madmelon

Can anyone tell me why ford is still using an inline 6 in the falcon range (other than cost)? Surely Ford should move to either a v6 or a flat six, unless they can get to the same sort of smooth running and high performance level of a BMW I6 (particularly M3's 3.2L).
Ford keeps on about the falcon becoming more like a european car, but they refuse to use the available technology in the power/torque and smoothness depts. I know cost is an option, but surely they would make the money back by producing a very high quality product. the base 6 should easily be capable of 200kw, if not more. (without forced induction)
...on the other hand, they could simply use an American Ford V6 and bore it out, stroke it, etc to suit them.

EFFalcon

i'm pretty sure there has already been a lot of discussion on how the Falcon's engine is actually more torquey then other V6's, I6's from around the world, it may not has as much power in terms of kw, but torque it has loads, of.
i don't think there is any need for ford to drop its current I6 engine, with the DOHC its now permorming better then ever and has proven to be a highly reliable engine, those taxi's are good for something :)
they're using quite a bit if technology with the new Barra 182, with the inclusion of DOHC and Dual VCT.

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EDXR8

The falcon I6 engine is a smooth and powerfull engine, and with it's latest dohc and vct, it has some of the latest technologies too. An I6 is much easier to balance than a V6, and why change something which is working so well. Also, why would you want 200+kw out of a standard family car. The current base 182kw is a bit over the top IMO, but it is a heavy car.

NZ

Take a look at some of the high preformance cars around, most of them are I6.

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taximan

Falcon 6 is reliable and will last anywhere between 600,000 and 1,000,000ks.
Commodore V6 is stuffed around the 200,000k mark.
Why would you want to change such a good motor for a V6 piece of crap.

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TopGhia

I agree, if it works, why change it?

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IAN SCHMIDT

I agree with why change a good thing.Even BMW still use them

SiX_iN_a_RoW

I get this question from my commonwhor eloving mates all of the time, "why is it ford cant even make a V6" hehe all i tell them is that they used a v6 long before holden ever did!
But anyway back to the point, you basically cant get a V6 to run as smoothly and produce as much torque as an I6, at least not without a huge amount of development. Its a known fact that the longer stroke helps to create a greater amount of torque. Have you ever followed a convoy of caravans up a hill? Ive seen an NL Fairlane pull a huge caravan up hill , whilst leaving a calais behind who happened to be towing a much smaller caravan.
If you were to change gear ratio's you's flog any V6 commodore around, why bother changing a V6? if ford have successfully used an I6 for 30 odd years

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Soxx

Inline 6's are actually better in terms of smoothness to V6's, as they are inherently balanced, like V12's. The only drawback is there length, however BMW have never seen it as too much of a problem considering they still achieved a 50/50 weight bias in there M3 (quite a few years ago too, I might add).

The Ford 6 in particular is a torque monster really, whilst peak power isn't as high as some, it does have a very heavy car to push around.
In any case, I belive the Barra has more than Fords claimed 182kw, closer to 200kw I'd say.

The Ford 6 is a good engine, however it is not a revver and will never be like a BMW M3 engine, though it has progressed into a fine engine and as someone else said, it is more than enough for a family hack.

Rick.

fordboy1996

spot on mate!!! the only reason they generally make V6 is, they're cheaper to build and more compact....

Dave.

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