Remember, mikesright, in Australia, these aren't considered sporty cars, although FPV and HSV versions get lots of attention! The majority of Aussie big sixes go to fleets, where fuel economy is important to penny-pinching fleet managers. And with the rest being sold primarily as family cars, fuel economy may in fact become an issue. The "Falcodore" is to the Australian market much what the "Camcord" market is to North America.

Oh for those Americans who may be unaware, in other countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, "fleet" doesn't always equate to "rental car" like it does in America. In those countries, it's very common for employers to offer a company car as a perk, and the cars are typically bought by a company fleet manager, and they tend to stick to one model or one brand. About half all car sales in those countries fall into the "fleet" category. (I'm not sure about Oz, but it's over 50% in NZ, and 75% in SA, so I assume Australia's situation is similar).

Correct

 

Good.
Keep that horrible aussie styling down under where it belongs. Give us an all-American chassis and styling and we will gladly wait a little longer. I hate that rounded look. Bring us the Interceptor.

While the Interceptor is an awesome looking car, I must say that you sound more than ridiculous pining for "an all-American chassis and styling." The upcoming versions of the Falcon actually look pretty good, and if you think that recent "all-American" RWD sedans have been better than the Zetas or the Australian Fords, you must REALLY be a fan of the Panther platform (I've rented a Town Car and it drives like an underpowered SUV that has a trunk), or perhaps the B-body Caprice, Roadmaster, etc. It's a new world out there, and you need to take your head out of the sand and see that the best chance the US has for getting RWD V8 performance sedans is from Australia. Without these Australian products, we'd have nothing (which is where Ford is now basically at in this segment). Of course, the well-regarded Chrysler LX platform (Magnum/Charger/300) is about as all-American as Zeta is.

 

While the Interceptor is an awesome looking car, I must say that you sound more than ridiculous pining for "an all-American chassis and styling." The upcoming versions of the Falcon actually look pretty good, and if you think that recent "all-American" RWD sedans have been better than the Zetas or the Australian Fords, you must REALLY be a fan of the Panther platform (I've rented a Town Car and it drives like an underpowered SUV that has a trunk), or perhaps the B-body Caprice, Roadmaster, etc. It's a new world out there, and you need to take your head out of the sand and see that the best chance the US has for getting RWD V8 performance sedans is from Australia. Without these Australian products, we'd have nothing (which is where Ford is now basically at in this segment). Of course, the well-regarded Chrysler LX platform (Magnum/Charger/300) is about as all-American as Zeta is.

Fan of the Pather? Why would you say that, other than to be able to rant negatively about the TC, which is obviously on it's way out, but still a great luxury ride - albeit underpowered.

How hard can it be to build a RWD performance sedan anyway? It's hard to screw that up. Just add IRS and some power and voila. I think it's harder to engineer a good FWD sedan.

Regardless, I don't like anything aussie automotive. I just hate the style. Ford NA can do much better.

 

They're just waiting for the next-generation Falcon development. "Orion" development is essentially a heavy refresh of the current Falcon and I imagine its pretty unsuitable for global emissions, LHD, crash safety, etc.

Zeta was built for export from the ground up, so that's why it's so versatile and that's why it cost more than 10 times the amount that Orion costs Ford to develop. Ford's going to take awhile to turn around because they have to start integrating product plans across the world, they have to start sharing many, many parts, and all of that takes tons of money, which means they're going to have to slowly roll this plan out across the model range. GM has gone through the same changes, the only difference is that GM is pretty much done, all of the next-gen cars coming out (like Delta II, Epsilon II, Zeta, Alpha, Gamma, Theta-Epsilon, etc) are all based off of global platforms and the global parts bin and are being rolled out globally at the same time.

Most people really have no idea how bad slick Willie Ford left FoMoCo. Before Mulally there's no global development, no parts sharing, all kinds of fiefdoms and inherent inefficiencies in a company that could be called well-off compared to its Detroit rivals in terms of pensions and healthcare expenses, retiree expenses, etc, and had been (up until the point he had taken over) really profitable and had stable marketshare for many years. There's no doubt that Nasser had squandered Ford's image and billions of dollars, and all kinds of goodwill (ex: Taurus) when he was summarily fired after the Firestone disaster, but Ford was in good shape competitively compared to the wreck GM and the consumed Chrysler. It will take decades of hard work to undo that damage.

Mike Im sorry but I have to differ with you here, some people might think that Bill Ford tenure didnt do any good at Ford and that not true,Bill was the one that made Ford get back on top of the quality department and know its showing on the cars that where designed under his watch, if you want more parts sharing and global development look here, the only mistake Ford US did was on not getting on board when Ford EU was designing the new Euro Focus, the only place I see Ford behind GM is on the RWD department since Fords Global RWD wont be ready until 2011 and the next US focus will be the same as the EU focus
Ford CD3 paltform

2006–present Ford Fusion (CD338)
2006–present Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ (CD378)
2006–present Mercury Milan (CD338)
2007 Mazda CX-9 crossover SUV
2007 Ford Edge crossover SUV (U338)
2007 Lincoln MKX crossover SUV
2003–present Mazda 6

Vehicles currently using D3 platform include the following:

• 2001-2008 Volvo S60 (P24)
• 2003– Volvo XC90 (P28)
• 2008- Ford Taurus sedan (D258)
• 2008- Ford Taurus X crossover SUV (D219)
• 2008- Mercury Sable sedan (D333)

Confirmed future vehicles using this platform include the following:

• 2009- Ford Flex Crossover SUV - (D471)

Future vehicles using the platform include the following:

• 2008-2009 Lincoln MKS sedan - replacement for Lincoln LS - (D385)
• 2009 unnamed Lincoln Crossover SUV - (D472)

Past vehicles to use this platform include the following:

• 2005–2007 Ford Five Hundred sedan (D258)
• 2005–2007 Ford Freestyle Crossover SUV (D219)
• 2005–2007 Mercury Montego sedan (D333)
• 1999–2006 Volvo S80 (P23)
• 2001–2007 Volvo V70 (P26E)
• 2002–2007 Volvo XC70 (P26L)

Vehicles currently using Ford C1 platform platform include the following:

• 2003 – Ford Focus C-Max (European, First vehicle on this platform)
• 2004 – Mazda Mazda3 (Code name J48)
• 2005 – Ford Focus (International) (American Focuses will continue on the old C170 platform through to 2009)
• 2004 – Volvo S40 sedan (code name P11)
• 2004 – Volvo V50 station wagon (code name P12)
• 2006 – Mazda Mazda5
• 2006 – Volvo C70 coupe/convertible (code name P15)
• 2007 – Volvo C30 (code name P14)

Future C1 vehicles:

• 2008 – Ford Kuga
• 2008 – Volvo XC50
• 2010 – Ford Focus (North American)

Vehicles using Ford B3 platform include:

• Ford EcoSport (Brazil)
• Ford Fiesta
• Ford Fusion (European)
• Ford Ikon (code name B256)
• Ford Ka
• Mazda Demio
• Mazda Mazda2
• Mazda Verisa

Future vehicles on the B3 platform:

• 2010 Ford US-market subcompact hatchback or sedan
• 2010 Ford US-market subcompact crossover
• 2010 Ford US-market subcompact mini MPV

 

Fan of the Pather? Why would you say that, other than to be able to rant negatively about the TC, which is obviously on it's way out, but still a great luxury ride - albeit underpowered.

How hard can it be to build a RWD performance sedan anyway? It's hard to screw that up. Just add IRS and some power and voila. I think it's harder to engineer a good FWD sedan.

Regardless, I don't like anything aussie automotive. I just hate the style. Ford NA can do much better.

The point is NA can't do better! and who said anything about sharing the same platform and BODY? Ford may elect to share platforms but not entirely the bodies and if you take a close hard look at the panthers, their styling dates back much further than 6 years compared to the falcon.
Ford NA has not had a competitive RWD vehicle in years, while Ford AUS does and has done for the last 20 years.
When the orion is released in april 08 it will show up the panthers even more.
I wonder what sells more? large RWD vehicles or FWD vehicles? ask Toyota they have no equal entrant like GM, Ford and Crysler yet somehow they have matched GM for worlwide sales.
Ford seems to be concentrating on consolidating FWD platforms first while GM is doing RWD platforms first.
If Ford NA can do better, why does the rumours suggest Ford AUS will be involved with the development of the next all new RWD platform come 2012? or why GM needed Holden to do Zeta?
Bigger is not always better!

 

its not really news its just a restatement of the obvious, since the successor to orion- huntsman is supposed to the the global ford RWD architecture.

 

Sad! I still think Ford needs better direction because I have seen them do nothing as of yet...right.

Isn't it a good thing, like more buyers for G8.

 

The Falcon is sweet, the article said 2012/13 so then everyone should get it. As far as axing it for N.A. or the Middle East, I can't see much reason to put much into anything it you are only gonna sell a small number of units; though it is sweet!

 

Awesome! We love the Mustang!

Down with choices!

Mustang 4ever <3

 

Awesome! We love the Mustang!

Down with choices!

Mustang 4ever <3

That is the problem i think. Ford NA dont want the Falcon as the best FPR Ford Falcoon will be quicker than the best Mustang due to the Mustang's rather old suspension.

 

Fan of the Pather? Why would you say that, other than to be able to rant negatively about the TC, which is obviously on it's way out, but still a great luxury ride - albeit underpowered.

How hard can it be to build a RWD performance sedan anyway? It's hard to screw that up. Just add IRS and some power and voila. I think it's harder to engineer a good FWD sedan.

Regardless, I don't like anything aussie automotive. I just hate the style. Ford NA can do much better.

Really!

Then why can't the land of milk and honey make one?

Why is the first rwd performance sedan sold by a US marque in decades made in Oz?

Does the Mustang still have a solid rear axle?

Has the Panther platform from the 70's?

You have the Corvette and that is about it.

And even that does not have any presence outside NA.

 

I can't be the only one that thinks this Ford looks like a near-carbon copy of the Holden Commodore..............

 

I can't be the only one that thinks this Ford looks like a near-carbon copy of the Holden Commodore..............

The Front end is very different to the VE Commodore. I know some will disagree but i think the Ford engineers took some inspiration from Aston Martin as the front end does have abit of a resemblance to the DB9. Also its arguable that Holden copied the style of the BA Falcon afew years ago and that is why Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons look similar.

 

Bad move, actually, stupid move, no actually, very bad stupid move. Why the hell not? We all thought that exporting the Orion was the only thing to save Ford Aus from the red but now they're relying on the Focus? Surely they're smart enough to realise that, that is simply not good enough. Now because of this, the Falcon will stick around for a long long time, or even if it gets replaced in 2011-2012, that new Falcon will be arond for at least 8 or 9 years unless they get their act together and look for alternative markets. Australia simply isn't big enough. Holden realised this long ago

 

The Front end is very different to the VE Commodore.

To my eyes, that seems the only thing that is.

 

The only thing that can be remotely related to the Falcon on the VE is the headlights and even then they don't hold much of a resemblance when seen in the flesh. The new Orion FPVs however have definitely got some HSV DNA in its sheetmetal, that front end really does have the mascara sort of look of the E-Series lower foglights. And that rear end certainly looks to include a rear diffuser which looks mighty similar to the one on the current HSV's. I ertainly see (in the GT-P photos, not the ones above) that FPV have gone for a way to similar design spoiler to the HSV GTS's one. Instead of the massive V8 supercar wing they've modified it to look sleeker and more sporty just like the GTS's one. I'm not saying this FPV inspiration from Holden is bad but where's the originality??? And i can see what you mean about the DB9 esque front. Its very very subtle but yeah I see it.

 

RWD sport sedans are huge image builders. Ford does not have a single car in the US market that fits that description. Yes Ford's current line up has some great cars, but nothing that is all that remarkable (except for the Mustang). a RWD sports sedan would significantly raise ford's profile in the market just as the Charger and 300C did for Chrysler and Dodge, and G8 doing the same for Pontiac. Aside from muscle cars, the affordable high performance V8 RWD sedan is an American hallmark. Just having that type of car back in Ford showrooms will bring back the prestige ford once had.
This car would also raise Ford's profile in the Middle East as well, the Lumina (Commodore) and Caprice (Statesman/Caprice) are top sellers in the region and are highly praised for their style, power, driving dynamics, luxury(Caprice) and comfort(Caprice) and affordability.

 

Our $AUD is getting to a stage where our Australian produced cars are too expensive to export - the margins won't be there and this just might be a factor in the Ford decision.

Mike

 

couple of things, isn't the focus already made in lhd? and I take it the focus they will be producing will already have lhd designed into it, so what exactly are they going to spend it on focus wise?

Also margins on a smaller car would be less wouldn't they? As people aren't prepared to pay as much for a small car, even though it costs a similar amount to produce.

 

I think everything logical has already been said about this product, it's not ready for globalization and Ford of NA has bigger fish to fry. They can't afford to spend money on vehicles with a low potential for profit and a high risk of failure. Ford needs to Focus on sustaining marketshare and applying themselves where growth is strongest in order to save itself from banktruptcy. Focus on quality and costumer satisfaction and then the company may have the luxury to branch out into smaller segments. Ford is a very very sick and cautious company right now and it can only afford to spend money where it makes the greatest impact to the general consumer. It's going to be a very long time before Ford looks anything like GM, in fact it will continue to shrink and have an even smaller portfolio with the loss of the European brands.

 

The longer Ford does bs, the more consumers will flock to Camcords instead...

I don't think the Falcon would take many sales away from the camry/accord if it was sold here.

 

Ford or Ford AUS?
This article has reported nothing new, Ford AUS never once stated that orion would be exported in large numbers into any LHD market, this is simply re-hasing old information.
They have done plenty right, they did territory and picked the market correctly there.
They are assembling the new model focus from 2011 to supply RHD markets, they have the engineering contract for the T6 platform and they will be involved in the huntsman GRWD platform.
Falcon is improving fuel consumption with each update, while commodore didn't.
Orion is the last Australian exclusive platform until 2012-13.
Ford simply isn't relying on falcon exports to keep them afloat, fuel prices are not going down and the majority of markets are asking for smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.
Some of you don't seem to know what your commenting on...

I am speaking of Ford USA....globally Ford seems to have some better management.

 

My initial expectation of Orion was for LHD possibilities and exports but in light of the engine being replaced and a whole new platform as a possibility in the future, it does seem to make sense. However, I still think manufacturing of the Focus is a bit foolish. Could they not build the Mondeo instead? The focus seems a little bit too hard to turn a profit on, especially when it is going to be competing against an ever imporving Korean market. By time 2011 rolls around, GMDAT will be turning out new generations of all its models and most likely at very competitive prices. How Ford Oz is going to be able to manufacture and equip an equivalent car with much higher overheads, will be an amazing feat.

 

What is up with Ford? Are they that stupid? That car is better looking than pretty much everything in their current lineup. With thinking like this, it makes me wonder why Ford U.S. hasn't already folded.

 

I thought this platform was going to be used for the next generation Mustang and a few other RWDs?

I still may be -- just that they won't be "exported" -- for all we know they will be built right here in the US market using the mechanicals designed in Aussie-land.