Spy Shots: Best pics yet of Ford's future Holden fighters
by John Neff on Jun 15th 2007 at 1:36PM 
Seemingly overnight the Australian market has become the holy grail for a pair of U.S. auto giants. That's because both General Motors and Ford are considering taking advantage of rear-wheel drive platforms that have prospered on the island continent by exporting them to new markets, including the U.S. GM, of course, has plans to bring its RWD Zeta platform to the States and use it to underpin the new Chevy Camaro, Pontiac G8 and a few other cars that have yet to get the final go-ahead. Ford, meanwhile, is a little behind in that its next generation RWD Falcon sedan has yet to debut. CarAdvice.com.au, however, has been furiously snapping prototypes caught testing, and it just published a trunkful of shots showing prototypes of many Falcon models with less disguise than we've previously seen. Most notable are shots of the FPV Falcons, which truly do look like birds of prey with their sloped noses, Xenon lamps and a braking/tire/wheel combo that should allow them to easily chase down that next meal. Note the hood bulge visible on many of these mules – wonder what's hiding under there. Also shot were more staid models like the Futura, as well as the XR8, which we feel silly calling "staid".
While GM's Zeta cars are figuratively crossing the oceans as we speak, the Fords appear to be still packing their bags. It's too early to say how the Falcon's platform will be used by Ford in the U.S. It will likely be the basis of the next-gen Mustang that arrives around 2011, as well as supply the platform for a new Crown Vic. We're of the mind that the current Crown Vic and its ancient Fox platform will continue for some time, and that Ford will introduce a new RWD large sedan inspired by the Interceptor Concept.
[Source: CarAdvice.com.au]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Aprime1 1:44PM (6/15/2007)
The side... Molds (I think) look horrid. :\
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Tyo 1:45PM (6/15/2007)
Its so frustrating that fords in Oz are so amazing and here theyre just, well... fords
I want a 4.0 I6 Turbo Falcon Ute with all my heart, alas ill never get it on this side of the pond
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Nick 1:50PM (6/15/2007)
I'd rather get the European Fords. So many recent/past Euro-Fords have been absolutely leaps and bounds ahead of what North America has received. From the Escort Cosworth, to the Focus RS, to the new Mondeo, their line-up is much more solid.
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Reuben 1:59PM (6/15/2007)
Aprime those moldings look like hell, but theyre riveted on, so my bet is a horrid camo technique. Wonder what engines these will use. Maybe the boss 6.2 will make an appearance here first.
Rick Lyon 1:57PM (6/15/2007)
I've seen a few Holdens (and although their reliability seems to be horrendous) these Fords have NOTHING on the Holdens. The Holdens are sweet, gorgeous cars and these Fords are, well, Fords. Nothing exciting, way too much tail over hang, curvy hoods looks like the driver loses visibility. A station wagon? Ford kills the mini van but makes a new wagon?
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Richo 7:55PM (6/15/2007)
Rick,
You will find that the wagon pictured is actually the outgoing BF mK 2 and so no wgaon is confirmed as yet. The reason the wagon continues in Australia is that it shares the same platform with the ute, and that it is highly demanded by fleet buyers who purchase something like 55% of all flacon/commodore sales.
ClutchCargo 1:57PM (6/15/2007)
Ford had better do something. I visited a family member in a small midwestern town last week. Toyota is even there in numbers. When you lose small town America, you might as well hang it up.
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bmoredlj 2:04PM (6/15/2007)
They're great spy shots, and decent looking cars, but the new Falcons pictured are very much evolutionary rather than revolutionary in design.
They don't look too different from the current generation Falcon, or from a slightly longer Chevy Impala that's been lowered.
I would deduce that people who buy Falcons don't ever want major changes. Ford isn't the only one being cautious: Holden's new Commodore/Caprice/Statesman are handsome, athletic vehicles, but not mind-blowingly gorgeous.
Cheers mate
David Lovejoy
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iamhoff 2:51PM (6/15/2007)
I'm not too concerned about styling, but I'm salivating at the idea of Ford finally doing some worthy global platform sharing. Share those development costs with the next Mustang and Crown Vic, and try this: ditch the current 500/Taurus for a rwd model that slots between the Crown Vic and Fusion (hell, screw the Fusion and bring over the Mondeo, while we're at it!). Call it the Taurus, and offer a range of powerplants including the Mustang GT V8. Can anybody say Taurus SHO?
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Christian 2:59PM (6/15/2007)
Uh the Crown Vic is Panther Platform, not "fox". Come on autoblog. Oz is great for Fords, and rwd sedans in general. I mean where else can you get a 4-door from the dealer with a Cobra R engine?
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Tyo 3:25PM (6/15/2007)
Im not doubting you, im asking, which Oz ford comes with that motor? and correct me if im wrong but cobra R's had a 5.4L DOHC V8?
Christian 4:54PM (6/15/2007)
Ford Falcon FPV: GT, GT-P, Pusuit and Super Pursuit models all have the Boss 290(Kw) engine. That's the Cobra R engine.
aSHIRTandTIEguy 3:35PM (6/15/2007)
Hey Americans IF you'd like European/Australian cars your roads have to be conditioned as those roads are.
First, European roads contain many curves switch backs and mountainous terrain such as New York State and Colorado. And Australian roads contain long fast highways, just like Germany. Not slow prairie, sun filled coast lines.
Second over weight and obese drivers expect cars to be bigger and not themselves to be smaller! Imagine a 350lbs driver in a Porches 911, instead of a GMC sierra, or a Dodge Durango! If that person is uncomfortable getting into a Lotus/Porsche/BMW obviously they buy an SUV.
and Finally, American mentalities congeal. Chrome, long wheels base, large cars made of metal is what is seen as "the true American car" and cars are just not like that today. Thus Americans would rather buy a European car for being European and a Japanese car for being the characteristics of a Japanese car then an American car trying to be European or Japanese to satisfy the real "wants" of American drivers.
The BIG 2.8 American market share has decreased from over 90% to 55%, and unfortunately will be decreasing to less then 50%. On the plus side American movies, music, theatre, comedy and war artillery is the best in the world.
So if the country is focusing on Hollywood, and Norfolk. Texans who want long horn Cadillacs instead of VW GTIs buy American SUVs and trucks and American Engineers do not focus on sub-compact cars, and at $4.50 per gallon here in Canada, we prefer tiny cars. SOON American's will have to also, not by choice but by necessity.
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 6:40AM (6/16/2007)
"On the plus side American movies, music, theatre, comedy and war artillery is the best in the world."
Comedy, okay. Theatre--definitely. Hollywood? Ugh, with a half dozen exceptions each year. Pop music--well, no matter where it's from it probably sucks. I've my doubts about artillery. I spent a lot of time on a 109, and I have to admit, I wish we could build some South African G6 howitzers under contract. Maybe it's just the import coolness factor like these Aussie Fords, but the specs sure look good to a gun bunny!
aSHIRTandTIEguy 3:38PM (6/15/2007)
P.S. My comment was for the comments already left.
On the side of the article. Giddy-up FORD! BRING them nice cars to America/Canada and a nice Independent-Rear-Suspension Mustang, a Falcon, Fiesta, Euro Focus and Galaxy, and with the world class trucks, the way forward will be a lot brighter.
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Don 4:13PM (6/15/2007)
It's just V8 RWD nirvana over there, isn't it?
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grand marquis 4:54PM (6/15/2007)
"We're of the mind that the current Crown Vic and its ancient Fox platform will continue for some time, and that Ford will introduce a new RWD large sedan inspired by the Interceptor Concept. "
If I am not mistaken... the Crown Vic is on the Panther platform not the Fox platform.
It could be that the Panther platform has roots in the Fox platform but if so thats news to me.
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Aki 5:15PM (6/15/2007)
Lemme guess.. this won't come stateside, and Ford will bring out an all-new (but in reality refreshed) Crown Vic?
I've seen Ford pass up enough nice vehicles to not put any hope in stateside releases.
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Atlanta Andy 5:57PM (6/15/2007)
G8...HOORAH!
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bestmacs 6:01PM (6/15/2007)
Here in Oz, you're either a Holden guy or a Ford guy. That's what the Bathurst race is all about. Ford lost a lot of ground with their Falcon AU, which was perceived as having a weak-design rear. Holden Commodores have outsold Ford Falcons ever since and the new Commodore (it's been out for about eight months) is a beautiful predator.
Cheers
David McMahon
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