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Falcon Future


Falcon Future

Author: Jaedene HudsonDate: 11 January 2011
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The debate about whether the next-generation Ford Falcon will be rear-wheel-drive or not could be over, with revelations it will most likely be front- or all-wheel-drive.

Ford group vice president of global design and chief creative officer, J. Mays, told the Australian media today not to hold its breath for rear-wheel-drive in the next generation model.

Mays was speaking at the North American International Motor Show in Detroit today when he revealed the next Falcon could be built off the underpinnings of Ford's large family car, the Taurus, and might even use styling cues from the Taurus.

"I know that RWD is very important to the Australian market," Mr Mays said. "We're not talking about it right now… we're looking at it – but I wouldn't be holding my breath for RWD. I think the chances are it will be AWD."

Ford Australia is one of three design houses competing for the design of the new Falcon.

"It will take some [pointers from the coming new Focus] but it will also take some cues I also imagine from the Taurus, because – and I think you will agree with this – the Australian and the Americans have a singular affinity for a tougher looking car," Mays said.

"I have always equated many of the cars that we have sold in Australia to American muscle cars, and we want to have a little bit of that in an Australian sedan as well… and if we decide to do [FWD] then I think we will get it right."

The next-generation Falcon is not due until 2015, but Mays said Ford will make the final decision on the future of the car's drive by the middle of this year.

The Falcon is due for an update this year, which includes a new Ecoboost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, an advanced direct injection LPG system for its 4.0-litre six cylinder and the addition of a diesel.

But, just hours after the comments, Mark Schirmer from Ford Motor Company communications contacted NRMA to say a final decision has not yet been made.

"While I know J was talking about possible directions for the Falcon platform, I confirmed with [Ford's global product boss Derrick] Kuzak that the decision is still open, and that we have NOT turned down a specific path.

"We are considering the alternatives [AWD, FWD, RWD], but nothing has been finalised, our decision on Falcon has not been made at this point." 

Mays admitted some fans of the large rear-drive sedan won't like the idea but he is confident Ford will find the right answer.

"Keep in mind that we did the same thing with Focus, and we have gotten very good response with that; and we've done the same thing with Fiesta, and even internally, when we first started this process, we had a lot of people within the company saying: 'Oh, that's not going to work!' But guess what – it has.

"So we feel very confident that we are going to deliver a car that everybody around the world is going to be happy with."

The news doesn't just affect the Falcon. It has implications for the company's SUV, the Territory, which is currently built off the Falcon platform.

Mays said the next-generation Territory's fate will be decided sometime in the third quarter of this year.

"We have about six months to sort out the layout," he said.

Jaedene Hudson (in Detroit), NRMA Motoring & Services, January 11, 2011.

 

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