Falcon’s Future In ‘One Ford’ Global Strategy To Be Determined In 2010-2011

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Apr 15, 2009
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Ford Australia Boss, the disarmingly forthright Marin Burela, today in a media briefing gave the clearest indication yet that the future of the Falcon is bound into Ford’s global ‘One Ford’ model strategy.

Furthermore, he said that “by the end of 2010 or 2011, we’ll be making a decision on our next large car.”

While he would not be drawn on whether that replacement would be a Taurus-based vehicle (as many have been speculating), he said, “It is important as a company we continue to develop global platforms. ‘One Ford’ is important (as a global strategy) and we’re sticking to it.”

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“I’m not sure we fully understand what front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive really mean to Australian consumers,” he said, putting it in a context of the growth of all-wheel-drive.

 

With Ford’s ‘One Ford’ strategy as the immovable foundation to these musings, the meaning behind them is clear: a Falcon as we understand it today – a model exclusive to the Australian market - is increasingly unlikely to form part of Ford Australia’s on-going strategy.

 

"An Australian-only product is a risky strategy for us (Ford) to adopt," Mr Burela said. "It is important to have global reach and global scale."

 

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But don’t read into those words that Ford will cease production of a large car here.

Far from it. Marin Burela’s projections see large cars as holding in excess of 100,000 sales, or at least 10 percent of the Australian market, through the next decade. And Ford intends to be a major part of it.

So, a global platform for Ford Australia’s next large car. What will it be called? Falcon? And where will the platform be sourced?

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You make up your mind. We don’t have long to wait for the answers – two years, tops. Meanwhile, we’ll keep you posted.

GALLERY: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

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Comments

  • Fords Rock [reply]
    11 months ago 0 points
    If Ford are unsure about what FWD would do let suggest they look at the Aurion sales as indication of how Australian will accept a FWD Large Falcon. I for one will not buy a FWD Falcon.
  • auto [reply]
    11 months ago 0 points
    on design,Taurus would outsell Falcon by many.
  • Fords Rock [reply]
    11 months ago 0 points
    I like the FG Falcon Design over the Taurus. Clearly the Taurus is designed for the tastes of the US market. But Ford would be making a huge mistake if it dropped the RWD platform. The traditional Falcon buyer wants a large RWD car if they didn't they would buy a Camry.
  • Jamie [reply]
    11 months ago 0 points
    I prefer the FG over the Taurus as well. Having said that, in the future if the Taurus did become the next Falcon, apart from the loss of an 'Aussie' Falcon the only disappointment for me would be for it to become FWD.

    An AWD F6? Now that would have me laying my hard earned down.
  • Captain Nemo [reply]
    11 months ago 0 points
    I have 3 reasons why Aussies wouldn't buy a large FWD car Avalon, Aurion,380....oh damn make that 4 reasons Avalon,Aurion,380 & Magna.
  • Fords Rock [reply]
    11 months ago 0 points
    The FWD is safer is a myth created by car makers who wanted to build the cheaper FWD design. It is simply not true.
  • Leali [reply]
    5 months ago 0 points
    I currently own FG XR6-T and I can tell you right now no 2L engine will match perfomance simply there is not enough, if ford produce which they allready said they will then I'll be looking elsewhere for my next car. Wouldn't it be more feasable to actually replace falcon with mondeo even if they have to re-enginer to make it RWD it would be success, imagine blown Mondeo RWD or even AWD gee that would be a dream-car, one that I would buy but not this nonsense 2L Falcon, it will still tip the scale at over 1600kg so what's the point of 4cylinder 2L engine... It's gonna be so slow even the cyclist will be overtaking the Falcon... C'mon Ford don't kill the Falcon but in the other hand they are doing me and other owners of XR6-T favour since in a few years time this car will be a hot collector's item... Thanks a lot Ford....
  • mark [reply]
    5 months ago 0 points
    What ever happened to the good old days, australia wants RWD powerful falcons, its time we stick it up to holden and produce one of the best RWD/powerful vehicle we can.. c'mon FORD
  • F6TYPHOON [reply]
    4 months ago 0 points
    front wheel drive better then rear wheel for traction hey. Why do all drag cars use rear wheel drive.

    Why does the Toyota TRD run 14.5 sec lighter and 245kw same as ba xr6t that ran sub 14sec

    Man some people say some silly stuff.
  • F6TYPHOON [reply]
    4 months ago 0 points
    Yeah sorry for the shoot down lol

    Don't get me wrong I don't mind driving fwd cars I drive toyota echo to work every day. But today in the pooring rain as there was starting to get some serious puddles you have to drive with 2 hands. The engine revs as the front wheels slip and slide when just driving down the highway.

    Have you ever driven off from the traffic light and felt a front wheel drive car pull hard left ?

    Even better leg go of the steering wheel for a moment and feel what happens to the steering wheel.
  • Tenka [reply]
    4 months ago 0 points
    Well the Taurus is already ahead in that it's designed to handle Ford's more global engines and that it comes LHD and is possible to convert to RHD.

    Nemo said:
    > Aussies wouldn’t buy a Magna.

    What roads have you been driving on? Were you blindfolded?

    Fords rock said:
    >The FWD is safer is a myth

    Nope, just a fact that the characteristics of FWD make it easier to control in poor conditions than a RWD equivalent.
  • Joh [reply]
    4 months ago 0 points
    The Falcon's problem is that it is a RHD only product, and catering mostly to the Australian market - By contrast, GM offers Commodore in LHD for export markets (rebadged of course).

    I hope this doesn't happen of course (though I would not be too surprised if it does) but I get the idea that by 2015 if Ford US have their own way with Australia that the Falcon would be replaced with the FWD Taurus (sedans) and Explorer (wagon and Territory) - the Ford Ranger taking up the ute sales...
  • Tim Wasson [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    I think if Ford would bring the Falcons to the States especially the UTE and just swap the RHD to LHD, they would be making some great sales ! Not sure the engines would pass but the idea of a I6 to me is just perfect ! Come on FORD, get it together !
  • falcon ftw [reply]
    2 months ago 0 points
    falcon is part of this country's history. Australia is all about high powered rear wheel drive vehicles, and if ford Australia was to go all wheel drive falcon or Taurus i could imagine Holden getting a majority of this country's large vehicle sales. personally being the proud owner of a xc falcon i would not buy an all wheel drive falcon or taurus
  • J McMenamin [reply]
    2 months ago 0 points
    Performance is great but what about daily driving. Taxis, police, government, fleet and private.We all prefer Falcons. wake up Mr Ford you are playing a game of politics and you will lose. You have no idea of the level of anger you are creating among Ford owners and Ford workers. Australia wants and needs ''RWD''
  • great aussie beast [reply]
    2 months ago 0 points
    my dad just bought a brand new FG XR6 Auto and absolutely loves it. what i can't believe is that they are thinking of taking the falcon out of production. i mean how much $money$ would they make without it. not much.

    and how long till they supercharge an FPV GT. won't that be sweet.
  • pesbot [reply]
    1 month ago 0 points
    i own the very 1st BA FPV Typhoon F6, in stock guise the engine made 270kW and massive 550Nm, with not much of a boost at all from the factory, all i did was a computer tune and a much much bigger inter-cooler, the car now , since 2006 makes 790Nm at the flywheel from 550Nm and over 380kW at the flywheel with just small minimal tweaks , it is a brilliant engine and not to mention the fact that it uses 1 to 2L less petrol in city and highway operation, something that the factory should have done long ago, and that is a bigger inter-cooler and a much less restrictive tune, since 2006 on this power 380/790 this thing still runs, no problems, nothing regular 5000k oil changes, so far not a single beat has been missed, at 242000km and still running like brand new, just like NEW from the factory!

    please Ford don't let the I6 go, please!, or at least do something with the new V6, make it at least 3.7L , or 4.0L V6 and twin-turbo it to compensate for the loss of the mighty I6! , we love our I6 here in Australia! don't let it go please.

    Pester
  • F6TYPHOON [reply]
    1 month ago 0 points
    I own a BF F6 TYPHOON, Mods larger intercooler, exhaust, 42lbs injectors, and tune. = 516.6rwhp or 516.6kw at flywheel. Fuel usage is 8.3l/100 highway driving and 10.9 combined.

    Ford you have to keep the I6 how can you beat that ? 10sec falcon with stock engine how can you stop making this awesome engine ?
  • falconorbust [reply]
    1 month ago 0 points
    I've been driving falcon's for thirty years and watching them race for fourty years, to stop making them in Australia would be a slap in the face to all diehard ford fans. Ford has the best large car in Australia and the best race car for the last five years. It's not the falcon that has to change it's the marketing and advertising that needs to change. five years of winning races and ford failed to capitalize on advertising that fact. Stop making falcon's and you will crush the heart's of all true ford lovers across Australia.
  • Wheelnut [reply]
    1 month ago 0 points
    You're right falcon or bust - even though the V8 supercars have very little in relation to the ones in the showroom; people still like to associate themselves with the championship winning team.

    I think the problem is that there are people at Ford who think that the majority of V8 fans are "the great un-washed"... even though those fans have the money to pay $100+ for their family to attend the race and $200+ for an FPR Spray Jacket.etc
  • F6TYPHOON [reply]
    1 month ago 0 points
    The problem with FORD not selling cars is there advertising and attitude. I think there needs to be more info on the cars available to the public and there ads need to reflect the positives. Ie remind people who ford have become not what ford were 30 years ago.

    I sent customer to ford today to look at buying a new G6E and the first thing the sales man says is Mitsubishi no wonder your trading it in.

    He had the magna for 10yrs without a problem and only 60,000kms on the clock and they offered him $4,000 trade in and then said that's what you get for buying a bits r missing.

    The guy came and abused me and said he's not going back to ford his now looking at a holden with sidi.

    I spoke to this guy for over an hour and even took him for a spin in my F6 and you idiot's shoot him down in less then 5 min. Well done ford you bunch of w--kers

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