Ford has increased the appeal of Australia's favourite Ute with the addition of new manual transmissions in its XR6 Turbo and XR8 performance versions.

"The BA Falcon Ute has rewritten the record books since its 2002 launch. The new Falcon Ute MkII has the ingredients to build on that success," said Ford Australia Ute Brand Marketing Manager Damon Paull.

"The BA Falcon redefined the way people looked at Utes, particularly the XR6 Turbo and XR8 versions, which quickly entrenched themselves as the ultimate vehicle for people wanting a combination of weekday workhorse and weekend playmate."

The addition of a new Tremec T56 six-speed manual transmission adds another chapter to the Ford Falcon Ute history book.

"The T56 is the answer to those customers who wanted a six-speed transmission that offered real benefits in terms of driving performance, with user-friendly ratios chosen to match each engine's torque characteristics.

The final drive ratio in the XR6 Turbo has changed from 3.46:1 to 3.73:1, while the XR8 ute now also gets the same final drive as the sedans, shifting from the 3.23:1 to the 3.46:1.

These changes were designed to use the six-speed gearbox to its maximum advantage.

Paull said the engineers had provided a gearbox with a sixth gear that was useable at legal highway cruising speeds and a fifth gear that was tractable around town at 60km/h.

"We think customers will be very happy with the shift quality of the new T56," said Paull.

Adding double synchros on all forward gears and linear bearings on the shift rail has maintained gear shift quality. In addition, engineers have incorporated direct shifters for a more precise action.

Ford Performance Vehicles Planning Manager Gordon Barfield said a number of changes were made to the standard T56 transmission, including:

• New clutch housings for each of the I6 and V8 applications
• New extension housings for each of the I6 and V8 applications
• New input and output shafts of the gearbox to suit the two applications
• Installed driveline angle increased by 0.5 degrees to facilitate installation of this gearbox under the Falcon floorpan
• New flywheel for XR6 Turbo
• New cross member and mount
• Revised clutch slave cylinder installation
• Revised final drive ratio for I6 variants
• New reverse gear interlock system including wiring
• New PCM

Paull said the Falcon Ute MkII update built on the inherent strengths of the BA program.

"Falcon Ute MkII represents a further development of the BA with the changes driven by customer demand for extra features."

Creature comforts such as automatic headlamps and a second remote key fob are now standard throughout the range.

Model by model

BA MkII XL Ute

• Automatic headlamps on/off
• Second remote key fob
• Variable speed intermittent windscreen wipers
• Unique MkII badging
• New paint colour: Shockwave

BA RTV Ute MkII

• Automatic headlamps on/off
• Second remote key fob
• Variable speed intermittent windscreen wipers
• Unique MkII badging
• New paint colour: Shockwave

BA XLS Ute MkII

• Automatic headlamps on/off
• Second remote key fob
• New side skirts
• New body coloured body side protection moulding
• One tonne suspension on chassis cab
• Unique MkII badging
• New paint colour: Shockwave

BA XR6 Ute MkII

• New design 17" alloy wheels
• Alloy pedal covers
• Auto headlamps on/off
• Second remote key fob
• New paint colours: Blaze, Rapid, Velocity and Shockwave
• Unique MkII badging

BA XR6 Turbo Ute MkII

• New design 17" alloy wheels
• Alloy pedal covers
• Auto headlamps on/off
• Second remote key fob
• New six-speed manual transmission with short throw direct acting shift mechanism
• Syncromesh on reverse gear
• New gear shift knob with revised technical graphics
• New paint colours: Blaze, Rapid, Velocity and Shockwave
• Unique MkII badging

BA XR8 Ute MkII

• New design 17" alloy wheels
• Alloy pedal covers
• Auto headlamps on/off
• Second remote key fob
• New six-speed manual transmission with short throw direct acting shift mechanism
• Syncromesh on reverse gear
• New gear shift knob with revised technical graphics
• New paint colours: Blaze, Rapid, Velocity and Shockwave
• Unique MkII badging

The highly acclaimed Falcon palette is enhanced even further by the MkII update, with the addition of four exciting new colours.

Shockwave is inspired by the BA Falcon's success on the track, adding a wave of uninhibited excitement to the athletic exterior of the Falcon, while Blaze, which will become available in December, is a rich metallic gold that is bold and daring.

Velocity is a youthful blue epitomising stand-out performance and enhances the sporting nature of the XR range while Rapid is a searing hot yellow, not for the faint hearted.