New Falcon Model Name

csv8 · 13-07-2005, 11:57 AM

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

b2tf · 13-07-2005, 12:11 PM

Yep, Falcon is definitely part of Australian History, theyd be nuts to drop the name.

johnydep · 13-07-2005, 12:30 PM

Australia is the only country that manufactures the Falcon now.

Falcon - a Australian icon

Ford would be stupid to drop the name.

Kryton · 13-07-2005, 12:47 PM

well thats definately a dumb move by Ford to not release the new Falcon till a whole year after Holden release the all new VE.
back we go to the EL - VT days.

Pilch · 13-07-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

well thats definately a dumb move by Ford to not release the new Falcon till a whole year after Holden release the all new VE.
back we go to the EL - VT days.

Depends how you look at it I reckon! Potentially the commodore could dominant for a year, but if Ford do a good job with the new model they may than dominate till Holden do a full revision of the commodore again.

Also, while the EL did get hurt by the VT, the XY was strong against the updated Holden (HQ???) in it's day so it can work both ways.

LTDHO · 13-07-2005, 01:46 PM

WTF????

Why would FoMoCo drop the name that is so strong and is working?

I want to be able for my kids (I don't have them at the moment) to by Falcons too!

TheSneakiness · 13-07-2005, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by This woman

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

The name ain't changing. The two damn letters in front of that are.

ozziechief · 13-07-2005, 02:14 PM

so whats the new model name for falcon?

-jjM- · 13-07-2005, 02:24 PM

just hearin the news that there bringing new falcon even tho u know there not gonna stop kicks those, but itll be a shame if holden are the first to bring something new first.

...but hay, new falcon is coming!!!

Dave_au · 13-07-2005, 04:02 PM

The 400? the 540? hahah

Mike Gayner · 13-07-2005, 04:36 PM

Erm, so whats the new name? I can't imagine they will call it the BB Falcon. Isn't this thread title a little misleading?

Kapn_Kiwi · 13-07-2005, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gayner

Erm, so whats the new name? I can't imagine they will call it the BB Falcon. Isn't this thread title a little misleading?

After reading the article about 3 times for mention of the model name, I agree.
I also don't think it'll be the BB either, there was no XX or EE falcon.
Has anyone seen a burnt orange soft top coupe?

RPO83 · 13-07-2005, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinny_Puppy

Has anyone seen a burnt orange soft top coupe?

Ford decided to recycle a Geoff Polites quote for Gorman and got it slightly wrong...

If anything they are talking about changes to model names not codes, eg. Falcon XT.

**russellw** · 13-07-2005, 05:59 PM

Rather than misread what has been said and question the future of the Falcon platform we should be turning our collective minds to which derivative nameplate is in need of a refresh (marketing speak for not selling well) or whether there might be room for another nameplate.

If we were thinking about nameplates in need of refreshing then we would rule out the XR as probably the best performing of them; XT is probably safe if only because it's still newish; Futura and Fairmont are probably both likely candidates with the Fairmont more likely due to it's dismal performance in the sales arena.

Mere speculation of course ....

The MaDDeSTMaN · 13-07-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

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.

Some interesting choices to compare the Falcon name to there... Crysler Valiant (bit hard for that one to still be manufactured without Chrysler, IMO), Leyland P75 (Same as Chrysler, no longer a manufacturer, and while I suspect it's a typo, I've never heard of a P75, P76 or P38 when joking yes, but not P75), Skyline wasn't used for many years but was used by Nissan back in the late 60s before being revived in the late 70s), Kingswood (ok, that one is fair enough, the Falcon has out lasted the Kingswood name) and Toyota Lexcen (AKA Holden Commodore with different badges)...

russellw, I think you've hit the nail on the head there mate.

JPFS1 · 14-07-2005, 01:30 AM

new names (or atleast additional) for the fairlane and LTD is my bet ;)

GTFORDMAN · 14-07-2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

well thats definately a dumb move by Ford to not release the new Falcon till a whole year after Holden release the all new VE.
back we go to the EL - VT days.

i dont know about that, having a rival car manufacturer relese their best attempt at making a car will give you time to see what your up against and make little changes to the suspension, engine, interior ect befor your model is released.

but that does work both ways i guess.

14-07-2005, 05:57 PM

I hope the new falcon comes out soon i want a cheep MkII or a focus (havnt decided)

does anyone know its going to be a MKIII (similar update to AUI to AUII)

or new plastics and more power ???

14-07-2005, 05:59 PM

Double Post