The Age: End of the road nears for Falcon

[callum]

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]

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]

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.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Ford is getting in better shape as time goes on so surely they can sort something out.

Even when sales of this segment were at good levels, Falcon's future was tenuous. With the segment in decline, its inevitable that Falcon will be dropped.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by b0son

Even when sales of this segment were at good levels, Falcon's future was tenuous. With the segment in decline, its inevitable that Falcon will be dropped.

Agreed, the business case for Falcon just doesn't stack up in the medium/longterm. Falcon sales are trending downwards and have been for years and there is just no way of getting around it.

Thing is the investment in the Coyote and V4 engines for Falcon makes no sense either if they were planning to kill the platform altogether in five years. Ironically the "good news" annoucement of the I6 soldiering on, no matter how warm and fuzzy we Ford fans might have felt about it, wasn't good news for Falcons long term future. It basically said there wasn't any reason to update the most popular engine sold with the car, because the car wasn't going to be around long enough to worry about it.

Still that much investment in new engines for half a decades sales in such a small market as Australia, make no sense. Despite the outrage on here, killing the Boss V8 and not replacing it would be the logical thing to do and I fully expect Ford would have done it, if there wasn't at least an idea or push from Ford Aust to keep Falcon alive in some way. If the Coyotes future was only for a facelifted FG then the enthusiasts be dammed, as Falcon would only have five years and many "enthusiasts" don't buy new Fords anyway. Those that do can buy the Turbo I6 or buy a Commodore. So be it.

So why invest that much money in a new V8 and a V4? My guess is Falcon will die in 2015, but the platform will live on. By making it global they can afford to whack the new technology in it like sync and put a new tin hat on the car that will appeal to a broader international audience. Might keep the Falcon platform viable for another decade as a niche model, at relatively little cost, before petrol engines and the platforms for them are phased out. With the updates, production could be moved to where it's cheaper to produce (Thailand) or more politically expedient (North America).

If it arrives back in Australia as a niche car, then Ford Aus can do some PR to overcome the loss of Falcon and Ford fans, being a forgiving lot, will start raving about the all new imported car with “Falcon heritage”.

Meanwhile Taurus production from mostly imported parts will (somewhat) fill the gap left by the Falcon on the production line and allow some more PR spin from Ford Aus. Certainly long enough to get through the bad PR from the engine plant closing and the loss of the I6. Then as big car sales inevitably decline enough, with buyer behaviour and the change of technologies in cars, the Taurus will change to import status.Bit like how the Pulsar was built here one day and imported the next. Most buyers, outside the car enthusiasts will even know it's happened.

Ford Aus future is probably in engineering and testing long term, with maybe production of niche cars for a global market if the yanks can be convinced to leave the plant open long term. Lets hope the Lincoln rumours is that opportunity.

[388cube_edxr8]

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

Nuff said.

[ED Classic]

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

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

Nuff said.

Me too

[trendkill555666]

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??

[Mansal]

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!!

[alter_EGOXR]

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

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

Nuff said.

yeah ditto.....

[XR Martin]

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

He got all that from this?

"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."

[FalconXV]

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

[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...

[Rodp]

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.

[Wretched]

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.

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]

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

[Chopped]

"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.

[FalconXR6]

Killing off the Falcon is the new Mitsu Adelaide closure story.
It will go on for over a decade before something actually happens...
It's been a good 5 years or so now that these rumours of Falcon copping the axe have been surfacing every six months or so.

No stress here...

[Wally]

Watched him being interviewed at the motor show early this morning. He made it clear his vision is based on Henry Ford's brand principles and that the company will be biasing production to the small car with "myford" fruit.

[Franco Cozzo]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by dom_105

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

possibly not, but it does mean the end of a locally manufactured one. Ford global will protect Ford US jobs first and foremost.

[Falc'man]

/yawns.

[RATT]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

/yawns.

:

[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.

[chevypower]

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]

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.

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.

[HSE2]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

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

Which would see my worst scenario enacted, switch to Holden.

Never ever will I buy a FWD large car. If you have to introduce AWD to give RWD character and appeal to the market then the baseless comments that any decision will be cost driven and not market compliant, is utter rubbish.

AWD erodes the very basis of a front wheel drive rational.

While Holden continues to offer RWD Ford will be forced to withdraw from the Australian market. No point importing a product no one wants in any sort of number.