Ford to bring Ford Australia into the global market!!

Drive XR7 · 09-05-2006, 01:10 PM

http://www.themustangnews.com/fomoco...06_ozfords.htm

Read about it on my Cougar/Tbird messageboard. Everybody is really excited about it: http://forums.tccoa.com/showthread.php?t=83317

If they actually decide to do this, I might hold off on the 03-04 Mustang Cobra and get a new XR6T.

ef_classic · 09-05-2006, 01:50 PM

Judging from that forum, they LOVE aussie Fords, i think that if we did export the Falcon range it would give Ford aus an even greater rep.

BlueRaven · 09-05-2006, 02:59 PM

That would explain why Johhny Howard gave Ford Australia all that money last week.

**Polyal** · 09-05-2006, 03:44 PM

hmm this is better than some of the other threads on the topic.

There is a lot of talk going around...will be interesting to see if they can walk the walk.

Mark351 · 09-05-2006, 03:55 PM

The aussie dollar would need to be much lower than the 76-77c it is now to make exporting cars to the US viable. Now, if they exported the design and engineering, and had the yanks build them - much better all round. Ford US coughs up cash to keep Ford Australia design/building the platform, we keep our RWD Falcons, yanks get what they want, it's a win-win situation.

**Polyal** · 09-05-2006, 03:59 PM

^^exactly deathxr

Im sure they will "Americanise" there sheetmetal anyway. I think it would just be platform sharing. And what is also just as important is that if the share goes ahad it can only mean a crap load more being spent on extra's!!!

On that thunderbird site they were talking about having a 2 door fairlane...jesus!

Mark351 · 09-05-2006, 04:02 PM

I kinda like the idea of the RWD platform also going under a Mustang...imagine an "Australiansed" version! Could the next decade see Commodore and Camaro vs Falcon and Mustang??

ImpulseTaco · 09-05-2006, 04:06 PM

I'm all for it. I certainly hope they keep the BF styling, I think its tops! A hot Falcon would definately give the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger some good competiton, especially with a manual tranny, which isn't available in the chrysler/dodge.

**Polyal** · 09-05-2006, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathXR

I kinda like the idea of the RWD platform also going under a Mustang...imagine an "Australiansed" version! Could the next decade see Commodore and Camaro vs Falcon and Mustang??

hmm..if they were going to use it for the mustang then it would also become RHD, no more crappy conversions!!! falcon coupe anyone? COBRA!! Ok Im getting carried away now...

Ive never though about it, but does holden plan to totally can the monaro and use the camaro? Interestnig, they certainly wouldn't do both.

Mark351 · 09-05-2006, 04:15 PM

Will be one or the other?

parawolf · 09-05-2006, 04:20 PM

It would be on a design and engineering share only. The Auto Unions in America would close up shop on Ford USA in a second. They should keep the I6 too, however I wouldn't know how Geelong casting would keep up with volume if it did happen.

I wonder if this would give enough investment/future product security to invest in some alloy block designs for the I6...

Mark351 · 09-05-2006, 04:23 PM

As I've mentioned before, the I6 heads are cast in Mexico (I think the cranks are still cast in the UK!) and machined in Geelong, so presumably we could do an alloy block design using the funding Ford Aus got a little while ago for I6 development, and then have on the US/Canadian/Mexican factories cast/machine blocks, piston, etc for North American use as well - and just have the Mexicans cast more heads...

ltd · 09-05-2006, 05:34 PM

That's what the free trade agreement should be all about.

Just compare their police cars to ours too.
Crown Vic vs a BF XR8

Bossxr8 · 09-05-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathXR

As I've mentioned before, the I6 heads are cast in Mexico (I think the cranks are still cast in the UK!) and machined in Geelong, so presumably we could do an alloy block design using the funding Ford Aus got a little while ago for I6 development, and then have on the US/Canadian/Mexican factories cast/machine blocks, piston, etc for North American use as well - and just have the Mexicans cast more heads...

Cranks have never been cast in the UK. They are cast in the Casting Plant down here. Ford probably won't go alloy blocked either, its not worth it due to cost and less durability to save around 15kgs. That weight could more easily and cheaply be removed elsewhere in the car.

AnthonyQLD · 09-05-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

That's what the free trade agreement should be all about.

Just compare their police cars to ours too.
Crown Vic vs a BF XR8

Whats wrong with the crown vic lol

:

BlueRaven · 09-05-2006, 07:33 PM

Apart from the fact that they used to catch on fire?

FPV8U · 09-05-2006, 07:43 PM

Looks like they like the Aussie Fords which is a good sign, they also like the Boss 5.4L and the 4.0L Turbo which is anothr good sign, i hope this goes through for them and for us in the future.

XplosiveR6 · 09-05-2006, 07:54 PM

they certanly love their coupes dont they?

mik · 09-05-2006, 08:11 PM

yep who knows we might see a 2 door platform in the gt or xr6t, would be nice to see another superbird

big_pete · 09-05-2006, 08:33 PM

i see a few falcon owners have signed up!
what a tease!

AWD Chaser · 09-05-2006, 08:48 PM

How can you make the BA/BF styling any better? It's really hard....

Door scopes/Wide body?

I think overall, the body is a really good shape, and I have a feeling that the new falcon will keep this shape with just a more agresive sporty front/rear styling....

blutura · 10-05-2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au3 chaser

I have a feeling that the new falcon will keep this shape with just a more agresive sporty front/rear styling....

i really, really, really, really doubt it.

if Ford only slightly bothered to change the styling, then I have no doubt they would get outsold by a huge margin by everyone else.

only Porsche can get away with that.

Mark351 · 10-05-2006, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Cranks have never been cast in the UK. They are cast in the Casting Plant down here. Ford probably won't go alloy blocked either, its not worth it due to cost and less durability to save around 15kgs. That weight could more easily and cheaply be removed elsewhere in the car.

I remember from the few plant tours I've had that something in the I6 was cast in the UK. Either that or I'm going mental...

:

parawolf · 10-05-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blutura

i really, really, really, really doubt it.

if Ford only slightly bothered to change the styling, then I have no doubt they would get outsold by a huge margin by everyone else.

only Porsche can get away with that.

Think BMW 3-series. Realistically a design that has not altered a great deal in the past 10 years but is still massively popular.

blutura · 10-05-2006, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parawolf

Think BMW 3-series. Realistically a design that has not altered a great deal in the past 10 years but is still massively popular.

Your not serious?

I wouldn't say that it hasn't altered much in the last 10 years. i would definitely say that they have evolved the styling and kept the 3 series DNA with each new model.

(yes i am aware that those images span a model period longer than 10 years.)

if anything, the change from the E36 model to the E46 model was the least dramatic of all the model changes, but the new E90 is a big change. Why? Because BMW knows that change is essential to remaining competitive in a crowded market.

RPO83 · 10-05-2006, 01:31 PM

[QUOTE=au3 chaser]How can you make the BA/BF styling any better? It's really hard....[QUOTE]

That is why Ford aren't using the dated BA/BF design for the next gen Falcon.

parawolf · 10-05-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blutura

Your not serious?

I wouldn't say that it hasn't altered much in the last 10 years. i would definitely say that they have evolved the styling and kept the 3 series DNA with each new model.

(yes i am aware that those images span a model period longer than 10 years.)

if anything, the change from the E36 model to the E46 model was the least dramatic of all the model changes, but the new E90 is a big change. Why? Because BMW knows that change is essential to remaining competitive in a crowded market.

Plenty serious. Compare the evolutions of the BMW 3-Series against that of the Falcon. EA-ED, change to EF-EL, change to AU, change to BA-BF. If you only want to take 10 years, then '96 was EF-EL into AU then into BA-BF. Massive difference on that styling by comparison.

guym · 10-05-2006, 03:06 PM

But if you take the way fuel prices are going, the big old six cylinder could be dead soon. Just take a look at the drop in sales of big cars in the last 12 months. Surely this couldn't be making promises to the government to get lots of grants, but then claim latter that due to changing world economics that we still need to drop an old out dated car that you can't give away.

Just thisnk for yourself, in the UK they are paying equivalent of $2.40/litre for petrol. If you were paying that price and not $1.40 would you still by a big six cylinder or 8 cylinder falcon. You fill one of these cars now and it cost $100, would you still want one if it cost you $180.

Maybe use your design expertise to design a slightly smaller car that runs a 2.5 or 3 ltr six, after all still will do 110 klm/h

parawolf · 10-05-2006, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guym

Maybe use your design expertise to design a slightly smaller car that runs a 2.5 or 3 ltr six, after all still will do 110 klm/h

A 1.8 Focus still does 110km/h quite comfortably.

Don't forget that in Europe there are taxes on cars the physical size (including engine capacity) of a Falcon that would put them out of the price range of mere mortals. So affording $180 to fill it by someone on AU$40k a year just wouldn't happen.

guym · 10-05-2006, 04:35 PM

I agree the focus will do that speed quite well. After all I drive a zetec focus. My point is that if Australia continues to build big cars with big motors and fuel prices continue to increase we will not have a car industry at all. So maybe we should consider building slightly less powerful more fuel efficient cars. Personally I believe that history will prove that the new BA falcon was a mistake. That what they should have gone after was production of smaller more fuel efficient higher quality vehicles and taken the initial slump in sales, but that would eventually get them ahead of the other local manufactures when the market for large cars declines to a point that it is not economical. Looked at being the exporter of cars to South Africa and not an importer from. But as a lot of people(including Zetec who works for the Ford Motor Company) will say what do I know, other than if I was in the market for a car right now and my choice is a base model falcon or a zetec focus (I know the falcon is still a bit more expensive in price) it would be a focus as I can't afford the fuel costs to run the falcon, and I suspect I may not be along in that thought.