Should Ford drop the FALCON nameplate...?

[in_xcess]

A general thread to take the '2016' debate in an alternative direction.

As Ford tragics, is it the FALCON name we're wedded to or the car itself?

We see with the FG that Ford has moved to drop names and embrace the Euro trend of letter/number (we saw it first with the G220 and now have the G series) - one can speculate it's a move to drop the Falcon word from the line up and give model a more prestige image rather than taxi and fleet. If you have an FG you'd have to look hard to find a Falcon badge.

How would you feel if we still had a Ford in the range that was RWD (or AWD), sedan, ute, etc., comes in 6 and 8 cylinders (and even ecoboost 4), came as a GT (this should spark debate) but wasn't called Falcon?

We know the TAURUS nameplate won't sell here (does Ford?) but if it wasn't a Falcon, what would/could/should it be?

Let's face it, it is American originally and Territory has proved new, local nameplates are doable but is it doable for Falcon? Will buyers return to that style of car if it went through a rebrand.

Does it matter, is the Falcon, Commodore, Camry history anyway?

I'm just watching the V8s... Can't see the word FALCON anywhere on cars or in track advertising. I'll watch all day and bet I won't see an TV ad for Falcon!

To sum up, if it came down to it, do we lose the model or lose the name?

[Road_Warrior]

If you're going to pension the car off, pension off the name as well. It's got too much history and too many years behind it to be bastardised by the Yanks shoving their imports down our throats. Plus, the market may react positively to a name change, many associate the brand 'Falcon' with taxis or large, thirsty cars that arent up with the times. It really only means something to, as you say, the Falcon tragics like us.

[Moby Vic]

Ford Fairdinkum.

[csv8]

To sell the Falcon..put a bow tie on it or the Lion..and it will sell!!!!!

[in_xcess]

Originally Posted by csv8

To sell the Falcon..put a bow tie on it or the Lion..and it will sell!!!!!

Ouch...

[Nikked]

Cut the "fal" out (Falcon)...put an "i" in front. (lowercase...lower case I's sell anything)

iCon?

Icon?

Falcon is an Icon....



On a serious note, There ain't a lot that you could change it too.

Torino?

[ivorya]

Yep

To much baggage with the name.

Needs a new name to re-invent itself

[The Monty]

That actually makes a lot of sense. It doesnt seem that Ford itself is a poorly received brand, but the falcon is kind of toxic to it.
Have a similar layout car called something else? Sure. Cant do much worse than it already does.

[Maka]

The Falcon nameplate is that old it should be heritage listed lol! But.... everytime someone say's to me a Falcon is a taxi i say yeah how many Commadee's etc are out there as taxi's? Anyway, what do they use for taxi's in Germany?

Fancy copping a stigma because of positive attributes (reliability,comfort etc) lol! It should be preserved, protected and when (or if) a new car replaces it, i hope Ford still call it a Falcon. FORD- please dont waste money by changing its name.

cheers,Maka

[EB#]

I reckon Ford Aus would be best to simply archive the Falcon name.

It could be brought back in the future, should something appropriate be
available to take the nameplate. Then again, although we have seen a
concept Torana, it has never made it to production has it ?

I highly doubt the Taurus will sell here in Australia if Ford chose to import it,
with or without the name. As far as I understand, the Taurus is larger and
heavier than the already out-of-favour Falcon, so why bother....?

My tip is for Ford to market the Focus and Mondeo for the sedan markets
and then lift their game for the currently popular small and medium SUV
style of cars.

Maybe, when the wheel hath turn full circle, so to speak, the large sedan
may one day come back into style and return to sustainable sales figures
in this country ? Maybe not.... who knows !

[Till_Lind]

Funny thing is I was mighty annoyed when the Fairmont and Futura nameplates died, but nowadays I think this whole G-something naming sounds pretty good.
Ford G series, rip BMW off, hehe.
G series (XT)
G6
G6E
G6E-T
etc. etc.

[Fordman]

Falcon name should stay, after all when you come in in your futura, fairmont, g-series, fpv gt they are all part of the falcon nameplate. I cant lie i'd be very disapointed if they shelved it. Great name too, the fastest animal in the world it's bold and its strong.

Thats from a personal standpoint, and seeing as though many are predicting the end of the falcon the name might as well perish with the model. Because a Ford Falcon should be remembered for being 6-8cyl engines.

[Terror_Tree]

If the Falcon is to be retired, then the name should as well.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Fordman

Because a Ford Falcon should be remembered for being 6-8cyl engines.

And turbo 4s!

[flooded one]

at least the falcon turbo 4 isnt like the commodore 4 cylinder!! I'd love too see the falcon live on. I dont belive taurus will ever replace the falcon as it is bigger and fatter then our falcon. If it does live on it i think will be either shrunk too mondeo sized or it will become a 4 door mustang!! if the falcon name plate is dropped commodore will be next. i cant see the camry name plate being dropped anytime soon

[vztrt]

I don't wanna see a car rebadged as a Falcon. If there is a worldwide car that has the same attributes as the Falcon then I don't see the problem.

[mickbundy]

Worked for the opposition Holden
They got rid of Kingswood ,Premier,Belmont, and the Falcon name is older than these. And Ford even tried to bring back older models in their name such as XR,XT nothing wrong with these models new or old but hey you cant hang onto something forever. They must sadly move with the times

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by mickbundy

Worked for the opposition Holden
They got rid of Kingswood ,Premier,Belmont, and the Falcon name is older than these. And Ford even tried to bring back older models in their name such as XR,XT nothing wrong with these models new or old but hey you cant hang onto something forever. They must sadly move with the times

they did actually go through a bit of bad time after they axed the kingswood thou. but its a completly different situtation now. back then they thought everyone would race out and buy smaller cars. it wasnt the case and falcon was on top throughout most of the 80's. now no one seems too want a large car anymore. the prediction was right just abit early.

[Nic302ef]

doesnt really matter the name plate going on another ford, it was basicaly done in the past all the way up till they relised the ea, which had next to no resembalance or shared little with ford global unlike the privious models..... e.g, xd = like granada, pre xc = american.

as long as its built here, is revamped to suit our conditions (extreme heats, dust etc) and is RWD, name it a falcon.

[JG33]

Originally Posted by in_xcess

Should Ford drop the FALCON nameplate...?

Umm....No

[MethodX]

Galaxie? Torino? Custom? Monterey?

[Wretched]

Have Ford already done it? Not seeing the Falcon nameplate on FG2 cars.

[superfly]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Have Ford already done it? Not seeing the Falcon nameplate on FG2 cars.

Yes, they first disappeared on the FG limited edition models. And haven't been back since!

[Luke Plaizier]

Brand awareness is an expensive exercise. Nissan found that out and brought back the Pulsar name. Even Ford knew that the Taurus was a known brand and brought it back.

If we're going to see a 4 Door Mustang, then if anything, the Falcon name should stay. If we're going to see an imported Taurus, then given the even poorer reputation of that name in Australia, the Falcon name should stay.

if we're going to see the Mondeo/Fusion replace the Falcon, then that name is known, and Falcon can go.

But it would be a real shame to lose one of the longest running nameplates in the world.

Lukeyson

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

Brand awareness is an expensive exercise. Nissan found that out and brought back the Pulsar name. Even Ford knew that the Taurus was a known brand and brought it back.

If we're going to see a 4 Door Mustang, then if anything, the Falcon name should stay. If we're going to see an imported Taurus, then given the even poorer reputation of that name in Australia, the Falcon name should stay.

if we're going to see the Mondeo/Fusion replace the Falcon, then that name is known, and Falcon can go.

But it would be a real shame to lose one of the longest running nameplates in the world.

Lukeyson

Yep...and really, what else would you call a Falcon like car?


I'd rather see the money that would be used on a name-change (market research etc) used towards improving the Falcon image.

[P6LTD351]

Falcon name stays. It's not the name that is the issue.
Listen to what customers want, then adapt to their needs and wants. Slap on a Falcon name and market the s&@t out of it. Problem solved.

[Mr Hardware]

If the base model ain't got THE straight six, it ain't a falcon.

[XRtowcar]

Have been wondering the very thing about Falcon as a name plate.
You do get some ignorant people that say they owned a Falcon in 1975 and would never buy another.
No relevance to an FG.

[Djrystofer]

Mustang seems to be doing well for itself, and it's just a name

Also, the falcon already has letters & numbers with it, Xr6, Xr8 etc.

[jpd80]

The Falcon name will continue after 2016, you can take that to the bank..