Holden goes Retro, Ford Ups the Ante

The Melbourne Motor Show is fast becoming the place for the local vehicle manufacturers to take the wraps off their new weapons, and this year is no different.

Without further ado, let's get into the thick of it: As promised, Ford has finally taken the silken sheets off its new FPV-badged street machine, the F6 Typhoon.

Though the name hasn't gone down well with everyone, the 270kW machine is a return to the six-cylinder performance arena - something that arch rivals HSV will be concerned about.

Oh, and the fact that the Typhoon now has the highest torque output for a production car in Australia may also be somewhat worrisome for Holden's performance arm.

The F6 Typhoon is certain to establish FPV as the technical leaders in the tribal high-performance market and reinforce the six-cylinder engine as a worthy alternative to FPV's class-leading Boss 290 V8 engine.

The 4.0-litre turbocharged and intercooled six-cylinder F6 270 Turbo engine will produce 270kW of power and a staggering 550Nm of torque. That's more torque than FPV's own GT and even HSV's $97,500 Callaway-enhanced GTS.

In fact, with the lower weight (and centre of gravity) that the inline six brings, and it's 550Nm of torque, you could probably stick a caravan behind it and it would still dust many other performance sedans.

David Flint, Ford Performance Vehicles head man, said "This car is the next step in reaffirming Ford Performance Vehicles as the benchmark high-performance car manufacturer in Australia.

"It will broaden the appeal of the Ford Performance Vehicles brand and introduce a new range of owners to our family.

"But we believe it will also expand the boundaries of what our owners expect, and what they experience, from Ford Performance Vehicles as it delivers a completely unique and exciting driving experience."

The F6 Typhoon will join the GT, GT-P and Pursuit Ute as part of the FPV range with production scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2004.

The car may be available to customers before 2005 rolls around and is expected to retail between $56,000 and $59,000 when it goes on sale.

Technically speaking, the F6 derives its power from a turbocharged and intercooled 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder powerplant with double overhead camshafts and a 4-valve aluminium cylinder head.

It produces its maximum power of 270kW @ 5250rpm while its maximum torque of 550Nm is on tap from 2000rpm and remains constant all the way through to 4250rpm.

It produces more than 80 per cent of its maximum torque @ 1500rpm and over 98 per cent @ 1750rpm, providing an extremely flexible nature for everyday city driving, while ensuring tyre melting performance when you want it.

Such extreme levels of torque aren't always easy to come by, or cost effective for that matter. Take a look at Lamborghini's new Gallardo for instance - it costs $399,346 and makes use of 5.0-litre V10 to create 510Nm @ 4500rpm. While it may beat the F6 for power, torque is a different story.

"The fact that it produces the highest torque output of any production engine ever built in Australia is a clear signal that FPV is forging ahead as the powerhouse of Australian performance cars," continued David Flint.

"Tickford established its credentials here in Australia with the original Ford Falcon XR6 in 1992. Now the time is right, with the outstanding BA Falcon platform, to reinforce our influence on the six-cylinder high-performance market in Australia – and take it to the next level."

The increase in power and torque over the Ford XR6 Turbo engine has been achieved through maximising the efficiency of cooling and induction processes of the engine.

It features a 50 per cent larger air-to-air intercooler and a dual air intake system that significantly reduces intake pressure into the turbo's compressor, therefore allowing it work more effectively.

The electronic engine management system has also been modified, with the variable camshaft timing now allowing each camshaft to be adjusted independently rather than simultaneously.

This has given the engine an increase in off-boost torque at low engine speeds, while still maintaining the engine’s ability to run on 95 RON octane fuel. FPV's engineers have also fitted high-strength conrods, heavy-duty valve springs and an oil-to-water oil cooler to handle the increased loads offered by the extra power and torque.

All F6 Typhoon owners will also experience the benefits of the FPV Performance Driving Course -- FPV is the only manufacturer in Australia to offer a free defensive driver training course with every new vehicle.

"The F6 Typhoon, we believe, has the potential to become one of Australia’s next motoring icons," Ford Australia President Geoff Polites said. And we don't doubt him.

Today, vehicle's like the WRX are the cult cars that earn respect for their performance, but the XR6 Turbo and now the F6 Typhoon could change that in future.

"The F6 Typhoon and the GT will sit alongside each other as the ultimate expressions of FPV's Total Performance mantra. It is not just about turning up the turbo boost, but comprehensively engineering a six-cylinder high-performance car that carries all the benchmarks FPV has been recognised for with the GT, GT-P and Pursuit," said Polites.

As such, the FPV Typhoon production concept seen at the Melbourne Motor Show has 355mm front and 330mm rear cross-drilled and ventilated brake rotors with race-bred Brembo calipers and a heavy-duty five-speed manual gearbox.

The F6 Typhoon production concept is instantly recognisable as part of the FPV family with its standout styling.

However, it has a range of unique styling cues, including pewter highlights on the front and rear bumpers, high-tech mesh grille inserts and a rear bootlid spoiler with FPV’s trademark three-pillar design.

Inside the cockpit, the car has sports seats with a technical design, suede bolsters and FPV identification embroidered in the headrests.

It also features aluminium pedals and interior highlights and the unique FPV dash-mounted starter button.

Despite Ford's crucial unveiling of the turbocharged FPV, which could potentially change the way Australian's see performance cars, and in particular V8s, Holden still had a few surprises up its sleeve, the most intriguing being a collaboration with Elfin, a local kit car maker.

Dennis Mooney, the new big chief at Holden, had this to say at the show: "In the past we've debuted panel vans, coupes, utesters and performance hatches. Today we take a different course. 2004 is the year of the roadster.

"Today Holden showcases its design flexibility with niche products by teaming up with Elfin - Australia's only true sports car company.

"We have pooled our resources in racing, powertrains, chassis dynamics and design to create vehicles for those who want a fresh definition of Australian roadster performance," Mooney stated.

'Fresh' is one way to define the new roadsters, as is 'maniacally fast', and perhaps 'ludicrously agile'.

Both Holden-powered Elfin models pack the Gen III V8 with 245kW, but before you can say "that's nothin', mate," consider the kerb weights of both the MS8 Streamliner and MS8 Clubman - 950kg and 875kg respectively.

What this means is that the two roadsters weigh almost half that of a Commodore, and have a better power-to-weight ratio than a Porsche 911 GT2 or even a 6.0-litre V12-powered Lamborghini Murcielago.

Elfin intends to call these vehicles the Elfin MS8 Streamliner and MS8 Clubman. They're V8-power and designed is courtesy of Holden – while their sports chassis design and construction is by Elfin.

Aimed squarely at the weekend club racer and historic vehicle enthusiast market, the V8 roadsters will be hand-built to order by Elfin with production expected to begin later this year.

Michael Simcoe, Holden's executive director of design in the Asia Pacific region, said the project highlighted the exhilarating performance potential to be realised by matching Holden's 245kW Gen III V8, six-speed gearbox, limited slip diff, ABS and traction control systems to a lightweight space frame with custom suspension and other specialised racing componentry.

"Given the Elfin power to weight ratio of 3.57kg/kW, (Clubman MS8) we estimate a 0-100 km/h time of about 3.5 seconds. This package of pure power, great chassis dynamics and looks to match is enough to place them right up there in the serious sports car league," Simcoe said.

In addition to the car's 245kW and 465Nm of torque, the Elfin roadsters come equipped with high-performance slotted and ventilated disc brakes, 343mm discs up front matched with Elfin aluminium 6 piston calipers, and 315mm discs with Elfin 4 piston calipers at the rear.

The rack and pinion steering setup offers an adjustable steering column, and a fully adjustable alloy pedal box with brake bias adjustment will please the weekend racers.

In addition to their retro bodywork, the Elfin roadsters are sit on 18-inch alloy wheels, shod with 245/40 tyres.

Bill Hemming, joint managing director of Elfin Sports Cars, said the Streamliner and Clubman MS8 project made the best use of each organisation's strengths.

"This project successfully leveraged Holden's design know-how and resources with Elfin's specialist skill in hand-built racing chassis production," he said. "The synergy between us was amazing. I guess that's what happens when one bunch of car buffs meets another.

"Elfin will take all enquiries and orders from prospective buyers and we'll build the vehicles at our production facility in Murrumbeena (Victoria).

"Elfin owns the intellectual property rights to the vehicles and we will manage all sales, marketing and warranty issues," Mr Hemming added.

A smart, modular-style interior common to both cars provides the necessary basic comforts in minimalist fashion. Exposed interior surfaces are body-coloured throughout, highlighting the naked silver frame and accentuating the cars' open-top nature.

The customary low-backed bucket racing seats, trimmed in black leather, are fitted with four-point racing harnesses. The park brake and grab handle are also leather-trimmed; while the back panel is finished in quilted suede.

The tachometer and speedometer are prominent on the instrument cluster, which includes a programmable shift light. Gauges are silver-faced on the Streamliner, black on the Clubman; both are surrounded by satin silver bezels.

Fuel, oil pressure and water gauges on the centre panel are flanked by heater vents with aircraft-style sliding levers, and the console houses the ignition button and traction control switch, while the gearshift knob is made from machined alloy with an Elfin logo.

Elfin's joint managing director, Nick Kovatch, says once the vehicles have gained Australian Design Rules certification, the company hopes to build up to 100 units annually.

"Both will be fully road registrable - and because each will be hand-built and prepared to suit individual owners' requirements, no two will be the same," he said.

"We anticipate that pricing for Clubman MS8 will start at approximately $85,000 and the Streamliner MS at approximately $105,000. However, as these cars will be hand built to the specific order of each customer, these prices are really only indicative. There is a myriad of possibilities. And of course that will be part of the appeal - each of these cars will be unique," Mr Kovatch concluded.

In reference to the names Clubman and Streamliner, Elfin's 'MS' designation (it stands for Motor Sport) is traditional. The last MS series Elfin sports car was the Chevrolet V8-powered MS7, which won the 1975 and 1976 Australian Tourist Trophy Sports Car Championships.

For information on purchasing one of the Holden-powered Elfin's, email your inquiries here.