First drive: Ford opens Falcon EcoLPi doors

FORD Australia began production of its vital new FG Falcon EcoLPi just before its official July 1 on-sale date, when full pricing was announced, but buyers of the first LPG-powered Falcon to be produced since last year must wait at least another month for first deliveries from mid-August.

The all-new liquid-injection LPG system is priced from $34,595 in the Falcon Ute cab-chassis and $42,790 in the base XT sedan, representing a $2500 increase over the 4.0-litre inline-six petrol engine alongside which it is built in Geelong.

Ford’s high-tech new dedicated LPG system, which is also optional on G6, G6E and XR6 sedan variants as well as Cab Chassis and Styleside versions of the XL, R6 and XR6 Ute, therefore costs $500 more than the E-Gas set-up offered with the Falcon for a decade between the 2000 AUII and when the Euro 4 emissions standard saw production cease in 2010.

However, Ford says the FG Falcon’s vastly superior EcoLPi system’s massive improvements to performance, driveability, economy and environmental friendliness more than offset its 25 per cent higher pricetag.

In fact, with 198kW of power at 5000rpm and 409Nm of torque at 3250rpm, the latest LPG Falcon is something of a performance black horse, eclipsing the standard petrol engine’s 195kW and 391Nm outputs significantly on 91 RON unleaded while equalling it for power on 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.

This represents a 27 per cent improvement in power and a 10 per cent gain in torque compared to the vapour-injection system employed by the old Falcon E-Gas engine, which delivered just 156kW and 371Nm.

As we’ve reported, one Ford insider has suggested the Falcon EcoLPi’s power output even approaches 210kW, but it is likely Ford does not want its petrol-powered Falcon to be overshadowed. Look for the new ‘EcoLPi’ rear-end badging before attempting to outsprint one from the traffic lights.

Aiding the newcomer’s progress in all areas is an upgrade from a four-speed to a six-speed automatic gearbox courtesy of ZF, matching the rest of the FG range.

In terms of all-important fuel consumption, the EcoLPi-equipped XT is 16.1 per cent more economical than E-Gas at 12.5 litres per 100km (or 15.4 per cent better in the heavier G6, G6E and XR6 sedans, which return 12.6L/100km).

Similarly, at 203 grams per kilometre, the XT EcoLPi sedan emits 15.4 per cent less CO2 than before (E-Gas: 240g/km), as well as less CO2 than its petrol-powered sibling (236g/km).

So despite using more fuel than its petrol sibling (9.9L/100km), the XT EcoLPi sedan is not only the most environmentally friendly Falcon ever, but – because LPG continues to cost about half as much as petrol – also the cheapest to run.

According to Ford, the EcoLPi’s $2500 price premium – w