Major Ford announcement....

[vztrt]

Silly question, but the I6 will be getting the liquid Injection as well?

[JMO]

Originally Posted by ivorya

Confirmation:
http://www.news.com.au/business/stor...-31037,00.html


FORD Australia has dumped plans to build the Focus sedan locally but says it will invest $230 million to improve the fuel efficiency and environmental impact of its Falcon and Territory models.
Ford Australia chief executive Marin (Marin) Burela says the US-based car maker's plans to build the Focus in Australia has been abandoned because of "changing global economic conditions".

The car will now be built in Asia.

Mr Burela said no job losses were expected because of the decision.

Last August Ford said building the smaller Focus model here would create 300 new jobs.

Ford will introduce new two-litre four cylinder EcoBoost engines to the Falcon range in 2011, which Mr Burela has touted as the most significant environmental steps in the Falcon's 50 year history.

The car manufacturer will also introduce a liquid injection LPG system for the Falcon and a clean diesel 2.7 litre turbo-charged V6 engine for the Territory.

Let's hope the quality levels remain high and we don't sometime down the track end up with some sort of abomination :P

[XRFutura]

I think its a safe bet the i6 will have the lpg liquid injection option. but i have read on car advice that there is i4 lpg liquid injection engine which makes no scents. Can anyone confirm?

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by XRFutura

I think its a safe bet the i6 will have the lpg liquid injection option. but i have read on car advice that there is i4 lpg liquid injection engine which makes no scents. Can anyone confirm?

The article is a few posts up and it says the I4 will be liquid injection LPG. All it really says about the I6 is that it will not be effected.

[a_misfit]

That is the danger of posting an article rather than a link...CA have updated the article to remove LPG 4 cyl, they said it was the wrong revision of the article that was posted first off.

LPG for I6.

[mcnews]

And the four cylinder in those photos looks like the current six with two cylinders lopped off....

[ThePistonHead]

Holden steals the limelight again:

Holden managing director Mark Reuss leaving after 17 months

AAP

July 24, 2009 02:50pm

HOLDEN chairman and managing director Mark Reuss is to be replaced after just 17 months at the helm.

Mr Reuss, 45, will return to the US in a yet to be named product development role with Holden's bankrupt parent company General Motors.

Under his stewardship, Holden was given $149 million grant from the Rudd government to build a four-cylinder car in Australia from 2010.

Mr Reuss will be replaced by Alan Batey who will take up the dual role from September 1.

The 46-year-old director of Holden's sales, marketing and after sales division began his career with General Motors in 1979 when he joined Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom as a mechanical engineer apprentice.

Opposition industry spokesman Eric Abetz said it was disappointing that Holden was losing a person of Mr Reuss' calibre at a critical time.

It's the Melbourne motor show all over again!

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by a_misfit

That is the danger of posting an article rather than a link...CA have updated the article to remove LPG 4 cyl, they said it was the wrong revision of the article that was posted first off.

LPG for I6.

Yep I see now (link is posted at the start of the article).

The final announcement was the introduction of a liquid-injection LPG I6 engine. Ford claims the engine will be promoted as the most advanced LPG system in the country – polar opposites to their current arrangement for Falcon and Territory. The liquid-injected LPG will be used in the Falcon and Territory from 2010.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by flappist

This could be very interesting.

Current choice of medium-large RWD 4 cylinder cars in Australia

BMW
Mercedes

Can anyone think of anything else?

I can see where the potential export market is.....

Well there's a Lexus or two.

Pretty disappointing not getting the Ecoboost V6 from the new Taurus SHO http://wrmag.nextautos.com/issue/48/126?src=Nextscreen even better just bring that Taurus here.

[vztrt]

Drive article.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...4516&pg=1&vf=0

Something to note: 4cyl wont be built here.

[LeadFoot81]

From 2011 Falcon and Territory will have 2l turbo engines and Tezza 2.7l diesel. Ecoboost all the way!

[Road_Warrior]

It would be just super if Ford could make the new LPG Falcon a dual fuel option...

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Well there's a Lexus or two.

Pretty disappointing not getting the Ecoboost V6 from the new Taurus SHO http://wrmag.nextautos.com/issue/48/126?src=Nextscreen even better just bring that Taurus here.

Why is it dissapointing that they didn't drop an Australian built engine which is just as good as the Yank V6? At no point later than 2015 you'll prbably get your wish, as the I6 will surely be gone by then.

[vztrt]

Go Auto Article:

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2575FD000B47FC

Ford confirms four-pot Falcon, dumps Focus plan

Australian Focus production plan abandoned as Ford announces four-cylinder Falcon

By MARTON PETTENDY 24 July 2009

FORD has walked away from its plan to produce the next-generation Focus in Australia from 2011 and will instead release the first four-cylinder Falcon in 2010, followed by the first diesel-powered Territory – later than expected in 2011.

Both surprise developments were announced today as part of a $230 million investment in “sustainability initiatives”, which also include the release of a new direct liquid-injection LPG system for next year’s Falcon, to meet stricter new Euro IV emissions regulations due in force from mid-2010.

The three new engines will form the basis of a renewed fuel consumption push by Ford, but the cancellation of plans to produce the Focus small-car represents a major about-face on a project that was to have manufactured 40,000 vehicles at Broadmeadows annually, including 15,000 for export.

Ford says the next-generation 2011 Focus will continue to be imported from overseas – possibly Thailand, which has a free-trade agreement with Australia. In Asia, the Focus is currently produced in China and the Philippines.

The company today cited “changing global economic conditions” for axing the local Focus production plan, which was announced in July 2007. At the time, Ford said the Focus project would create about 300 jobs as part of its mid-term plan to return the Campbellfield assembly plant to maximum capacity, but today said no jobs would be lost as a result of the backflip.

“After assessing the global requirements and costs of producing the next Focus in Australia, Ford determined that the changing economic conditions meant it could not make a business case for profitably manufacturing the car at its operations outside of Melbourne,” said Ford today.

“Ford’s new strategy allows the company to economically source small cars for the Australian market from overseas locations, while investing in leading-edge technologies to serve its core Falcon and Territory customers. The decision to not make the Focus in Australia will not result in any job losses.”

Ford Australia president Marin Burela said the decision would shore up the company’s future.

“Although difficult, this is the right decision for Ford Australia,” he said today. “Ford Australia has a strong commitment to manufacturing in this country built on ongoing support from employees, customers, dealers, suppliers and government. Our investments today demonstrate not only our commitment to address climate change – but to bringing leading edge technologies to the Australian market.”

As part of today’s announcement, Ford has committed to releasing a new-generation Falcon LPG model in 2010, as expected, as well as a 2.7-litre V6 diesel version of its locally-manufactured Territory SUV.

Ford Australia had previously promised both vehicles would be released in 2010, and the Jaguar Land Rover-sourced diesel has already been replaced by a new 3.0-litre V6 in a number of European models sold overseas, including the Jaguar XF, Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover, Citroen C6 and Peugeot 407 Coupe.

Ford says that initial analysis indicates liquid-injection LPG technology can reduce CO2 levels by 12 per cent or more compared to current LPG technology, while ‘clean-diesel’ variants of the 2.7-litre V6 will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25 per cent compared to six-cylinder petrol engines.

However, biggest news is the fitment of a four-cylinder engine in Ford’s Falcon for the first time in its 49-year history – a move that will be the Blue Oval’s direct response to Holden’s upgraded 2010 Commodore, which is expected to come with a downsized direct-injection 3.0-litre V6.

Not just any four-cylinder, the Falcon’s first four-pot will represent the first global application of Ford’s all-new 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged EcoBoost engine in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.

Claimed to deliver up to 20 per cent better fuel economy and 15 per cent fewer CO2 emissions than larger-displacement six-cylinder engines offering equivalent performance, Ford says the EcoBoost four will make the 2011 Falcon one of the greenest family cars in Australia.

Its fitment in the Falcon is part of the new ‘One Ford’ strategy revealed by Ford global product boss Derek Kuzak, who recently said the company plans to have a four-cylinder engine in every car in its range by 2012.

The four-cylinder EcoBoost engine was revealed in the US last week and is slated for a range of global vehicles, from small cars to large trucks. It will be available in the Falcon alongside the existing 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder, which will be upgraded to Euro IV standards next year.

The fuel consumption of Ford Australia’s lauded inline six, which was to have been axed in 2010 before being rescued by Mr Burela soon after his appointment last year, was reduced in optional six-speed automatic guise from April to 9.9L/100km, matching Toyota’s Aurion and the outgoing Camry. Last October Holden reduced the performance of its 3.6-litre Commodore engine to improve fuel efficiency from 10.9L/100km to 10.6L/100km.

While the Falcon’s turbo-four will not match the outputs of the I6, it is expected to be nearly match Holden’s current Commodore V6 while consuming about 8L/100km – which is on par with the Focus automatic.

Meantime, diesel power will bring the Territory into line with oil-burning options in Toyota’s top-selling Prado and Holden’s Captiva medium SUVs. The same engine in Jaguar’s lighter XF sedan returns 7.5L/100km.

“Today’s announcements put Ford Australia in a strong position for profitable growth in today’s auto industry,” said Mr Burela.

“We are ensuring our core Falcon and Territory vehicles will have the most advanced, high-tech and cleanest engines possible. At the same time, this represents the biggest environmental transformation in the 50-year history of Ford Falcon by giving buyers the newest engine in the Ford Motor Company stable.

“Falcon customers will now have the choice of either the continually popular I6 engine, which will be Euro IV-compliant, or one of the first global applications of Ford's EcoBoost, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines, while in a similar timeframe Territory customers will be able to access Ford's world-class clean diesel engine technology.

“Ford is fully committed to working towards fuel economy leadership in every segment in which we compete, across local and imported vehicles. In fact, later this year we will introduce the most fuel-efficient vehicle in Australia when we launch the Fiesta ECOnetic, which will be more economical than hybrids at only 3.7L/100km,” said Mr Burela.

Unlike the ill-fated Focus plan, the triple-pronged engine plan will receive financial assistance from both the Victorian state government and the federal government’s Green Car Innovation Fund, which has already committed $30 million to Toyota’s Australia’s 2010 Camry Hybrid project and GM Holden’s 2010 small-car manufacturing plan. The GCIF will contribute $42 million to Ford’s EcoBoost Falcon plan.

Federal industry minister Kim Carr, who attended today’s announcement with his Victorian government counterpart Martin Pakula, said: “The Rudd government has contributed $42 million from its Green Car Innovation Fund to what is an important milestone in Ford Australia’s evolution.

“The funding will run over three years, starting this financial year, and will support the application of a four-cylinder, turbocharged EcoBoost engine to fit the Falcon.

“The Commonwealth contribution will be matched by substantial new investment from Ford.

“This is a significant win for Ford Australia because the Australian-built Falcon will be the first rear-wheel drive vehicle in the world to receive the EcoBoost engine. The new, greener Falcon will emit significantly less carbon dioxide than current six-cylinder cars.”

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by Cobra

Why is it dissapointing that they didn't drop an Australian built engine which is just as good as the Yank V6? At no point later than 2015 you'll prbably get your wish, as the I6 will surely be gone by then.

Well I saw mention of the I6 but not the I6Turbo in the media release...

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Drive article.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...4516&pg=1&vf=0

Something to note: 4cyl wont be built here.

Bugger, in that case what's the good news again?

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Boss315

Bugger, in that case what's the good news again?

It's good news that they're investing money in the Falcon Platform I guess..

Maybe good news for China too ?

The main 2011 Focus plant in Asia is supposed to be in China.

Chinese Aussie Ford's at 2,000 + per month anyone ? e

[Jondalar]

Barra the Drive article said the Focus will come from Thailand where we have a free trade agreement.

[GS608]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Well I saw mention of the I6 but not the I6Turbo in the media release...

Why would they dump the most popular performance model?

As far as i can read into it, everything stays exactly the same you just have more engine options.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Barra the Drive article said the Focus will come from Thailand where we have a free trade agreement.

I'm not convinced. Drivel is guessing......

Thailand is not a Focus plant from what I'm hearing, they're doing Fiesta and Mazdas.

China and Australia were the 2011 Focus plants in the region, my contact at Ford says Broadmeadows' Focus build is not being sent to another 'new' assembly location.

I may be wrong but you do the math:

Focus was planned to be built in Germany, China, Australia, & the US...

Where will ours come from then ?? :

[Road_Warrior]

I was told the only places Focus III was going to be built was Saarlouis; Germany, Louisville Assembly; US, and Broady. Nuthin' about no Commie made Focus ing_sm

[Lightning Strike XR6]

The current v6 is being dropped for a 4 cyl according to 4.30 news.

Don't they research????

[csv8]

mmm 4 cylinder Falcon...isn't that the MONDEO ?? is Ford saying Falcons gone, nicely ?

[Jondalar]

I'm old enough to remember the 4cyl Commodore that was such an engineering triumph. It used MORE fuel than the 6cyl in any normal drivers hands since you had to flog it's guts out to get anywhere. I sure hope Ford does a MUCH better job on the Falcon.

I agree bit hard to justify both 4cyl Mondeo AND Falcon, ditto the diesels.

[Velociraptor82]

So Ford have canned the Aussie Focus! Does this also mean that FPV arn't gonna do an FPV Focus?

Now Ford have no reason not to bring RS here. Bring on the RS!!

[XRFutura]

just found this article on carpoint about the ecoboost 4.

ecoboost not yet tested in falcon

and should we start worry that there'll be no xr8

Ford Falcon V8 Dead?

surely ford wouldn't let fpv just v8's. Its understandable that Ford wouldn't mention about high performance engine, as they try and get green credentials out there first.

[groulder]

a 4cyl falcon..what a joke.

the only bigger joke is the mondeo. give that ugly thing the flick and replace it with the ford fusion with 4cyl and 6cyl options.

a 4cyl should be in a mid size car. it has no place in a full size falcon.

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by csv8

It would want to be a good 4 cyl to haul 2tonne of car around !!

Hauling two tonne will be a breeze for the four cylinder, i suspect a test drive will surprise those yet drive a new age common rail diesel.
Territory owners will have greater towing ability and get over 800klm per tank


4.0L DOHC DI-VCT 195kW/391Nm

2.7-litre turbo-diesel V6 140kW/445Nm

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I was told the only places Focus III was going to be built was Saarlouis; Germany, Louisville Assembly; US, and Broady. Nuthin' about no Commie made Focus ing_sm

Oh yes.....

Chongqing has a plant that builds C Car.

Mazda 3, Focus, Volvo S50 etc.

I think they do about 160,000 plus per year...

[PoweredByCNG]

G'day all,

The Liquid LPG Injected I6 will be dual fuel, not single fuel and there will be no 4-cylinder LPG engine variant.

We are having the same LPG system (Orbital/Vialle LPI) fitted to our 2004 BA in three weeks.

Regards,
Dave