CarsGuide article: Falcon confirmed to continue

[Road_Warrior]

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/new...ed_to_continue

he longest running nameplate in Australian automotive history is safe — for now.

Ford Australia chief, Marin Burela, fresh from the Detroit motor show, says the Falcon will remain a part of the local scene despite speculation that it was facing the end of the road as Ford moves to a global strategy.

Ford has confirmed that the next-generation Falcon has a role in the "One Ford" global structure and could share its underbody architecture with other cars like the rear-drive Mustang. Arriving back in Australia early this week Burela attacked speculation that the Falcon was dead in the water.

"It was completely unwarranted," he says. "We have been very vocal about our `One Ford' policy and the great things it has done for Australia to date. There was nothing new that was said in Detroit that deserved the attention, particularly the negative attention that it received." Burela says Ford Australia continues to take a lead role in engineering and design in the region and this will not change.

The Broadmeadows team are in the final development phase of a global medium pickup, called the T6, which will be sold in more than 100 countries. "We're the engineering and design and development for that here in Australia and for the Figo hatch," he says. "Our position on Falcon and the future it has in Australia really hasn't changed at all."

Burela says reports that the company will drop its four and five-speed gearboxes — and move to a six-speed automatic only — are premature. "Sometimes I think that people read too much into things that are taking place around us," he says. "We have had nothing but great feedback about the four-speed and five-speed. We have no immediate change in mind right now."

However, the four-speed could be phased out towards the end of the year when the Falcon gets a high-tech liquid-injection LPG system for its six-cylinder. Burela says like all carmakers, Ford Australia would continue to make "any tweaks or changes to our lineup that are necessary".

"You continue to evolve your lineup to deliver the best possible combination of driving and finesse," he says. After the car industry's global battering last year, Burela is optimistic about 2010. "Coming off 2009 it gives us confidence," he says.

He says the Federal Government's stimulus package was timely "just as the global financial crisis was shaking confidence". For 2010, the Ford executive sees the local market quiet in the first quarter but then pick up for the rest of the year.

"Our view is that the industry will be as strong, if not stronger," he says. It will be a busy year for the blue oval brand with Falcon and Ford Performance Vehicle products getting mechanical and engine updates.

Falcon prototype mules are up and running with the new Ecoboost four-cylinder engine and Territory turbo-diesel, both of which arrive next year to compete against newer rivals. Ford has used the Falcon nameplate on its large car since 1960.

This stuff should have been said a week ago.

[Chilliman]

PR and media spin is the last part of the puzle that Ford Aus. need to put together - the car building side of the business is better than ever

[auxr]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/new...ed_to_continue



This stuff should have been said a week ago.

Totally agree - but at least now something has been put out there to quell the negativety and speculation that has been propagating at such an alarming rate.

[Chopped]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

......
This stuff should have been said a week ago.

Correct, why wasn't it and why were they talking about FWD & AWD last week ?
(would have saved going into damage control.)
strange

[Black GT-E]

Amen to that. I wonder if he means the next Falcon will share it's architecture with the Mustang et al. or the Mustang will share it's architecture with the Falcon. IMHO, the current Mustang could defintely benefit from the FG's architecture.

[Luke Plaizier]

Well, if this guy goes on the offensive regarding the future of the Falcon, I'll be pretty impressed.


Lukeyson

[sd1800]

So just as the major television networks spent 2-3 minutes on prime-time news to how many millions of people saying that the Falcon is dead and is going to be a fwd taurus(or to that effect), are they now going to spend as much time celebrating the retention of Australian jobs and engineering?

I think not. :

[Brazen]

All it is saying is that the Falcon has been confirmed that it will be part of 'One Ford', the journalist makes an assumption that it COULD be paired with the Mustang.

Read the quotes specifically in the article, its nothing we have not already known.

Im just curious to know what the future holds for the Falcon, Im sure whether Mustang or Taurus based it will be a great car.

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by Brazen

All it is saying is that the Falcon has been confirmed that it will be part of 'One Ford', the journalist makes an assumption that it COULD be paired with the Mustang.

Read the quotes specifically in the article, its nothing we have not already known.

Im just curious to know what the future holds for the Falcon, Im sure whether Mustang or Taurus based it will be a great car.

I agree, he's really added nothing. It's not like he said the next Falcon would be RWD or production would stay in Australia.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Boss315

I agree, he's really added nothing. It's not like he said the next Falcon would be RWD or production would stay in Australia.

Re-reading the article he says:

"Our position on Falcon and the future it has in Australia really hasn't changed at all."

Could this mean continuing with RWD and production in Australia, or am I taking a too big of a leap with his comment?

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Re-reading the article he says:

"Our position on Falcon and the future it has in Australia really hasn't changed at all."

Could this mean continuing with RWD and production in Australia, or am I taking a too big of a leap with his comment?

I think "our position" was "a decision won't be made until 2011" so I wouldn't be letting off any firecrackers yet.

[jamesson1980]

..just when I thought the storm had destroyed the inside of the teacup, it flares up once again.

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Re-reading the article he says:

"Our position on Falcon and the future it has in Australia really hasn't changed at all."

Could this mean continuing with RWD and production in Australia, or am I taking a too big of a leap with his comment?

+1 thats what it say's, the other clue is they also said that no decision would be made for another 12 months, in one mag.

[Nikked]

what does Jez think of this?

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by Nikked

what does Jez think of this?

I assume the "Another nail in Falcons coffin" article shall be retracted and replaced by the "Falcon Phoenix rises from the flames" article.....
I shall not hold my breath.

[Cheese3]

Falcon coupe revived? :P

[rodderz]

There was talk a few weeks back that a few aussie journo's were invited and paid for, to go to the Detroit Motor show at Ford's expense. When Mullaly mentioned about the "One Ford" and global platform a certain journo did the runner and left early to write an article that seemed to indicate that Falcon was dead and then his employer ran with the story.

[TUF_302]

This is the news we wanted, well sort, at least we no the Falcon nameplate is staying for now, just would be nice to no it will stay RWD, as i've said many times before, if its FWD its not a Falcon!

[g220ba]

Originally Posted by rodderz

There was talk a few weeks back that a few aussie journo's were invited and paid for, to go to the Detroit Motor show at Ford's expense. When Mullaly mentioned about the "One Ford" and global platform a certain journo did the runner and left early to write an article that seemed to indicate that Falcon was dead and then his employer ran with the story.

Somehow i don't think they'll be getting an invite next year.

[jpd80]

Be prepared for another Drive article like, "Falcon safe for now, in peril beyond 2015..."

The guy won't take yes for an answer......

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by 84ltd

Somehow i don't think they'll be getting an invite next year.

Yes, ironically it was those at Detroit that were guests of GMHolden which ran the positive Falcon / Mustang to be twinned story. The guests (can't call them journalists...) were there for Ford.

Sometimes, the old saying applies. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. They might just get an invite, but with strings attached. ie pull your head in.