That’s a bit of a tongue twister, but when you get on a roll…
The big—and no doubt depressing—news for Aussie Ford fans lately has been the talk of future Falcons moving to a Front Wheel Drive platform. We first spoke of this back in late August, but a topic like this will be hot for some time to come.
The latest word, following Ford chief Alan Mulally’s recent visit to our shores, is that the Falcon will eventually move to a global platform; probably that used by the US-market Taurus.
Ford Vice President of Product Development, Derrick Kuzak, reckons it’s something of a certainty.
“When we work globally and we look at vehicles that are similar in terms of the market segments and the customers we’re trying to serve, large sedans and large utilities like Falcon and Territory have similar needs and customers to vehicles like Flex and Taurus in North America,” he said.
The goal then, says Kuzak, becomes trying to figure out how to serve both the Australian and the US market in the most intelligent way financially; and this raises the point that there is no technical benefit to having two utterly different cars doing the same job in the two different markets.
In line with this thinking, Ford as an international business, is moving towards Alan Mulally’s golden “One Ford” plan, where more and more components are to be shared across the different models in the various markets around the world. The main differences then being little more than aesthetic and whatever region-specific technical necessities may be required.
All of this is, of course, built around the need to reduce development and engineering costs in the company.
What of the FPV brand? All Wheel Drive is also likely to be an option and no doubt any performance variants will be most appealing in that form. Of course, to the average Ford nut here in Australia, it’s Rear Wheel Drive or bust.
To be fair, Mulally has not yet confirmed whether the Falcon will indeed switch to a FWD format, but it’s probably fair to say the writing is on the wall.
Hang in there, Falcon fans. With the recent release of the FG, it should be at least another five years before you’ll need to worry about seeing a FWD Falcon vying for Car of the Year.
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The reason why people buy Falcodores over Camrys and Magnas is because they can do donuts in them.
A front wheel drive Falcon is going to turn off your enthusiasts, who are the only people dumb enough to buy them in this era of higher petrol prices, tighter financial circumstances, and mid-sizers now being big enough to do what most fleet managers need.
Oh Charlie, you deliciously bigoted fellow,
[I just love these ppl who bag out Aussie cars]
…let me tell you something.
1. I am not dumb. My IQ is a fair 130. I have a Bachelor degree from the Uni of Canberra and am an IT contractor earning about 6-figures. I also watch SBS, the ABC and am pretty good at trivia.
2. I thoroughly research my big purchases.
3. The XR6 Turbo I own delivers everything I want and its Aussie-made to boot.
YOU cant tell me what I want in a car nor in my lunchtime sandwich. My decision to buy my Falcon was totally rational, no vehicle comes close to delivering the combo of things it delivers.
Put that in your pipe n smoke it fella…
now now boys and girls..
Sure, some “people” (read: boys and girls) out there may be crying that these thirsty, hoon, expensive to maintain vehicles are finally maturing into a proper respectable FWD sedan, but that is indeed what separates the boys from the Men.
The FG Falcon, whether it becomes Front or All wheel drive, shows that they have grown-up and now have class and real substance, something Australians can be proud to drive rather than smashing into innocent people’s lounge rooms at 3am.
Plus since the police are pathetically incompetent, it’s about time Ford has risen to the occasion and realised they no longer think it’s appropriate that affordable, RWD cars be on the market, only to get into the wrong hands.
I’m not a typical ford vs Holden person, but to be honest, the FG falcon is a very neat car, and if it wasn’t for better vehicles like the lancer evo, I’d be looking at one for sure.
1. I am not dumb. My IQ is a fair 130. I have a Bachelor degree from the Uni of Canberra and am an IT contractor earning about 6-figures. I also watch SBS, the ABC and am pretty good at trivia.
Haha obviously a degree doesn`t make you that smart lol.
I’m old,retired and have an XR6T. Why,well firstly I can afford it,then its a really good package and finally although I dont do “donuts” I do enjoy driving. I had a Magna sports before and I liked it to.Ditto the Mini Cooper I had back in the 60’s before the kids came along. Bottom line ,you dont have to be a ratbag to enjoy a class package be it GM, Ford or what ever.
Anyone who enjoys drivng will know that a RWD will be a much better drive than a FWD. There is a reason why performance cars, or even BMW dont use FWD. Everyone know FWD is a compromise
I have an au falcon. my rear tyres still have plenty of tread after 55,000kms of driving. “geez must be a good brand of tyre seeing we only buy them too do donuts!!” I brought my falcon because i was always told too buy a car you like. that way you’ll look after it. I wouldnt trade it for any front wheel drive car on the market. all this critism about rwd cars being involved in honning. Is it just them?? I’ve lost count of the “cool kids” driving around in hyundais with 3inch exhaust pipes trying too race each other at the lights ( also include corollas and lancers in that). how many 4 cylinder cars are now capabale of doing over 170km/h nowdays. as for fwd being better then rwd. lets see one tow 2300kgs. fwds chew tyres quicker then rwds and most(not all) have poor handling. dont say i’m ya average typical rwd fan either. i have owned 2 front- wheel drives and 2 rear wheel drive cars. both have the advantages and disadvantages. although i cant see how people say the 4L I6 chews fuel. I get the same fuel economy and with the falcon out on the highway as my old 89 camry 2litre twin cam manual (told and know have a very good fuel ecconomy). and around town it doesnt use much more fuel then what it did. I also have another 89 camry atm. a 1.8 L single cam with an automatic. it uses more fuel then the falcon. I think would be alot better on fuel if it was a manual. also a fwd falcon ute?? well a front wheel drive ute for a start is a stupid idea. there workhorses not shopping trolleies!!!
I must take my time, I drive an Australian built rwd car.
What was i saying ?. Sorry i lost the subject as i was clearly smoking weed and doing burnouts, Whilst breaking into peoples houses for drug money.
Not to sure what i will eat tonight for tea ?. Maybe i will just need munches to satisfy me. Late servo trip ! we got the munches.
Stupid bogan with no life or job - Shouldn’t that be Thick person whose jealous of our Aussie Car Culture,your the same person who keeps visiting aussie car websights always calling people bogans.Maybe you should get a job fool,or grow some balls and tell us what you drive.I hope you dont live in Oz but it would not surprise me if you did.