What is Barra Engine?
Ford Australia's turbocharged 4.0-litre inline-six, famous for immense strength and a cult following for big-power builds.
The Barra is a 4.0-litre inline-six built by Ford Australia from 2002, fitted to Falcon models. Both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions exist, but it is the turbo Barra that has earned legendary status among enthusiasts for its extraordinary durability.
The turbocharged Barra's strong cast-iron block and robust bottom end allow it to handle huge power with relatively modest modifications. Stock-block builds making well over 1,000 horsepower are well documented, which has driven worldwide demand for the engine despite it never being sold in many markets.
As Falcon production ended, the Barra became a sought-after swap engine, exported and fitted into all manner of cars. Its combination of inline-six smoothness, turbo torque and bulletproof construction has made it one of the most respected performance engines from Australia.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Barra Engine on the blog
GM chief executive Mary Barra told Fortune that EVs are still the "end game" and the company's "north star," even as US demand slows and federal policy pulls back. The target is 40 to 50 percent of sales by 2030, and Barra now frames the shift as taking decades rather than hitting a fixed date.
Every R35 GT-R engine was assembled by a single master builder in a clean room, and signed with a name plaque. The VR38DETT is a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 that went from 480 horsepower to about 600, and it's most of why the GT-R earned the Godzilla name.
The Ferrari 250 GTO is the most valuable car in the world. One changed hands privately for a reported $70 million, and the public auction record sits above $50 million. Only 36 were ever built. But the price is a symptom, not the reason, and the reason is rarer than the car.
A sleeper is a car with serious performance hiding under a completely unremarkable exterior. The classic formula is an economy car, family sedan, wagon, or even a minivan built to embarrass sports cars while looking like it is on its way to a dentist appointment. The whole point is that nothing warns you.