FPV Force 6 Review 2007

The Force models are the high-end V8 equivalents of the turbocharged Typhoon and GT, minus the outspoken styling. Instead of a big rear spoiler and flashy paintwork, you get a low-profile, more conservative look - a Fairmont Ghia with the work.

Our test vehicle was the FPV Force 6, priced from $71,590 to $10,000 more than the Typhoon. Finished in a chromatic dark green called déjà vu, it looks almost black in some lighting conditions.

We drove nearly 2000 km on a week-long Riverina odyssey. A fast Ford is a great choice for long trips, it has enough power, comfort and a large trunk for luggage. But with a sport suspension and low profile tires, the ride can be harsh depending on the road surface.

The Force 6 gets the same 4.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine as the Typhoon, with an impressive 270kW of power and 550Nm of torque. It's only available with a ZF 6-speed sequential automatic (nothing wrong with that), which also gives you the adjustable driver pedals that come with it.

Suffice it to say, the car stinks and is actually quite economical if you drive carefully. At a minimum, premium unleaded gasoline is required, and fuel economy, officially rated at 13.0 liters per 100 km, dropped to a low of 9.6 liters per 100 km after about 600 km of continuous driving.

Interestingly, we decided to fill the car with E10 ethanol fuel after we found it was considered normal with a higher octane rating of 95. However, subsequent savings were 11.2 liters per 100 km, falling briefly to 11.1. It says you're using more stuff and doesn't really justify the 10 cents a liter we saved on gas.

For a car that will cost $75,000 by the time it hits the road, we were expecting a bit more in the equipment department. You get leather upholstery, dual-zone ventilation, and front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger.

Traction control is installed, but it's not as sophisticated as the dynamic stability control system found on regular Falcons. Performance is supremely confident, with the ability to overtake at will – when and where you like.

Headlights, including fog lights, provide ample illumination for night driving in the countryside. The ultra-low profile tires of the 35-series make a noise like rain on a tin roof on coarse-grained bitumen.