It’s been just over a decade since the last Australian-built Ford Falcon rolled off the production line, but one of its most iconic performance variants is about to enjoy a new surge in demand. That’s because the original BA Falcon XR6 Turbo is approaching its 25th birthday, which means American enthusiasts will soon be able to legally import it under United States vehicle laws.

As reported by American publication CarBuzz, the first examples of the Falcon XR6 Turbo will become eligible to be imported in 2027, which will open the door for American enthusiasts to get their hands on one of Australia’s best performance cars.

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Under US regulations, vehicles that are at least 25 years old can be imported without having to comply with modern federal vehicle safety standards, which allows petrolheads to purchase models never officially sold Stateside, like the Falcon and other hi-po standouts like the Nissan Skyline GT-R, which has become increasingly popular among American collectors.

Introduced in September 2002, the BA Falcon XR6 Turbo represented a significant turning point for Ford Australia as it offered serious performance without the need for a V8 engine. It used a punchy 240kW/450Nm turbocharged version of the iconic Barra inline-six, and there was plenty of tuning potential for owners who wanted more grunt.

Ford continued developing the turbocharged six-cylinder throughout the Falcon’s life, ending with the limited-edition 2016 XR6 Sprint, which produced 325kW and 576Nm, or up to 370kW and 650Nm for up to 10 seconds thanks to an overboost function.

However, Americans hoping to import an XR6 Turbo won’t be able to purchase just any example, as eligibility is determined through the individual vehicle’s manufacture date. That means the earliest examples will become eligible throughout 2027, and later BF and FG generations will follow as they reach the same 25-year milestone.

Demand for the Falcon in the US is not yet known, but the Barra engine is well known among hardcore car nuts due to its amazing tuning potential, which has seen it called the “Aussie 2JZ” after another inline-six mill that has been hugely popular with aftermarket tuners, Toyota’s famous 2JZ-GTE.

The Holden Commodore was officially sold in the US as both the Pontiac G8 (VE) and Chevrolet SS (VF), but the Falcon never was. That could make it relatively unknown to American enthusiasts, or it could make it more appealing to those wanting something different from the usual muscle cars sold there.