Ford At The 2010 Australian International Motor Show

[russellw]

• Bold, powerful and confident, the all-new Ford Ranger has made its world debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The new face of ‘Built Ford Tough’ for compact truck customers in 180 markets around the world, Ranger is the result of an all-new global compact truck platform developed in Australia
  
• Ranger comprehensively transforms the compact truck ownership experience with more power and outstanding fuel economy from a new engine family, more capability than ever with outstanding towing and payload capacity, and new levels of driving quality
  
• The amazing rally-bred Ford Focus RS makes its Australian debut, a car poised to establish a new benchmark for performance. Only 315 examples of this sought-after hot hatch will be sold, and the show may be the best place to lay eyes on one
  
• Ford's new and expanded Fiesta range is on display, with the new Fiesta sedan making its first appearance in Sydney
  
• New from Ford Performance Vehicles: the GS and GT break cover at the Sydney show with supercharged performance
  
• Territory and Mondeo: even more style, even greater value
  

Ford has presented a multitude of exciting new models at the 2010 Australian International Motor Show - including a world-first.

This year's show got underway at the Ford stand, where the highly anticipated all-new Ranger compact pickup made its world premiere. Removing the covers were Joe Hinrichs, president, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, and Marin Burela, Ford Australia president and CEO. The comprehensively redesigned, new-generation compact pickup is an Australian-developed vehicle in what has been the single-largest export-based automotive engineering project ever undertaken in Australia. The all-new Ford Ranger will be sold in 180 markets around the world.

The new Ranger is the latest in a wave of global products driven by the company's One Ford strategy. Designed and engineered at Ford’s Campbellfield product development and Geelong proving ground facilities, and based on a new global compact truck platform, Ranger has been transformed to assert true truck leadership.

“Australia has played a leading role in the development of this latest global Ford product,” said Joe Hinrichs, president, Asia Pacific and Africa. “Ranger is symbolic of how our great product development capability is being leveraged by the ONE Ford plan like never before.”

The taut, toned new design of the all-new Ford Ranger establishes a powerful presence on the motor show stage. It’s the first time the public has seen the next-generation Ford compact pickup without its camouflage – and if the early responses are any indication, it is certain to be immensely popular.

The truck – previously under cover of heavy black padding, tape and decals to obscure its true identity – has been shot by automotive spy photographers all over the world. These development units covered more than 1 million kilometres of testing in the toughest truck conditions, from the Australian Outback to the deserts of the Middle East to the Alps in Europe.

Now, under the lights at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, the covers have come off to reveal a dazzlingly contemporary new look for the future of Ford Ranger truck capability. It makes a powerful promise – backed by Ford’s Australian and global expertise – to truck owners around the world.

From impressive gains in power and fuel economy – the result of its new engine family – to outstanding truck capability that includes exceptional towing and payload capacity, the next-generation Ford Ranger emerges as a clear segment leader. It not only builds on the tremendous Ranger heritage of truck capability, but it also gives truck owners a spacious, comfortable, feature-filled interior and sophisticated driving experience that they would only expect from a car.

The cult of personality: Introducing the hot Ford Focus RS
The Australian International Motor Show coincides with the local release of the immensely popular, high-performance Focus RS.

Since Ford announced it would be offering a limited number of the legendary hot hatch for sale in Australia the excitement and anticipation surrounding Focus RS has cemented its cult status.

And with only 315 Focus RS models being made available to Australian customers, the Sydney show may be the best place to lay eyes on one.

Focus RS was first introduced in Europe last year. It has since won a host of motoring awards and widespread critical acclaim for its outstanding combination of high-performance road car technology and everyday Focus practicality.

“The motor show is a great opportunity to see the car that’s set to spawn a whole new generation of performance car enthusiasts,” said Marin Burela, Ford Australia president and CEO.

"Given the extraordinary customer demand for Focus RS this year's show is the ideal place to see one up-close."

The hot-performing three-door hatch boasts a turbocharged five-cylinder engine that develops near V8 performance levels with 224 kW of power and 440 Nm of torque.

Blowing the covers off the new GT
The Ford performance story also continues with Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV), which has launched its first-ever supercharged V8 engine which is fitted to its hero GT and new GS model ranges.

The new engine is based on the lightweight Mustang V8 but has been developed locally for FPV’s Falcon-based performance models.

FPV’s supercharged models join its turbocharged six-cylinder F6 range in Australia’s most respected high-performance model line-up.

Both the FPV GS and GT are on display at Ford's spectacular stand at this year's Australian International Motor Show.

Ford Fiesta range expands
Visitors to the Ford stand at the Australian International Motor Show will be among the first to see the newest members of the Ford Fiesta range, with the new Fiesta sedan and diesel models on display.

Available in both diesel and petrol versions, the four-door model adds to Ford’s successful Fiesta range and is expected to introduce even more new customers to the Fiesta line-up.

“Fiesta has been extremely successful in Australia,” said Burela. “Since its launch in early 2009, Ford’s share of the light car segment has grown from 4.7 per cent to 8.3 per cent. We fully expect that the new sedan and diesel variants will attract even more new customers to the Fiesta range, along with the availability of the new 1.6-litre PowerShift automatic transmission.”

Mondeo: Enhanced style and technology
Visitors to the Ford stand won't miss the soon-to-be-released MC Mondeo. The sleekly styled hatch and wagon range is now further refined and boasts a number of intelligent driver-assist technologies. For example, Titanium models will come equipped with Driver Alert, Lane Departure Warning and an adjustable speed-limiting device. All models will wear an enhanced exterior design.

The upgraded Mondeo uses powerful and efficient four-cylinder Duratec petrol (118kW/208Nm) and Duratorq turbo-diesel (120kW/340Nm) engines. Backing the highly efficient turbo-diesel unit is Ford's clutch-operated PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission. This intelligent gearbox helps the Mondeo LX hatch achieve a fuel consumption rate of only 5.9-litres per 100km (combined cycle, tested to ADR81/02), making it more fuel-efficient than a Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Show-goers can inspect the new Mondeo range at the Ford stand prior to its Australian showroom arrival next month.

Value-enhanced Territory
The motor show's Ford stand also showcases Ford's famed ability to deliver exceptional customer value. Case in point: the new Territory TS Limited Edition.

This equipment-rich version of the popular Territory has made its public debut at this year's show. Visitors will notice its distinct look with unique exterior colour accents and generous new features, such as roof racks, new part-leather front seat design, Blue-tooth®+ mobile phone kit, side steps, and limited edition badges.

The Territory TS Limited Edition is available in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive fitted with either a four- (RWD) or six-speed automatic transmission (AWD). Ford's proven DOHC 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol engine with DI-VCT (Dual-Independent Variable Camshaft Timing) powers the limited-edition Territory.

Prices for the Territory TS Limited Edition are:

Ford Territory TS Limited Edition RWD: $41,990 (drive-away)*
Ford Territory TS Limited Edition AWD: $46,990(drive-away)*

The Territory TS Limited Edition will be in Ford showrooms from later this month.

Visitors to the 2010 Australian International Motor Show can experience the exciting line up of Ford vehicles, along with a host of interactive activities for motoring enthusiasts and families, from October 15-24 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

* Recommended offer price at participating dealers. While stocks last.

Source: Ford Media

[Falc'man]

Ford's stand was by far the most interactive, there was a lot of activity there which had many lining up to take part.

The GT on it's side was a great idea - it forced many to get up close and pay attention. It's pity there weren't any GTs to sit in.

The Ranger didn't do much for me, but after looking at the BT-50...

The RS has been added to the bucket list.


Got to meet Ian (HSE2), Tim (TICK4D-TAS) and Andrew (TS50). It was a real pleasure guys.

[82XD393.3v]

http://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11311494