IF COMPETITION improves the breed, as they say, there is no better example than Ford's facelifted 2003 Falcon. More like an all-new car, the BA Falcon is Ford's long-awaited response to five years of being comprehensively outsold by its opposite number at Holden. And it's a product that speaks convincingly for itself - particularly in entry level XT specification, which was subjected to more attention than other models to lift its image. Underneath the clean, conservative but more masculine front and rear-end styling, a twin-cam version of Ford's trusty sixpack makes Falcon easily the most powerful in class, and a manual shift function for BTR's excellent four-speed auto extracts the most from it. A classy new rear suspension delivers a prestige ride and improves handling dynamics, there are impressive reductions in noise, vibration and harshness, plus a prestigious new interior, more equipment and improved steering and brakes. Raising the bar for homegrown large cars considerably, XT is easily the best base Falcon ever.