Where did FORD get the AU Idea from?

[Sorted]

I stole these pics from another forum but thought it may be interesting to others......

The Rear of Car:-


The Whole Car:-


AND THE BEST BIT

Where are they now? lol : : :

[drcook]

when i see the last photo i think of the word "justice"....

[GK]

Are these those famous GM electric wonder cars? They look like it.

My goodness the rear end, the lights and boot shape are so AU.

I cannot agree with the funny bit about them being crushed though, that is if you're casting dispersions upon the AU. I reckon it's a great car!

Even if you weren't poking fun at the AU, the way GM made these efficient cars, proved their point, then took them back and crushed them was a disgrace!

GK

[drcook]

Originally Posted by GK

Are these those famous GM electric wonder cars? They look like it.

My goodness the rear end, the lights and boot shape are so AU.

I cannot agree with the funny bit about them being crushed though, that is if you're casting dispersions upon the AU. I reckon it's a great car!

Even if you weren't poking fun at the AU, the way GM made these efficient cars, proved their point, then took them back and crushed them was a disgrace!

GK

but why do efficient, environmentally friendly cars have to look so shthouse (hello, toyota prius).

[clontarf_x]

*blink*

Sorry, didn't even emit a tear from me :P

[1970galaxie]

After seeing those monstrocities, I don't think the AU looks too bad at all!

[LG]

Lexus, have just released their Hybrid range... Talk about style there ;)

[Sorted]

Oh sorry I FORGOT to add a line..................

As I do with all my posts......................

All 1100 plus of them..............

If this thread offends anyone, I am sorry, deeply sorry, I didn't mean to offend anyone, can't write how sorry I am, I can only apologise, thats all i can do..............

Long Live the Australian Freedom of Speech

[GK]

Originally Posted by DRHEMI

Long Live the Australian Freedom of Speech

Agreed!

Actually, looking at the pics again, I reckon Ford more got the Taurus idea from the rear of these cars. What do you reckon?

GK

[GCFordChic]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the story on these cars?

I have no idea what the hell they are, and I am quite glad, but now I am intrigued.

Surely it wasnt their 'style' that took them off the road? :

[Walkinshaw]

Gold. So so true.

[070mstg]

wow,there is an uglier car than the AU

[MethodX]

Yes the Taurus !!!
lol

[outback_ute]

They were the GM EV-1, a pure-electric car. From memory it appeared as a show car around 1990, and on the road a few years later. The performance figures for the show car I remember being pretty good (good acceleration and not completely useless range - good for an urban car) They only built a limited number and the cars were not sold but leased (or similar) so GM had control over them. Then, when it suited them, GM took them back and crushed them except for one which is in a museum.

I wouldn't get too worked up over the styling, that type of car is about optimising efficiency, including aero. It is startling how similar the tail lights are to the AU are though!

There have been other similar cases like this, I can think of a Ford one in Europe, and back in the 1960s Citroen did similar with a rotary car except they weren't leased, Citroen bought the cars back so they wouldn't have to keep stocks of parts.

[GCFordChic]

So why was it canned?

Surely as crap as it looks, if it goes, is efficient and is better for the environment this idea could have been built upon and right now we could be driving much more environmentally friendly cars...
(thinks about V8 guzzler and polluter in garage and cracks a guilty smile... )

[XRated]

Just wait 'til Jim Mock and/or Blue Power do their work - they'll be a work of art

[XR8-260]

Are these american cars? In general, Yanks can't design cars that look good or handle well. There are exceptions of course.

[Jayden]

AUs have grown on me, learn to ignore the taxis and watch for the inspired lightly modded ones and the T series'.
but these suck more than a vacuum and i dont see much AU in them exept for the tail lights which are still worse anyway.

[SpoolMan]

I read an article 12 months back from a Mercedes Benz Engineer he said the AU Falcon shape was to far ahead of its time.
The rear lines on this model look they were copied from the AU..

and a big one.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-20...-1600x1200.jpg

[Jayden]

they just botched its release and killed any possible future success of it because of the bad comments made about it. to start with it had too smaller wheels and that stupid front grille on the forte, if it was done properly I imagine people would have liked it more. the falcon may always suffer from being everything from taxi to world class sport sedan.

[clontarf_x]

Originally Posted by SpoolMan

I read an article 12 months back from a Mercedes Benz Engineer he said the AU Falcon shape was to far ahead of its time.
The rear lines on this model look they were copied from the AU..

and a big one.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-20...-1600x1200.jpg

You know you love AU's when seeing that new Mercedes gives you a suprise in the pants... god damn I want that machine!

[Walkinshaw]

Originally Posted by Jayden

they just botched its release and killed any possible future success of it because of the bad comments made about it. to start with it had too smaller wheels and that stupid front grille on the forte, if it was done properly I imagine people would have liked it more. the falcon may always suffer from being everything from taxi to world class sport sedan.

If AU1 forte` looked like the AU3 SR then they would have gotten off to a better start.

[Polyal]

If you want the real story, it was a ford desgn trend at the time "Edge Styling" or something like that. Just look at the last gen focus, not as bad but similar in many was.

We all know how well that went too....

[SVR73]

Originally Posted by Walkinshaw

If AU1 forte` looked like the AU3 SR then they would have gotten off to a better start.

Absolutely. However the XR fronts are how they should all have been. Can't beat that.
As I have said many times, too smaller wheels, disgusting wheel covers, no spoiler and 4wd ride height and taxi cab interior (AU1) really ruined the forte and futura

From fairmont ghia upwards (w/ spoiler), I absolutely adore the AU.
Needs 18 to 20 " wheels though.

[Ryan]

I don't mind the look of the XR AUs, but the base model ones, just do nothing for me.

Although I must admit, they're slowly but surely growing on me.

[TZENU]

hehehe those cars look "cute" from behind!!

The end of the AU Series were by far their best attempt.. Series III and the Tseries (love em!)

[FTE217]

Here we go another AU bashing thread, only the smart saw past the the first layer of skin, then Merc did as well lol..........

[OLDFORDNUT]

i still cant understand why on earth Ford did not just put the XR6 front on them ,,i met a bloke at city motor auctions in Brisbane a while ago with an AU that had 50 something on it with full body kit,it changed my opinion on AU's instantly,gee it was one good looking car.

[aualright]

Originally Posted by Jayden

they just botched its release and killed any possible future success of it because of the bad comments made about it. to start with it had too smaller wheels and that stupid front grille on the forte, if it was done properly I imagine people would have liked it more. the falcon may always suffer from being everything from taxi to world class sport sedan.

Yeah maybe...but I still have the motor mag at home that rated the car through the roof and claimed that 'AU' was an apt name since it is the code for 'Gold'.

It DID get excellent reviews upon its release from memory.

Anyway, I challenge anyone to truly believe that my black AU XR8 with full tickford kit and 17' 5 spoke Tickford wheels looks ordinary. It looks tough, sleek, sporty and modern all at the same time. In fact I haven't bothered to buy the BA - BF despite the better motors, etc....I'll wait for the Orion and until then I know I'll be as happy as Larry.

And before anyone mentions the 'egg carton' centre dash, have you looked inside a Toyota lately. Why do they get away scott-free despite their lurid interior designs?????

****

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by 070mstg

wow,there is an uglier car than the AU

Yes, the whole Ssanyong range!