Ford throws Falcon a RWD lifeline

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Unfortunately some people seem to be confused between the concepts of the Falcon continuing as a (uniquely) Australian car, and that of a car badged as a Falcon being assembled in Australia.

You see, that's what Ford bosses are hinting at; a global rear drive designed here in Australia - built here and overseas. And it will still have a "Falcon look" but also borrow from Ford Europe's design language. If anyone hadn't noticed, FG is exactly that already - a "Falcon" appearance with some design cues from Ford of Europe.

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Nobody doubts that Ford will continue to sell a car badged as the Falcon.

As above; it'll be much more than a Falcon badge on another body designed elsewhere. In can't be a Lincoln body, as that is Lincoln's specific brief going forward: It MUST look different, with it's own top-hat, unique in appearance to anything that it shares a platform with.

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Whilst the volume apparently no longer warrants it’s own development, it can probably justify ongoing local assembly.

Refer to what's posted above: The amount of cash that will be thrown at Ford Au to design the GRWD will put the Falcon in line with the best in the world. No more shoe string budgets.

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

In some ways, I would like to see imported RWD Falcons based on an updated Mustang platform (similar to the DEW98) perhaps even with a Coupe version.
However local assembly IMHO points towards the D3 Platform, shared between the Falcon/Taurus, and the Territory/Explorer.

Mustang will be getting smaller than it is. It will have it's own little platform that makes it, like the F150, exempt from the "One Ford" policy however it (Mustang's platform) is also said to be the basis of a Lincoln coupe, maybe a t-bird. And since Lincoln is going global we might just happen to get that Lincoln coupe here.