Clue to next Falcon?

[RED_EL_XR8]

[QUOTE=Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by 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.

I take your point, what I was trying to say is that at the point of dropping the eight things were began going downhill, we have seen several improvement but nothing that is a push back to the top. E-series models may have topped sales charts but getting creamed at the performance end of the market. All those kiddies reading spec sheets one day grow up to be the next generation buying cars.

I do believe that now Ford might just be heading to new glories, hopefully with very few Fusion design hints on the journey. :dr_Evil:

[The Mighty Red]

And everyone reckons the AU was ugly.
This would have to be the ugliest looking POS i've ever seen : :

[Jamie XR6]

Joshua Dowling is so anti Ford he could be making the whole thing up. It just looks like a photoshopped Caddy.

Why car companys persist with corporate looks is beyond me. Look at what Mitsubishi have done to the Magna. Now, their whole line up looks like the same car, only the size is different. Those that say Ford doesn't go with corporate looks must be forgetting the EL. The oval grill was world wide and ordered on the EL by Ford America.

As for design clues to the 07 Falcon, who knows, it might just have the same wheels. If not, I'll be keeping the BA for a few years before buying a Madza 6 turbo or just go back to a Subaru.

[chief]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

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.

Fair enough. Steve Park, and his team at the Broadmeadow plant in Victoria. Park wanted the AU to generate some shock and controversy rather than produce just another car design and to incorporate features of the latest trend, the so-called "edge" design. External input was sought from fashion, architectural and industrial designers. The AU Ford Fairmont Ghia features 87 percent* Australian content including special BHP bake-hardened steel used to produce lighter, stronger body panels. I find it's exterior dynamic very American- rather like the Taurus designs (>1996 <1997 USA) ...*Powerhouse Museum AU Falcon display M2000.

[FNQracing]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

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.

Yes, pretty spot on. Ford went to No1 for the first time with XE. They remained there until VN, and it was tit-for-tat up until AU, where Ford almost went down for the count.

As for the V8's, you only have to look and the number of young guys buying Commodores like there is no tomorrow. Ford lost a whole generation when they stopped making performance cars. Having said that, I think a 1 Mr Peter Brock can be thanked for Holdens success, for at the time, it was not Holden who were making hot Holdens, it was HDT, then a completely seperate company from Holden. Soon as Holden woke up to the fact that these things really had a big market, it was then that they decided to "move in" and the split with Brock ensued. Did'nt matter, for Holden had a long long association with building desirable cars that appealed to the youth.

Ford are still not that favourable with younger blokes (as a whole) as they still have not had a car to drool over for a long long time, when compared to the Holden opposition. XR6T is changing that, but Ford's V8's are just not quite there yet. Close, but with the 6.0L LS2 on the scene, unless Ford have something up their sleeve, history will prove itself again and Ford will be "the other V8 manufactuer".

The Turbo is opening up a new market for Ford. The V8 boys quietly approve of them, but the T is bringing customers to the Blue Oval who would have otherwise never been seen dead in a Falcon.

[Charliewool]

What has been shown here is NOT the new Falcon!..
I did a survey type day on the new (06-07) Falcons at Jeff's Shed back in late August. It took 3 hrs and was paid $100 (plus arvo tea & scones & free parking lol) They had 4 clay models, 4 front interiors to sit in & choose from, then a round table discussion.(Unseen Ford execs in another room videoing & recording the lot)
Although the clays were only base model falcons, at the round table discussion they showed poster size pics of the XR versions (3 fronts, rears and sides) & yes Very European, with the front that everyone decided on looking a little Merc CLKish BUT VERY tough! The side elevation looked slightly "cougarish" with scalloped doors & a similar wedge type shape.
It is SO hard to describe without pics, and there was NO way of taking any (as previous said, all phones were confiscated at the door)
There were 12 of us present, from memory 5 were SS drivers, the rest of us, either BAXR or FPV drivers. Without exception, everyone agreed if this (XR version) was released tomorrow, that they would order one!
Good on Ford for enlisting the general public to get feedback & express opinions

[RPO83]

Originally Posted by Jamie XR6

Those that say Ford doesn't go with corporate looks must be forgetting the EL. The oval grill was world wide and ordered on the EL by Ford America.

That was the past though. Ford and corporate design philosophy back then is very debatable. The oval grille on the EL was a move made from clinic studies in Australia.

[Jamie XR6]

Originally Posted by RPO83

That was the past though. Ford and corporate design philosophy back then is very debatable. The oval grille on the EL was a move made from clinic studies in Australia.

That's true, they did divert from what the Yanks actually wanted but the truth remains that Ford did once have a corporate face on their cars and the EL was part of it. So there is no reason why they wouldn't do it again.

Heres to hoping they don't go that way again :baby bott

[M14A-Mclaren]

I like the Audi idea, Audi make some ffffine vehicles. Audi are probably my 2nd or 3rd favourite car company.

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by FM

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

Or the M6!

[go_ford]

that is definetly not the car! the next falcon is called the orion and they havnt come close to releasing it yet.

[genebaby]

Holy Thread Mining Batman! This one is almost two years old!

[Jeeepers]

Wow, I bet the dust is still settling.....:hihi: This thread predates my meager existance here.

[XR8-260]

That looks terrible. Thankfully - these 'teaser' cars never look anything like the final product.

[BLDNUT01]

Don,t stress guys and girls that is not it nothing like it just like charliewool said

[Cuey]

Everyone needs to chill out a bit!

What Ford as a global company are trying to do, is give all their cars a similar look. Much the same as the Mazda 2, 3 and 6 all have a very similar front end, and the same as Toyota with their Yaris, Auris and it even flows into the Camry and Aurion

After looking at Ford's US website, the overwhelming similar chararisitic is the 3 lined chrome grill. I reckon that we could see this on the 2008 Ford Falcon, which i don't really think is a bad thing.

But for God's sake, those headlights have to go. They're exacty the same as the Brand new Transit

Thats all for now

[Tles]

Ford Fusion
This is more like it. Ford's mod-looking Fusion and its fashionably euro-styled Milan sibling have been well-deserved hits for Ford. Based on underpinnings borrowed from Mazda, in which Ford owns a controlling interest, these cars soften the Mazda6's ride just enough to satisfy a broader range of American tastes. Inside, they're just as stylish as outside and surprisingly roomy.

The Lincoln version, the Zephyr, suffered from added weight that made it drive like a tank despite its small size. It's now getting a more powerful engine and a new name, the MKZ.

The Fusion shows the sort of thing Ford needs more of. It's new and it's good and it actually looks new and good.
-PVD
CNN Money


Ford Five Hundred redesign
The Five Hundred and its Mercury cousin, the Montego, offer near near-SUV-like space and utility. They even come with an optional all-wheel-drive and they've aced every crash test.

On paper, they offer everything the average American car buyer could want. This is a clear case of a vehicle created using a check-box form from the marketing department. ("Legroom, check... Storage space, check...") What they forgot was a check box for "Exciting" or even "Interesting."

So they are being rather quickly redesigned. The Five Hundred will get a tough-looking three-bar grill, similar to the Fusion. The Montego will get its own more differentiated look, too. The Freestyle crossover SUV, based on the same engineering platform as the Five Hundred, will also be redesigned.

Just as importantly, they will get a more powerful engine to add a little of that presently missing zip under the hood, as well.
-PVD

[uranium_death]

I think it looks absolutely terrible.

The car's body is the most square than the X series (or maybe the E series), the windows are claustrophobic and it also appears the tail is flat, similar to a Camry which to me is a major no-no.

I love the current Falcon because the tail has a nice curvature to it. Get rid of that and you've got another average-looking piece of crap.

This will not be the new Falcon. It's too American, meaning it's boxy, ugly and just plain bad.

Only thing I like is the door handles. Well done Ford on door handles.

[The Stylist]

I think the Fusion is a brilliant idea, good on Ford US for designing the world's first 3.0 V6 Mach3 razor blade. Although you would have a problem with owning one around here, as every second person would be trying to shave their un-mentionables on your front grill!

Seriously, apart from the grill the rest of the car is quite boring to look at.

[M14A-Mclaren]

Lol it cracks me up when threads get dug up and people start chatting about it again like it was just posted.

[Ford_V8]

How about this...?
From



To

[Bucket]

:

[dazAUSR]

It looks like a Magna in fancy dress...the grill is ok, the side body is nice but the headlights are terrible...I have always preferred ford over holden, toyota etc because generally the styling is more appealing , especially the interiors.
The front on this one is too square looking and do the headlights have to be so oversized and ugly...really who ever designed that section, needs a holiday... :

[LilMissDrift]

It kinda has a tiny bit of the new chrysler styling there too... well i can kinda see it hey.

[FalconXV]

Funnily enough I always thought so too; I actually thought it was Ford's answer to the 300C when I first saw it ( coz of the bling-bling grille, bulging arches)

[needaXYGT]

i reakon the grill may look a little simular, but the rest of the car, not exactly.

[Dave_au]

No one is really adding anything more to this thread, time for a lockout!

[Sledgehammer]

Re release the AU I say.....

[RG]

People, stop debating this thread would you. It is almost 2 years old and what we know now is a hell of a lot more than what was known then. Someone pleas close this rubbish.
:

[Dilan]

Looks like ars*...