FORD’S BFII facelift was designed to keep the ageing, 2002 BA Falcon-based series – itself a thorough redevelopment of the failed 1998 AU model – fresh in the face of the all-new Holden VE Commodore and Toyota Aurion assault.
The big news is the standardisation of the ZF six-speed automatic gearbox across the XR range – XR6, XR6 Turbo and XR8.
Strangely, Ford retained the BA-era XR snout for the BFII, while the rest of the range received the sleeker new nose.
Visual tweaks include a new front bumper, while minor trim and equipment adjustments were implemented inside.
Engine power and torque figures remain the same in the BFII XR.
Ford’s also introduced improved transmission thermal management – faster warm-up and reduced friction losses that allow the six to reach optimum efficiency earlier, which Ford says, improves fuel consumption during cold starts and on short trips.
