The term “gentlemen’s musclecar” has been used to classify domestic performance cars that appeal to more discrete male car buyers over the years. Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler have filled the niche in one way or another since the dawn of the horsepower race. A gentlemen’s musclecar can be best characterized by popular models like these: 1968 Ford Torino GT, 1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, 1967 Plymouth GTX, and the 1989 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe. According to a performance Ford buyer, a gentlemen’s musclecar is what you drive off the lot if you just can’t see yourself in a Mustang GT but still want some grunt. So where does this leave that buyer today? In the United States, it means you’ll be leaving the Ford dealership behind the wheel of whatever you drove in with.
If you are frustrated like we are about Ford’s neglect of the gentelmen’s musclecar niche then look what Ford has available in Australia and New Zealand, it’s bound to throw you into a frenzy. How come we can’t get our hands on a turbocharged 4.0L Inline 6 with a manual 6-speed gearbox? Ford of Australia calls it the Barra 245T, this six cylinder makes 325 HP and 350 ft lbs. torque and it’s available in their 2006 Falcon XR6 Turbo. While Ford performance enthusiasts in the United States are looking back to 1995 for the last gentelmen’s musclecar, in Australia, the 2006 Ford Falcon dealer brochure is offering modern drivetrain packages that rival our performance era. Visit Ford of Australia’s corporate website for more information on the Falcon XR6 Turbo, Falcon XR8, Boss 260, and the XR’s standard 6-speed manual tranny.
I recently visited Australia and, as an American, I’m really jealous! Their Australian Ford car lineup is significantly different from that in the US, and other than the missing Mustang, I think it’s far superior. Even the Focus is different. As a 30-something Mustang lover, even I must admit that I’d pick the Falcon over the Mustang if both were available to me. If Ford were to offer the ute version of the Falcon in the US I would be on the lot tomorrow signing the paperwork.
By Cue-Ball. January 25th, 2006 at 1:36 pmWhat is up with ford these days, I am a long term ford fan. I own a 2003 Crown Vic sport and a 1966 Galaxie 500XL convertible.
Frankly, when they came out with the new Ford 500, I was really surprised. They had the same old 3.0 Duratec under the hood, when you can get a hot Camry/Accord that will do 0-60 in the 6-7 sec. range.
What are they thinking? A hotly contested and fought over market, and they do a drivetrain carry over in a newly designed car. I am just one guy, not a major corporation with 25 billion in the checking account that can afford proper market research.
Hell, even Chevy gets it, they come out with the New Impala, offer a SS version, but with a actual 303 horse V-8. Frankly I was so suprised, I actually had to go to the dealership and drive one. Impressive car.
It takes quite a bit to get me in a GM car, but franky I was impressed. The car was rock solid, respectable handling, and wisper quite interior at cruising speed. Chevorlet understands the magnitude of the competitive market we are in.
You get one chance at a customer, then they are gone. They are not going to say, wow I like the new 500 and I’ll wait 1 1/2 year for the new 3.5 v-6 because I am so brand loyal.
Frustrated in Michigan…………
By Rodger Burskey. January 23rd, 2006 at 12:26 pmMarauder also only has a 300hp engine in a heavy car. Cool car, just needed a blown 4.6 or a navigator engine.
By 19mach69. January 17th, 2006 at 2:48 pm“I believe you are selectively missing the Mercury Marauder.”
I can see your point but is the Marauder available for 2006? Did recent model years (2003/2004) come standard with a 6-speed manual?
By Mikelonis. January 17th, 2006 at 10:01 amI believe you are selectively missing the Mercury Maurauder.
By Pasicznyk. January 17th, 2006 at 9:42 amWow!
I’ll take a Ford fusion with tweaked Suspension and a 388 hp 5.4 please.
By Tim. January 17th, 2006 at 8:48 amThe aussie Ford line up has really hit the mark in the last few years with these new models. The factory special Typhoon and Tornado models are turbo 6s that put out a conservative 270kw, most guys here have found that a simple edit/tune can push that figure out at the wheels with powerup kits starting at 300rwkw with cold air kits cat backs exhausts etc, no opening of the engine will get you well over the 400rwkw mark with 1300hp being seen on some worked over versions. the XR6 T has now also set a record of high 9 sec quarters in a relatively heavy car (1800kg+) The 5.4 litre V8s are a great unit & are quite often left untouched, again a very heavy car that can run low 12s with underdrive pulleys/exhaust/edit/cai mods is a n awesome package for what is deemed a low cost car - compared to similar specced euro cars. Powerup kits range from bolt ons to blower kits which with a vortech unit comfortably put out 450kw, APS have now got a runner with twin turbos, that’s putting out over 470rwkw on extremely low boost and revs. They are an awesome package all round, just need to loose a few kilos!
By rat. January 17th, 2006 at 5:34 amFord doesn’t want to upstage their V-8 line with the turbo charged cars. Look at ford Europe and the Escort and Focus rally cars? The focus WRC has 300 hp, 400lb ft and if I remember right the focus rally car stomps on the WRX STI. I’ve been whining about all of the cool vehicles and designs Australia has had for a few years now. Look at the Boss 290 engine. 5.4L 32v 388HP. 383lb ft. Sounds pretty cool and its included in the GT, GT-P, Pursuit and Super Pursuit standard. Thats not supercarged either! I guess these are the engines I was talking about when I asked in the forum what fords next engines were going to be. Why not these? Australia doesn’t upstage their V-8’s. Not with 388 horsepower N/A engines!
By 19mach69. January 17th, 2006 at 3:12 am