2007 Ford Falcon: More RWD love for our mates downunder
We've complained that the European market gets the delectable Focus RS, while we, in the automaker's home country, have to endure bland styling updates and an anemic naturally-aspirated (read: boring) power source. Now, Ford shoves the knife in a little bit deeper, offering the Australian market a sporting revision of its Falcon sedan with wonderful, steer-by-throttle, rear-wheel-drive.
C'mon Ford, why you holdin' back on the love?
Four variants of the Falcon are available, however the Sports package, designed to compete with the release of Holden's Commodore, is the one that you should pine for. Upgrades over the base model include a 6-speed automatic, 17-inch wheels, larger brakes and Ford's acronym for stability control, DSC. Compared to its V8 powered competition, forward progress comes courtesy of an inline-6 that Ford plans to push for its fuel sipping tendencies.
Rumors are pointing towards a possible release in the U.S. within next two years, but considering the amount of energy and resources needed to federalize such a vehicle, don't plan your next car purchase around it.
A bucket-load of pics can be found after the jump.
[Source: Drive.com.au]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Christopher Groves 7:13AM (8/11/2006)
The only thing cooler would to be able to get a "right Hand Drive" version here in the States! One of these days I'm going to pony up the cash and gets me a 1971 Aussie Falcon.
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yedkar 7:34AM (8/11/2006)
"Rumors are pointing towards a possible release in the U.S. within next two years..."
Suddenly, I now like rumors. Ford launching a Falcon in the US (with the super 6 cylinder and the V8)would do wonders to boost Ford's presence in the full-size sports sedan segment. On a recent trip to Australia, I couldn't help but fall in love with the Commodore SS and Ford's GT and F6 Typhoon vehicles. For those of you still uninitiated, visit Ford Australia's performance division (Ford Performance Vechiles) for more info: http://www.fpv.com.au/index.aspx
Gotta say that the styling on the standard Ford Falcon verges on the bland though. But hey, if you can get your hands on the FPV vehicles (which seemingly only come in high-octane colours, your in for a true visual delight.
On a side note, what is with Ford's new front end design? The lines on the bumper make it look like its got a bull bar. The overall design looks a tad boring. But hey, no ones complaining down under, so why should we? Imma keep my fingers crossed that they listen to these 'rumors'.
Now, if Ford could just bring in a real Focus...
And while were at it, why not spice up the design, huh?
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Milos 7:51AM (8/11/2006)
interior looks nice and ride must be good. Overall it's a good car, but i still think that it exterior design looks to 90s, like some combination of second-gen of Opel Vectra with a drop of old chrysler sebring...
with a little redesign in two or three years it could look much better
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Chris 7:58AM (8/11/2006)
Yeah why are they going all American style with the chrome? Oh and the XR6 Turbo is the best Falcon, not some 'Sports' package for the base car. Faster than any of the Ford or Holden V8s and with better fuel economy.
I really don't think this will do too great though. The Territory, an SUV based off the Falcon, will still be the king of it's market, but with the new Commodore plus the new Camry and soon Aurion (we only get 4-cyl Camry now, Aurion will be a bigger car coming with a supercharged V6), this thing is simply going to be too dated no matter how much chrome they slap on the face.
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bill bowman 8:42AM (8/11/2006)
A friend of mines Son gave him a new Falcon for his birthday.He loves it says it gets 33 mpg.oh by the way he lives in Perth.
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Daniel 9:20AM (8/11/2006)
Ford continues to be 10 steps behind... How long has the DC 300/Magnum/Charger been out? GTO? Flop that it was it was still an attempt... Why weren't they engineering a possible NA version 3 years ago when the RWD resurgence began? Soon will be the RWD Impala/Monte, and hopefully various Pontiac and Buick versions, and Ford will have yet more versions of the 500 with it's 1999 platform. I want Ford to make it, but this is not the way forward.
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Steve S 9:26AM (8/11/2006)
Maybe it's just me but the exterior styling looks pretty bland.
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Rob 9:26AM (8/11/2006)
i love it. not the bright blue one though, that looks kinda bland-ish, but the darker blue/gray one looks hot. i hate ford cause they don't bring these over here. maybe, just maybe, if they did, i would become a ford fan.
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rwdmtparkingonly 9:39AM (8/11/2006)
In australia this car ranges from $26,750 to $40,550 IN US dollars; the xr6, which has a turbo I-6 and 6sp manual is $30,460. Australia has a 10 percent sales tax, which these prices include, but that would probably net out with the cost of federalization and lhd conversion.
The au dollar has done well recently, and with these prices I don't see how this car could compete against chargers and G35s. I only hope, for the sake of rwd manual transmission car selection and market competition, that ford is working up a home grown version.
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Chris 10:00AM (8/11/2006)
Look what we're really missing out on
http://www.fpv.com.au/index.aspx
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JOHN M SMITH 10:29AM (8/11/2006)
FORD is a confusion of design and engerneing, they always give the overseas markets the better choices, I would not purchse any Ford product made in the USA becasue they all SUCKS, that is the reason that I switch to HONDA and TOTOYA for automobile transportation. American products fall apart after 2years with all of their body shims to make up for spail defects in the body work of their products,they are a waste of money.
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ocnj179 10:39AM (8/11/2006)
There is a snowballs chance in hell this will be releashed here within 2 years. Ford has no need to bring this over if these drones keep on buying the dull 500 and Fusion.
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Richard 10:48AM (8/11/2006)
And Ford wonders why they are dying in the US? All we get is gas guzzling trucks, an over-priced under performing Mustang, and FWD rice-burner look alikes.
But then again, we do get to look forward to the new Boss Mustang, which the dealers will mark way up.
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Tim UF 11:15AM (8/11/2006)
aside from the reengineering to LHD and the US safety standards tests, what is keeping them from bringing these on in?
I'd like to see the entire falcon line (Utes included, but as the ranchero) brought over.
and how about the ford fiesta or Ka? they have a car out there to fight against the fits versas yarii of the market, they just cant be bothered to bring it over 'until it can be made distinctly ford'... so slap a "bold" two or three chrome bar grille on it and bring it over! ford, like GM is languishing because they have fallen into the mode of reacting to the market landscape, not helping define it (mustang is the exception).
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Mike 11:24AM (8/11/2006)
Anyone who thinks this needs to be brought to the US needs their head examined. RWD and a V6 will not sell a boring looking car.
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John 11:36AM (8/11/2006)
Why would anyone want the Ford 500 over this model? What is Ford thinking not offering this here?
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joe 11:47AM (8/11/2006)
amen. that ranchero thing looks bad ass
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Sid 11:49AM (8/11/2006)
I think that existing Ford US buyers don't expect such vehicles from Ford. They buy Ford for trucks, Mustangs and the occasional large sedate family-sedan.
But that's the issue. Ford has to take a...bold move...and introduce a couple of their Euro-Aussie vehicles to the market and see if it draws in buyers who generally buy Japanese brands. After all, the 300C did become very popular.
However...the Euro-Focus would compete directly against the Mazda3, the Falcon would annoy both Mazda and Lincoln etc.
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ocnj179 12:10PM (8/11/2006)
^^^I Agree I just dont understand the risk with competing within the company. The euroFocus ST and upcoming Mazdaspeed3 will do just fine on the market together.
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Ray L 12:21PM (8/11/2006)
Bland, boring, and just plain dull. This looks like a 1998 Contour crossed with a Sonata.
We are not missing out on anything by not getting this sleeper in the States.
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