The Age: End of the road nears for Falcon

callum · 12-01-2010, 01:14 AM

Not good at all.........
http://www.theage.com.au/national/en...0111-m2o8.html

End of the road nears for FalconJEZ SPINKS
January 12, 2010
THE days of producing a home-grown Falcon for the Australian market are over, says Ford's world president and chief executive, Alan Mulally.

The Falcon has been designed and engineered in Australia since the 1960s, but Mr Mulally said at the Detroit motor show that under the new "One Ford" program there would be only one large-car platform for all markets.

"The best thing for Ford is to bring our scale and volume (to the market)," Mr Mulally said. "(Car makers) who make one vehicle, a different vehicle for one country, I think those days are gone, because you can't compete with the global companies, and Ford's going to be a powerhouse globally."

Ford's large car is likely to be based on the American-designed and built front-wheel-drive Taurus, which was unsuccessfully imported into Australia in the 1990s.

Mr Mulally would not confirm if Ford Australia would play a key role in the development of the Ford global large car or whether the Falcon would continue to be built here.

Ford Australia president Marin Burela hopes his parent company will tap into Australian engineering talent, which has played a significant design and engineering role in the development of a new one-tonne utility vehicle and worked on styling projects for Ford of India.

Mr Burela said Ford was still considering whether the new large car would be driven by the front, rear or all wheels, but there was at least 12 months before a decision had to be made.

"The all-new Falcon doesn't have to come into play until the end of 2014, early 2015, and we don't have to make a decision until 2011 on what that vehicle will be, in terms of styling, technologies …" he said.

Ford Australia is adamant it can continue to make a viable business case for the Falcon, despite large-car sales continuing to shrink.

Mr Mulally said the Taurus and other Fords sold in the United States would be be available in Australia.

He left the door ajar for Ford Australia to help develop Ford's US muscle car, the Mustang, which uses the same rear-wheel-drive layout as the Falcon.

"We also have some really good RWDs, like the Mustang. You can imagine another new platform, just like the Falcon, that's going to be RWD for Mustang, so you can imagine driving the One Ford we're going to have every one of those, and so there's no reason why we can't have it in Australia."

With RICHARD BLACKBURN

trendkill555666 · 12-01-2010, 01:59 AM

i dont want a mustang(not just yet), I have two kids with a third on the way and I definatley dont want a front wheel driven american piece of sh*te, I know they are the parent company and all, but Australian engineered is AUSTRALIAN engineered.

Windsor220 · 12-01-2010, 02:05 AM

I think the Falcon will stay but share a platform with the RWD stuff over there. Ford is getting in better shape as time goes on so surely they can sort something out.
FWD wont happen as it cant work with FPV/XRs/utes etc. Would leave Falcon with about 1500 cars a month probably.

388cube_edxr8 · 12-01-2010, 02:05 AM

If Falcon goes front wheel drive, I'm buying a Commondore.

Nuff said.

XR Martin · 12-01-2010, 02:11 AM

Journalist interpretation FTL, apart from the exact quotes, the rest is just jibber jabber

He got all that from this?

Quote:

"The best thing for Ford is to bring our scale and volume (to the market)," Mr Mulally said. "(Car makers) who make one vehicle, a different vehicle for one country, I think those days are gone, because you can't compete with the global companies, and Ford's going to be a powerhouse globally."

ED Classic · 12-01-2010, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

If Falcon goes front wheel drive, I'm buying a Commondore.

Nuff said.

Me too

trendkill555666 · 12-01-2010, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

If Falcon goes front wheel drive, I'm buying a Commondore.

Nuff said.

wouldn't go that far, they would have to fix alot....ALOT, maybe BMW??

FalconXV · 12-01-2010, 02:20 AM

Doesn't this contradict Ford's new US Interceptor on it's way? or was that never confirmed as RWD?

patxbcoupe · 12-01-2010, 02:30 AM

As for the "if ford goes front wheel drive im buying a commode-door" comments, a loyal ford fan would just stick with their current one I would've thought..?
sorry but not really a fan of buying brand new plastic every three years and losing 10k the minute you drive out of the showroom. and that happens with any new car basically... just my 2c worth guys...

Franco Cozzo · 12-01-2010, 02:39 AM

The big man himself basically said we're screwed. But then its a report by the media so it could be skewed towards "don't let the facts get in the way of a good story". By "other Fords" does that mean we get the F series too? If not I say they shove their "global ford" up the khyber pass.

NC5L · 12-01-2010, 02:53 AM

I call bull crap, Quotes from MB from other interviews thrown into the journalist own anti-falcon mix. I think the days of an australian only Falcon are over but something is happening in regards to GRWD and I doubt we will loose the I6 or local production any time soon. Ford would be stupid to ignore a platform as good as falcon, from what I read Mustang's are still way behind the falcon in the drive line department while the lincon is so far behind its not funny.

My reasoning:
-Ford know that Falcon needs to be RWD.
-Lincon needs to be Ford's high end RWD to fight off the Cadilacs and Chryslers but has no platform to continue on.
-Mustang needs GRWD also.
-Police interceptor, apparently based on Taraus but will fall short of expectations if it is AWD, but nothing official yet.
-I6 will have vapour injected gas come July (or has it been pushed back?) which seems a bit dumb if you only offer it for 3 1/2 years.
-Falcon engineered to support EcoBoost and Coyote (again dumb if they are not planning on using the platform post 2014).
-I6 has Euro 4, roumored Euro 5 comming.
-Terrirory, based on Falcon still has a bussiness case and has been engineered for diesel, with new model on its way.
Seems like alot of engineering for a platform that will be defunct in 4 years time...
doesn't make any sence.

Dan.

dom_105 · 12-01-2010, 03:39 AM

I've never understood how Australia was able to continually develop a RWD platform for two types of large cars in one market, while the US is still using a platform developed when Nixon was in.

One Ford has to be the way forward, but that doesn't spell the end of the RWD Falcon if the numbers stack up.

Spaniard · 12-01-2010, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dom_105

I've never understood how Australia was able to continually develop a RWD platform for two types of large cars in one market, while the US is still using a platform developed when Nixon was in.

One Ford has to be the way forward, but that doesn't spell the end of the RWD Falcon if the numbers stack up.

Hear, hear.

At the end of the day, there has to be a RWD platform for Ford which should end up being used for the Falcon.

Falc'man · 12-01-2010, 05:21 AM

/yawns.

chevypower · 12-01-2010, 06:04 AM

None of the quotes actually backs anything in those stupid headlines. All he said was let's not have different vehicles for different markets. He never said the Falcon was going away. If he did, surely The Age would have directly quoted it. So don't panic, it is just the media putting their spin on things as usual. So either the Falcon will exist in ALL markets, or it won't exist. This vehicle globalization is a good thing. You don't see Merc, BMW, Ferrari making different vehicles for different countries. Everything is available everywhere, with all engines, in both RHD/LHD markets. I thought it was dumb to have a nice Focus and Fiesta in Europe, a Festiva and Laser in Australia, Escort in the US etc. At least now, the cars will be fewer, but they will be better made, and they will be all over the world.

chevypower · 12-01-2010, 06:45 AM

Just to add to that, if this globalization thing really does happen at Ford.... Get ready to welcome back the F-series and Mustang in Australia, and everywhere else. US will get the Transit (it already has the Connect), I think the Econoline E-series vans will be gone, save it be the motorhome chassis only. If there is a GRWD platform in the pipeline, I would expect Ford Australia to play a big part.

Falc'man · 12-01-2010, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevypower

None of the quotes actually backs anything in those stupid headlines. All he said was let's not have different vehicles for different markets. He never said the Falcon was going away. If he did, surely The Age would have directly quoted it. So don't panic, it is just the media putting their spin on things as usual. So either the Falcon will exist in ALL markets, or it won't exist. This vehicle globalization is a good thing. You don't see Merc, BMW, Ferrari making different vehicles for different countries. Everything is available everywhere, with all engines, in both RHD/LHD markets. I thought it was dumb to have a nice Focus and Fiesta in Europe, a Festiva and Laser in Australia, Escort in the US etc. At least now, the cars will be fewer, but they will be better made, and they will be all over the world.

Well said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.B.

Mr Mulally said the Taurus and other Fords sold in the United States would be be available in Australia.

He left the door ajar for Ford Australia to help develop Ford's US muscle car, the Mustang, which uses the same rear-wheel-drive layout as the Falcon.

"We also have some really good RWDs, like the Mustang. You can imagine another new platform, just like the Falcon, that's going to be RWD for Mustang, so you can imagine driving the One Ford we're going to have every one of those, and so there's no reason why we can't have it in Australia.

Worst possible scenario: We import/build Taurus AND Mustang.

deesun · 12-01-2010, 08:01 AM

Same cr@p we have been hearing since 1974.

**Silver Ghia** · 12-01-2010, 08:11 AM

Heard it on the radio just before. If this report is misleading as far as Aust. cars are concerned, and there is still a future for an Aust made large car (Falcon / other RWD), then it is up to Marin Burela to clarify the situation to the Australian public right now. Otherwise potential buyers will not be considering a model with no future, which will definitely affect Falcon sales from now on.

If this report is true and the replacement is the Taurus, well we know what happened the last time they tried that.

Ghiadude · 12-01-2010, 08:12 AM

Oh no - the newspaper said it so it must be true...

RATT · 12-01-2010, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falc'man

/yawns.

:

**Luke Plaizier** · 12-01-2010, 08:41 AM

We've heard it before, but it's important to keep it in mind now.

Jez Spinks Stinks. I don't know if Jez has replaced Josh Dowling at Drive when Josh apparently took up writing for Top Gear Australia. I've seen him do but a couple of speculation pieces, and so far when they have included Ford they have been negative from what I can recall. I'd love to be proven wrong.

Josh, as many of you might remember, was an 'impartial' journalist at Drive who quitet recently was found in the cockpit of an HSV Ute trying to help them 'win' (if you can call it that) the Global Green Car Challenge.

Jez Spinks looks to be inheriting the noble task of representing Australian manufacturers negatively in the press to ensure as many jobs are lost as possible so that he can get more headlines in the media.

I wonder why he didn't pay more attention to the last line - where a new RWD is to be developed, and there's no reason why the Mustang and a RWD Australian platform can't be shared? Where did Mulally say the RWD platform was being developed? In fact it reads as if the Mustang would be based on a Falcon platform to me....

Lukeyson

Rodp · 12-01-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patxbcoupe

As for the "if ford goes front wheel drive im buying a commode-door" comments, a loyal ford fan would just stick with their current one I would've thought..?

My loyalty stops when I have to open my wallet. I paid an extra $15k for an AWD Golf because a) I wanted a change, b) I refused to drive the FWD Golf.

I'd never buy a FWD Falcon. If a large performance vehicle was my next car of choice and the choices were a FWD Falcon or a RWD Commodore, I'd choose the Commodore.

Mansal · 12-01-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

If Falcon goes front wheel drive, I'm buying a Commondore.

Nuff said.

Me Too! If I wanted a Toyota I would have bought one to begin with!!

Interceptor · 12-01-2010, 09:03 AM

you would think lessons wouldve been learned over the years....

Euro styling isnt incredibly popular in australia, US styling even less so

Australia is more or less the only place on earth where a full size RWD sedan is expected, simply because the locals dont like FWD..... just ask Mitsubishi

XT2XR · 12-01-2010, 09:05 AM

Sad sad day, I heard this on the radio and thought ford are morons. If ford go FWD I will do a 888 Racing and give up on them. Why cant the Falcon be the world car? The yanks will do anything to ensure they stay on top.
Would like a mustang but will never be able to afford a new car so thats not going to happen.
Good on you Alan Mulally just destroy a brand, now I can see why so many V8 drivers are in Crapadores woops sorry Commodores.

Wretched · 12-01-2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patxbcoupe

As for the "if ford goes front wheel drive im buying a commode-door" comments, a loyal ford fan would just stick with their current one I would've thought..?
sorry but not really a fan of buying brand new plastic every three years and losing 10k the minute you drive out of the showroom. and that happens with any new car basically... just my 2c worth guys...

Why would someone shell out stupid amounts of $$ for a car they don't really want just to stay loyal to the brand? That is the stupidest idea I have heard. Just because someone likes a brand (in this case Ford) doesn't mean they can't shop elsewhere for a product they do want and will be happy with. IF they have to shop elsewhere then it is obvious their brand of preference simply doesn't offer what they want.

You can't criticise people who are spending their hard earned to ensure they get what they want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XT2XR

Sad sad day, I heard this on the radio and thought ford are morons. If ford go FWD I will do a 888 Racing and give up on them. Why cant the Falcon be the world car? The yanks will do anything to ensure they stay on top.
Would like a mustang but will never be able to afford a new car so thats not going to happen.
Good on you Alan Mulally just destroy a brand, now I can see why so many V8 drivers are in Crapadores woops sorry Commodores.

Can you be certain the Falcon would succeed as a world car? Can you be sure the US and other markets would accept the Falcon enough to justify the costs? Alan Mulally has done wonders for Ford, he has turned the company around from a basket case to a company that makes products people do want.
How can you criticise him when you can't be sure what is being said on the radio is true? Way to jump to conclusions

:
FYI, V8 Supercar team choices have nothing to do with the market.

SVTVNM · 12-01-2010, 09:32 AM

I can just see the spin on this in Fridays "GMH (Cars) guide" in the Herald-Sun

Chopped · 12-01-2010, 09:43 AM

"The best thing for Ford is to bring our scale and volume (to the market)," Mr Mulally said. "(Car makers) who make one vehicle, a different vehicle for one country, I think those days are gone, because you can't compete with the global companies, and Ford's going to be a powerhouse globally."

"Mr Mulally said the Taurus and other Fords sold in the United States would be be available in Australia."

"We also have some really good RWDs, like the Mustang. You can imagine another new platform, just like the Falcon, that's going to be RWD for Mustang, so you can imagine driving the One Ford we're going to have every one of those, and so there's no reason why we can't have it in Australia."

Doesn't sound very encouraging for Ford Aus.

R-Design · 12-01-2010, 09:50 AM

Mulally's comments have been taken way out of context, he was speaking at the launch of the first global Focus, of course he's going to be talking up the benefits of global designs. Next week when he launches something else he'll change his tune to suit that agenda.

At least this forces Ford AU to make a clear statement over the future for Falcon. Burela can't afford to let this speculation get out of control, as it has the potential to really damage the brand in Australia (as we can see from peoples comments).