Revealed: The New Ford Falcon Is Here!

[JoeT]

Ford FG Falcon: New Names, New Models

Toby Hagon
17 February 2008
www.drive.com.au

Three new noses and a revised model range are the highlights of Ford’s new FG Falcon range, which now includes just a single V8 model.

The G6E turbo replaces the Fairmont Ghia as the top-of-the-range Falcon. Three distinct styling treatments and a heavily revised model range characterise Ford’s all-new FG Falcon.

Ford has revised the model range for its FG Falcon, codenamed Orion, as part of a major repositioning and consolidation of an expansive vehicle line-up. As part of the FG Falcon revamp a new G-Series range of sports-luxury models replaces the once-loved Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia, while the family-oriented Falcon Futura has been dropped altogether.

Ford now has three distinct model lines for its Falcon range:

* Entry-level XT, aimed at fleets that underpin the majority of Falcon sales
* G-Series range of sports-luxury models aimed at executives and private buyers
* XR range of sporty vehicles designed to boost the Falcon image

Each of the three model series gets unique front-end styling, one of the few styling touches Ford has managed to keep secret among numerous embarrassing leaks over the last year.

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Territory & Falcon Go Their Own Way Until 2010

Joe Kenwright
22 February 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

If you're holding off buying a Territory waiting for it to get the new FG Falcon's mechanical upgrades you could be disappointed.

Holding off buying a Territory waiting for the new FG's new 195kW six or 270kW Turbo? You could be disappointed -- and mistaken.

While most pundits have already assumed that the Territory will gain the FG Falcon's upgraded engines and five-speed automatic transmission as a matter of course, it now seems increasingly likely Ford's locally built SUV will soldier on with its existing powertrain through to 2010.

Ford executives quietly hosed down expectations of a powered-up FG-ised Territory during the new Falcon's launch this week saying that the competitive pressures facing Territory are very different from the Falcon.

This is "Fordspeak" for: If it doesn't need to be updated, don't spend money that you don't have to.

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FG Falcon: FoMoCo Boss Wants One

James Stanford
19 February 2008
www.goauto.com.au

Ford Motor Company president Alan Mulally was so impressed with the new Falcon G6E Turbo that he will drive one in the US.

Any plans to export the new car to America might have fallen over, but the man who calls the shots at the US car giant plans to import one of the new sports-luxury Falcons.

Ford Australia product development vice-president Trevor Worthington told GoAuto about what happened when the ex-Boeing boss called in to check on some FG prototypes at the You Yangs test centre last year, including the new G6E Turbo.

“He went and sat in it and I sat next to him. He is a very considered guy and he sat there for 10 seconds and he said: “There is nothing like this in our company.”

Mr Worthington agreed, before Mr Mulally said: “I want one”.

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Ford FG Falcon: FPV To Revitalise GT & F6

Drive Editor
17 February 2008
www.drive.com.au

Every new FPV version of the FG Falcon is expected to get at least 300kW of power.

Ford is taking the muscle car fight to HSV with its new FPV version of the FG Falcon. The new model drops the classic Ford badge on the front and rear of the car in favour of a more modern FPV badge to better differentiate it from the FG Falcons it’s based on.

Buyers of one of the seven models in the new FG Falcon line-up for Ford Performance Vehicles still get the Ford blue oval badge on the grille though.

“Featuring the FPV badge on all our new models is a major repositioning for the FPV brand,” said FPV general manager Rod Barrett.

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Ford FG Falcon: The Safety Story

Richard Blackburn
17 February 2008
www.drive.com.au

Ford is keeping tight-lipped about the FG Falcon safety package but there is growing speculation the car may become the first locally-built vehicle to earn a five-star rating in independent crash tests.

Ford claims the Falcon has the safest body structure of any locally made car.
Ford claims its new FG Falcon will be the safest locally-built car on the road.

But the company refuses to be drawn on whether it expects the car to get a five-star rating when it is independently crash tested.

Both the Toyota Aurion and Holden Commodore have four-star ratings and industry sources suggest the new Falcon may become the first locally-built car to score a five-star rating from the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

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Ford FG Falcon: How Will It Drive?

Richard Blackburn
17 February 2008
www.drive.com.au

Ford isn’t letting journalists drive the new FG Falcon for several weeks, so we’ve taken a stab at what it might feel like behind the wheel.

The new Falcon should be quieter, more refined and more stable on the road.
Ford has taken a leaf out of Holden’s book and won’t hand motoring journalists the keys to a new Falcon FG until April 2008.

Until then, we can only guess how the new car, codenamed Orion, might be better to drive than the existing model.

But there are enough clues in the technical detail released about the car to get some idea of how the new Falcon will feel in the driver’s seat.

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Ford FG Falcon: Improved Fuel Economy

Toby Hagon
17 February 2008
www.drive.com.au

Ford has realised reductions in fuel consumption of between 1.0 and 5.3 per cent across the range of its all new FG Falcon range.

The 2008 Ford FG Falcon, codenamed Orion, boasts more refined and more powerful engines that use less fuel than the BF MkII Falcon models they replace.

All models have benefited from a substantial engineering effort that utilises advancements in technology and new electronics. But it’s the more powerful, performance-oriented models that have gained most from the multi-million dollar development program.

“Fuel economy and engine performance are traditionally divergent areas, where you wouldn’t expect to be able to improve one without it being at the expense of the other,” says Ford Australia Falcon and Territory vehicle line director Russell Christophers. “But our customers have told us they want improvements in both performance and fuel economy, and they were not willing to trade.”

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New Falcon: No FG Wagon - Yet

Byron Mathioudakis
17 February 2008
www.goauto.com.au

Ford will not release a wagon version of the FG Falcon for the time being.

Instead, a slightly modified version of the existing BFII – to be dubbed BF Falcon Wagon MkIII – will accompany the FG sedan when it goes on sale in May.

Like GM Holden with the VE Commodore, Ford has prioritised getting the four-door sedan and two-door coupe utility to market. Among the minor changes to the BF III will be the standard inclusion of stability control on all models.

New trim, a redesigned key fob, and the fitment of the Goodyear Eagle Excellence tyres that were designed especially for the new Falcon XT are other modifications.

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Ford FG Falcon: Toyota & Holden Response

Bruce Newton
17 February 2008
www.drive.com.au

Australian passenger vehicle sales leader Toyota has welcomed the arrival of the FG Falcon, predicting it will provide some boost for the large family car segment when it goes on-sale in May.

Toyota Australia sales and marketing executive director David Buttner also said his company welcomed fresh competition from Ford because it helped maintain a viable Australian automotive manufacturing industry.

"We want to see every Australian manufacturer survive in this country," he said. "This is a pretty vibrant industry that employs a hell of a lot of people - look at all the local suppliers who have built up expertise over the years, many of whom are now globally competitive.

"The more volume we can generate from the local manufacturing point of view I think the better for the economy, better for the automotive industry and also better for the consumer. So we absolutely welcome the competition."

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Has FPV Painted Ford Into A Corner?

Joe Kenwright
19 February 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

The G8E is a glaring omission in the new FG range.

Ford Australia invented the luxury sports sedan in 1970 with its awesome range of XY-XB Fairmont sedans optioned-up with the K-code 351/5.8-litre engine and GS pack. The XC Fairmont GXL and a special range of XD-XE Fairmont Ghia ESP models with 5.8-litres options that followed had no factory rival.

When the new FG Falcon range appears to deliver the best top shelf Falcon model and the most powerful mainstream V8 factory option ever, why aren't they combined in a range-topping G8E that could have been the best luxury sports Ford V8 ever?

The official reason makes no sense. Ford claims that the new FG G6E Turbo offers so much torque and performance with superior fuel economy, a G8E would not deliver any real advantages.

For this argument to be consistent, the XR8 should not be in the new Ford line-up either. Ford claims that the new FG range consists of a V with the XT at the base while the XR6, XR6 Turbo and the XR8 make up the "overt sports" branch, leaving the G6, G6E/G6E Turbo to generate the "luxury sports" line.

However, the V is looking a little lopsided. Why hasn't Ford shot a 290kW cannon across the bow of Holden's top-selling Calais V 6.0-litre, especially now that the Fairlane has gone?

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New Ford Falcon Video's At Drive.com.au
New Ford Falcon Video At Wheelsmag.com.au


Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV)





Ford Falcon XT


Ford Falcon XR Series









Ford Falcon G-Series






Ford Falcon Ute

[91 s-10baja]

Kind of sedate.

[StormHunter77]

I guess I am used to the cars sold in the States these days, but that design, while nice, doesn't raise the bar anywhere. The sport model (the blue one pictured in profile) looks like the new U.S. focus merged with an old Contour with an even older Topaz. The standard models look good - but not anything better than the Holden Commodore. Is this vehicle coming to the States as something to comete with the G8?

[K Dawg ONE]

Love the blue sedan...the hood reminds me alot of the last gen 'stang.
The dark grey sedan's grill looks very Aston IMO

[mikmak]

No Ford NA wouldn't invest in LHD version, presumably because the powertrain lineups make it difficult to engineer. Also, this platform is due to be replaced with the Huntsman platform in another 4 ish years and will run the 3.7DIV6 as opposed to its current DOHC I6.

[zetaman]

It's very clean looking with much of the quirkiness of AU-BF now gone, t/g. Fairmont ghia and ute look the goods

Interior looks a notch above VE

[SCCA1995]

I like it. I want it. I hope Ford brings these cars over like GM is doing the Commodore. GM could use some decent competition in the US. I still want a Ute. GM is willing to sell me one. How about it Ford?

[cad1cts]

jeesh...i like it
too bad they cant bring it here

[mrbig]

This one should be called a Taurus.

[cad1cts]

btw...whats the huntsman platform all about? ive never heard of it before

[zetaman]

Originally Posted by cad1cts

btw...whats the huntsman platform all about? ive never heard of it before

IIRC Huntsman is Ford Aus' new RWD platform intended as Ford's new Global Rear Wheel Drive platform... due in a few years

[jbernie]

ow, that is uninspiring, this might be the end of the Falcon. It is just way too bland, and the buldge in the hood for the XR8 looks odd.

Hopefully they look way better in real life.

[isszy]

So when are you going to put the pics of the new one up ?

J/K - but I hope it looks more different to the BF in real life, coz these changes don't look much more than the BA-BF update.

Having said that, the BF has actually aged pretty well, and an XR is still a good looking car.

[JoeT]

To me it looks exactly how I expected - A BA-BF updated with the new global 'Mondeo' corporate look.

I don't mind it, but that's not to say I'm overly thrilled by it either. Meh.

That front overhang really stands out with the new bumper. The platform is getting old.

[Ssom]

No no no, it's just not enough! Very sedate and too dull for my liking, as well as too BFish...


Fingers crossed for a mouth watering mechanical package, then...