Ford's next Falcon takes shape

Bobman · 11-10-2010, 03:25 PM

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2577B8007C6482

11 October 2010

Quote:

FORD Australia is working on a plan for the next-generation Falcon as it prepares for a massive year of new model introductions in 2011.

In what could be a crucial year for its local manufacturing operations, Ford Australia will introduce no less than five new models as it also decides what it wants the redesigned 2016 Falcon to be.

GoAuto revealed last week that Ford Australia is currently working on styling concepts for the next Falcon under the direction of Ford Motor Company design chief J Mays.

At last week’s launch of FPV’s supercharged Falcon range, Ford Australia president Marin Burela confirmed preliminary work was underway on the next-generation Falcon, although nothing will be locked for at least another year.

“We are currently in the process of evaluating what a new Falcon will be,” said Mr Burela.

“We need to make a decision by late 2011, early 2012, on what our new Falcon will be - the size, dimension, the package, the engine and all of that is taking place right now.”

However, Mr Burela said Ford Australia was in no rush to finalise the plan that should secure a long-term future for an Australian-made Falcon.

“We have actually got time on our side,” he said. “We are fortunate because at the time we released the current generation of FG Falcons, it actually gave us the time that said we don’t actually have a replacement vehicle in place until we get to that sort of 2016 time frame.

b0son · 11-10-2010, 03:54 PM

2016? Will there even be a large car market by then?

**Polyal** · 11-10-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0son

2016? Will there even be a large car market by then?

No, the guy from honey I shrunk the kids will return and we are all doomed..Fiestas for everyone! Families are still around, Ford just needs to really concentrate on the positives of owning a large sedan again, they have the hardware thats for sure.

2011 is going to be a huge year for FoA, they will be in the top 3 again.

csv8 · 11-10-2010, 04:35 PM

The 2016 Fiesta will have a twin turbo, supercharged engine from VW !!!!!

theboxmike · 11-10-2010, 04:44 PM

Hopefully an all new car that is shares it platform with the mustang

RedHotGT · 11-10-2010, 04:57 PM

Notice for all the 'haters'

Diesel Territory is on the list of things to come!?!??

jpd80 · 11-10-2010, 05:02 PM

FG will be staler than grandma's underpants long before 2016......

Look at BA to BFII (2002 to 2008) stale by 2008.
Expecting E8 to run eight years is not realistic,
Ford will get killed by Holden's next Commodore.

Ford don't have the luxury of stringing E8 that long,
Falcon sales are low now so god help us by 2014.

Joe5619 · 11-10-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

FG will be staler than grandma's underpants long before 2016......

Look at BA to BFII (2002 to 2008) stale by 2008.
Expecting E8 to run eight years is not realistic,
Ford will get killed by Holden's next Commodore.

Ford don't have the luxury of stringing E8 that long,
Falcon sales are low now so god help us by 2014.

I think his talking plantform.. Surely we'll see a new shape at some stage before then??

jpd80 · 11-10-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

I think his talking plantform.. Surely we'll see a new shape at some stage before then??

Changing shape costs a lot of money and will be restricted to new plastic front and rear.

Road_Warrior · 11-10-2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

FG (E8) will be staler than grandma's underpants long before 2016......

Look at BA to BFII (2002 to 2008) stale by 2008.
Expecting E8 to run eight years is not realistic,
Ford will get killed by Holden's next Commodore.

Ford don't have the luxury of stringing E8 that long,
Falcon sales are low now so god help us by 2014.

Those changes that Holden had planned for the VF will come to fruition (together with the car itself) sooner or later, the Falcon is struggling now against the VE, let alone in 2 years or whenever this new Commodore arrives.

Ford had better have some pretty significant updates on the cards for the E8 to acquire consumer interest otherwise come 2016 with all of this talk and carry on about global rear wheel drive Fords, there won't be one to talk about.

Road_Warrior · 11-10-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

I think his talking plantform.. Surely we'll see a new shape at some stage before then??

Yeah that's a platform change but the way some people are talking is that the mid cycle update will be in late 2011. That's miles out from 2016.

Bobman · 11-10-2010, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Look at BA to BFII (2002 to 2008) stale by 2008.

Yes, more than likely due to that shape tracing it's roots down to the unloved 1998 AU.

FG should survive fine with a face lift before 2016.

**Polyal** · 11-10-2010, 05:32 PM

I dont know about tech wise, but driveline wise we have atleast:

14T
Diesel (come on, surely it wont be Terry only)
LILPG

The ZF should be around for a while, I reckon we will see a freshen up at FG2 but nothing major.

csv8 · 11-10-2010, 05:57 PM

Placing my order for a 2016 Taurus now !!!!!

SteveJH · 11-10-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Placing my order for a 2016 Taurus now !!!!!

2016 Falcon/Taurus/Mondeo I would have thought possibly.

mik · 11-10-2010, 08:59 PM

with the promised new drive lines and upgrades 2016 should`nt be a problem imo.

Road_Warrior · 11-10-2010, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mik

with the promised new drive lines and upgrades 2016 should`nt be a problem imo.

Yeah but that needs to be supported with a proper facelift (or two) and tech and feature upgrades. The point that was being made was that Ford's track record in that regard is a massive fail if you take the BA/BF series as an example.

**Polyal** · 11-10-2010, 09:05 PM

I can't see them investing in too much more sheet metal if gird happens, surely the next major change ilk happen online with this.

dannyhilton · 11-10-2010, 10:32 PM

Finally, some positive (mostly) news about the Falcon. Hopefully a face lifted Falcon in the new year will bring more positive news about a brand new model.

ltd · 12-10-2010, 09:30 AM

We haven't yet seen what will happen when the I4T comes out, alot of government departments have a 4 cylinder only policy at the moment which discriminates against both the Falcon and the Commodore. We could soon see a lot more Falcons on the road.

b0son · 12-10-2010, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

We could soon see a lot more Falcons on the road.

The ongoing viability of Holden/Ford is tied to private sales.

Joe5619 · 12-10-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0son

The ongoing viability of Holden/Ford is tied to private sales.

I dont agree with that... These cars car be fleet dependent for decedes!!! And at the price point they sell for, will for ever remain fleet dependent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

We haven't yet seen what will happen when the I4T comes out, alot of government departments have a 4 cylinder only policy at the moment which discriminates against both the Falcon and the Commodore. We could soon see a lot more Falcons on the road.

A silly question for those that know.. Dont these departments also have a policy about turbo engines?? I know the company I work as written in the policy engines must be NA..

XRFutura · 12-10-2010, 11:09 AM

I haven't seen this posted anywhere, if it is a repost sorry, looks like the media are finally getting there heads out of the falcon going FWD scenario.

New stang to share falcon platform, and supercharged mill?

Road_Warrior · 12-10-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

A silly question for those that know.. Dont these departments also have a policy about turbo engines?? I know the company I work as written in the policy engines must be NA..

In WA it goes by tailpipe emissions. Some fleet cars are small turbo diesel units and there was up until a couple of months ago a couple of e-gas Falcons in the fleet carpark. Most of them are Camrys however.

EgoFG · 12-10-2010, 01:27 PM

The FG is current with its styling, the VE is a BA Falcon at the front and a BA Astina at the back with Gorilla arm front quarters.

The VE needs more cosmetically from a Company that is in the red and hoping for some black soon. The FG is comfortably current and from a company that saw the error of it ways before its creditors did.

Holden will still outsell Ford in Australia - but which will continue as a viable company ?

Bring this back to topic a little - Talk Falc, not Commo !!

CFOUR · 12-10-2010, 02:02 PM

perfect. I will have just finished paying for my 2011 gs ute by then.

ltd · 12-10-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

A silly question for those that know.. Dont these departments also have a olicy about turbo engines?? I know the company I work as written in the policy engines must be NA..

An equally silly assertion.
Most government departments act on the new Green Star rating. Doesn't matter if it's turbo or not.

Road_Warrior · 12-10-2010, 04:02 PM

Even the Police here in Wait Awhile have been told they arent getting any more XR6 Turbo's or SV6's so there are no exemptions for anything, at all.

Nikked · 12-10-2010, 05:19 PM

I don't know why poeple are worried/amazed that we have to wait till 2016, just about every falcon series has lasted around 8-10 years, EA-EL, AU BF etc. The falcon will get a mid life up grade as always, just not as dramatic as those before it, it's not financially viable to do so.

The falcon is a very safe and fresh design, it has staying time. The Ve wowed alot on it release, but has aged bad.

jpd80 · 12-10-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

I don't know why poeple are worried/amazed that we have to wait till 2016, just about every falcon series has lasted around 8-10 years, EA-EL, AU BF etc. The falcon will get a mid life up grade as always, just not as dramatic as those before it, it's not financially viable to do so.

The falcon is a very safe and fresh design, it has staying time. The Ve wowed alot on it release, but has aged bad.

The reason EA-EL ran so long was that Dearborn was actively trying to get FoA to switch to the Taurus.
So much in fact, that FoA were forced to take 10,000 units in 1996 whether they wanted them or not.
Dearborn was convinced that the Australian market would accept the modern, efficient FWD Taurus.
The 1996-98 EL was a bridge to get FoA to the AU, something that wasn't in the original Dearborn plan.
That's why Steve Park's AU had to be made to look like the rounded Taurus, Had the 1994 clay of the
future AU Falcon not been appealing to Dearborn, the Falcon was dead in 1994 and would end with EFII.

As for AU-BFII, I think you would agree that BF Falcon really struggled after the 2006 VE arrived.
Ford actually delayed FG for almost 12 months over finance and final approval, had the Victorian
state and Federal governments not put in cash, Ford would have just done a light refresh of BF.

Given the way Gorman rode Polites' BA/BF into the ground, I'm skeptical that Ford will do the same with FG.
The perception that you have plenty of time to do things is the greatest illusion in the motor industry.

What could change things is if Head Office decides that E8 is useful and can be evolved into designs
and variants it can use and go forward with in terms of new tech and electronics.
In this instance, the 2014 mustang sharing some engineering with say, FH Falcon would make complete
sense so everything will hinge on what Ford north America does from here....