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.
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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please go back to the drawing board
yeah, not a bad effort……though i reckon the XR6T or better yet the F6 310 might be a better base for a wagon.
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.
I would buy it!
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
That looks awesome!
Hi-res images please!
that does quite nice.
definately one for the overtaker as opposed to th undertaker
Yeah, it needs to be a bit more sporty. It’s getting close, but not there yet.
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.
I’ll have my F6 wagon in ego thanks… *drools
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.
this looks freaking awesome, if only ford would build it…
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 ……..
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.
Hell yeah build it TMR…….
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.
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.
Please Ford, the wife says the next car has to be a wagon!
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.
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?
Very nice, as long as it’s actually a wagon not a hatch with little space like the Holden.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!!!
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.
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.
bland bland bland…
An exercise in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory…
Leave the luggage space of the BF alone- just add a little style and it would be perfect.
gross… it looks like an old 323 SP20 hatch, FAIL!
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.!!
Ford Avensis Verso?
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
Its the sportwagon in australia
best looking sportwagon in australia and the world?
I would like to order one now…….orange with black 22inch rims please.
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.