EF Falcon XR specs:

Summary:
Retained for a third model running, by now the XR had become an entrenched part of the Ford family - with more differentiation than ever from the more common Falcon models.  While the Commodore S and SS looked like tarted up family models, the XR took on a life of it's own with it's distinctive quad headlamp treatment giving added credence to both XR6 & XR8 models.  Despite Ford's insistence that it was created to compete directly with GM's S & SS, the ambience emitted by Tickford's top line model drew many undue comparisons to HSV's much more expensive offerings - a credit to Ford & Tickford's stylists and the packaging of the XR6.  Keeping the ED's pure gun-barrel head light treatment, the EF XR took on the lower spec'd models no-grill treatment in a move that was loved by some and hated by others (mostly Holden owners).

The EF presented (for the first time since the XC Falcon of 1976 - 1979) a different bonnet to that of the non-sporting models.  Featuring it's very own distinctive styled 'vents', these were unfortunately more for aesthetic purposes than anything else although allow plenty of scope for those with the talent and creativity necessary to produce functional items.  Available in both sedan and wagon (a move that would not be repeated for some years to come), the XR6 wagon became a somewhat special find - and totally under rated - on the second hand car market, with many being treated with nowhere near the respect they deserved.   -Which is a real pitty, considering the usefulness and stylishness of the Falcon XR6 wagon - a much missed addition to the Falcon range.  Why there was never a XR8 wagon is a mystery - especially considering the similiar power outputs.  Unfortunately the XR6 wagon had ceased to be offered by the time the EF2 had been released.

Feature wise, the XR range came complete with most items included in the Futura, providing a wide spectrum of features and giving a truly enjoyable vehicle to drive and live with.  While both the XR6 and XR8 recieved minor power upgrades for the EF model, in stock form it was the six that shone most brightly being quicker both in through the twisty stuff and in a straight line due mainly to it's lower weight and similiar power characteristics.  While being a bitter pill to swallow for most V8 fanatics, it meant the 5.0 litre V8 was wonderfully under developed leaving it ripe for performance enhancing mods.  For a more in-detail look at what made the XR6 & XR8 - including a complete specification listing - read on:

XR vs. Futura - what you got for your money:

• Black (or Red) bumper rub strips and body side protection mouldings depending on which colour paint you ordered.
• A unique four round headlight front including grill-less surround with gun barrel sockets for the headlights.
• Unique front side indicators incorporating a separate parking lense.
• Quad round halogen headlamps featuring projector technology for the outside pair.
• A unique bonnet featuring twin styled air vents (more for visual purposes than anything else).
• XR6 or XR8 badges on the front quarters and below the left hand tail light on the rear of the car depending on which box you ticked.
• Tickford crests on each front guard.
• Unique 15" x 7" five-double spoke alloy wheels.
• P205/65 HR15 steel belt radial ply sports tyres.
• XR6 - High performance 4.0 litre SOHC straight six giving 164kW @ 5000 rpm (vs 157kW @ 4900 rpm for the I6 Futura).
• XR8 - Semi modified High Performance 5.0 litre V8 giving 169kW @ 4500 rpm (vs 165kw @ 4500 rpm for the V8 Futura).
• Tickford reprogrammed gear changes for the electronically controlled four speed auto providing for faster gear changes.
• Tickford developed sports suspension to keep the wheels firmly planted and giving a much better ride height!
• Rear spoiler standard on both wagons and sedans.
• Low profile LED high mounted stop lamp located in the rear spoiler on sedans (rear window mounted stop light still present but disabled).
• Limited slip differential standard.
• Seats trimmed in 'Formula 1' cloth with co-ordinating 'Pitstop' cloth bolster.
• Doors trimmed to match in vynal with 'Formula 1' cloth covered insert.
• Adjustable see through sports front & rear head rests.
• 'Sports' front bucket seats with side bolsters.
• Oil Pressure & Battery Voltage guages.
• 'Charcoal' leather wrapped steering wheel.
• Low Oil pressure and Washer Fluid low warning lights.
• Low Oil pressure audible warning chime.
• Dual horn note.

INDEX:

XR6 Engine:  (back to index)

4.0 litre SOHC (single over head cam) inline 6 cylinder:

• 164kW @ 5000 rpm (from 161 kW @ 4600 rpm in ED).
• 366Nm @ 3150 rpm (with a full 365-366Nm of torque available from 2750 to 3500 rpm vs the ED which peaked at 3650 rpm - fattening the torque curve by a full 28Nm between 2500 and 3000rpm!)
• Red powder coated alloy rocker cover to signify XR6 engine.
• Bore & Stroke - 92.26 x 99.3mm.
• Compression Ratio - 9.35:1
• Multi point sequential fuel injection.
• Distributor-less electronically controlled ignition system.
• Crank triggered coil pack replacing previous single coil distributor style.
• Fuel required: regular unleaded petrol.
• Tickford alloy cylinder head including:
• Larger valves (41mm dia valves replacing std 39mm).
• Reshaped exhaust ports / runners.
• Reshaped intake runners at the valve mouth to improve incoming 'air tumble and flow dynamics'.
• Identifiable by a 'T' cast into the front of the head.
• Valve spring pre-load upped by 5%.
• Unique XR EEC programming to make the most of the changes offered.
• Cast iron block.
• Fully (12) counterweighted crankshaft.
• Pressed steel sump.
• Dual resonance intake manifold providing a wider 'power band' than the previous model.
• Serpentine accessory drive belt for increased quietness & reliability.
• 2 1/2 inch single exhaust system - changed from the ED XR6 which split into a twin pipe set-up just after the catalyctic converter before rejoining into a single pipe just over the rear axil.

XR8 Engine:
5.0 litre OHV (over head valve) V8.
• 169 or 170kw @ 4500 rpm depending on who you listen to... (up from 165kW in ED).
• 398Nm @ 3000 rpm (up from 388Nm in ED).
• Pressed steel rocker covers and sump.
• Push rod valve actuation.
• Cast iron heads.
• Sequential fuel injection.
• Serpentine accessory drive belt for quietness & reliability.
• Larger intake snorkel.
• EB GT exhaust.


LPG:
• LPG not available as a factory fitted option on EF XR6 & XR8.

• 5 speed manual std on both sedan and wagon.
• 4 speed automatic option including:
• electronically controlled.
• Lock up torque converter.
• Driver's left foot rest standard.
• Normal & Economy modes.
• Normal/Economy mode auto transmission indicator light on dashboard.
• Overdrive 4th gear.
• Tickford reprogrammed gear changes for the electronically controlled four speed auto providing for faster gear changes - as previously developed & used in the ED XR8 'Sprint'.

For Gear Box ratios please refer to our EF History/Tech page.

Brakes:   (back to index)

• Same as GLi / Futura: Power assisted, four wheel discs. 
• Front - 287mm dia ventilated discs. 
• Rear -  299 mm dia solid discs. All with asbestos free brake pads. 
• Floor mounted hand brake handle (left side of driver's seat). 
• Highly effective 'mini drum' dedicated rear handbrake inside of each rear disc brake.  Note: Use of this hand brake mechanism as a moving braking device may cause damage to the rear shoes.  
• ABS brakes standard - $990 option when new on GLi.

• Short / Long Arm, Long Spindle (SLALS). 
• Single rate coil springs (uprated to suit XR driving characteristics)  *Reset to suit XR's lower ride height (35mm lower than a standard EF) and slightly softer than ED XR. 
• Uprated XR specific twin tube telescopic shock absorbers with "coil over" spring / shock absorber mounting design (slightly softer dampening rates than ED XR). 
• XR specific stabiliser bar (thicker than ED XR). 
• All bushes replaced with neolethane. 0.75 degrees less camber & 2 degrees more toe-in than non-Tickford EF's

Rear (Sedan): 

• Live axil. 
• Four trailing arms with Watts linkage. 
• XR specific twin tube telescopic shock absorbers with "coil over" spring / shock absorber mounting design. 
• Stabiliser bar. 
• Single rate coil springs (uprated to suit XR driving characteristics)  *Reset to suit XR's lower ride height (32mm lower than a standard EF). 
• All bushes replaced with neolethane. 
• Limited slip diff standard. 
• Watts link diff mounted centre pivot moved 20mm downward compared to non-Tickford EF Falcons.

Rear (XR6 Wagon - Series 1 only):

• Live axil. 
• Leaf springs (stiffer & lower than standard). 
• XR6 specific inboard, diagonally mounted twin tube telescopic shock absorbers. 
• All bushes replaced with neolethane. 
• Limited slip diff standard.

Steering:   (back to index)

• Power assisted rack & pinion. 
• Adjustable rake and reach steering column. 
• Cruise control standard (via steering wheel mounted ON/OFF, RESUME and +/- buttons) with 3 cancelling points - extremely easy to use compared to Commodore's clumsy & fragile stalk mounted system with only 2 cancelling points (by ON/OFF function or brake application). 
• Minimum turning circle - 10.9 metres diametre or 11.3 for the wagon.

Wheels & Tyres:   (back to index)

• 15" x 7.0" five-dual spoke alloy wheels. 
• Michelin MXV P205/65 VR15 steel belt radial ply sports tyres standard. 
• Optional 16" X 7" Tickford 5-spoke alloy wheels. 
• Michelin Pilot XGT P225/50 ZR16 tyres with above optional wheels.

Safety Items:   (back to index)

• Driver's Air Bag standard. 
• Passenger's Air Bag optional in EF series 2. 
• Front Inertia reel seat belts with "belt lockers" to minimize payout of set belt webbing in extreme conditions. 
• Rear inertia reel seat belts for all passengers (sedan). 
• Rear inertia reel seat belts on outside seating positions and adjustable rear center lap belt for center position (wagon). 
• Child proof rear door locks. 
• Standardized child seat anchorage bolt fitted. 
• Plastic fuel tank fitted to sedan only - will deform in an accident rather than splitting.  Pressure & impact tested to far above what a normal steel petrol tank can withstand. 
• Best in class roof crush strength. 
• Optional fire extinguisher - includes mounting bracket. 
• Dual note horn standard.

Glass / Windows / Visual Equipment:   (back to index)

• Body coloured electrically adjustable fold away exterior rear view mirrors.
• Wide angle left hand rear view mirror.
• Rear glass graduated sun shade band for EF2 sedans.
• Twin dual jet windscreen washers.
• Two speed front windscreen wipers with variable intermittent setting and demand wipe feature (one wipe at the flick of a finger).
• Rear fixed intermittent wiper with demand wash/wipe and auto wiper (via twist knob on end of wiper shaft) activated when in reverse gear and front wipers operating on XR6 wagon.
• Rear window demister with timed automatic switch off feature.
• Tinted laminated windscreen with tinted band.
• Tinted side and rear glass.
• Front power windows standard (with consol mounted switches and power-off time delay after the ignition is turned off giving you time to put the windows up before locking the car).
• Manual rear window wind-up operation.
• Prismatic day/night interior rear view mirror.
• 3mm side glass.
• Optional exterior mounted rear window louver (black plastic) avialable in sedan only.
• Optional clear wind deflector for front windows.
• Optional electric glass sunroof on sedans only - fully imported from Germany with tilt and slide functions.  An automatic pop-up wind deflector reduces wind noise and buffeting.

• No grill opening - features a blank panel with a Ford oval mounted in the middle.
• 'Cherry' Red body side protection mouldings and bumper inserts (except for red XRs which get black inserts) with the XR6 or XR8 badging painted in a matching colour.
• Grey number plate & reversing light surround on XR6 station wagon.
• A unique four round headlight front feature panel including grill-less surround with Ford oval mounted in the middle and gun barrel sockets for the headlights.
• Unique side indicators incorporating a separate parking lense.
• Quad round halogen headlamps featuring projector technology for the outside pair.
• A unique bonnet featuring twin stylized air vents (more for visual purposes than anything else).
• XR6 or XR8 badges on the front quarters and below the left hand tail light on the rear of the car depending on which box you ticked.
• Tickford crests on each front guard.
• Body coloured exterior rear view mirrors.
• Body coloured licence plate lamp (sedan only).
• New front bumper, including body coloured brake ducts - cut down GLi / Futura bumper to suit above described XR grill & light surround.
• Front bumper protection strips - removable.
• Unique 'EF' Falcon badge lettering style.

• Body coloured exterior door handles.
• Body coloured front & rear bumpers.
• Optional form fitted front and rear mudflaps.
• Optional bonnet and headlight stone guards.
• Optional Tickford fitted body styling kit which included styled front, side & rear skirts - sedan only.

• Quad round halogen headlamps featuring projector technology for the outside pair.
• New tail lights (sedan) with clear lenses replacing the ED's amber indicators.
• High mounted stop light in XR6 wagon.
• Slim line LED spoiler mounted stop light in sedan - rear window high mounted stop light present but disabled.
• Body coloured licence plate lamp (sedan only).

Security:   (back to index)

• "Smart lock" automatic electronic engine immobilisation and keyless entry system.
• "Tibbe" locks on doors, ignition, and boot / tailgate.
• Recessed door buttons.
• Smart lock flashing symbol on dash board when ignition is turned off.
• Remote central locking.
• Wagon tail gate lock included in central locking system.
• Optional dealer fitted factory approved car alarm - integrates with Smartlock keyless entry system.
• Permanent VIN marking of all major vehicle components.

• An entirely new blended design theme - one where the dash leads into the doors and consol producing that ultra smooth, organic feel the follows through the rest of the car and out into the exterior.

Trim:

• Doors trimmed to match in vinyl with 'Formula 1' cloth covered insert.
• Door trims moulded to allow seperate bolt on arm rest in front positions.
• Separate arm rest including door grab handle bolted to front doors.
• Rear door trims moulded to include arm rests (needed to allow manual window winder operation).
• Moulded cloth covered headlining.
• Vinyl covered sunvisors with passenger vanity mirror.
• Black coloured seat belts.
• Front Door map pockets standard.
• 'XR6' or 'XR8' badge above glove box lid depending on which variant you ordered - or on the glove box itself in passenger air bag equipped vehicles.

Seating:   (back to index)
• New front seats with anti-submarining technology made by Hendersons Geelong.
• Driver and front passenger seat fore and aft adjustment.
• Driver and front passenger seat infinitely adjustable recline between limitations of rear seat and steering wheel.
• Driver's seat height adjustment and adjustable thigh support.
• Adjustable lumbar support for driver and passenger.
• Adjustable see-through sports front head rests.
• Adjustable see-through sports rear head rests.
• Fold out rear seat arm rest.
• Seats trimmed in 'Formula 1' cloth with coordinating 'Pitstop' cloth bolster.
• 60/40 split fold rear seat back rest.

Interior Lighting:   (back to index)

• Central interior light with map reading lamps.
• Remote operated illuminated entry system.
• Luggage compartment lamp.
• Dual intensity instrument panel illumination.
• Illuminated front cigar lighter and ashtray.
• Illuminated lockable glove box.
• Ignition lock illumination.

Guages & Dash controls:   (back to index)






• Separate dash shells for vehicles equipped with the optional passenger front air bag vs. those not so equipped.
• Two speed front windscreen wipers with fixed intermittent setting and demand wipe feature (one wipe at the flick of a finger).
• Rear wiper controls for XR6 wagon (see Windows section for full operational details).
• Rear window demister with timed automatic switch off feature.
• Digital clock in instrument panel display (left top corner).
• Black switches and buttons.
• Remote fuel filler release.
• Remote boot release (sedan).
• Smart lock flashing symbol when ignition is turned off.
• Service interval indicator.
• Power/Economy mode auto transmission indicator light.
• Optional Trip Computer - calculates distance to empty, average speed, average fuel consumption etc.
• Warning lights:
• High beam.
• Low engine coolant warning light.
• Rear window demister on.
• Turn signal / hazard lights on.
• Alternator failure.
• Lights on.
• Park brake on.
• Brake failure.
• Seat belt reminder (set on timer, every time you start the vehicle).
• ABS test lamp - where fitted (comes on when you start the car while the ABS does a self test - remains on if a problem is found).
• Air bag test lamp.
• High temperature.
• Low oil pressure.
• Washer fluid low.
• Guages:
• Speedometer (km/h).
• Odometer.
• Trip meter.
• Fuel level.
• Water temperature.
• Tachometer.
• Oil pressure.
• Battery Voltage.
• Audible warning chimes:
• Lights left on.
• High engine temperature.
• Turn signal.
• Low oil pressure.

Audio System:    (back to index)
• 3 chip electronic tuning AM/FM stereo radio/cassette with:
• Auto reverse & Dolby B noise reduction.
• Electronic soft touch controls.
• Music search (cassette).
• Tape pause & tape hold during radio listening.
• Metal tape compatibility.
• Noise control for increased AM/FM reception quality.
• Security code.
• One hour keyless play.
• Integrated clock.
• Auto scan.
• Provision for six AM and 12 FM pre-set stations plus an additional six AM and six FM stations using the Auto Store function.
• Six speakers, 60 watts.
• Optional Electric Aerial - extends when radio is switched on, retracts when radio or ignition is switched off.
• Boot mounted 6 stack CD player optional - N/A on wagon.

Interior Convenience:   (back to index)
• Center consol with large storage compartment, centre arm rest and integrated cup holder.  *Centre consol now meets neatly with the carpet on either side - finally minus the EA - ED's poor fitting and daggy looking 'wings' on each side.
• Integrated grab handles and coat hooks.

Comfort:

• Carpeted passenger compartment floor.
• Optional CFC free air conditioning.
• Four speed fan boosted ventilation with front foot well ducts and rear seat ducts as well.

• 60/40 split fold rear seat back rest.
• Carpeted luggage compartment floor.
• Luggage capacity - 465 litres (sedan), 1473 litres (wagon) or 2595 litres with the rear seats folded down.
• Optional Sedan roof mounted carry bars.
• Optional Wagon roof mounted carry bars.
• Optional Wagon roof rack.
• Optional Wagon cargo barrier.
• Optional flock boot liner (sedans only as wagons come with the rear cargo area carpeted standard).

• Optional 1600kg rated Tow Pack (limited to 1200kg when combined with the manual gearbox) - includes reinforcement brackets.
• Optional 2300kg rated Tow Pack (not available with manual gearboxed Falcons) .
• All Ford specified & fitted tow pack's contain the following features:
• Tow bar.
• Hitch and/or ball mount.
• Wiring harness with 'flat' 7-pin electrical connector.
• Revised turn signal 'flasher'.
• Supplimentary transmission cooler (automatic transmissions only).

Base recommended retail price for the XR6 manual at release in 1994? Try $35,584.

Fuel Economy (factory figures in litres/100km when new):   (back to index)

Performance:   (back to index)

• It is important to note that performance figures will vary depending on vehicle condition (run-in / loose), temperatures at the time of testing, tyres fitted to the vehicle, atmospheric conditions (wind / air pressure / humidity) and the driver's individual driving techniques.  Meaningful data can only realistically be obtained by driving the vehicles back to back on the same day within a very short period of each other.

• 24 month / 50,000 km new vehicle warranty.
• A 5 year perforation corrosion warranty was included with each new EF Falcon at the time.  Needless to say - very few people needed to use it!

• Disabled driver's kit - making driving easier for those with certain disabilities - available free of charge with the purchase of a new EL.

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Info By Doug Bevan, site by Anthony Robinson.
Copyright © 2000 by Doug & Any . All rights reserved.
Revised: 19 Nov 2002 .