FG X, The Last EVER Falcon - Picture & Discussion Thread

[Gothefalcon]

Originally Posted by chookaradley

Anyone remember the small sticker that adjourned the left hand rear quater vent window of Falcons in the 80's?

"Built with pride by the people of Ford Australia"

This is one of the main reasons I driven Falcon/Fairmont/Fairlane Utes/Sedans/Wagons for the last 30yrs !! Not the sticker... the fact ! I always try to buy Australian made first... whatever it is !
It's a pity more people don't ! (Not sayin' it's right or wrong.... just that it's a pity ! )

After all... you wouldn't say "I love my kids"... then not support them.... so why wouldn't think of your own Country in the same way !??

I hope the FH is the best quality Falcon ever... so no matter what, the good people of Ford Aus can walk away with their heads held high... and be remembered that way !!

D

[Focused]

DRIVE are claiming that Ford will bump the GT's power up to 351kWs for a final special edition model later this year.

Article: http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor...321-356wm.html

[Squalo]

^ Just saw that, sounds great. I'd rather see them do it to the last ever Falcon though.

[bigwil]

Originally Posted by Focused

DRIVE are claiming that Ford will bump the GT's power up to 351kWs for a final special edition model later this year.

Article: http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor...321-356wm.html

For once Drive might be onto something here, on FPV facebook page they are promoting FPR351 or something like that. Sounds good though.

[stevefreestyle]

Two more pics here, although not very revealing.....

http://www.motoring.com.au/news/larg...l-falcon-42416

Last Ford Falcon spied eight months ahead of launch, but how many will be built?

Ford’s last ever Falcon continues to be subjected to durability testing around Victoria, as these new spy shots in suburban Melbourne show.

These fresh images also reveal a high-spec variant of the final Falcon for the first time – perhaps a G6E, complete with concealed front quarter vents and subtle rear decklid spoiler.

The carefully positioned camouflage confirms the 2015 Falcon, which goes on sale in November, will wear new front and rear sheetmetal, including a fresh bonnet – likely to feature a bulging ‘power dome’ for the born-again XR8.

Expect the ‘FH’ Falcon, codenamed 201X, to also present redesigned quarter panels and new bumpers and lights at both ends, including narrower headlights and tail-lights and LED running lamps up front.

Completing the new look will be new grilles inspired by the latest Mondeo and a fresh range of alloy wheels. Expect the facelifted Falcon to also bring interior upgrades, probably limited to revised trims and graphic upgrades for the central display screen.

Engine and chassis performance is likely to remain the same, with no changes expected in power and torque outputs or suspension calibration.

However, Ford is understood to have made significant efforts to reduce fuel consumption, which was the main prerequisite for the provision of a $34 million federal government grant in 2012.

Average fuel consumption of the entry-level Falcon is tipped to drop from 9.9 to 9.5L/100km, which is still more than 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6 versions of Holden’s Commodore.

Efficiency gains are expected to come mainly from the adoption of lower rolling resistance tyres and a lighter Chinese-built ZF six-speed automatic transmission for all models except the XR6 Turbo and XR8. The performance Falcons continue with a German-made ZF six-speed auto.

Of course, the reborn XR8 will bring the biggest mechanical change by essentially offering the same 335kW/570Nm supercharged 5.0-litre V8 powertrain as Ford Performance Vehicles’ GT, which will be discontinued following the launch of the fresh Falcon range.

XR8 aside, expect all of the above changes to also apply to the only Australian-made SUV, the Territory, which will be released soon after the Falcon before Ford ceases production of both models some time in the next two and a half years.

Exactly when that will take place continues to be the subject of intense industry speculation.

Ford has consistently said it intends to build cars until October 2016, when its Geelong and Broadmeadows factory doors will close – unless Falcon and/or Territory sales continue to spiral.

To February this year Territory sales were down more than 40 per cent, Falcon sedan sales had slipped more than 38 per cent and 26 per cent fewer Falcon utes were sold.

That’s on top of Falcon sedan sales slides of 24 per cent last year, 25 per cent in 2012 and 36 per cent in 2011.

In January, Ford sold just 461 Falcon sedans, 237 Falcon utes and 681 Territorys, for a total of 1379 locally made vehicles. That figure rose marginally to 1570 last month, but that’s still less than the number of Falcons Ford sold every week a decade ago.

Ford Australia currently produces about 140 vehicles a day – down from more than 200 a day in 2012 -- but that number will fall to between 80 and 90 a day from June. It’s then that Ford will shed a further 300 workers, reducing its workforce to less than 1000.

Amazingly, even the reduced level of production is well above current demand, raising the spectre of further manufacturing and job cuts.

Ford says it is committed to releasing upgraded the Falcon and Territory models this year, but the question now appears to be for how long and in what numbers.

There’s no doubt the next Falcon will be the most exclusive ever, but some sources have speculated manufacture of the 2015 Falcon and Territory could be limited to as few as 300 examples each.

Ford rejects that suggestion out of hand, saying it would not build just 300 of any model (less than two weeks of production!) due to supply contracts and the investment involved in developing any new product.

“Wherever that information came from it’s not correct,” said Ford Australia’s new Public Affairs Director Wes Sherwood.

“The plan is for production to continue right up to October 2016, depending on market conditions.

“In fact, the plan is to broaden our portfolio with a range of new [imported] models and to refresh our entire line-up by 2017.”

The new models include the all-new Everest and Mustang, new Mondeo, new Transit and facelifted Focus next year, and possibly the Territory-replacing Edge in 2016.

The $35 million in federal funding Ford received to develop the 2015 Falcon and Territory was conditional on it continuing to manufacture in Victoria until 2016.

But given Ford Australia announced combined losses of almost $600 million over the previous five years when it revealed it will shut its plants in 2016 last May (including a record $290 million loss in 2011), closing its factory doors much earlier than that could be the best way for Ford Australia to limit its financial pain.
Published : Friday, 21 March 2014

[fgpsi]

Originally Posted by Focused

DRIVE are claiming that Ford will bump the GT's power up to 351kWs for a final special edition model later this year.

Article: http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor...321-356wm.html

I guess it'll really be 386kw's then

[stevefreestyle]

2014 Falcon 857682253.jpg

2014 Falcon 187319.jpg

From: http://www.motoring.com.au/news/larg...l-falcon-42416

[stevefreestyle]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

I guess it'll really be 386kw's then

More like 400Kw.......http://www.themotorreport.com.au/554...w-police-fleet

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by stevefreestyle

Attachment 82092

Attachment 82093

from: http://www.motoring.com.au/news/larg...l-falcon-42416

g6et?

[Focused]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

g6et?

Yeah I'd be guessing that's the case. I'm surprised the journo didn't make the obvious connection (luxury model plus a rear spoiler)...

Anyway it'll be great to see a 351 GT (assuming Drive are correct). It's a perfect swan-song for a great badge, and it should differentiate it from the FH XR8 which I'm guessing will probably get the 335 V8 from the old GT.

Having said all of that, people seem to suggest that the 335 is already producing >370kWs so I'm not sure what this 351kW motor is going to REALLY produce. 450kW?

[DJM83]

Ford could put 351 on the new XR8, only thing is it looks to be still a little short of what it actually produces.

[nstg8a]

Hope it's not just a badge upgrade though.... Will be stupid if it's 'supposedly' got a power gain but only manages identical performance figures to the 335

[Luke Plaizier]

I smell an XR8 Sprint on the horizon.....

[FalconXV]

I look at the crosshatch, badge positioning and lights of the new Kias( Cerato, pro_cee'd GT, K9) and my heart sinks. Say it isn't so, spyman?

[JG34JA]

Originally Posted by gothefalcon

this is one of the main reasons i driven falcon/fairmont/fairlane utes/sedans/wagons for the last 30yrs !! Not the sticker... The fact ! i always try to buy australian made first... Whatever it is !
It's a pity more people don't ! (not sayin' it's right or wrong.... Just that it's a pity ! )

after all... You wouldn't say "i love my kids"... Then not support them.... So why wouldn't think of your own country in the same way !??

I hope the fh is the best quality falcon ever... So no matter what, the good people of ford aus can walk away with their heads held high... And be remembered that way !!

d

+1000

[kempy311]

Originally Posted by spyman03

hey,

heheheheh

a smart man only puts on his computer, what he needs ppl to see


im working on the rear atm so you'll have to wait until the weekend

want to show the neon strip in the rear lit up first then we will unveil the back end of the car

spyman.....

I believe its the weekend hahah.

[P6LTD351]

My only gripes with the interior is that it does not have a microwave, kitchen sink, 60 inch Plasma - and the car doesn't bloody drive itself.

Apart from that, I love the current FG interior.

[UberKnee]

Originally Posted by Gothefalcon

This is one of the main reasons I driven Falcon/Fairmont/Fairlane Utes/Sedans/Wagons for the last 30yrs !! Not the sticker... the fact ! I always try to buy Australian made first... whatever it is !
It's a pity more people don't ! (Not sayin' it's right or wrong.... just that it's a pity ! )

After all... you wouldn't say "I love my kids"... then not support them.... so why wouldn't think of your own Country in the same way !??

I hope the FH is the best quality Falcon ever... so no matter what, the good people of Ford Aus can walk away with their heads held high... and be remembered that way !!

D

The difference there is though your kids are always your kids, you made them, you raise them, you show them the world. Nationality just comes down to whatever country you were in when you were born. National pride/stubborness is a little outdated in a more global existence thesedays. So easy to travel and learn.

[BHDOGS]

Outdated when ur kids have no jobs coz u supported Chinese cars maybe they can move there?

[Road Games]

What has that got to do with trhe topic being discussed ?

[UberKnee]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

Outdated when ur kids have no jobs coz u supported Chinese cars maybe they can move there?

Might have too, but thats what happens when local manufacturing doesn't follow the market. Average Joe car buyer doesn't give 2 ***** about how many killerwasps the car has but thats all Aussie car makers care about.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by XR6menace

What has that got to do with trhe topic being discussed ?

He's trying to say that all you imported gadget car fanbois reap what you sow

hth

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by UberKnee

Might have too, but thats what happens when local manufacturing doesn't follow the market. Average Joe car buyer doesn't give 2 ***** about how many killerwasps the car has but thats all Aussie car makers care about.

we are a little backwater, competing with vehicles on the world stage

I'm more than proud that our Aussie made product has taken the bat up as far as it could against imports

now you go hand in your Australian Man Card for those comfy heated sprocketated seats and cup screnunungens

[BadMax]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

we are a little backwater, competing with vehicles on the world stage

And they don't fare too well on the grand scale of things.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by BadMax

And they don't fare too well on the grand scale of things.

by **** they haul *** though

[UberKnee]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

we are a little backwater, competing with vehicles on the world stage

I'm more than proud that our Aussie made product has taken the bat up as far as it could against imports

now you go hand in your Australian Man Card for those comfy heated sprocketated seats and cup screnunungens

Or I'll just hand it in for an AMG V8...or a V8 Mustang where Ford Aus steal all their motors from anyway. Aussie manufacturing aka putting different parts off different cars together ;)

Aussie cars did all right for awhile then just hit this point where everyone else was adding so much to their cars and Ford/Holden in particular didn't want to hear about it and just focused on the killerwasps and getting the biggest motors they could find at GM/Ford HQ.

Hows that pointless aircon in your car buddy? Your forefathers would be disgusted in you having aircon, windscreen wipers, adjustable seats, cruise control, and those other stupid gadgets that dont do anything for driving. SHAME!

[dragons90]

Never knew that the barra 6 was a crate special or the Miami wasn't assembled in Australia to Handle boost and is the biggest motor in fords catalogue.

[XR Martin]

And I never knew the Hilux or Corolla sold so well because it had so many more features than a Falcon... That feature being the badge on the front.

[UberKnee]

Miami may be assembled here but its a Seppo motor Ford Aus put a few Aussie parts on. Boss motors were all just crate motors. I think the Barra 6's are Aussie made but that hardly equates to Falcons being all Aussie cars. A 4 litre straight 6 is farking huge, JDM cars have half that capacity and perform just as well. 5.4, 5.0 are pretty big motors as well compared to what BMW, Audi and several others use.

[au2000]

Sorry, thought this was the 2014 falcon sneak peek thread, I'll move on