Next Ford Falcon will be less 'Australian'
The Ford Falcon is all Australian. It has always been driven by the rear wheels, and it has always been designed, engineered, and built Down Under. The automotive world is rapidly changing, though, and Ford is one of many OEMs that are driving towards global vehicle architectures and a less diversified corporate parts bin. What does that mean for the Falcon? Nothing for quite a while, as the once hot-selling Aussie special just received major rework in April, and another redesign is many years away. When it does go under the engineering knife it will likely have more in common with the Ford Taurus than anything native to the Outback.
Ford product chief Derrick Kuzak is working towards what the Blue Oval calls "One Ford." That means, for example, that there will be only one C-segment platform for like-sized crossovers, wagons, hatchbacks, coupes, and sedans, and that platform would be used in all regions around the globe. Ford will still have a rear-drive platform for performance vehicles, but the rabid push for fuel efficiency and weight reductions means that the chance of future Falcons being motivated by the rear wheels is slim. Plenty can change between now and 2015, so we'll keep our dimming hopes for a RWD Falcon for all alive, but the prospects look less rosy by the day.
[Source: Drive]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
the other Kevin 9:43AM (9/24/2008)
I have a better idea for Ford. If everyone else likes the Falcon much better than the Taurus, shouldn't the new Taurus have much more in common with the Falcon than the other way around...?
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Jason 1:20PM (9/24/2008)
Totally agree. Ditch the Taurus and bring this stateside. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
jv2k 6:03PM (9/24/2008)
Yea. It'd be a breakaway hit, just like the Pontiac G8, oh wait.
crazy 11:46PM (9/24/2008)
I have driven the Tarus and the Falcon, (Not the new FG just the BF) and even that was better than the Tarus by a long shot.
After driving a friends new Mondeo though, I feel the next Falcon will be a Mondeo with a Falcon badge.
Oh the and new V6, if it's the same as the current Stange then Ford Oz has lost a lot of customers.
Virginia Wolf 9:55AM (9/24/2008)
Yeah, people like you do, people who want power. Most people want MPGs, soft ride, low price, great interior.
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Torrent 1:24PM (9/24/2008)
are you 'No Welfare for GM'???
If not, you guys both have the same avatar, and most people don't like him too much, so you may be mistaken for him. Case in point.
Dude 10:02AM (9/24/2008)
You're Australian. Be Australian!
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Brandon 10:17AM (9/24/2008)
That's pwetty.
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Ian 10:17AM (9/24/2008)
Does that mean they're not using Kangaroo skin for the seats, and Koala bear eyes for the radio buttons?
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nighttime 10:33AM (9/24/2008)
we use drop bear fur for the steering wheel.
Berto 12:09PM (9/24/2008)
I heard they also use Bunyip skin for the dash
Smeagle 9:01PM (9/24/2008)
I heard they have "thong-compatible pedals" too.
montoym 11:08PM (9/24/2008)
Makes you wonder what they do with the Vegemite?
Holden 2:13AM (9/25/2008)
Serious???
We use vegemite as lubricant.
oh and lol thong compatible pedals...if only
akatsuki 10:34AM (9/24/2008)
Ford USA, the weakest division in Ford, is the problem. They need to step out of the way and bring over the Euro Fords, and then bring over the Aussies as Mercuries. Don't bother customizing them for the US market, just get them crash tested and over here yesterday.
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VVVM 12:25PM (9/24/2008)
Agreed 100%, though I'm personally for a re-design of the mercury logo if that should ever happen. That is a sexy car, as are the new Euro models. If ford is planning on changing direction with where its other divisions are going, it has it backwards.
Skybreak 11:05AM (9/24/2008)
"...and it has always been designed, engineered, and built Down Under". Actually the first Australian Falcon (1960) was basically a RHD version of the North American model.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Falcon_(Australia)
It was 1970 that we first designed and engineered the Falcon locally for Australia.
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Alex 10:54AM (9/24/2008)
electric in-wheel motors at the rear.
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Skybreak 11:05AM (9/24/2008)
The idea that the Falcon will not continue as a full-sized RWD does not sit well with me.
Although the market for that type of car is shrinking replacing it was a FWD version doesn't mean that Ford will increase sales here in Oz. The Mitsubishi 380 (a full-sized FWD) was a huge sales failure, dispite being a fairly good car, and its failure lead MMC to shut its factory here, laying off workers, and moving to an import-only program.
Toyota, on the other hand, enjoys great sucess with its Camry/Aurion range, I can't see Ford beating them at their own game anytime soon.
Had Ford US given Ford Oz the ok to develop a LHD version you might now be enjoying your Mercury Falcons and we might not be looking a job loses and the death of an icon in a few years.
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pwr 11:09AM (9/24/2008)
In fact, the Aussie Falcon's heritage ties back to the North American car from the early '60s. the first Australian Falcon was a rhd version of the same car. It's certainly evolved differently. You could say the current Mustang evolved from that car as well.
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