Next For Ford Australia: Falcon Sportwagon Spotted At TMR

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Nov 28, 2008
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Ford Australia's stay of execution for the I6 mill and the Geelong Engine Plant no doubt brought the odd tear of joy to Ford tragics. (Mike can't stop blubbering... the kid's collapsed, overwhelmed with happiness.)

So, perhaps there are winds of optimism blowing through Ford Australia. Maybe the Falcon, and life as we know it, is not about to come to an untimely end next year, or even the year after. Maybe Ford has plans for the Falcon. Is it possible it may yet become Australia's next 'car for the world'?

It needs then, as everyone knows, a half-decent wagon.

Now because Ford Australia doesn't have the faintest idea of what a half-decent wagon looks like, The Motor Report engaged 'wunderkind' industrial designer, Kirk Dyer, two-time winner of the VACC Target 2020 Design Competition, to put pen to paper and come up with a Falcon Sportwagon. (See, philanthropy isn't dead; that's not blood running through TMR's veins, it's the milk of human kindness.)

What you see there is the Falcon wagon Ford Australia should be producing. Combining elements of the handsome UK Mondeo wagon with the rising belt-line, rounded rump and tail-lights of the superbly penned FG sedan, Kirk's lowered, trimmed and stylishly balanced rendering gives us a taste of 'what might have been' for the FG wagon. It looks 'fat'; this is one Sportwagon anyone would love in the driveway.

falcon-fg-xr8_rear-quarter_wagon_small

So yes, it's true. Visitors to TMR Central can see the FG Falcon Sportwagon... sadly, it's only a framed graphic and - sadder yet - that's the only place they'll see it. Somehow, Ford Australia seems wedded to a wagon only an undertaker could love.

TMR's resident arbiter of good taste and decorousness, Steane, reckons, "the beautiful thing about this is it looks more horn than the real Holden Sportwagon," quoth he. (Steane says he might have been wrong about something once, but he can't remember when.)

Jury, what do you think? Is this the Sportwagon for the FG Falcon? Does this look "more horn" than the Commodore Sportwagon? Could such a car spark a wagon-led recovery for Ford Australia?

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Comments

  • toyo [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    please go back to the drawing board
  • Happoshu [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    yeah, not a bad effort......though i reckon the XR6T or better yet the F6 310 might be a better base for a wagon.
    • Ross [reply]
      1 year ago 0 points
      Yeah, it needs to be a bit more sporty. It's getting close, but not there yet.
  • Greg [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Looks great. But Ford's boxy wagon is a popular tool of the trade, and the Territory is the 'sporty' wagon. So this car won't happen.

    If Holden was building something like Territory they wouldn't have brought out the sportwagon and would have either canned it or kept the boxy traditional style.
  • Alec [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    I would buy it!
  • Kelvin [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    About time they change/update the wagon rear end.... its been the same since the EA series lol..... I like it alot. Like Rob said, bring on the F6 wagon Mr Ford
  • Lee Searles [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    That looks awesome!
  • Lee Searles [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Hi-res images please!
  • Pitty [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    that does quite nice.

    definately one for the overtaker as opposed to th undertaker
  • Frontman [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    I like it, but reckon it should be about 4 inches higher off the ground, be available in 5 or 7 seats, AWD or RWD take the angle out of the nose a little bit and call it Territory MK2...... Leave the old hotchkiss reared work horse as it is (with 5 speed and Di LPG only) for Taxi's and Telstra.
  • fgfalcman [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    I'll have my F6 wagon in ego thanks... *drools
  • Conquistador [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Looks ok but Dollars would be better spent on Territory and bringing in the TD Mondeo Wagon.

    If you take the family into the dealership the wagon isnt going to get across the line. A SUV (4wd or not) with a high riding driving position, cupholders up the wazzo and 7 seat capability is going to get the gong.
  • ford 4 aus [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    this looks freaking awesome, if only ford would build it...
  • Rick Harris [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    The new Ford wagon is the Territory . The updated Territory due soon will be even better so why have a Falcon wagon? The Territory is much better than the Commodore "almost a wagon" anyway. The tiny storage space in the Sportwagon is virtually useless anyay.....Territory has much more cargo space and much much much more interior versatility as well. The BF II wagon does look old now the FG is on the scene but it still is a very useful vehicle with enourmous cargo space and its just as good if not better to drive than the base model Sportwagon anyway. I must say though.....the wagon is by far the best looking VE. The sedan looks so unbalanced with those ridiculously large wheel arch flares...........too bad the interior is the same very dated cheap looking black plastic rubbish with that "it must be a joke" handbrake ........
  • JML [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Holden went completely "Sports" oriented with the wagon and the utes because they were getting absolutely trounced by Ford while trying to compete as tool of trade vehicles. That is one reason why Ford has persisted with high load space and payload. Both manufacturers have followed their customer base.

    New model engineering programmes are locked in 3-4 years before the model is released. The reason we haven't seen an FG wagon is because 4 years ago when the FG programme was locked in, the Territory was selling like hotcakes and Ford wrongly assumed it would kill the Falcon wagon sales, but Falcon wagon kept ticking along fine. Then a couple of years later the Territory slowed, Commodore didn't have a wagon, and the Falcon wagon saw an unexpected resurgence, but by then it was too late to engineer an FG wagon.

    We probably won't see a new Falcon wagon until 2010, if at all.
  • Bavarian Missile [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Hell yeah build it TMR.......
  • Scott [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Are you kidding me?
    Im a ford fan, but as far as im concerned it looks like no effort watsoever went into the design of this...
    "lets just grab the holdens sportwagon and just chuck our focus rear and on there!"
    what a joke.
  • Cupid Stunt [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Reckon that looks good. the rear ends a little short and doesn't provide much laggage space. Thats a common problem with most Wagons now. Its only cars like the Merc E-class and volvo, and current Vectra that do decent load luggers.

    BM you still plugging here? good on yah Gal.
  • Matt [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Please Ford, the wife says the next car has to be a wagon!
  • golfschwein [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    I'd love to see what this would look like as a Squire Wagon. I did carry on a little about Squires once on another website but, seeing as this was done on a computer anyway, how about redoing it in white with a massive flash of woodgrain down the side and garnished with alloys from the just-dead LTD? Do come on, It'll be FUN!

    Then I'll let you know if I'd buy one.

    Oh, and remove the tint effect from the windows so we can have a glimpse of the red upholstery.
  • Road Warrior [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Hmm, no sportswagon. Leave that to Holden. The reason why Ford still sells the 'old' style full length wagon is because it's what customers want. Carrying capacity and load space, something a sportwagon can't deliver.

    TMR, can you do a 'shop of a 'normal' wagon length of the FG, but utilising the FG ute tail lights?
  • Nick [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Very nice, as long as it's actually a wagon not a hatch with little space like the Holden.
  • Scott [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Road Warrior is right,
    leave the "wagon without practicality" idea to holden,
    wagons are bought for luggage space, not so you can go "hey i have a wagon" and have nothing but extra height in the boot to show for it.
  • Ken [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    I think this car is really nice, although i think ford is running out of ideas as most of their falcon range look the same to the last generation of the BF.
    as i said it looks nice, but i dont think it will outsell the ve holden sportswagon anytime soon.
  • Longwalk [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    I'm not a fan of that shop, I much prefer the ones on this thread of Fordforums.com.au:

    http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11210807&page=1&pp=25&highlight=sportwagon

    The smaller tail lights look better.
  • Mitch [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    I think the thought it there but Ford have never made a good "looking wagon". The HOLDEN SportWagon is a beautiful looking wagon with chassis balance to match its good looks. I dare say if Ford make one it will be on the same platform as the old one and look decent but still handle crap. I work for holden and i love all types of cars (F6 Anyone?) but Holden did not design the SPORT WAGON just look at the 300c wagon... VERRRRY SIMILAR.. Probably all the wagon designers are heading that way not that they shouldnt i think.
  • harro [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    The overall body shape looks good. Tailgate seems a bit out of proportion, sexy sleek angles in this area normally result in one thing. Poor loading capacity. Which in my option contradicts fords game plan. Save the curves for the next territory.
  • callam [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    its a heap not because its a ford but because they coppied holden holdens sport wagon is a SPORTwagon and the have a hsv 1 aswell this is an old mans car!!!!!
  • DJ [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Even if they do make it, it will probably still have a live rear axle. give it IRS like the sedan and it may stand half a chance. can't see anyone under 40 drooling over it though.
  • Paul [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Ford are mad. I've been driving Fords since I was 7 (Country Upbringing) and the lease on my 2005 XR6T is expiring this year. I am seriously considering the Holden Sportswagon as it is a major step forward in Aussie wagon styling and there is no Ford alternative.
  • Peter [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    bland bland bland...
    An exercise in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory...
  • Darrell [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Leave the luggage space of the BF alone- just add a little style and it would be perfect.
  • matt [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    gross... it looks like an old 323 SP20 hatch, FAIL!
  • Fordrox [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Great looking beast. As stated eralier the Territory is a great all rounder and it may create a double up with the sports-wagon. Go the mighty oval as the #1 and Aussie revolution.!!
  • Lindsay [reply]
    1 year ago 0 points
    Ford Avensis Verso?
  • al [reply]
    10 months ago 0 points
    good on u.20 ,30years ago ford was one of the best cars around us,eu,au...today,so sad.let them go n bring yng people there,they know what to do.this swagon is sexy,nice.so happy when i saw 2 pipes at xr8
  • Mick [reply]
    8 months ago 0 points
    Its the sportwagon in australia
  • Michael [reply]
    8 months ago 0 points
    best looking sportwagon in australia and the world?
  • roly [reply]
    4 months ago 0 points
    I would like to order one now.......orange with black 22inch rims please.
  • Karl [reply]
    4 months ago 0 points
    Do it! Holden outsells Ford because they are brave with the pen. Unless they can knock 200kg off the Territory it wont be the alternative Ford can use for a wagon. Mondeo is too small, finish.
  • silverfox [reply]
    2 months ago 0 points
    Total POS
  • Ryan [reply]
    2 months ago 0 points
    Looks good, but I cant see Ford Australia making a sport wagon, the FG wagon (if we ever get one) will be a big whale for salesman and company reps not for people with a passion for driving, as far as i can recall they have never even put a V8 in a wagon.

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