Ford's next Falcon takes shape

[Bobman]

You've got the XD-XF series that went for 9 years as well. It's nothing new.

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by Bobman

You've got the XD-XF series that went for 9 years as well. It's nothing new.

XD rode on XC's platform, so it was probably closer to 12 years old.

Falcon is far from safe, but as it stands today, this 'next' Falcon is RWD.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bobman

You've got the XD-XF series that went for 9 years as well. It's nothing new.

Sigh, XF was pushed two years longer than it should have been becaue Ford wasted almost two years on
Project Capricorn a long skinny version of FWd Telstar intended to replace XF1 in time for 1986 ULP.
That's right, Ford chewed up two years before they realised that it would never sell and by about the
second half of 1983, Ford knew they were for it and would need to do a bridging XFII at the 1986
introduction ULP to get them to 1988. The constraint cause EA to be delivered with some faults....

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Paxton

XD rode on XA-XC's platform, so it was probably closer to 12years old.

Falcon is far from safe, but as it stands today, this 'next' Falcon is RWD.

FoA rejected Granada and only funding for a top hat on XC floor pan was approved.
Magnificent effort considering the money Holden spent on developing the Australian
version of V-Car Commodore. Every decade Holden seemed to spend way more money
but I doubt they got the return Ford did out of their platforms.

XA to XFII was around 16 years - impressive indeed but new car on the smell of an oil rag....

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by jpd80

The reason EA-EL ran so long was that Dearborn was actively trying to get FoA to switch to the Taurus.
So much in fact, that FoA were forced to take 10,000 units in 1996 whether they wanted them or not.
Dearborn was convinced that the Australian market would accept the modern, efficient FWD Taurus.
The 1996-98 EL was a bridge to get FoA to the AU, something that wasn't in the original Dearborn plan.
That's why Steve Park's AU had to be made to look like the rounded Taurus, Had the 1994 clay of the
future AU Falcon not been appealing to Dearborn, the Falcon was dead in 1994 and would end with EFII.

As for AU-BFII, I think you would agree that BF Falcon really struggled after the 2006 VE arrived.
Ford actually delayed FG for almost 12 months over finance and final approval, had the Victorian
state and Federal governments not put in cash, Ford would have just done a light refresh of BF.

Given the way Gorman rode Polites' BA/BF into the ground, I'm skeptical that Ford will do the same with FG.
The perception that you have plenty of time to do things is the greatest illusion in the motor industry.

What could change things is if Head Office decides that E8 is useful and can be evolved into designs
and variants it can use and go forward with in terms of new tech and electronics.
In this instance, the 2014 mustang sharing some engineering with say, FH Falcon would make complete
sense so everything will hinge on what Ford north America does from here....

I wonder what the alternative AU looked like then...

And I thought head office had already decided E8 was useful...

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Sigh, XF was pushed two years longer than it should have been becaue Ford wasted almost two years on
Project Capricorn a long skinny version of FWd Telstar intended to replace XF1 in time for 1986 ULP.
That's right, Ford chewed up two years before they realised that it would never sell and by about the
second half of 1983, Ford knew they were for it and would need to do a bridging XFII at the 1986
introduction ULP to get them to 1988. The constraint cause EA to be delivered with some faults....

Falcon has been dead since XD. Never again will there be an Australian developed Falcon. Never again will Falcon be RWD. Taurus will replace Falcon. The I6 is dead. The Sky is falling.

Ford Australia have been able to survive through sheer luck and determination. Their products have frequently been better than the opposition, yet they have been outsold, out manoeuvred and out produced by them since 1948.

I think for Falcon to survive in the 21st century some things have to change. Firstly, it can not get any bigger. Secondly, the I6 (and I love it, so don't get me wrong) needs to be revised, if not replaced completely, and Ford need a Diesel. Ecoboost can't come quick enough. Lastly, there needs to be more advertising. Yes, Falcon is 50, but where are the ads selling the normal G6ET, the XR6T, the G6? Holden use all of their cars, in eye catching colours in their ads.

And I digress...

Ford are hedging their bets. If Falcon sales do not improve with the new engines, then something drastic will happen. That being said, Ford is still the Falcon motor company. Without the Locally produced vehicles, they will be going blow to blow with Mitsubishi, Honda and Nissan. If Ford can stay in the 3rd or 4th spot, and sell their cars at a profit, then I fail to see a problem. Should the next Falcon receive a green light, expect it to be used world wide. If not the whole platform, definitely the IRS and IFS.

Edit: Roadwarrior: My thinking is that it would have looked like VT. Ford wanted the 3.0 V6 as well.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I wonder what the alternative AU looked like then...

...an ugly version of the Au

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by Nikked

...an ugly version of the Au

That's not logically possible...

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

That's not logically possible...

Trust me it is...

[jpd80]

While this sketch was done by FoA to raise money for charity,
I sure hope it accidentally go popped in with the 2014 Mustang design team's sketches....:rolleyes:

[Bobman]

I remember seeing photos of the EA77 (EF) project and the 'Ford' badge was in the centre of the boot like on BAs. Obviously a last minute change or similar to put it on the beaver panel.

Have seen various sketches of the AU before it was brought out and some of them looked better than the final design.

[Joe5619]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that coupe FG.. I've never seen that pic before now... I want one of them!!

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

I dont agree with that... These cars car be fleet dependent for decedes!!! And at the price point they sell for, will for ever remain fleet dependent.

Profit per unit on a fleet sale is small. Its main benefit is it brings economy of scale.

Private sales bring a much higher profit.

While Ford/Holden are dependent on both, they both need private sales to generate the $$$. If private sales continue to fall as they have, there will probably be no Falcadore by 2016. No point making cars for little/no profit.

If the oil speculators play silly buggers once or twice between now and then, it will spook the market, and then its game over.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I wonder what the alternative AU looked like then...

I've seen pictures of sketches and a scale model of the 98 concept and it looked like a VT Commodore mixed with a 96 Taurus. The Taurus' droopiness was there, but new edge surfacing hadn't been applied yet.