Clue to next Falcon?

[RPO83]

I like how everyone is comparing it to cars around today. I'm sure I could compile a list of cars that look similar to the BA...I'd just have to look at cars built 10 years ago.

The Ford Fusion is the extrovert of the Ford line-up in the US, the Five Hundred and Crown Victoria takes care of the conservative set and the Taurus takes care of the fleet buyers and truly insane.

I haven't read Drive's junk piece but if they are suggesting that it holds styling cues with the next generation Falcon then they are truly blowing smoke up somewhere.

The only part of that car that may be carried over although not completely, would be the doors and handles.

[ford.boy]

I did say though, that while these cues will be followed, the car will be alot more horizontally orientated.

I'm just wondering ifanyoneremember the release ofthe VY... and howeveryone,includingmost of the holden crown crapped on about how fugly it was. I think it's been accepted lads...

[niko]

looks like them pox prelude headlights

[Fairlane]

Looks dead set awful in my opinion.

Hasn't Ford learnt their lesson about adopting "Corporate Designs". Any car that seems to follow corporate designs seems doomed for failure. One only has to look at the new Mitsubishi's to relise this is a bad idea. Do we really need a corporate face to recognise a brand ? Besides who want's their XR or Fairlane to look like a Fiesta ?(No offence to Fiesta drivers)

I just hope Ford Australia stops listening to the US and does it's own designs. The AU is a nice car but ultimately it's looks failed and it brought the Falcon to the brink of disaster.

I know the BA is a bit consevative and a bit of a throw-back to the EA/B/D but it is well suited to Australia. I just hope Ford Aus does what they say in the article and changes it dramatically.

*Remember the US gave us such wonder as Wood-Panelling on the outside of cars

[X ORSMXR]

Dont like it , it's awlful if Ford Aus goes with something of that shape LOOKOUT it's the AU all over again the body and styling is really ugly

[RPO83]

Corporate Design practice is not employed by FoNA, so I don't think you have anything to worry about. They design each car according to its segment, and they usually do it well.

[MrSparkle]

Originally Posted by MrSparkle

Nup that's not it at all. Think evolutionary step of BA with elements of A6, A8, and a few creases here and there in the lines...

Hello Mr Sparkle, what a fine post you have made here. Isn't it such a shame that people are too stupid to actually READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT, and would rather just go slagging off this picture of a totally IRRELEVANT car....

I live in hope that someday, someone will actually take notice of posts and not just go happily trumpeting their opinion...

Geez, we wouldn't want the FACTS to get in the way of a good knuckledragging session, would we...

[Feathers]

: Oh Yuck. :

[RPO83]

Originally Posted by MrSparkle

Hello Mr Sparkle, what a fine post you have made here. Isn't it such a shame that people are too stupid to actually READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT, and would rather just go slagging off this picture of a totally IRRELEVANT car....

I live in hope that someday, someone will actually take notice of posts and not just go happily trumpeting their opinion...

Geez, we wouldn't want the FACTS to get in the way of a good knuckledragging session, would we...

Oh my god this is going to be the next Falcon, its so ugly and looks like a vectra-rodeo-magna-maxima-honda-mobile! Drive are always right and always unbiased...we are doomed! I hope my sexy looking (insert dated falcon GL model) will hold up until 2050.

[Casper]

Originally Posted by RPO83

Oh my god this is going to be the next Falcon, its so ugly and looks like a vectra-rodeo-magna-maxima-honda-mobile! Drive are always right and always unbiased...we are doomed! I hope my sexy looking (insert dated falcon GL model) will hold up until 2050.

Summed up perfectly...with just the right amout (read 100%) sarcasm.

Hell, I drive and love one of those ugly AU1's, like I give a damn what the new Falcon looks like :

[DivHunter]

Originally Posted by RPO83

Oh my god this is going to be the next Falcon, its so ugly and looks like a vectra-rodeo-magna-maxima-honda-mobile! Drive are always right and always unbiased...we are doomed! I hope my sexy looking (insert dated falcon GL model) will hold up until 2050.

And by then the AU will be a classic

[12]

Hmm.. a lot of AU bashing on this thread. Let's not forget the AU IS the DNA of the BA Falcon. The current Falcon is just a "Genetically Modified AU". Let's see which shape ages quicker over time shall we? Did anyone say "Ugly Ducking"?

[RED_EL_XR8]

Originally Posted by AUGZMK

Hmm.. a lot of AU bashing on this thread. Let's not forget the AU IS the DNA of the BA Falcon. The current Falcon is just a "Genetically Modified AU". Let's see which shape ages quicker over time shall we? Did anyone say "Ugly Ducking"?

I dont see it as AU bashing at all and you dont have to look too hard at BA to see how much of it is modified AU. Looks were always the achillies heal of the AU even though some of them ended up looking damn hot, the difference is even the povvo pak BA's look good.

Originally Posted by RPO83

Oh my god this is going to be the next Falcon, its so ugly and looks like a vectra-rodeo-magna-maxima-honda-mobile! Drive are always right and always unbiased...we are doomed! I hope my sexy looking (insert dated falcon GL model) will hold up until 2050.

I know your reply was tongue in cheek. : But a lot of us mushrooms have to live of the media drip feed. And slop like drive, whilst not to be taken too seriously is often the first hint of what is going on.

You have to admit Ford has a reputation for making some pretty dumb decisions in the marketplace. And after a succession of US models being absolute flops here you'd think they'd get it. Both Broadmeadows and USA.

Re: the GL, I had my LJ forever and would have probably even succumb to changing sides had the EB XR8's not been released just in time. Dropping the V8 in Falcon was the single dumbest decision ever and Ford has never been in #1 position since that decision. It may have only been 15% of sales at the time, but a V8 in the range always sells the lesser models.

Love my Fords always have done, maybe a bit more drip feed of the upcoming models, like before the BA release would be in order, it doesn't have to effect todays sales, and wont if the newer models are an evolutionary improvement. :

[clampy]

i dont see AU bashing at all here...

i see people facing the facts, and that is that the AUs styling was the cause of its plunge in sales figures. whether you like the car or not.

and pretty much... noone wants fordAUS to go down that same route again.. if they do we can kiss em good bye.. (and say hello to the taurus etc..)

but... Thank you Mr Sparkle... coz since your (very early i might add) post, i have had no concerns that my aforementioned event would happen.

-jamie-

ps: yeh i tihnk the fusion aint the best looker.. dont mind the back end tho... looks nice n low.

[Chucky]

Originally Posted by ford.boy

Well from the design groups I'm in, and people I've been talking to, this is a step forward. People in here aretoo quick to shit can new design ideas, especially when it's close to home. And then **** on Ford Australia for designing too conservatively.

Here we have a well proportioned car, with some obvious compromises made because it's based on another platform, so I'd expect the falcon to look similarly proportioned however sharper, more 'horizontal', and more euro than american. Another thing to remember about the Aussie "taste" -- We've always had a strangemixofamerican and euro cars. Very rarely do we get our own car and when we do it's often just a reslapping of an american thing (think avalon) or a semi new front end on an ancient euro body (think commodore).

Now when Ford do something like this sure voice your opinion, but don'tform that opinion on an american mid sizecar that has been designed and signed off on 1 or two years before the falcon. it'd be like shitcanning the AU based completely on the taurus.

I like where ford's going, finally getting more of an identity after screwing up the "new edge" to quite a degree. Anyway, my 2c.

Bloody well said mate.. I agree 100%!

[Chucky]

Originally Posted by MrSparkle

Hello Mr Sparkle, what a fine post you have made here. Isn't it such a shame that people are too stupid to actually READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT, and would rather just go slagging off this picture of a totally IRRELEVANT car....

I live in hope that someday, someone will actually take notice of posts and not just go happily trumpeting their opinion...

Geez, we wouldn't want the FACTS to get in the way of a good knuckledragging session, would we...

Agree with that too!!!! : :
Ahh the good 'ol days are here again!...

[Chucky]

Originally Posted by RPO83

Oh my god this is going to be the next Falcon, its so ugly and looks like a vectra-rodeo-magna-maxima-honda-mobile! Drive are always right and always unbiased...we are doomed! I hope my sexy looking (insert dated falcon GL model) will hold up until 2050.

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Ripping post!! :

Oh my... I just can't wait until you guys actually see the next Falcon.. :

You will be impressed!

[Bucket]

Damn straight... Ford Australia arent going to let Ford US just stomp all over them and besides, they're not stupid either! Styling Queues could be anything...for all we know, it could be a dummy press release..so wake up, Ford Aus wont do the wrong thing by us or Australia again if the market wants conservative i.e BA they'll do it...controversy causes to much profit loss as they found out the hard way...

[watever]

Originally Posted by Bucket

Damn straight... Ford Australia arent going to let Ford US just stomp all over them and besides, they're not stupid either! Styling Queues could be anything...for all we know, it could be a dummy press release..so wake up, Ford Aus wont do the wrong thing by us or Australia again if the market wants conservative i.e BA they'll do it...controversy causes to much profit loss as they found out the hard way...

i second that. love the grille tho

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by FFOracing

One of the biggest tragedies in the automotive styling world are the Bangled BMW's.... Terrible stuff.

Bah, I have to disagree with you there. It seems I am one of a select few people who absolutely love BMW's new styling. It looks extremely modern, up to date and IMO doesn't go too far to be labelled wacky.

But see that is the thing with car designs. It will be someone's cup of tea, whilst their best friend may hate it. What is important is that Ford don't fall into the trap of trying to get absolutely everyone to like it by designing a conservatively styled car that has no excitement about it at all. *cough* Toyota *cough*

Go the Audi look!

Oh and by the way...I liked the look of the AU :

[genebaby]

It's funny, I never thought of the BA's looks as being conservative, I just like how it looks, especialy in XR and FPV form....

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Hawk

Bah, I have to disagree with you there. It seems I am one of a select few people who absolutely love BMW's new styling. It looks extremely modern, up to date and IMO doesn't go too far to be labelled wacky.

But see that is the thing with car designs. It will be someone's cup of tea, whilst their best friend may hate it. What is important is that Ford don't fall into the trap of trying to get absolutely everyone to like it by designing a conservatively styled car that has no excitement about it at all. *cough* Toyota *cough*

Go the Audi look!

Oh and by the way...I liked the look of the AU :

mate the new 5 series is the best looking sedan in the world by a country mile!

Audi is ok...a bit conservative, but nice.

Has anyone had anything constructive to say about the fusion yet? Other than the headlights which are pretty minor IMO.

[billyb35]

Not bad.

The later pictures look good. Very chunky, I like. Remember they said it was purely styling cues not what the next falcon will look like.

*Paging all photoshop gurus to this thread for an early xr version*

[ford.boy]

Originally Posted by FM

Bloody well said mate.. I agree 100%!

Thanks, it's good to have some sense in here :P

Genebaby: The BA falcon is a very conservative car. no offensive lines, nothing to set it way apart from the crowd... Don't ge tme wrong, Looks fantastic, just not completey pure designwise. :

RPO83: Awesome post.

[#Russ#Es#]

Originally Posted by rodderz

Lets not forget this is just an article...and while the Ford designers were saying they have looked at it, they havent said this IS it. They said certain parts could be incorporated to make the Ford global models similar. I'm sure Ford Oz would do some serious research as to what people wanted, and as Sparkles said it would have to be a logical step from BA....Audi-ish would fit quite well too

Exactly! Has anyone here actually READ the article, seems to me that you just look at the pic and the first paragraph and get in a huff. It didn't say anything about being an official pic, and the look would be "taken a step further for Falcon", so it would be styled to Oz taste. THIS IS THE 2007 FALCON THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE! Things can change alot between now and then (2007)

I don't think it looks too bad, a few changes here and there and it would look pretty good.

[RPO83]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Has anyone had anything constructive to say about the fusion yet? Other than the headlights which are pretty minor IMO.

I think it will be a fantastic car for the US market, they've certainly got a shyteload more choice than we do, and soon to have even more choice with the entry level Fusion, the near luxury Milan and the luxury Zephyr - all with different interior and exterior styling all designed to suit different tastes. And this is all on top of the Taurus, Crown Victoria, Five Hundred, Montego, Grand Marquis, Marauder and LS sedans, with more sedans to come.

Styling wise, its not exactly my cup of tea but for who it is aimed at its spot on.

Audi rules :P

[Bossxr8]

[QUOTE=RED_EL_XR8] Dropping the V8 in Falcon was the single dumbest decision ever and Ford has never been in #1 position since that decision. It may have only been 15% of sales at the time, but a V8 in the range always sells the lesser models.

I agree it was a dumb decision, but saying that Ford has never been No. 1 since then is incorrect. Ford was number 1 in 83 when the decision was made and stayed number 1 for the next 5 years straight, and nearly every year after that until the VT was released, and Ford hasn't been back to number 1 since then. The consequences of dropping the V8 took at least 10 years to appear, when the next generation of car buyers followed Holdens exploits in Group C and Group A.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by chief

Lets just hope that it stays a "prototype". The lights look like a Vectra, the styling is borrowed from Chrysler, the exaust and rear is takes from Audi. The wheels look like they are off a Suburu.

When is Ford going to design something truly Australian and not borrow what they think is the best bits off other cars and make it it into honestly like KEV_XR8_UTE said, shit on wheels.

This car is not a prototype, it is a production vehicle called the Fusion, currently on sale in the US. Falcons designed since the XA have basically been clean sheet designs, I don't understand what you mean by your reckoning that Ford don't design anything truly Australian, when was the last time you saw a Falcon that looked anything like what is available from Ford US or Europe, the AU was probably the only one that did by using the New Edge styling theme, and didn't that work well. Before that they were unique.

[Chucky]

Originally Posted by Polyal

mate the new 5 series is the best looking sedan in the world by a country mile!

Not wrong.. Especially in M5 guise! it: :