Ford FPV F6 2009 Overview

The FPV F6 Ute is a vicious mongrel in many ways.

It mixes old and new into a frighteningly powerful package that can make you laugh and swear and/or cry soon after, depending on the result.

We have a six-speed automatic, which can usually make me anxious, but with 565Nm and 310kW running through a smart ZF six-speed automatic (free option), I don't really miss the clutch pedal.

The respite for Ford's engine plant is a blessing for its employees, as well as fans of the turbocharged inline-six - the four-liter turbocharged and intercooled powerplant is monumental.

Not only because of the block's durability - it dates back to at least the 1960s, although it was rumored to power Noah's Ark - but the new bits combined with it provide such gigantic results.

When the newest incarnation was introduced, there was laughter when the "mesa" torque was shown as it's not a curve - 565Nm from 1950 to 5200rpm, with a 300rpm gap to reach 310kW.

The powerplant has some work to do, breaking the inertia of just over 1.8 tons of Australian utility, but it does so with eerie and ethereal ease.

A gentle throttle push pushes the tach needle into excess torque, knocking the F6 Ute off the ground with little visible effort and a minimum of fuss.

It's a slim, quiet engine given the type of power on offer - there's a real slap at full throttle and a bit of turbo squeal when you hit the right pedal, but extroverts will deal with the PDQ exhaust.

Anything more than that can cause the rear to skip, stutter and struggle to stay true to the direction of the front (dictated by harsh and beefy if heavy steering) if the surface is uneven.

Throw in any humidity and the stability control system is busier than a pub game room on retirement day, and that's without the benefit of a dropped clutch.

The rear end is light, and the old leaf-sprung rear end tends to wiggle - it's like Beyoncé with too many short cups of black coffee on board and in a way more fun.

The retention of the rear suspension is no doubt due to the Falcon ute's desire for solid-toned models, something its immediate opposition no longer has.

Despite the heritage-listed rear end and 35-profile tires, the ride quality isn't all that bad - nothing a few big sandbags in the pan couldn't cushion well.

Screw a couple of large closable toolboxes onto the rear tray and that will work too.

The surprise, given the astronomical performance potential, is the fuel consumption - Ford claims 13 liters per 100 km, while we had figures around 16, but given the enthusiasm of driving, a figure of 20 would be plausible for a V8.

The test car was a bit of a minstrel in color scheme - white paint, black highlights and bodywork and dark 19×8 alloy wheels shod in 245/35 Dunlop Sport Maxx tires.

Features on the F6 list include dual front and side head/thorax airbags, a prestige audio system with a 6-disc in-dash CD stacker, and full iPod integration.

The test car stops in mind-blowing style thanks to large, perforated and ventilated front discs with optional six-piston Brembo calipers – the standard fee is four.

The rear also gets slightly smaller perforated and ventilated rear discs with single-piston calipers.

Complaints are few - the rear view when checking your head over your right shoulder for a lane change is pretty much pointless, and the tailgate mechanism can be deadly to your fingers.

The F6 ute isn't really a workhorse - it's too low and doesn't have enough payload for real work - but as modern Australian-made muscle cars come in their A-class, with muscle to burn.

FPV F6 Utah

Price: from $ 58,990.

Engine: DOHC four-liter turbocharged, 24-valve straight-six.

Transmission: XNUMX-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive, with limited slip differential.

Power: 310 kW at 5500 rpm.

Torque: 565 Nm at 1950-5200 rpm.

Fuel consumption: 13 liters per 100 km, on the test 16 liters per 100 km, tank 81 liters.

Emissions: 311 g/km.

Opponent:

HSV Maloo ute, from $62,550.