FWD Falcon in 2010? Mullaly says maybe.

[madmelon]

http://carpoint.com.au/car-review/2975518.aspx

If these morons do this say goodbye to Falcon. I rekon RWD and the grunt it enables is the only thing keeping it out of the grave. What happens to the V8's if this happens? T6's?

What would make people go for a clean sheet design with a company that has a reptation for recalls and problems when theycan get something that's been proven over generations ie. CAMRY/AURION.

NOTHING.

RWD is what makes the Falcon.

[TC200six]

NO, NO, NO! Don't make a FWD Falcon! Please, please PLEASE!

[irlewy86]

Just spotted a well built woman on the road to Broadmedows, looked like an opera singer or something.

[Green X]

If Falcon gets FWD, I will never buy it.

Can you image a 315,20,50 whatever GT or F6 Front wheel drive Falcon what a joke that would be.

[MoreHPformyXR6]

NO NO NO to fwd Falcon. They talk about what is best in terms of economy alot in that article. Is they any advantages with economy with fwd as opposed to rwd or vice versa? (or a they pretty much of a muchness).


Even though if you think about the big six cylinder large car market in Australia (including fleets etc) the large majority of the average joe's mum's and dad's probally dont care if the car is fwd or rwd as long as it does the job. You have to build something to cater for the majority.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Green X

If Falcon gets FWD, I will never buy it.

Can you image a 315,20,50 whatever GT or F6 Front wheel drive Falcon what a joke that would be.

I'd hazard a guess and say there would be no F6 or GT.
The falcon would become a Camry clone.

I think this would be a big mistake. Keep it RWD and use the platform for other future cars.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

NO NO NO to fwd Falcon. They talk about what is best in terms of economy alot in that article. Is they any advantages with economy with fwd as opposed to rwd or vice versa? (or a they pretty much of a muchness).

There is a fuel saving advantage with FWD (being naturally lighter and more efficent) Also frees up cabin and boot space which means the car can be smaller without losing interior room.

However if you compare the Aurion's 9.9L and Falcons 10.2 it makes you wonder.

Also, who in thier right mind is going to be a FWD Falcon when they already have the Mondeo in the line up?

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by Green X

If Falcon gets FWD, I will never buy it

I agree, I once thought to myself if Ford ever considers FWD for Falcon, I'll might actually convert to Holden. I hope Ford do read these forums, consider LHD exports to keep big numbers up, not make a crappy FWD sh'tbox's. Why the hell would Ford do that anyway? they have the Mondeo and soon a local made Focus there should be no need for a FWD Falcon.

[madmelon]

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

NO NO NO to fwd Falcon. They talk about what is best in terms of economy alot in that article. Is they any advantages with economy with fwd as opposed to rwd or vice versa? (or a they pretty much of a muchness).


Even though if you think about the big six cylinder large car market in Australia (including fleets etc) the large majority of the average joe's mum's and dad's probally dont care if the car is fwd or rwd as long as it does the job. You have to build something to cater for the majority.

Yes, there are economy advantages to going FWD- you'd save probaly 100kg or more by losing separate diff, bulky IRS to handle torque application, different gearbox, different floor, more effective space usage (= much smaller engine bay)

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by madmelon

http://carpoint.com.au/car-review/2975518.aspx

If these morons do this say goodbye to Falcon. I rekon RWD and the grunt it enables is the only thing keeping it out of the grave. What happens to the V8's if this happens? T6's?

What would make people go for a clean sheet design with a company that has a reptation for recalls and problems when theycan get something that's been proven over generations ie. CAMRY/AURION.

NOTHING.

RWD is what makes the Falcon.

There won't be a FWD Falcon. What's the point ?

They may as well dump Falcon and do Mondeo instead. Why have both ? There's no sense in that !

They will build a RWD Falcon until it doesn't make any sense. When it doesn't make sense anymore it'll die.

That Go Auto & Car point article's are all speculation - no substance what so ever.

[madmelon]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Just spotted a well built woman on the road to Broadmedows, looked like an opera singer or something.

That may have been a bit subtle mate...but a good call nontheless.

[fou_bleu]

But it may even be AWD... :evil3: Still, FWD would be suicide to the Falcon nameplate! :(

[Johndec]

I'm guessing but I would imagine as long as the Ford US has a rear wheel drive large car, we will have one as well. Don't forget that the Falcon was born as a localised version of an American car and I think that that is also how it will die....

They've already spent the bucks on the FG. It's probably a cheaper option to keep it as is until the next major update in 5-6 years. It's the next bodyshape that decides Falcons future. I'm guessing that the global "vision" will kill off any more locally designed large RWD cars. The best we can hope for is an "Australianised" yank tank... Like I said, that's how it started and that's how it will end.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by fordman6

But it may even be AWD... :evil3: Still, FWD would be suicide to the Falcon nameplate! :(

They'd drop the name "Falcon" you'd imagine and build the Mondeo (if there's a business case), or shut up shop if the volume isn't there.

I couldn't see it happening before 2015 though.

Remember V6 into FG in 2010 - 5 years with a couple of facelifts ? Who knows ? If the new motors and LPG are winners then Falcon will survive.

If not......

[bangm001]

Yeah this would end ford aus for sure. But I cant see it happening?>

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

There is a fuel saving advantage with FWD (being naturally lighter and more efficent) Also frees up cabin and boot space which means the car can be smaller without losing interior room.

However if you compare the Aurion's 9.9L and Falcons 10.2 it makes you wonder.

Also, who in thier right mind is going to be a FWD Falcon when they already have the Mondeo in the line up?

Exactly Aurion and Falcon are very close as per offical figure. Real word figures are often differant though.

Can I also ask guy's is the main advantage of rwd in a large car is no torque steer and possibly better to tow with.
I can see a fwd can be lighter and smaller engine bay freeing up cabin and boot space. What are the main advantages of rwd?
:

[GTP290]

No Ford Falcon Fwd Ford, We Want Aussie Built Rwd Falcons, The Straight 6 Was A Ford Icon, Now A Front Wheel Drive V6??? What A Joke

[Falcon Coupe]

FWD model would be called the Falcon 380 and last about as long.

[Johndec]

Just did a bit of research.. From our friends at Ford USA... May I present to you the 2007 model Crown Victoria, their latest and greatest large RWD sedan. Get the vomit bags ready!!!!!!

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Originally Posted by GTP290

No Ford Falcon Fwd Ford, We Want Aussie Built Rwd Falcons, The Straight 6 Was A Ford Icon, Now A Front Wheel Drive V6??? What A Joke

Havent you hear that the new Falcon will be fwd 2.0L twin cam hehe.
:

[WindsorXR]

Just straight out bullcrap!! It'll go down like the Magna.....I mean the 380!!

Just won't happen, Alan mullaly could be getting the media's attention just to trun around and say "No, we have the RWD for good, for the Aussie people"

[antoni]

If the packaging of a FWD is lighter and so much better howsabout we stick that in the back and make it a mid mounted engine and make the front end the boot ala Porsche like.

We get the benefits of weight savings as well as the benefit of more weight over the driven wheels, which translates to better traction.

[pauljh74]

If it goes FWD, it is not worthy of the Falcon nameplate - should be renamed Taurus - Ford USA will get their wish about 15 years late.

FWD Falcon - I'd never consider one.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

Exactly Aurion and Falcon are very close as per offical figure. Real word figures are often differant though.

Can I also ask guy's is the main advantage of rwd in a large car is no torque steer and possibly better to tow with.
I can see a fwd can be lighter and smaller engine bay freeing up cabin and boot space. What are the main advantages of rwd?
:

You've pretty muched summed it up. It'll tow better and wont try and break your wrists if you push the pedal down.

However, torque steer isn't a problem unless you do have a lead foot (which according to our all knowing government we shouldn't) And as for towing, well you'd need to do a lot of towing to justify RWD.

At the end of the day Australians simply didn't downsize from the large car market, they parted right down the middle. People who could afford a large opted up into the SUV market and those who only needed a commuter traded down to small and mid-size. If by some miracle those who went out and bought a large 4WD or SUV decide to downsize maybe RWD Falcon still has a chance.

[BFZ Wagon]

I hope the Falcon stays RWD. But can we have an AWD option as well please? (if possible) ;)
They still make RWD & AWD cars in the US & Canada. They're still making a lot of RWD/AWD cars in Japan too. (most of them we don't get to see here in OZ)

[S3SR]

all this is, is media speculation more than likely to see the consumers thoughts about doing so, obviously fuel economy WONT be the only thing that would have to be advantageous otherwise its useless, if your gonna redesign the entire range again why not start with the engine and give the options of transmittions and FWD/RWD/AWD

we might not want the falcon to be FWD but how many falcons a year do we buy? 1? 1 every 5? as much as we are loyal we (as fordforumers) are NOT keeping FORD AUS afloat so its sink or swim and try a new approach

the sooner Ford stop playing the BS story game and actually come to the party and innovate instead of recreate the better off they will be... release a bloody diesel engine for the falcon and territory (OMG thats what people want!)
and teach your sales people to sell and your service people to service

otherwise they brought it on themselves and no thanks to the flogs like osbourne who quit when it gets tough but happy to take home a 7 figure pay packet

my useless 2 cents

[WindsorXR]

AWD F6 Manual!!!! Ooooohhhhh!!!! Clean up in isle 5!!!!

Originally Posted by irlewy86

You've pretty muched summed it up. It'll tow better and wont try and break your wrists if you push the pedal down.

However, torque steer isn't a problem unless you do have a lead foot (which according to our all knowing government we shouldn't) And as for towing, well you'd need to do a lot of towing to justify RWD.

At the end of the day Australians simply didn't downsize from the large car market, they parted right down the middle. People who could afford a large opted up into the SUV market and those who only needed a commuter traded down to small and mid-size. If by some miracle those who went out and bought a large 4WD or SUV decide to downsize maybe RWD Falcon still has a chance.

I've towed a 96 magna using a 96 magna.. So the weight of the car + trailer lmao, did surprisingly well

[vanman_75]

Originally Posted by BSSXR8

AWD F6 Manual!!!! Ooooohhhhh!!!! Clean up in isle 5!!!!

nice ,but more weight will not be your friend . fwd useless for towing ,annoying in wet , end of falcon, are these people just plain stupid or what :

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

Havent you hear that the new Falcon will be fwd 2.0L twin cam hehe.
:

You got part of that correct. :

If this becomes the case, there is little point keeping Broadmeadows alive. Ford can just import the Mondeo from Belgium and the Falcon purists can get their RWD fix from Holden, because that's where my money would be in a flash.