Even for a company that has forged a reputation on bare-bones muscle cars, the swansong Ford Falcon XR8 ticks enough boxes to leave its own indelible mark.

It has a rippling supercharged V8 engine, a tailored launch control function and a host of hot performance parts borrowed from the GT Falcon that was put into retirement earlier this year.

The 335kW XR8 is a genuine muscle car, with an unashamed focus on grunt, and therein lies the problem. The flagship of the new FG X Falcon range doesn't feel like a hero car in the slightest, even though it will likely be a defining vehicle for Ford Australia when it closes its Broadmeadows plant in October 2016.

Like in the legendary muscle cars of old, the interior is plain and uninspiring. There are no creature comforts, no modern safety technologies, such as blind-spot monitoring or park assist. In fact, if it were not for a new black roof lining, some new faux-carbon fibre accents and an updated 8-inch colour display, it could easily be mistaken for the interior of an old Falcon taxi – a $52,490 (plus on-road costs) Falcon taxi.

From the bolstered driver's seat, however, a muscular bulge in the bonnet helps to reinforce why the XR8 sits atop the FG X range. It is a great motor, with an old-school V8 warble and definitive supercharger whine that becomes omnipresent once your right foot is planted to the floor. The engine revs smoothly and quickly to its 6250rpm red line, and works well in unison with the clean-shifting six-speed manual or the intuitive six-speed automatic (a $2200 option).

The plaque on the hand-built Miami V8 says its total output is 335kW, but Ford claims that figure can rise to 385kW during short bursts, courtesy of a transient overboost function. Torque, meanwhile, is rated at 570Nm.

"It's good for a 0-100km/h time in the high fours," says one engineer. "Expect consistent 4.7-second runs."

It's not the most efficient vehicle for the school run. The official fuel rating is 13.6 litres per 100 kilometres combined on manual cars and 13.7L/100km on automatics. If there is some consolation, that figure was matched after 300 kilometres of testing this week.

The engine is a carbon copy of that found in the old GT Falcon, matched with the same exhaust system, underpinnings and driveline. That means stiffer springs front and rear, retuned dampers, a thicker rear sway bar, stiffer bushes and revised front upper-spring mounts.

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The only element that isn't carried over to the XR8 is the R-Spec's 295-section rear tyre, with a 275 making do, along with geometry tweaks to suit.

Even so, the 19-inch alloys – eight inches wide at the front, nine inches at the rear – offer excellent grip during take-offs when paired with the XR8's launch control function.

During performance testing at Winton Raceway, the engine holds its revs at 2000rpm and the vehicle squats in the rear. Upon releasing the brake pedal, the 1861-kilogram beast launches cleanly from the blocks and a cacophony of crackles, snarls and supercharger-enriched whining ensue. Later, the effectiveness of the XR8's stability control is highlighted during a tight motorkhana run, reining in the tail with swift intervention. With the stability turned off and the limited-slip differential doing its part, the XR8 is a bundle of fun on a closed circuit.

The reborn Falcon handles itself confidently through the corners too, with good body control and a predictable turn-in action through sharper bends. Lateral grip is admirable, with just a hint of oversteer when truly pushed.

The steering itself has a lovely, consistent action and provides plenty of feedback through corners. One criticism is that the steering is too responsive to road undulations with the wheel on centre: it bumps and vibrates its way along the road even over subtle imperfections.

The R-Spec suspension feels fidgety at high speed because of its sporty bias. The ride is never crashy, but it doesn't feel as refined as comparable set-ups from Holden and HSV. The XR8 also suffers a fair degree of tyre roar, particularly on coarse-chip sections of road.

Sportiness is present in the XR8's brakes. Four-piston Brembo on the front and single piston brakes on the rear provide excellent stopping power, while also being linear and predictable in their modulation.

Of course, the XR8 functions well as a family sedan. There are decent leg and head proportions for front and rear-seat passengers, with air vents to both sections. However, it's not the most comprehensive package. There are no door pockets in the back pew, and only narrow and shallow spaces up front. The rear seat is also short in height and the moulded headrests cannot be adjusted.

The XR8 Falcon is no silk-purse-out-of-a-sow's-ear miracle, but it is an impressive effort for a car on a seriously hindered budget. Think of it as a GT Falcon without the stripes.

In many ways, the new flagship is the pick of the updated Falcon range and an appropriate symbol of what the Ford badge means to countless Australians.

Ford XR8 Falcon pricing and specifications



Price: from $52,490 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8

Transmission: Six-speed manual/six-speed automatic; RWD

Power: 335kW at 5750rpm

Torque: 570Nm at 2200-5500rpm

Claimed fuel use: 13.6L/100km combined (manual)

Interested in buying Ford Falcon? Visit our Ford showroom for more information.