Here at The Motor Report we’ve been sitting on what we thought was bomb-shell news: an impeccable source had informed us that Ford Australia, on direction from Ford Motor Company headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, would announce in February next year a progressive cessation of vehicle manufacture in this country.
In other words, we thought it was good-bye to the Falcon and Territory. And goodbye, in time, to all Ford Australia manufacturing operations here.
There were enough clues around to give credence to the information: sales of the Falcon and Territory had begun to stall even before the ‘great unpleasantness’ of the current credit crisis; the adoption by Ford, globally, of a “One Ford” product strategy seemed to put a ‘use-by’ date on our local-market-only ‘orphan’ models; and, circulating the industry was a persistent rumour that Ford Australia President, Marin Burela, was re-examining plans to build the Focus here.
Lastly, with Ford US deep in a desperate battle for its own survival, any prospect of development funds for new models finding their way across the Pacific were next to nil, and sales in the local market, and profitability, were unlikely to provide the development dollars needed from within the Australian operation.
But forget all that now. Today’s announcement by Ford Australia of the stay of execution of the I6, and of its development to meet Euro IV emissions standards, has ‘put paid’ to any prospect of Ford Australia pulling up stumps.
There is in fact a lot more to this announcement than what immediately meets the eye, and reason for local Ford fans to celebrate.
So, what is behind this announcement?
It can only mean one, or all, of four things:
One, that Ford Australia’s I6 engine has a part to play in Ford’s global “One Ford” strategy. (It can’t be just a short term strategy - something for the interim - you’d have to think; money is too thin on the ground at the moment for that.)
Two, that it is going to be sold somewhere besides Australia (Middle East and North America would have to be on that list).
Three, the I6 has to ‘sit’ in something – for that, you would have to be thinking a larger rear-drive platform (so, that’s Falcon and/or Territory safe for the moment).
Four, with Ford US (and each of the US big three) struggling for development capital for new models there, Ford Australia might just have pulled a rabbit out of the hat for its American parent. Bon Voyage then, left-hook Falcon, for the land of apple-pie, silly hats and cheer leaders.
That’s our best guess for the moment. Wait five minutes and we might have another ‘best guess’. We live in strange and uncertain days.
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Oh God i hope you’re right. I’d love to see the Falcon over here in place of the Taurus. Just needs AWD to really compete.
Lee, we’d be mighty pleased to see the Falcon live on as well. Its such a good car, the idea of losing the FG to the current global crisis just doesn’t seem like fair play.
Thankfully, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
The FG is a great car and deserves to be shared with the Ford world……..i hope this car can be exported but not as a V8 …only with the lovely 6 Ford Australia stuck with the Falcon and now we have the best car in the country …….get behind it Australia..just go drive one !!!!!!
An AWD FPV F6 in North America?! HELL YEA!!!
This is such good news from Ford Oz.
I said on Ford Forums a while ago the Falcon was doomed for death, with all points leading to that. But with this great news we are all hopefully right that the Falcon nameplate will carry on for years to come.
The FG is such a fantastic vehicle which shows how good these engines are!
Brilliant Motor, Brilliant Gearbox in the ZF, excellent aluminium Double A pivot front suspension. Control blade rear. All ahead of the curve.
It probably means though they dont have the dollars to spend on engineering for fitting the duratec. And the Euro 4 compliance (which is mandatory after 2010,i think)is allot cheaper that a heart transplant.
Dont count on Ford US having a brain.
Nice graphic on the engine and chassis. The engine is back to front though
Yo Conk, we’d love to say it’s a secret new model with a revolutionary arse-about mill… but it’s an arse-about graphic designer. (KId wandered in, looked like he needed a feed, he’s just hung about and we can’t be bothered telling him he’s a waste of space and “please go away soon”… what can you do?)
We’ll cut back his daily dish of goodos if he doesn’t start getting it right soon.
It’s a clever way of preserving the clutch though, putting things arse first… you’ve gotta admit that.
The Insider
Maybe turning arse about solves the intake clearance issues should we see a left hooker.
The engine is suited to diesel! Geoff Polites RIP commissioned a couple of mules running the inline iron block six as a basis.
Does a fuel efficient diesel qualify for green car innovation funds?
FPV’s products would also go down well in the UK, if they went up against Vauxhall’s HSV import.
I have a couple of British and American colleauges that wouldn’t say no to an XR6 Turbo either.
I agree with charlie I think FPV and Falcon XR6 and XR8 coming over to UK would be great. Apprently the last BF mark II update Falcon XR8 only cost the equivalent of 20 thousand pounds in Australia what a bargin!
Decision has come about I would think because the investment $ in engineering the v6 in was about to ramp up. That was probably the best chance to engineer in left hand drive. Has that now been lost?
I am very happy to see the I6 get a stay of execution. As to the export market, I don’t think Ford are overly concerned with Falcon export at present, VE pontiac & buick derivatives aren’t really selling up a storm overseas so I believe concentrating on getting Focus (and derivatives) for the export market is by far the more important programme. Remember that with the current free trade agreements between us and Thailand, their products come here with no added charges, yet Falcon Commodore and Aurion all cop upto 80% in Taxes in relation to vehicle size and engine size! Focus should (unless the rules change again) be able to be exported into Thailand, Malaysia, India and such. Far better outcome IMO
It would be a shame to see such a great product go. In times of crisis companies need to back products like ‘our’ G6E Turbo and dump the bad ones.
… oh and by the way, if your looking at buying an expensive euro barge. Take the G6E Turbo for a drive and you’ll understand why I recommend it to everyone.