BF mKIII - Yup, Series 3

[LeadFoot81]

Fords model cycles have always been 18 months approx. Whereas from VT onwards, Holden release a 'new' model every 12 months.
Get ready for value packs ahoy in the last quarter of 07!

[It'sTheVibe]

Originally Posted by puts99

3) We have not seen a single Orion sketch or mule, let alone a spy shot.

We???
A few months ago I went to a marketing feedback session where they showed exterior pictures of the next generation Falcon.

[Bucket]

Originally Posted by It'sTheVibe

We???
A few months ago I went to a marketing feedback session where they showed exterior pictures of the next generation Falcon.

And your impressions?

[XR8putts]

Originally Posted by It'sTheVibe

We???
A few months ago I went to a marketing feedback session where they showed exterior pictures of the next generation Falcon.

And thats what, 0.005% of the population?

That like saying the designers have seen the Orion!

I know these workshops have happend, I know that there would be a million clay models and some metal Orion models at Ford HQ under heavy sercurity. What I am saying is that average joe has not seen anytrhing yet, apart from the lucky few chosen for the said workshops.

[Charliewool]

18 months seems to indicate a Melbourne Motor show release, rather than Sydney.
Possibly the unveiling at the Melb GP?

[Genghis]

I think it's feasable that a MkIII could be released if the Orion is delayed for whatever reason.

As already mentioned here, 18 months is fairly standard for a model run so the BFII could be stretched a couple of months to take up the slack before release of the new model.

It's all conjecture and speculation though, isn't it?

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by puts99

5) The last all new Commodore was 8 phases: VT, VT2, VX, VX2, VY, VY2, VZ and VZ2. Including the latest BF2 we are only at 7 phases: AU, AU2, AU3, BA, BA2, BF, and BF2. To square up to Commodore and follow a logical trend, there would have to be a BF3.

The VT came out in '97. The AU came out in '98. VE arrived recently and the Orion is due 2008 or about 18 months. The model life is similar to Commodore.

[ADSXR8]

Originally Posted by puts99

5) The last all new Commodore was 8 phases: VT, VT2, VX, VX2, VY, VY2, VZ and VZ2. Including the latest BF2 we are only at 7 phases: AU, AU2, AU3, BA, BA2, BF, and BF2. To square up to Commodore and follow a logical trend, there would have to be a BF3.

Firstly there was no VZSeries 2. They did Euro III motor change come Jan06, but the cars where never offically labelled Series 2.

And just because Holden does, doesn't mean Ford will. Every time Holden updated, for example there SS, there where power increase. 185kw, 220, 225, 235, 240, 250, 260 and now 270. In the last four years, the equalvent XR8 has got 260. This assists the Ford resale and indicates the BA still is a benchmark. If there where fundamental problems, I would agree a BF3 is on the cards, but I dont believe so.

[Professor Farnsworth]

this thread is getting old very quickly.

[ADSXR8]

Originally Posted by fantz

this thread is getting old very quickly.

Umm, I have seen far worse asked, and comments such as : don't help

[jetpilot_xr6]

Im thinking maybe ford should go with a different name or stick with what they've got being that it will be ford orion along side the toyota aurion :

[MeestaNob!]

Orion is just a code name like Barra for the current series.

Thats not to say the XT might not be renamed though...

[Boss 290]

they wouldnt bring out a series 3 they wont have much to change to justify that...they will probably have special editions to get rid of the existing numbers left

[HSE2]

Originally Posted by CDAA

No series 3 IMO, but running updates (some sagnificant) during the model cycle.

Ford has hinted at this. As an example they haven't ruled out introducing more turbo variants but seem to have fallen short of a complete model cycle.

[JPFS1]

I think we can expect another udpate, whether its marketed as new model or by a MKIII suffix, who knows, but i do know that they are wanting to implement as much development into the BF platform so that they become carry over items into Orion, all for budget reasons. Orion had to be seen as being less resource ($$) hungry than the previous platform, otherwise the green light from headoffce may never had been lit, and that only happened last week!!!

Things like DSC and suspension changes in the FPV lineup are on the cards (i expect), along with some pretty innovative exhaust developments (these could be left for Orion).

[It'sTheVibe]

Originally Posted by Bucket

And your impressions?

It was much earlier this year and my memory is fading so I'll rehash some comments I made in another thread.

The front end looked like a blend of the current XR and the current Liberty, with the fog lights set much higher in the bumper. The side profile had suggestions of the current Accord Euro with a very straight edge to the rear doors, but more slab sided than the BA/BF.
The tail lights were similar in overall look, but the lower edge curved down and flowed into the lower lip of the boot lid... very nice.

Overall, not as big a jump visually compared to VZ - VE.

[falconlover]

Jem how do you know so much about the orion falcon?

[uranium_death]

There will not be a BFIII.

It would cost Ford too much to release a new series, and they won't get much back for it due to the Orion arriving not long afterwards.

Ford will bear with with BFII until the Orion arrives.

[Boss 290]

yeah jem, how do you know so much about orion falcon?

[Morpheus]

I've worked it out...
He IS the orion!

Shock Horror!

[JPFS1]

I dont claim to know alot, i know a little. ;)

[falconlover]

Where did you get your info from?

[AUIII XR8 MAN]

Originally Posted by puts99

1) The BF2 has new headlights, bonnet and front bumper. This is a series 2 update. They didn’t even do anything this drastic with BA to BF. Infact neither Ford nor Holden have never updated a car like this for a series 2 update in recent history.

What about from AU1 to AU2. There were alot more changes in that model upgrade.

[BLDNUT01]

well i havent heard anything on a mk3 yet inside but i do know they are trialing assembly through body shop to get the robots ready to do all the spot welding ready so around easter should see something come down the line

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by falconlover

Jem how do you know so much about the orion falcon?

He reads over Tom Gorman's shoulder while washing his office windows!

Personally I think Ford have got their timing of model releases out of whack - they have the BF with good mechanical upgrades and almost no cosmetic changes, then BF2 with cosmetic changes and not much mechanical difference. Not to mention the paint colour changes that come and go seemingly at random!

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by BLDNUT01

well i havent heard anything on a mk3 yet inside but i do know they are trialing assembly through body shop to get the robots ready to do all the spot welding ready so around easter should see something come down the line

Bit earlier than that.

[JPFS1]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

He reads over Tom Gorman's shoulder while washing his office windows!

I didn't think anybody would actually work it out.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

He reads over Tom Gorman's shoulder while washing his office windows!

Personally I think Ford have got their timing of model releases out of whack - they have the BF with good mechanical upgrades and almost no cosmetic changes, then BF2 with cosmetic changes and not much mechanical difference. Not to mention the paint colour changes that come and go seemingly at random!

The timing is out of whack because of the Territory. Time spent on releasing that pushed the Orion project back. If Territory wasn't released it might have already been on sale.

[XR8putts]

Wouldn't the all new Terri be due a year after Orion?

Havn't heard a codename for that.. will there be one? Ford are onto a winner with the Terri, expect even more parts to carry for Orion to all new Terri, cost saving at its best, but still very, very tasteful.

[janddbone]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

He reads over Tom Gorman's shoulder while washing his office windows!

Personally I think Ford have got their timing of model releases out of whack - they have the BF with good mechanical upgrades and almost no cosmetic changes, then BF2 with cosmetic changes and not much mechanical difference. Not to mention the paint colour changes that come and go seemingly at random!

That is because the updates, both cosmetic and mechanical, would have no doubt been launched together as the BF, if Holden had not brought forward the launch of the VE. I think they have done the right thing, Falcon is getting plenty of press at the moment...