It will be very interesting indeed to read the initial reviews of the new XR6Turbo.

In addition to a turbo that spools up significantly faster than the current XR6 Turbo, and boost increased from 6psi to 10psi, a much improved intercooler is provided, with significant increases in volume and reduced flow restriction.

But that’s nothing compared to two other features which now have more detail available:

1) Overboost: the T will allow overboost of approximately 10% for a few seconds, likely under high load wide-open-throttle conditions. This, assuming the power figures don’t take this into account, could mean brief peak output much nearer to 300kW.

2) More detail on launch control: when the clutch is engaged and sufficient accelerator depression made to allow the engine to reach the new 3500rpm clutch-in (stationary) limit, after three seconds the turbo will be spooled up using exhaust mixed with air that’s been pumped into the cylinders deactivated as part of the launch control process. When the clutch is released the cylinders are brought back online, and the car is able to take off with the turbo already partially spooled up. This is potentially significantly closer to genuine launch control than the simple 3500rpm clutch-in rev limit that was initially revealed.

Its refreshing to see Ford looking outside the square for ideas that will help give a competitive edge against competitors like the Holden VE-SS, and the more detail that comes to hand, the more it sounds like the new GF XR6Turbo will be a large change - large enough to help stop declining sales of what is a great but until now ageing car.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm and is filed under News, Vehicles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.