AU2 300+ Falcon Coupe

Confirming wild rumours that had been doing the traps for the last six months is this exciting new development in the great Ford vs. Holden debate - the Falcon 300+. Although not totally true to the rumours (which had the popular Hillier Bros selected as the coupe's manufacturers and designers) the 300+ was designed and developed by Perth-based Aftermarket company, Advanced Engine Components and Millard Design.

Released at the recent Melbourne International Motor Show 2001, on the official Ford stand it had the waiting media in raptures - spreading all kinds of reports as to how it was in fact Ford Motor Co who was about to produce this tasty number. And while they were not all entirely correct - it does seem Ford will allow the coupes to be sold and warranted through it's dealerships. Initial price estimates come in at around $100K making it even more expensive than Ford's just released Right Hand Drive Mustang - but with much more performance to boot and the knowledge that your exclusivity is assured, with just 95 cars per year planned to be built.

In the metal, the coupe is very similar to Hillier's version - excepting the very minor flaring of the rear guards (reminiscent of the Falcon Coupes of the 70's), bonnet change - a heavily modified Fairmont bonnet instead of the XR nose cone - and with a very different body kit to anything seen so far. The bonnet features a cleverly incorporated "power bulge" with inbuilt nostrils each side of the hump. Scoring top points for originality, the body kit looks like it belongs more to a futuristic concept car than a road going weapon (and I mean that in the most positive sense possible!) It is little wonder then that the side panels (applied from bump strip height down) and wheel arch extensions take almost direct inspiration from the R5 Falcon 4WD Ute.

The front & rear bumpers however, bear no resemblance to anything seen before - save the grill opening - which has classic hints to the current Mustang. The brake ducts are quite small and certainly for pose value only (not that the Brembo brakes would ever need much helping!) The headlights - whose effectiveness still remains to be seen - are replaced with twin small diameter units in a angular grey background, looking all the while like a set of robot eyes from a sci-fi film and further enhancing the futuristic effect.

But the piece you've all been dying to find out about - without any doubt, is the engine. Opening up endless possibilities for future Falcons, the Falcon 300+ finally lays to rest any doubts as to whether the current 4.6 litre DOHC V8 will fit in the Falcon's narrow engine bay. Remember - this is the engine that makes 240kw in the Mustang Cobra in naturally aspirated form! In supercharged form courtesy of a Sprintex blower this same engine makes a mind blowing 310kw in the Falcon Coupe - hence the 300+ tags! Kind of makes the Chevrolet - cum Commodore - Gen 3 (5.7 litres & pushrods) suddenly seem a bit dated doesn't it? - Finally taking the title of Australia's most powerful locally built car built in any sort of quantity. Surprisingly for such a small engine of such a free revving nature, is it's final torque figure of 575 Nm at 3750 rpm - and continuing on until much higher in the rev range.

Already rumours are circulating of a much more powerful version being made available - with up to 500 kw on tap in a higher spec'd Falcon (now - I'd really like to see that!) Still, the 300+ is no slouch, covering the standing quarter in a low 12.6 seconds and the sprint from 0-100km/h in a similarly quick 4.6 seconds! Helping this along is a fly-by-wire throttle with power channelled earthwards via the Mustang's 6 speed Tremec manual gearbox and Ford's amazing double wishbone independent rear suspension - unique to the Falcon (definitely not the unit fitted to the 'Stang). Undoubtedly also helping traction stay within sane levels are the 18" alloy wheels fitted with Pirelli's P-zero ZR18 Asimmetrico gumballs.

And if all that's not enough to keep you interested, then there's the 250 watt in-dash 6-stack CD player with 11 speaker elements for your entertainment pleasure!!! Making sure that you don't get mashed to a pulp (with all the acceleration, cornering and dB forces available) is the lavish leather interior, featuring sown in grip 'micro-suede' patches (trust me - you'll need them!) Add to that a climate control centre (ala Fairmont Ghia) and T-series dash including custom painted door & dash accents as well as the T-series electronic sports shift Momo steering wheel in matching colour and you're ready to drive a hot car in the coolest style possible!

Radical for more reasons than just a lack of doors....