Developed by the American company, Falcon Automobile Corporation, the Falcon F7 is a two-seater supercar that made headlines when a prototype was first shown to the public at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. And then, in 2012 the production model was unveiled to the automotive press. Bloomberg TV covered it as such: "The 620-HP Falcon F7 is 2013's Most Coveted Car". The F7 was faster than most American muscle cars and supercars. At the time it came second only to the Chevy Corvette C7. It's impressive how the American automaker managed to conceive and present this production model in less than three years.
Thorough-bred Origins From Detroit
Based in Detroit Michigan, the company was founded in 2009 by Jeff Lemke, an American automotive designer, and engineer. Lemke was pursuing his dream of building his own supercar. The inspiration behind the exterior design of the Falcon F7 came when Jeff Lemke saw a poster of the Ford GT. It was then that he set the blueprint to build the Falcon F7. The goal for Falcon’s engineering team was to create a budget alternative with the aim was to compete with the likes of the Ferrari 458 Spider and the Lamborghini Aventador.
Like most small automotive ventures, the company had to outsource a lot of key components. These came from other American companies. The principal reason behind this was to keep costs low. Developing a powertrain from the ground up was not an option. Neither was a supercar-grade suspension system.
Tailored-Made For Each Owner
With its limited, hand-crafted production, potential buyers can inquire about the F7 on the official website. The buyer can also request specific paint jobs and colors. The body is made of lightweight carbon fiber and Kevlar used extensively throughout the whole car for weight, quality, and durability. The Falcon F7 had 20-inch wheels and tips the scales at a light and manageable 2785 lbs. The monocoque chassis ensure a rigid structure and is something that is essential for a hardcore supercar.
Contrary to what you might think, comfort and style are present in the interior of this beast. his provides a very intimate experience for each buyer as the car is set up to match each client’s needs. This also includes the cockpit configuration that fits the owner comfortably, which is important for an optimum driving position. You have a handcrafted leather interior with billet gauge surroundings, keyless ignition, and Air Conditioning.
Borrowed Powertrain From Another Hot Rod
The engine of the current Falcon F7 was developed in cooperation with Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. Falcon borrowed the engine from the previous Chevrolet Corvette C6. This 7.0 liter V-8 from GM sat behind the seats. Falcon added forced induction to the V-8 with a twin-turbo inter-cooler. It features a dry sump oil system and produces an impressive 1100 horsepower. The six-speed heavy-duty gearbox uses a dual-disc clutch system. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, similar to what you find in the Ford GT, the F7 could reach 60 MPH in 3.3 seconds with a maximum speed of about 190 MPH. Falcon Motorsports claim an estimated 0-60 time in 2.7 seconds along with a top speed of over 200 MPH. Other interesting figures the company claims are a quarter mile time of 10.9 seconds and a lateral acceleration ranging between 1.1 to 1.3 gs.
For the brakes, Falcon Motorsports continued with the benchmark Brembo Carbon/ceramic discs, which feature six-piston calipers to bite into the 15.5-inch discs up front, and four-piston ones on the 15-inch discs at the rear. Braking from 60 to 0 should happen in under 100 feet. To make sure that any performance doesn’t go to waste when delivered to the pavement, the F7 sits on Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. They are set on 20-inch forged wheels.
The high-performance coil-over pushrod suspension system is from Penske. The suspension is tuned to offer reasonable damping on regular streets. It’s a track-worthy car, sure. But it’s mainly set up for practical use on the streets. That is unless that one particular customer wants to be on the racetrack all the time. In this case, Falcon Motorsports will happily oblige and tune it for that purpose. Overall, it's pure American heritage that oozes from this machine. At the end of the day, this truly is a raw American supercar that doesn’t get enough credit. It’s not something you will see casually on the road or even in car shows and meets. Its monocoque, mid-engine, rear-drive configuration provides a unique driving experience.
To Summarize
Now the F7 is an all-American supercar that never really took off and it could be for various reasons. Maybe because of its limited production or perhaps the price wasn’t, cheap after all. Or maybe a newcomer will always have a hard time competing with more established supercar brands. Regardless, the folks at Falcon Motorsports don’t seem to be discouraged though.
The Falcon F7 is still around, and up to date with its current competition. Falcon Automobile Corporation continues to build its brand. They offer a lot of car for the money and a raw American feel to the driver. It is an exclusive supercar. It’s unusual and different, with a limited production that caters to each individual owner with care and attention. Let’s hope they stick around and continue to offer the American supercar experience to those lucky enough to get their hands on a Falcon F7.