Falcon 'EcoLPi' coming August 2011

by **Troutman** » July 21st, 2011, 1:53 pm

First test by Drive

From the Ford Australia web site:
Available in Falcon XT, G6, G6E and XR6.
Developed by Ford Australia, EcoLPi is the most advanced LPG technology available, delivering substantial fuel savings compared with both traditional petrol and LPG engines. Best of all, there is no compromise on engine performance. The EcoLPi engine delivers an astounding 198kW of power at 5000rpm and 409Nm of torque at 3250rpm.

EcoLPi will be available from August, 2011.

A few comments are in order. It's common practise when a new car is released to criticise its predecessor but in this case it is truly justified. The outgoing model was an opportunity missed, to put it nicely. This critical model could have been flying the LPG flag for years, but instead has been slugged with specifications that read like a 15-year-old petrol Falcon: 4 speed EA II auto, 156 kW and 14.9 L/100 km (this is a full 50% worse than the petrol model!). Until 2009 there was no availability of stability control, which petrol models had boasted since around 2006. It didn't even have an FG engine, being carried over from the BF. Frankly, there were too few arguments in favour of buying an E-Gas FG over an EF with a cheap $1000 LPG conversion.

In contrast, the new EcoLPi is potentially the most significant new Australian car in some time, as it gives a genuinely desirable, cheap-to-run alternative fuel option for Australian buyers. The marketing of the car will be critically important, especially in an age where buyers are brainwashed into thinking that litres-per-100-km is the only way to judge running cost or ecological impact (much like saying that speed is the only factor in accidents). If Ford put in the effort here then this model deserves to be a real success.

by **holmsy** » July 21st, 2011, 2:34 pm

as is commonly said about most of the cars.
im told they are easily more powerfull then the petrol versions. but detuned to get in line.

by **nstg8a** » July 21st, 2011, 6:18 pm

im hoping come feb/mar next year i will have saved enough for a decent deposit for a g6e ecolpi. although i may change my mind and go for an xr6 ute. either way, i want one.
plus given the depreciation fords attract there should be some on the 2nd hand market for 2/3rds the price of a new one.

by **falcon4life** » July 21st, 2011, 6:27 pm

Correct me if Im wrong but arent those power figures more than petrol models?

by **nstg8a** » July 21st, 2011, 6:42 pm

falcon4life wrote:Correct me if Im wrong but arent those power figures more than petrol models?

according to the ecolpi thread on aff they are significantly detuned to match the petrol fg's power.

by **falcon4life** » July 21st, 2011, 8:06 pm

how long before its on the turbo models?? haha

by **AaronEF8** » July 21st, 2011, 8:28 pm

The marketing of the car will be critically important, especially in an age where buyers are brainwashed into thinking that litres-per-100-km is the only way to judge running cost or ecological impact (much like saying that speed is the only factor in accidents). If Ford put in the effort here then this model deserves to be a real success.

Couldn't agree more here. I also think they should be pushing total running costs over 3 years a lot harder, because the Falcon/Territory become among the cheapest cars on the market after you've bought 2 sets of tyres and serviced them.

The problem Ford has, is they have the EcoLPi Falcon, the EcoBoost Falcon, all-new Focus, and presumably FGII update happening before the end of the year. Ford suck HARD at marketing one car, let alone 3.

The Focus is a perfect example, it's always been a better car than the Corolla, but Ford were so busy with the BA they totally overlooked the first-gen Focus, even now people don't even know what they are, or look like. Now the Corolla is the biggest selling car in Australia.

The Falcon dropped off the top 10 selling cars a couple months ago

by **holmsy** » July 21st, 2011, 8:49 pm

ford will never do a gas turbo or 8 cause they are fucking retarded.
but apparantly the turbos do go well on the same system.

ill probably get an xr6 on the new gas system in december maby jan.

by **EFFalcon** » July 21st, 2011, 8:55 pm : **falcon4life Likes this post**

an ecolpi g6e would make for a sweet daily

by **klopfy** » July 21st, 2011, 9:33 pm

The new gas falcon made something stupid like around 400kw when it was put on the dyno for the first time but as yous know it was detuned to put out the same power as a petrol. And there is talk about a direct injecton gas turbo.

by **EFFalcon** » July 21st, 2011, 9:36 pm

ummmm...

by **AaronEF8** » July 21st, 2011, 9:38 pm

The new gas falcon made something stupid like around 400kw when it was put on the dyno for the first time

LOL

by **XR_Lightning** » July 21st, 2011, 9:44 pm

klopfy wrote:The new gas falcon made something stupid like around 400kw when it was put on the dyno for the first time but as yous know it was detuned to put out the same power as a petrol. And there is talk about a direct injecton gas turbo.

bahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

your a fucking spaz dude!!!!!! :banghead:

by **klopfy** » July 21st, 2011, 9:48 pm

by **nstg8a** » July 21st, 2011, 9:50 pm

i want whatever hes on....

the only figures ive seen mentioned was 220-230 ish kw before its detuned.

by **klopfy** » July 21st, 2011, 9:53 pm

And where did you hear that?

by **XR_Lightning** » July 21st, 2011, 9:54 pm

klopfy wrote:And where did you hear that?

where did you hear 400kw??

by **AaronEF8** » July 21st, 2011, 9:57 pm

Why?

Because 400kw is lots. I suppose you don't have any proof of this, you were sworn to secrecy etc?

Every Falcon motor is 'de-tuned', I thought that was fairly plain to see when a tune adds at least 10% more power to every engine.

by **klopfy** » July 21st, 2011, 10:00 pm

It was somewere around 400 didnt say was. I can find out tomo if i remember to ask my foreman.and im pretty sure for motor company would not lie to a big fucking ford company.

by **nstg8a** » July 21st, 2011, 10:01 pm

klopfy wrote:And where did you hear that?

my uncles cousins brothers next door neighbour heard it from a guy down the pub.

by **InfernalTyrant** » July 21st, 2011, 10:01 pm

I see a massive increase in boosted Falcons on the used market soon, everybody will want a 400kW beast!

by **XR_Lightning** » July 21st, 2011, 10:04 pm

klopfy wrote:It was somewere around 400 didnt say was. I can find out tomo if i remember to ask my foreman.and im pretty sure for motor company would not lie to a big fucking ford company.

well mate, your not the only one who works for Ford, and im sorry but your full of shit :banghead:

by **klopfy** » July 21st, 2011, 10:04 pm

The new 335 gt was de tunned to the shit house becaue it had bullshit amount of power and every first test drive the were crab walking back to the shed becaus chassies were flexing to the shit house.

by **AaronEF8** » July 21st, 2011, 10:04 pm

It was somewere around 400 didnt say was. I can find out tomo if i remember to ask my foreman.and im pretty sure for motor company would not lie to a big fucking ford company.

Which 'big fucking ford company' is this?

FPV spent $39 million developing the Miami V8s, what a waste. All they needed was a 4.0 on gas.

by **XR_Lightning** » July 21st, 2011, 10:06 pm

klopfy wrote:The new 335 gt was de tunned to the shit house becaue it had bullshit amount of power and every first test drive the were crab walking back to the shed becaus chassies were flexing to the shit house.

thats a 5.0L V8 with a blower dude!

AaronEF8 wrote:

It was somewere around 400 didnt say was. I can find out tomo if i remember to ask my foreman.and im pretty sure for motor company would not lie to a big fucking ford company.

Which 'big fucking ford company' is this?

FPV spent $39 million developing the Miami V8s, what a waste. All they needed was a 4.0 on gas.

Valley Ford by the looks of it

by **AaronEF8** » July 21st, 2011, 10:07 pm : **XR_Lightning Likes this post**

The new 335 gt was de tunned to the shit house becaue it had bullshit amount of power and every first test drive the were crab walking back to the shed becaus chassies were flexing to the shit house.

You're digging a mighty big hole.

KPM (among others) have made over 500kw from them without 'flexing the CHASSIS to the shit house'.

by **klopfy** » July 21st, 2011, 10:08 pm

Valley ford traralgon. Not really. Ok next time im on teck talk to the **** that build the cars ill make sure to tell them they are full of shit.

by **XR_Lightning** » July 21st, 2011, 10:10 pm

klopfy wrote:Valley ford traralgon. Not really.

1st year apprentice im guessing also???

by **XR_Lightning** » July 21st, 2011, 10:11 pm

klopfy wrote:Valley ford traralgon. Not really. Ok next time im on teck talk to the **** that build the cars ill make sure to tell them they are full of shit.

mate, the guys on tech talk do not "build the cars", when was the last time you went to the Ford training centre at Campbellfield??

by **klopfy** » July 21st, 2011, 10:12 pm

**** me dead **** do you really think the would let a car go like that i dont think so. It was reinforced.

by **klopfy** » July 21st, 2011, 10:13 pm

I know the dont build em but know everything.

by **holmsy** » July 21st, 2011, 10:15 pm

but i thought they detuned it so it wouldnt twist.
not reinforce it.

even then there is non reinforced 500kw ba-fg's that arent being twisted.
which are built before this apparent monster car twister was done.

by **XR_Lightning** » July 21st, 2011, 10:15 pm

klopfy wrote:**** me dead **** do you really think the would let a car go like that i dont think so. It was reinforced.

klopfy wrote:I know the dont build em but know everything.

should learn how to spell aswell man, someone mite be able to understand what your saying too...

by **klopfy** » July 21st, 2011, 10:16 pm

I havent been for a while but one of our master techs went to the testing grounds last week.

by **Sunboost** » July 21st, 2011, 10:17 pm : **holmsy Likes this post**

Any more follow up comments to the 400kW post will be deleted. Gone off-topic hard.

I need one of these EcoLPi's farken, my XR6T chews through the juice on my current daily commute to airport and back. FML.

by **holmsy** » July 21st, 2011, 10:19 pm

yeh same reason i probably wont bother getting another turbo.
its not to bad really but cant beat the price of gas especially if it still has decent power.

by **AaronEF8** » July 21st, 2011, 10:19 pm : **XR_Lightning Likes this post**

Can you seperate the posts into another thread then?

by **Sunboost** » July 21st, 2011, 10:43 pm

CBF'd, maybe someone else will. Happy for you to start a new one.

by **Troutman** » July 22nd, 2011, 2:24 am : **vegabass Likes this post**

I think klopfy has confused the EcoLPi with the FPV V8. The 'Boss 302' version of the Coyote V8 produces 331 kW without a supercharger, so 400 kW with is quite realistic. However this has nothing to do with what we are talking about.

Commentary regarding the running costs of the EcoLPi has to be partly weighed against the Falcon's very average resale value. A base model XT with EcoLPi will probably exceed $45,000 with on-road costs included - and as we know it doesn't take too long for that to plunge below $20k in the used car market. This is why the cars often fare poorly in running costs surveys despite the car itself having the benefits of cheap fuel, comparatively cheap parts prices and easy servicing.

With its strong performance and the upmarket ZF auto the Falcon is not necessarily such poor value as a new car proposition, but many people will be tempted by fully-loaded imported cars (Honda Accords et cetera) for similar money.

by **AaronEF8** » August 12th, 2011, 6:06 pm

This car has been reviewed in the latest issue of Motor. Another first that Ford forgot to mention is it's the first Australian built car without a spare tyre. You get an aerosol can of tyre goo instead. The optional spare is basically like chucking an extra wheel in the boot.

An interesting note is that the gas system purges as soon as the remote central locking is activated, and worst-case scenario is it takes 4 seconds to prime.

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