New Falcon Model Name

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Plan for new Falcon
Paul Gover
08jul05

The Falcon has just celebrated its 45th anniversary and Ford confirms it is planning an all-new model to take it beyond 2007 and its 50th birthday.

The current BA Falcon is scheduled for an update this year. Changes are likely to include a six-speed gearbox and a new model name.
Holden will introduce the VE Commodore next year.

Ford Australia has fallen out of the head-to-head model cycle with Holden after making wholesale changes to the unloved AU Falcon, the model before the BA.

"The Falcon name will continue for as far as we can see into the future," Ford Australia spokesman Sinead McAlary says.

"We are working on the next Falcon. It will not be before 2007.






"We have a strong commitment. We have just received funding from the Federal Government for further development of our engines in Australia."

There had been rumours that Ford would not renew the Falcon beyond the BA, but they were mostly based on the delayed introduction of the next model.

Holden is past final sign-off for the VE.

Toyota is completing development of its next Camry, to be introduced next year, as well as a new version of the Australian-developed Avalon, with a new name, which will go up against Falcon and Commodore.

With the future of the Falcon secure, Ford Australia has been celebrating the car's past.

The original Australian-built XK Falcon rolled off the production line at Broadmeadows in June 1960.

The Falcon name has outlived many other local cars and badges, from the Chrysler Valiant and Leyland P75 to the Nissan Skyline, Holden Kingswood and Toyota Lexcen.

Ford Australia president Tom Gorman says: "In the '60s, the Falcon was all chrome and whitewall tyres, and in the '70s we had burnt orange soft-top Falcon coupes to go with our flares and platform shoes.

"Today, the BA MkII Falcon reflects Australia's growing sophistication."

Ford says the Falcon has outlasted 10 prime ministers, five popes and 10 Olympic Games and the total distance covered by all Falcons since 1960 is more than 450 billion kilometres.

Herald Sun