Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Ford, Australia
Rendered Speculation: 2008 Ford Falcon Orion XR6
click above image for high-res version
Development mules for the upcoming redesign of the Ford Falcon in Australia are not that hard to come by in the land of Oz. CarAdvice has hosted plenty, and decided to let loose an artist on them to create an accurate rendering of what the 2008 Ford Falcon will look like. Shown here is a rendering of the 2008 Ford Falcon XR6 model, one of the many high-performance versions of Ford Australia's rear-wheel drive sedan. After examining all the spy shots that we've seen, it's clear to us that this is the most accurate guesstimate of the Falcon's new look that you're likely to find.
[Source: CarAdvice.com.au]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alex Nunez 5:08PM (8/31/2007)
That rendering is fug. It's going to look better than this.
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SPG 5:22PM (8/31/2007)
I think that the end product is going to look a little less like a 95 Contour/Mondeo but so far so good.
Plus with all the demand now for rear drive cars with style and power Ford could actually consider this car for the North American market. Hopefully.
I personally think that Mercury should clean house keeping only their SUV's and supplement with this Falcon and the new Mondeo.
And just to revive one of their old names they can call these cars the Mystique and the Mystique II.
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bestmacs 5:30PM (8/31/2007)
G'day from Australia,
I drive a Ford and it might interest your readers to know that the 6-cylinder sales war in Australia has been won by Holden Commodore ever since Ford introduced the AU Falcon with what was perceived as a ``neither here nor there'' rear.
Just shows how important design is when you're aiming for market share.
Commodores still outsell Falcons in this big sunburnt country ....
Cheers
David McMahon
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Barney 9:58PM (8/31/2007)
Are they still inline six's?
rav0 11:56PM (8/31/2007)
Yep, still an inline six (aka straight six).
bestmacs 4:24AM (9/01/2007)
And the Falcon muscle cars, the XR6 and XR8, really have performance that match their looks!
mk 5:31PM (8/31/2007)
They'd better sit up and take notice of all of the good press the G8/VE Commodore is getting.
If the G8 does as well as it looks to, then Ford is going to be the odd man out without a RWD car, even after keeping the Panther Crown Vic on for so long, when DC and GM were without RWD. Ford is dropping as everyone else picks back up.
This car, as a ford, or better yet, as a Mercury competitor to the G35, Hyundai Genesis, and other RWD near-lux sedans can only help FoMoCo.
and coupe version for Mercury, please. This makes so much more sense than the Bring-back-the-SHO stuff, especially right now.
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Paul Y 5:32PM (8/31/2007)
Ford should bring over the Falcon, Fairlane and Territory, slap on some Mercury emblems, and justify that brand's existence. Sure, it's still badge-engineering, but at least with different damn cars.
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w 5:57PM (8/31/2007)
good point. but does anyone know why ford cars overseas have a completely different aesthetic?
Paul Y 6:50PM (8/31/2007)
@w:
Ford of Europe is run quite independently of NA, for whatever damn reason, as is shown by the completely different design themes. Apparently, Australian Fords are on their own as well, but more Europey than American models.
However, Alan Mulally has expressed that the European "Kinetic Design" theme will eventually work it's way to the NA market. This can only be good, as European Fords are, as a group, handsome vehicles (and generally better engineered and more modern, apparently). Anything that will help phase out the goofy safety razors is alright with me.
jg 5:53PM (8/31/2007)
Kind of reminds me of Bubastis.
I am of course talking about Ozymandias' cat from Watchmen for all you non-geeks.
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TriShield 6:19PM (8/31/2007)
Shots of the next Falcon were leaked months ago.
http://mp3.news.com.au/hwt/images/falcon/FPV-Falcon-GT-big.jpg
http://mp3.news.com.au/hwt/images/falcon/FPV-Falcon-F6-big.jpg
Looks sharp. It's really a shame Ford won't be selling it as-is in the US.
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rc 8:39PM (8/31/2007)
cough cough crown vic cough
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importjap 8:47PM (8/31/2007)
Looks good, only thing that riles me is it STILL has the same look side on from the AU model.
With the speculation over ending the local Ford 4.0L inline 6, I have to ask if the 08, maybe 09 will still use the local engine?
The Focus wheels are awful too, but probably just the renderers choice
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bestmacs 9:42PM (8/31/2007)
Wonder why muscle cars here in Australia seem to come from a different design stable than their overseas brethren. Can anyone telll me, please?
Cheers
David McMahon
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alexer 12:06AM (9/01/2007)
mercury!!!!!!! bring it as a mercury!!!!! MERCURY NEEDS A REAL GOOD CAR!!!!....... MERCURY!!!!
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John 5:48AM (9/01/2007)
I would prefer to see it badged in NA as a Ford SHO. There is a lot of love for the SHO but why engineer a Taurus into a SHO.
Leave Mercury as a USA design group and let it stand or fall on it's merits. I would bet on it falling.
Keep Ford the international badge with recognizable cars and trucks around the globe.
If someone has a stay at home model, then call it something else, like Mercury or Falcon.
Rick Lyon 11:15AM (9/01/2007)
So Ford goes from copying the Passat (500) to now copying the Mazda3?
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Torqued 2:13PM (9/01/2007)
First of all, it looks nothing like a mazda3. Nor is it remotely in competition with the little fwd, 4-banger econocar 3. Is the 3 even available in Australia?
Oh, and Ford owns Mazda. They'd be copying themselves.
Arthur 2:41PM (9/01/2007)
It doesn't look like a Mazda3 at all. That doesn't mean the car hasn't already been built though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:2008-Mitsubishi-Lancer.jpg