on the engine side
Bitumastic Pads: These cut noise and drumming generated by road vibrations and are applied throughout the body.
Absorptive Roof-liner: Acting like an acoustic-lined recording studio, it cuts reflected noise.
Body Structural changes include:
The transmission cross member and centre tailshaft bearing have been reinforced to reduce engine and driveline vibration.
Engine and transmission mounts have been re-engineered
Wheels on XT an XR levels have been stiffened
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