Has AU Falcon scared off Ford from ever doing another BOLD Falcon - Page 2

turbodewd · 25-01-2012, 08:40 AM

If Ford did thorough market research/testing with 100s of Ford buyers then they could be as bold as they want - as long as the research groups like the car.

I think the Ford Fusion looks great. As do the latest Astons.

Eaturbo · 25-01-2012, 10:44 AM

Great range of opinions which is great, This thread was just something that popped into my mind the other day while following the FG and VE. I thought to myself " I wonder if the AU Falcon had any effect on the styling of the Falcons after it ie BA FG" or if it is not talked about mentioned in design meetings. I do like the FG especially the G6ET and F6. This was more of a question of what would FG have been if the AU had not been built and say the BA had come out in 1998. Would Ford have been more bold with FG styling. If you look at VZ to VE Commodore, Holden made large changes to styling for the better. Thanks for all your replies by the way, Shane

LeadFoot81 · 25-01-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

lol @ BF and FG looking alike...nothing in common...

But yes, the AU was as bold, unique and interesting as australian design will get. The BA looked like a camry...

Truer words were never spoken.

I hope Ford Australia's designers have the opppurtunity to style a Falcon that's as bold as AU, but executed in just the right way to be as accepted as say E or B Series.

BLUEYBA · 25-01-2012, 11:11 AM

In my opinion the Commodore is too reto with the flared guards of the 70's. The design was not ground breaking but more a modern slant on an old design/style. Whether you like the AU or not Ford had to find a new starting point and so the BA was a little on the conservative side. I think Ford are looking to bring more class to its range.

GT0132 · 25-01-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

The lead designer for AU and FG was the same person.

That comes as no surprise

Adamz Ghia · 25-01-2012, 01:26 PM

Did most of BA too didn't he, Butterworth came in towards the end...?

jpd80 · 25-01-2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

never more truth applied to Dodge over the last few models, having to wear the corporate cross grille mouth; ugly. what works on a large pickup isn't necessarily going to look good on your muscle car.

Look at the current corporate Kinetic face from Fiesta through to FGII to SZ Territory, they're all different even though similar elemets are there in all of them.
That's why the corporate face isn't the face people are thinking of, just the latest one they've seen..

b0son · 25-01-2012, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

There's a lot of wiggle room in what the locals are allowed to do

So the front end similarities between Terri, XR, and Fusion are coincidence? Or G6 and Mondeo before that? I think not.

I have no issue with Ford trying to reign in styling differences... its been used to great effect by VW, with a single and easily recognisable look across the entire model range. Clearly, its not harming sales.

b0son · 25-01-2012, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

I hope Ford Australia's designers have the opppurtunity to style a Falcon that's as bold as AU

There's a fine line between bold and ridiculous. Sadly, AU crossed it, which is a shame considered how good it was under the skin.

Its styling was the only reason I waited til BA to get out of my EF.

falconnut · 25-01-2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0son

There's a fine line between bold and ridiculous. Sadly, AU crossed it, which is a shame considered how good it was under the skin.

The original AU1 did, yes i completely agree, but i think the AU2/3 look great.

**SSD-85** · 25-01-2012, 05:27 PM

To answer the question, Id say it has contributed to the possibility. However, I feel its more to do with the current climate of the car market. To be bold in design of a large car would be an incredible risk, one Ford cannot really afford to take. From a logical business perspective anyway.

Conversely though, they may just pull of the biggest success yet to hit them. But lets be fair & say those odds are pretty darn unlikely.

Nikked · 25-01-2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0son

There's a fine line between bold and ridiculous. Sadly, AU crossed it, which is a shame considered how good it was under the skin.

Its styling was the only reason I waited til BA to get out of my EF.

Explain why the AU was ridiculous...

The major letdowns with the AU were some cheap looking plastics (bumpers, side moulds) and 4WD ride hight coupled with dilated wheel arches, it they (FoA) spent a bit more time refining the shape, it would have been a winner.

Nikked · 25-01-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty85

. However, I feel its more to do with the current climate of the car market. To be bold in design of a large car would be an incredible risk.

I beg to differ, most of the new models today have very bold styling features...

jpd80 · 25-01-2012, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0son

So the front end similarities between Terri, XR, and Fusion are coincidence? Or G6 and Mondeo before that? I think not.

Of course they are similar, Ford has coroprate "Kinetic" Styling and now moving to Kinetic II"
Since none of the examples you have given are identical, then yes there is wiggle room in local styling

The AU variant I really like was the Fairlane, I think Ford lost something magical when they redesigned it for BA.

**SSD-85** · 25-01-2012, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

I beg to differ, most of the new models today have very bold styling features...

I refer to the large car segment specifically. Even more specifically, a manufacturer who cannot make such a financial gamble. Which, is basically what my first post was...

leonbray · 25-01-2012, 06:31 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bfO0wqhY4Q

New Falcon will probably look a lot like the Modeo. The Territory has the outgoing design theme

RayRay84 · 25-01-2012, 06:40 PM

I think the AU was a great looking car for it's time, I remember when my old man picked up his new AUI forte back in '99, and thinking how modern it looked, especially compared to our EB that it replaced, though admittedly it did have the ute grille fitted and some decent alloys...

I bought an AUII a few years later and loved it - obviously all the nay-sayers when ragged on the car never drove it, because they were a great car to drive.

The design has aged pretty well, though I will admit that the low series interiors look a bit crap these days, But the actual overall design (Especially the XR's) still looks just as good as they did back in '98.

Only thing I never liked was the double-decker spoiler on the S1 XR's.. WTF??

b0son · 25-01-2012, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Explain why the AU was ridiculous...

It looked like a pregnant seal, sunbaking.

falconnut · 25-01-2012, 06:49 PM

Yeah i wasnt really a fan of the AU1 XR's either.

My Interior has held up exceptionally well to alot of punishment over the years, quality is great and i have got used to its unusual ergonomics.

Nikked · 25-01-2012, 06:50 PM

Hmm, dont see it...

falconnut · 25-01-2012, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Hmm, dont see it...

Neither i think it looks great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0son

It looked like a pregnant seal, sunbaking.

Its not like the EF looked any better...

**DJM83** · 25-01-2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I hope so.

Good i hope they do, then you wont buy one then you may find another forum to annoy.

Can we go a few weeks without an AU bashing thread seriously? Because i can see where this will go.

Eaturbo · 25-01-2012, 07:00 PM

I think that cars like the 2002 BA XR6 Turbo and the All new Territory back in 2004 proved that people will buy the Ford product if it ticks all the boxes for what they want as a family car. There was alot of Holden and Subaru buyers that brought both the above cars instead of WRX's and Holden's useless Adventra 4x4 wagon. When Ford release the 4cyc ecoboost they will have the biggest range of engines ever offered in AUS. They just need a bit more WOW factor now to get them across the line. I would have liked to have seen them do another model to take the place of the Fairlane but using the Falcon body say like a very upmarket G6E with revised front and rear styling and a more upmarket interior to maybe grab a few more Caprice/Calais V buyers and bring back sunroofs and black roof linings.

Eaturbo · 25-01-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Good i hope they do, then you wont buy one then you may find another forum to annoy.

Can we go a few weeks without an AU bashing thread seriously? Because i can see where this will go.

Agreed, please dont ruin this thread as it was not intended as an AU bashing. I own an AU and think they have a better seating position than the BA so both cars had some great features. This is purely a styling question on how AU styling effected all Falcons styling after it. If you dont have something good to add than just read it and move on.

falconnut · 25-01-2012, 07:57 PM

Agreed.

Auslandau · 25-01-2012, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0son

There's a fine line between bold and ridiculous. Sadly, AU crossed it, which is a shame considered how good it was under the skin.

Its styling was the only reason I waited til BA to get out of my EF.

I am going to differ a little and say that the AU Forte series 1 was actually the only odd one out and was the extremely boring, mundane and was the main problem. It wasn't bold. The shape was in the right direction, the XR and definitely Fairmont had it right from the start. Boring killed the AU from the offset ..... not being brave. It then tarnished the entire range .....

The XR was in your face and a brave move that pulled it off very well ..... later the T series which during series 2 started doing well. In comparison to all the models the AU Forte 1 was the ugly duckling, boring in comparison and killed off the momentum from the VERY successful EF Falcon.

Then came the B series XT .....

..... then the FG ......

While the XR's and other models did well selling to the public sector and as company vehicles when there was a choice to be made, while (very unlike all other Falcon standard models before it) the base unit died.

If anything the AU Forte series 1 killed the 'Falcon 500'. Base models to the general public has not recovered and the base model ...... which SHOULD be their commodity ..... is relegated to those who are unfortunate enough to get them as their company car.

falconnut · 25-01-2012, 08:02 PM

There was nothing wrong with the AU2/3 Forte's i guess the public just didnt like them at the time, a very underrated and under appreciated car.

Cano90 · 25-01-2012, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevz

image
image

That is hilarious

sbutler · 25-01-2012, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Just imagine if FoA had the cash to do a Fusion nose and tail on FG II, that would have knocked the socks off the press..

image

How hot does that look!!!!!! I hope the next gen Falcon follows those lines......

jpd80 · 25-01-2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbutler

How hot does that look!!!!!! I hope the next gen Falcon follows those lines......

It's a polarising style, there's no middle ground because people will either love it or hate it and
that's what Ford US is counting on, more buyers loving that style than what the competition has.
Is our market and buyers different? Would that work here? or is it just a passing fad?

These are the questions FoA has to pose in order to stay in front of the curve, sure their
designs aren't as up to date but so long as they aren't plain, Falcon and Territory will do OK.