FWD Falcon in 2010? Mullaly says maybe.

[Rev28K]

It could be made to work with a bit of effort – use better tyres, a good front LSD and Ford’s new front suspension design that they are throwing under the new 225kW FWD Cosworth Focus. Throw in stiff front sway bars, multiple control arms, stiff chassis, rear wheel steering and some tricky stability control that fiddles with the brakes at each corner to provide entertaining handling and it could have a lot of merit.

With FWD towing would be harder, performance at the drag strip would probably go backwards and no-one would want a huge horsepower aftermarket FWD model. As an everyday driver it could be okay.

The base design for my small FWD car is probably getting on for 12-14 years old. It is moderately entertaining for a daily driver with a neutral to slight oversteer balance and seems to be able to match or come close to a lot of good RWDs. 14 years of engineering improvements since my car was designed and channeled in the right direction should be able to make a large FWD fun to drive.

I’m looking for a cheap tow pig and right now the local RWD offerings are in the mix of cars that I’m looking at. If it was for any other reason (style, handling, lap times, economy, space efficiency, image) I wouldn’t be looking at a Falcon.

If it comes down to a choice between Ford Australia staying in business building (and exporting) a large FWD or potentially going out of business trying to sell a large RWD, I’d rather that they stay in business.

[FPVmaniac]

well i couldnt see why they wouldnt want the change. cost savings will be the top priority and the fwd setup will launch a totally new range of fords in oz.

[JPFS1]

Just media beat up...Of course Mulally is not going to give anything away, he's got to retain any future competitive advantage if possible.

I can tell you now, nothing is confirmed, and GRWD is also being looked at in a very different way, meaning it may not be as Global as initially intended - pretty obvious that under current global economics, that large RWD global platforms aren't exactly the way to go as demonstrated by Zeta.

[Fairlane]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2574B100215D11

Ok well im officially scared Cant see the point of a FWD Falcon not when there is a Mondeo & Toyota has Aurion.

After answering a series of questions about whether future Falcons would be RWD, Mr Mulally remarked: “You guys are obsessed with this front and rear-wheel drive.” Then he added: “The front-wheel drive and all-wheel drives are pretty spectacular and they are going to continue to get better.”

FWD spectacular, yeah right. And damn straight we Aussies are obsessed we've had to fight GM and Ford HQ's since the 80s with every Falcon and Commodore to keep our RWD and stop your US garbage, not to mention every time HQ gets itself involved its a disaster (never forget Project Capricorn and the AU). Sure there are some nice FWD, like the Euro cars, but spectacular... hell no.

“Rear-wheel drive has some unique capabilities, but it will be yet to be determined whether we keep our unique rear-wheel drive or whether the bigger sedans will need to (be) all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive.” Asked whether he had a preference for front or rear-wheel drive, Mr Mulally said: “No thoughts yet, it will be driven by what the customer wants and values and especially the fuel economy and the performance.”

You mean what the dopey US fleet customer wants even if its garbage. US Ford small cars come to mind, absolute garbage compared to Euro Fords

Right now, the Falcon is for Australia. We also have an equivalent of the Falcon in the United States and around the world. Now, this leads us to the Ford plan going forward because clearly the real strategy of Ford is to bring together the intellectual capability, the assets of Ford worldwide. “So part of our plan, we call it One Ford, is to leverage these assets so that over time we will have world-class vehicles in every market segment size including the larger vehicles, so that over time they will become global platforms and then the possibilities are endless because you get the scale up you get the volume up.”

Right and your Taurus/500 is such a marvelous piece of equipment, an FG would run circles around it- Smart move bring Australia down to your level not bring the Taurus & Crown Vic up to FG levels.

if the prospect of a front-wheel drive Falcon was not enough for Australian car enthusiasts, Mr Mulally also indicated that Ford’s powertrain priorities centred on smaller boosted engines – such as those being built under the new EcoBoost program – moreso than V8s. “As you know, there is a lot of opportunity to improve (the) internal combustion engine, especially with turbocharging and especially with direct fuel-injection, so I think we are going to continue to see V8s move to V6s, to V4s,” he said.

No V8 makes it lot easier to go FWD doesnt it.

[Langas351]

AWD would be bloody awesome....

Mmm, twin turbo duratec engine with an awd driveline......sounds good to me!

Not a fan of fwd though...

[JPFS1]

Originally Posted by 1800R

AWD would be bloody awesome....

Mmm, twin turbo duratec engine with an awd driveline......sounds good to me!

Yes I like the idea too...

And with the new all new platform falling inline with Ford's timeline for introducing advanced weight saving technologies... could well be worthwhile. ;)

[want-a-XY]

aren't Ford Mo Co looking at the next gen falcon and mustang having the same rwd platform?

[GS608]

that what i thought too XY, they won't be dumping the Stang anytime soon, so theres always going to be a need for a RWD platform, Falcon won't lose their heritage anytime soon

[want-a-XY]

i will never buy a FWD Falcon. to me the falcon should stay with it's herritage: inline 6 cylinder RWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[f6_typhoon]

wont happen, ford would be stupid to kill the RWD platform especially because theres just a need for it. sure condense the models to the one platform that makes sence, plus itd bring the mustang forward about 40 years. thats the logical thing to do.

[Nikked]

Meh, this sounds like more overhyped doomsday media speculation...During the Au development FWD was looked at. It wont happen, ford have the FWD mondeo and they will have the RWD falcon.

[Green X]

Originally Posted by Johndec

Just did a bit of research.. From our friends at Ford USA... May I present to you the 2007 model Crown Victoria, their latest and greatest large RWD sedan. Get the vomit bags ready!!!!!!

Enter what is wrong with Ford U.S, are they for real!!

No wonder when any XR-FPV Falcon gets shown on a U.S form they love em cause there only Local Ford option in Large 4 Door sedan is that POS, It may say 2007 but it cries 1990 and Kill me now!!

[devilcv8]

If it happens, it will be the biggest mistake ford have made since dropping the V8 back in 82

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by Green X

Enter what is wrong with Ford U.S, are they for real!!

No wonder when any XR-FPV Falcon gets shown on a U.S form they love em cause there only Local Ford option in Large 4 Door sedan is that POS, It may say 2007 but it cries 1990 and Kill me now!!

As I said earlier on this thread, the current Crown Vic has not been updated since 1998 and in North America it is only for fleet sales only. Probably because as it's design aged, it lost all of it's private buyers.

[TUF_302]

If they ever make a FWD Falcon i will never buy anything newer than an FG!, unless its got a strait six and is RWD its not a Falcon!

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by devilcv8

If it happens, it will be the biggest mistake ford have made since dropping the V8 back in 82

Biggest mistake is dropping the I6. This would be the next biggest mistake and eventual downfall of the Falcon nameplate IMHO.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by Laser '81

As I said earlier on this thread, the current Crown Vic has not been updated since 1998 and in North America it is only for fleet sales only. Probably because as it's design aged, it lost all of it's private buyers.

http://www.lincoln.com/towncar/models.asp

Nope, still on sale to the public in some form.

[XR Martin]

Theres no replacement for the 5.4 in the works, so you can be sure a V8 in Falcon's future is uncertain.
V6 replacement is designed for FWD applications.

I think its a given that the Falcon would be a contender for becoming FWD/AWD.

Base models would be FWD, with the higher spec models being AWD with turbo option.
Probably something of similar spec to the Audi A6 Range.

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

http://www.lincoln.com/towncar/models.asp

Nope, still on sale to the public in some form.

Oh yes of course! The Lincoln Town Car and the Mercury Grand Marquis. :

[GTP290]

Imagine if they kept the straight six and developed it to run lpg with a turbo and cylinder deactivation technology,with AWD. what a great car that would be.

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Originally Posted by XR_Strider_GuY

I say for the future make a dual plateform with Falcon to stay rear wheel drive and to sell only performance premium end, maybe XR models/FPV's and raise the price and make it a premium product instead of a jumped up base model. Rival the Falcon to be a target to the 300C.

I hear what your saying man but I doubt its going to catch on or be workable. Why would people pay 60k plus (300C Price) for an XR6T or XR8 Falcon when atm they dont sell enough of them at mid 40's?

[Elks]

Originally Posted by S3SR

all this is, is media speculation more than likely to see the consumers thoughts about doing so..

how many falcons a year do we buy? 1? 1 every 5?

Our home between the wife and I, has been there for 7 new fords in 8 years.


AU Fairmont
AUTS50
BA Falcon
BAII Falcon
BA V8 Ute
BF Falcon
07 Territory (SY?)

Oh and an AU Forte Company car

Their will NOT be a front wheel drive falcon in our driveway.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Theres no replacement for the 5.4 in the works, so you can be sure a V8 in Falcon's future is uncertain.
V6 replacement is designed for FWD applications.

I think its a given that the Falcon would be a contender for becoming FWD/AWD.

Base models would be FWD, with the higher spec models being AWD with turbo option.
Probably something of similar spec to the Audi A6 Range.

The replacement for the 5.4 will be the new 5.0. Its an upgraded 4.6 Modular and will be a good replacement for the 5.4.

V6 is RWD compatible and will be fitted to the F150 next year.

I agree that the Falcon may have FWD for the base V6's and AWD for the Turbos and V8's, but FWD wold be a total fuggen joke. I wouldn't p55 on a FWD Falcon, but then again a FWD Falcon isn't a Falcon at all, it would be a rebadged 500/Taurus abomination to all the history of the Falcon nameplate.


Apparently Ford already have the advertising slogan for the FWD Falcon sorted, its going to be this.

FWD Falcon, a new direction (cause you've torquesteered off the road into a tree).

[Johndec]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The replacement for the 5.4 will be the new 5.0. Its an upgraded 4.6 Modular and will be a good replacement for the 5.4.

Hey Bossxr8. Got any links to point us towards the specs of the the 5.0? If it's another evolution of the modular motor, what makes it Euro 4? (or are we up to 5 in 2010) compatible? Alloy block? Any power and torque numbers available?

And what happened to the "Hurricane" 6.2L donk?

[Jayden]

this would make an interesting poll:

FWD:
yes - 0
no - 6'000'000

will they do it anyway?, probably.

[bathurst77]

Falcon goes FWD and V6. Great for taxi and fleet and most buyers, who really couldnt care. A good 21st century FWD doesnt torquesteer much more then a good RWD axletramps, ask anyone who has a Focus or Mondeo turbo.
(I just swapped from Falcon to Mondeo, I didnt give a moments thought as to which wheels were working.)

But FPV goes AWD turbo/v8 - Everyone wins! :
You want HiPo or towing ability you get AWD FPV.
If they are using a global mustang etc platform, the cost of developing AWD version could be borne/shared by USA etc.

Mind you, squeeze a V6 into a Mondeo, bring in the wagon and make a AWD XR version, and you start to wonder if a Falcon is needed? Build them here...

[irlewy86]

You push a wheelbarrow
You push a ute

You pull your ****
You pull a Toyota

Make sense

[FORD5]

Why are you all worryed its just the "Media" for christ sake you don't listen to them.

BUNCH OF FREAKS ford falcon RWD isnt going anyway, i cant wait to seee this 3.5 v6

But the 4.0 I6 is the best.

[Bucknaked]

If it means survival of the brand depends on going FWD, I see no problem in that. It's not the end of the world. Nothing has been decided yet, so remove you hands from the panic buttons. Life will still go on regardless of FWD, RWD or AWD.

[sleekism]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The replacement for the 5.4 will be the new 5.0. Its an upgraded 4.6 Modular and will be a good replacement for the 5.4.

V6 is RWD compatible and will be fitted to the F150 next year.

I agree that the Falcon may have FWD for the base V6's and AWD for the Turbos and V8's, but FWD wold be a total fuggen joke. I wouldn't p55 on a FWD Falcon, but then again a FWD Falcon isn't a Falcon at all, it would be a rebadged 500/Taurus abomination to all the history of the Falcon nameplate.


Apparently Ford already have the advertising slogan for the FWD Falcon sorted, its going to be this.

FWD Falcon, a new direction (cause you've torquesteered off the road into a tree).

There still might be a V8 Falcon if it goes FWD.

Remember Ford built a Taurus with a 3.4L 175kw V8 and you can option the FWD Chevy Impala with a 225kw 5.4L Gen4 V8