Comments on: Ford releases specs on FPV Falcons

By: Bankruptcy2009

Bankruptcy2009 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:57:42 +0000

I like it I think Ford will do well to Make the Next Taurus SHO but make it 600 HP instead . while 417 is good its not quite up to par with the M5 that in the Bench mark for Sedans. And Screw the POS G-8 that is another crappy GM car

By: bghewy

bghewy — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:41:57 +0000

Another thing that should be brought to peoples attention is how different the FG Falcon (2008 Falcon) looks in the metal. I can understand from looking at pictures how people my think it looks to much like the BA/BF model, but you really need to see it in the metal.

By: bghewy

bghewy — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:33:36 +0000

I have to say there are some interesting comments here. As a previous Ford employee in Australia and a Ford enthusiast, I can confirm that the platform is unique and is Australian, and the Falcon has the highest local content of any car on the Australian market. It is also equally if not more developed here in Australia than what the Commodore is, especailly in years gone by when Commodore was based on European models. Which brings me to another point. Holden developed its own platform because all other alternatives that were looked at were not acceptable for the Australian public. The old platform sourced from Europe was going front wheel drive and the american platforms could not be strethced enough to give the right dimensions that Holden was after, hence the most Australian designed and built Holden ever. Ford would be crazy to take the rear wheel drive program out of Australia, because as Holden has proven and as many people on this site be they Aussie or American have said, when it comes to rear wheel drive the aussies do it best.

By: bigp

bigp — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:18:14 +0000

when will, be ready for pick up.

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:24:07 +0000

It won’t come to the US because it will put the american Fords to shame… Americans don’t believe in quality like the aussies do with regards to Ford – independent rear suspension and a V8 together is something best left to the aussies – it has control blade suspension, LSD, big brakes, big seats, it’s a big car, with big engines and it looks good too…

The Falcon has always been a firm favourite of mine and if I ever win the lotto, I won’t roll around in a Ferrari or some other penis extension, but the V8 (I know the I6 has more accessible torque and a turbo to boot but I like the V8 rumble more than a 6 pot growl…) Falcon GT-P Cobra or something would be nice…

By: 14658

14658 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:38:07 +0000

the falcon the latest one, which is this one was not build on an american platform, nor was previous ones. It was build by ford australia, not ford US. The commodore/G8 looks so bulky and ugly, especially the rear light treatment. Although the HSV LED rear treatment is good, this is only in australia.

If you look at the FPV and Ford Falcon cars, it looks nice, some of the design had some ideas from the good ford mondeo. It is streamlined and clean. The HSV has these bulky front look with odd extra parts with those useless front fog lights, which I just hate. The FPV ones are just way better. I laugh at HSV that they need a 6.2 V8 to beat a 5.4 V8 from FPV.

By: HemiRoadRunner

HemiRoadRunner — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:42:29 +0000

I think it’s a cool idea. I’m kind of tired of the cop car Crown Vics that keep chasing my ass.

By: autonut

autonut — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:03:39 +0000

Is this new Jetta?

By: carbonsigma

carbonsigma — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:48:40 +0000

It ain’t better looking than the Commodore/G8! It looks far too similar to the old BA/BF model. They might have improved rear seat access, but people are not gonna buy it just because of that! They should have differentiated it more from the old one.

Falcon is going down in Australia! They must have plans to export it to the US, that’s the only way it’ll survive.

By: SuperRoo

SuperRoo — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:56:29 +0000

This is an all Australian designed platform, with Independent rear suspension. Ford Aus stopped using live axles a loooooong time ago. When Mullaly was out here and drove the turbo six, he liked it so much he asked for one to be sent back to the states for him. This car is all Aussie design. Except for the six speed ZF electronic transmission from Germany and the 5.4 V8 from the states. The inline 6 is also Aussie. The car is way better than the Holden (G8). It’s just that GM has that 6.2 V8 that seems mask some its deficiancies. These cars still exist, because like the states, Aussies also like their muscle.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:34:59 +0000

Why are they even discussing this? Just ship the damn car already!

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:09:23 +0000

falcon should come here as is

Raine:

Focus> all com pacts

Malibu > Accord/TL > Fusion
Ranger> Colorado
Impala > Taurus
Explorer > all medium SUVs

By: enthusiast89

enthusiast89 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:27:36 +0000

my only point is that those excuses are utterly imbecilic and are an example of the kind of thinking that lets Ford lose billions of dollars per year. The fusion/taurus would actually have to be selling for the falcon to be able to cannibalize them.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:40:08 +0000

enthusiast89, if you posed any of those points to our domestic execs the reply would invariably be something along the lines of ‘we cater to the market here, Australia’s dynamics are different’. To which I would call bullshit. The right decisions are made when you listen to real car people, not some politically correct focus group more concerned with the number of cupholders and power jacks than the chassis or powertrain.

They’d probably also tell you something stupid like the Falcon would cannibalize sales of the Fusion and Taurus. More bullshit. This car would be more likely to take market share from the Mustang than those two. After all, isn’t that how the Mustang started out- as a Falcon?

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:02:57 +0000

Ya gotta love the pro wrestler (Sting, Ultimate Warrior) headlights.

By: enthusiast89

enthusiast89 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:59:22 +0000

which platform is the falcon on? it def isn’t panther, and unless its the lincoln ls/jaguar s-type rear wheel drive platform, the australians probably developed it themselves. But even if the platform was developed by ford of America, you have to admit the aussies have built a sweet car around that platform. why can’t the Americans do this? I think the engines argument is a cop-out: only extremely recently with the whole 35 mpg deal have government regulations really hurt engine development-and ford of america has seen a complete and utter dearth of competitive engines before the new regs, while the australians have developed their own hugely powerful turbo inline six and a 5.4L V8 that puts out far more than the paltry 300 horsepower that it does here. If the australians get their development money from american suv profit margins, whats keeping ford from using some of that development money to fund some halfway decent cars for their HOME MARKET? Why is ford of america so completely and utterly incompotent? I have nothing against American cars, I think GM’s resurgence is wonderful, but I think ford is going to bankrupt within 10 years if they keep on their current pace. How can they, as buisnesspeople, see the wisdom in selling antediluvian products like the focus, ranger, crown vic, and last taurus?

By: Commodore

Commodore — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:26:31 +0000

enthusiast – they can do so much on such a “small” budget because of several reasons. First, all they really need to put money in is designing the cars. The platforms are usually supplied by Ford of North America or, more commonly, Europe. In addition, they use huge engines that put out a lot of power. It is much easier and cheaper to make a huge V8 rather than invest billions in “green” technology in response to your strict gov. standards (CAFE). Lastly, bigger cars and SUVs allow bigger transaction prices and bigger profit margins. This leaves a lot of money for whatever development Aussie Ford actually has to do that is not done by Ford NA. That’s my theory at least

By: LaCaLover

LaCaLover — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:20:58 +0000

It doesn’t look very modern

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:00:49 +0000

No wonder people buy imports. Ford has been selling the same exact cars here in the USA for 10 years now… with no major changes. Excluding some sheet-metal work… the 2009 Focus, Ranger, & Crown Vic are the exact same things that rolled off the lot in 1999. Why US R&D throws all its money into the F-series and the Mustang is beyond me.

Even GM’s offerings in the car market tower over Ford’s. Read any review you wish…

Cobalt > Focus
Malibu > Fusion
Colorado > Ranger
Impala > Taurus
Trail Blazer > Explorer

The only things I won’t compare are the gargantuan SUVs and pickups… b/c I personally think every single one of them, no matter the manufacturer, should be downsized or taken off the road completely.

By: ktulu

ktulu — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:58:00 +0000

i like the falcon/. Mnot many I-6s in the USA

By: illwill

illwill — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:52:15 +0000

:’( bring it here now!!! :’(

By: mr.meanpants

mr.meanpants — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:51:33 +0000

Kind of has some elements the Iroc Sirocco lost.

By: phiftywon

phiftywon — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:39:09 +0000

if this thing makes it accross the water pontiac is in trouble

By: enthusiast89

enthusiast89 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:35:48 +0000

I wonder why ford of australia with its tiny budget can make infinitely more appealing/technologically advanced cars and engines than ford of america can…

By: enthusiast89

enthusiast89 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:33:12 +0000

interesting-looks like the inline six pretty much makes the v8 superfluous- i bet it gets better milage too.

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:31:02 +0000

Come on Ford… get some brains and bring that beast over here! Forget the crappy Taurus and Fusion… I want a Falcon!

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:30:40 +0000

Get it over here Ford so my Ford buddies can hve something to look forward to.