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Buyers of V8-powered Falcons will get an FPV 'heart' when the new generation FG range hits the streets some time after April.

With the arrival of the FG range, gone is the 'for Falcon' lower compression 5.4-litre engine, replaced instead by a 10.5:1 compression ratio V8 that will be hand-assembled and blueprinted by Ford Performance Vehicles' engine builders.

The new Boss 290 engine replaces the Boss 260 in Ford's new sport-performance XR range. It features 'Cobra R' alloy cylinder-heads, domed high-comp pistons, a forged crankshaft and uprated conrods as well as high-lift cams and an Australian-manufactured tuned-length inlet manifold.

A new high-flow airbox and 75mm throttle body reduce inlet flow restrictions and stainless steel headers take care of the other end of the process.

But there's bigger news in the exhaust area, and it's a story about SAM -- the first Semi Active Muffler fitted to an Australian vehicle.

Essentially SAM is a muffler bypass valve that is operated by exhaust gas pressure. At low rpm, the spring loaded valve remains closed and the exhaust gasses pass through a series of baffles in the intermediate muffler. As exhaust gas pressure rises (around 2800rpm), the valve is opened offering an alternate path through the muffler.

According to Ford: "As a result the SAM provides a quiet internal cabin environment at idle and low engine speeds, while allowing a full, throaty V8 sound quality to be appreciated at higher engine speeds."

SAM valves have been used by Jaguar, and one-time Ford affiliate Aston Martin, on models like the XK8 and V8 Vantage sportscars.

Thanks to the freer breathing exhaust, the Boss 290 produces its peak power and torque 250 revs higher than its outgoing FPV equivalent (that's expected to top the 310kW mark when details are released in May). The XR8's Boss 290's peak power is at 5750rpm with peak torque of 520Nm at 4750rpm.

Both the V8 and I6 Turbo models benefit from a clutch upgrade in their FG Falcon configurations. Previously the turbocharged six was equipped with a 267mm clutch while the V8 used a 280mm unit -- both single plate. In the FG the clutch is a 290mm diameter single plate in both installations.

Automatic transmission V8 models feature a cylinder cutout function (a la I6 Turbo) to help speed up and smooth gearshifts under high loads.

Check out our detailed coverage of the new Falcon engine variants via the links below

4.0-litre I6 engine - more here
4.0-litre I6 Turbo - more here
Boss 290 - more here
4.0-litre I6 E-Gas - more here
New transmissions - more here

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