"Falcon is dead" drive.com

[bathurst77]

http://www.smh.com.au/drive/motor-ne...0120-mkfq.html

Another nail appears to have been hammered into the rear-wheel-drive Falcon's coffin, with a Ford insider reportedly telling a respected US car magazine that the car "is dead".

Motor Trend quotes the Ford source in a story on the next-generation Mustang that's due in 2014 and rumoured by some media to be linked to the next-generation Falcon expected the same year.

The story follows Ford boss Alan Mulally's comments last week that the car maker would no longer produce different vehicles for different countries, confirming the next Falcon would have to share its large-car platform with the next-generation North American Taurus.

The Taurus is currently front- and all-wheel-drive only, and Ford told Drive at last week's Detroit motor show that its rear-wheel-drive development program remains frozen after it was suspended in late 2008 due to increasingly strict emissions limits in the US.

Motor Trend's source says the new Mustang will remain rear-wheel-drive, though it looks set to be built on its own compact platform and sold around the world rather than extended to cater for large-car applications such as the Falcon or Taurus.

In a discussion about Ford's global rear-wheel-drive large-car platform, the Ford insider told Motor Trend, "The [next-generation rear-drive] Falcon is dead."

In Fairfax's story last week about the demise of the Australian Falcon, Ford boss Mulally hinted on the eve of the 2010 Detroit motor show that the Mustang may be the only rear-wheel-drive Ford available in Australia in the future.

"You can imagine another new platform, just like the Falcon, that's going to be rear-wheel-drive for [the new] Mustang, so you can imagine driving the One Ford [program] we're going to have every one of those [One Ford vehicles globally], and there's no reason why we can't have it [the Mustang] in Australia."

Neither Ford Australia nor its parent company would guarantee the future of Falcon production in Australia.

In a further twist this week, Ford Australia axed more than 30 contracted employees who Drive believes were working on computer-aided design studies for projects relating to the next-generation Falcon.

[bathurst77]

Of course you might believe news limited instead.

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/new...stang_platform

Falcon to fly on Mustang platform
By Paul Gover
Herald Sun
15 January 2010


The 2011 Ford Mustang. Ford Australia's Marin Burela stressed that planning for the next new Falcon is barely into the research stage, hinting that it would be possible for the car to share much of its basic mechanical package with the next all-new Mustang.

The legendary Ford Mustang will be twinned with Australia's own Ford Falcon in a plan to drive the local brand forward beyond 2015.

The current FG Falcon is safe for at least another four years as Ford's local spearhead and plans are beginning to integrate its replacement into a new-look, globally-focussed One Ford organisation.

The move is unlikely to affect Ford Australia's local manufacturing operation, with the Falcon-based Territory SUV also set for an even longer run through to 2016, but will lead to greater efficiencies and a leaner, greener local family car. The broad sweep of the Falcon plan was outlined exclusively to the Herald Sun yesterday at the Detroit Motor Show by Ford's worldwide president, Alan Mulally. He pointed to a continued role for the Falcon in Australia within an integrated global product plan.

"We'll be in the Falcon market, yes. But as we go forward we'll continue to use all our assets around the world," Mulally said. "We have learned so much from the Falcon, because it's a dynamite car. Whatever that Falcon morphs to, for the next one, it will be available for everyone around the world.

He also effectively dismissed suggestions that the Falcon, a traditional rear-wheel drive design, would be replaced by the front-drive Taurus built for the USA. The Taurus has already failed once in Australia, in the 1990s. "We're going to have a large sedan. The whole thing about rear-wheel drive? We're going to have a rear-wheel drive car," Mulally said.
"And we've got the Mustang. So you can imagine, going forward, that there will be a next version of the Falcon that will be even better. In capital letters." Rumours of a end to the Falcon's run in Australia, and perhaps even an end to local production by Ford, were categorically denied yesterday in Detroit by the president of Ford Australia, Marin Burela.

"No company that was going to pull out of Australia would be spending $230 million on bringing the world's best powertrain technology to Australia for the Falcon," Burela told the Herald Sun.

He said the coming introduction of a four-cylinder engine in the Falcon would allow Ford to compete against new rivals, including the Toyota Camry, as well as setting a new class benchmark for engine efficiency.

"Our strategy is very clear. We took a very bold step forward when we announced a significant investment in Falcon only a few months ago. No other local manufacturer has committed that sort of investment in recent times," Burela said.

"Why did we do that? We did that to give Falcon an incremental level of growth opportunity over time."If you look at the things we have done on Falcon, and we are planning for Falcon, there is absolutely no reason for us to deviate because the plan is working."

Burela highlighted an improvement in Falcon's share of family-car sales in Australia in 2009 at the expense of the Holden Commodore, and even the need to work some weekend shifts at its factory in Broadmeadows to satisfy demand. "It's actually delivering a very, very very exciting return," he said.

Burela stressed that planning for the next new Falcon is barely into the research stage, with no urgency on any sort of commitment. He also hinted that it would be possible for the car to share much of its basic mechanical package with the next all-new Mustang, but with a local body above the mechanical package.

"The Falcon's changeover is due to take place at the end of 2014, or early in 2015. Our decisions . . . for Falcon don't have to be made until we get through to the middle of 2011. So we have time on our hands. "At the moment, all is well on the Falcon side of things. All is very well."

[bathurst77]

We're going to have a large sedan. The whole thing about rear-wheel drive? We're going to have a rear-wheel drive car," Mulally said.

mind you..they dont have to be the same car

"We're going to have a large sedan." ... Taurus based car fwd/awd
(AND) "We're going to have a rear-wheel drive car," the mustang for enthusiasts

[deesun]

Are any of those sacked workers members of these forums to give us any info?

[jpd80]

What a surprise, a pro GM site (Drive) quoting another pro GM site (Motor Trend).

We need to understand that these journalists won't give it a rest even after
they've been told the facts.

The best thing that can happen now is Ford releases FG II, new LI LPG engine,
then Coyote V8s and then New Territory, Ecoboost I-4 Falcon.
No one will even remember or care about these articles in 6 months time when
Ford begins updating the FG and brings out the new Territory this time next year.

[RIPGMH2009]

of course people wont forget this in a hurry they want to no what their future car will be and so far noone is giving them a true indication of what it will be other then some of this some of that rwd will be here in a large car so until they say the next 4 door falcon is rwd with mustang underpinnings its open for speculation

[Bundy]

This motor journalism stuff seems quite easy, like being a polly really, lots of dripple, base it on a fact or two if you want to seem knowledgable or not, doesn't really matter either way. Show it to your boss, he'll rubber chicken stamp it and volia there's another pay in your account. It'll never come back to bite you, because its surrounded by all the other dripple that everyone will forget 72 hrs later, only having a vauge sense of deju. Better yet sign me up as a polly they get paid more....

[brodfloyd]

Someone needs to put into their 5 year calendar the name of the guy who wrote that first article (Jez Spinks), and then send him a note in 2015 when the new falcon is released....







.... and demand a japanese style honour killing.

[Ohio XB]

I was talking today with another Ford co-worker who knows a guy that knows how to spell Detroit, and lives next to a guy that read a magazine article that quoted another magazine reporter supposedly hearing about a top Ford source who claims to have knowledge of Marin Burela, who is somewhere else in the world, state that Derrick Kuzak, the President of Global Product Development, stated in a press conference to the media at the North American International Auto Show that the company was going to build cars.


Mind you, this is just a rumor, so you can take it to the bank.


Geeesshh!!! My kingdom for a reporter with integrity, credibility, and pride!!!!


Steve

[Spaniard]

Originally Posted by brodfloyd

.... and demand a japanese style honour killing.

+1

Good call!

[chuckles]

why would ford oz engineer the ecoboost 4 when the platform will be gone in 5 yrs? seems like a waste of money for what might be a low production option

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by lorosfalcon

why would ford oz engineer the ecoboost 4 when the platform will be gone in 5 yrs? seems like a waste of money for what might be a low production option

Easy answer, they wouldn't! These clowns are talking out of their ar$e!!

[trendkill555666]

you'd think if they were to kill off the falcon in 5 yrs or so, they would release the Taurus now and pack it full of technology with the ecoboost V6 and ecoboost I4, FWD and AWD.

And not change the falcon at all.

[chuckles]

Originally Posted by trendkill555666

you'd think if they were to kill off the falcon in 5 yrs or so, they would release the Taurus now and pack it full of technology with the ecoboost V6 and ecoboost I4, FWD and AWD.

And not change the falcon at all.

They tried that last time they bought the taurass here. that was to be the chooktin replacement

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Motor Trend quotes the Ford source

Was that the janitor or the gate security guard??? :

[brodfloyd]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

Was that the janitor or the gate security guard??? :

Or Harrison Ford.

"what was that chewie???"

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

Was that the janitor or the gate security guard??? :

The cleaner answered the phone !!!

[Dave_au]

The Motor Trend article does actually raise some good points if anyone has actually bothered to read it.

Motor Trend article:

Scoop! Next Ford Mustang Going Global
New Car Coming for 50th Anniversary; Rear-Drive Aussie Falcon Likely Dead
January 18, 2010
/ By Mike Connor

Scoop! Next Ford Mustang Going Global

"2014 is weighing pretty heavily on us right now," said one highly-placed Ford Motor Company source at the Detroit Show. The date is significant because it will mark the 50th anniversary of the Mustang, and Ford aims to have an all-new ponycar on the market to celebrate.

But with Ford's global rear-drive platform program apparently dead, Dearborn product planners are trying to figure out exactly how they're going to build it, especially as CEO Alan Mulally re-iterated at Detroit his view that automakers could no longer afford to build vehicles unique to one country.

Under the global rear-drive platform plan, the 2014 Mustang was to have shared its basic architecture with the next generation Australian Ford Falcon, and possibly a new flagship sedan for Lincoln. The Mustang would have been on the short wheelbase version of the platform, the Falcon on the mid-wheelbase, and the Lincoln on the long wheelbase. But that strategy has changed, for three key reasons:

1) A large rear drive sedan for the U.S. would require a lightweight platform architecture to help it meet forthcoming fuel economy and emissions standards.

2) Sales of the Australian Falcon slumped last year to just over 30,000 units, the lowest level in the nameplate's 49 year history in Australia.

3) Although it avoided bankruptcy, Ford burned through a lot of cash last year, and may not have the resource to devote to developing what would be a complex but relatively niche architecture.

By the time a new rear-drive Lincoln could appear, the Town Car will have been out of production for three to four years, and with high gas prices in Australia, no-one expects major growth in Falcon sales. These factors taken together seem to have conspired to torpedo the global rear-drive platform. "The [next generation rear-drive] Falcon is dead," said one Ford insider bluntly, in apparent confirmation.

For all that, our source insists the 2014 Mustang will be rear drive. And yes, he adds, it will (finally) have an independent rear suspension. Put those two facts in the context of the global rear drive platform's demise and Mullaly's comments, and there's only one logical conclusion: The next-gen Mustang will be a global car built on its own rear-drive platform.

Ford planners are reportedly looking at three possible directions for the 2014 Mustang. The first -- and perhaps the easiest -- is an evolution of the current car, with styling cues that would appeal to the traditionalist, and a continued focus on the 5.0-liter V-8 as the halo engine. The second is more of an M3-style car, probably with turbocharged V-6 power for markets like Europe. The third - and probably the least likely, says our source - is to transform the Mustang into an ultra-high tech, ultra-high performance coupe along the lines of Nissan's giant-killing GT-R.

Whatever the overall direction, the next generation Mustang will almost certainly be a smaller and lighter car than the current coupe to enable it to meet tougher gas mileage targets. As a side benefit, it would be more suited to the European and Asian markets, too.

The styling is a hot topic of discussion. The 2005 and 2010 Mustangs, clearly inspired by their mid-60s ancestors, have been hugely successful, but insiders doubt whether Ford can go down the retro road a third time and get away with it.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/future/fut...#ixzz0dCRngVEE

[brodfloyd]

"The [next generation rear-drive] Falcon is dead," said one Ford insider bluntly, in apparent confirmation.

BS, pure and simple.

You can make a sentence say anything if you put a big enough [..........] in it.

eg, Hitler was not [a great breakdancer, however he was] a nice guy.

Mullally has said, and I quote.

"We'll be in the Falcon market yes. But we'll continue to use all our assets around the world,"

"We have learned so much from the Falcon, Because it's a dynamite car, Whatever that Falcon morphs to, for the next one, it will be available for everyone around the world."

"We're going to have a large sedan. The whole thing about rear wheel drive? We're going to have a rear wheel drive car, And we've got the Mustang. So you can imagine that there will be a next version of the Falcon that will be even better."

Burela has said repeatedly that no decision has been made, that they are in the early stages of investigating the entire concept of a new falcon, something that isnt alive yet cant be dead.

Rebuttal

1) A large rear drive sedan for the U.S. would require a lightweight platform architecture to help it meet forthcoming fuel economy and emissions standards.

So would a car for anywhere in the world. That is a mute point.

2) Sales of the Australian Falcon slumped last year to just over 30,000 units, the lowest level in the nameplate's 49 year history in Australia.

Local production was 55,000ish including territory, so that is misleading.

Also, the whole reason to have a 'global car' isnt it??? Cut r&d costs, and sell to multiple markets.

3) Although it avoided bankruptcy, Ford burned through a lot of cash last year, and may not have the resource to devote to developing what would be a complex but relatively niche architecture.

So let me get this straight, instead of having a global rear wheel drive platform that at least 3 cars are built from, we are going to modify an old platform for just one (mustang)???

How is grwd niche? or for that matter more complex than fwd/rwd? Isnt the aim is to sell the vehicles all around the world (one ford) and to sell far more than they do now. BMW dont seem to have much trouble selling Rwd cars all around the world, so if ford gets it right and develops a quality platform and package?

By the time a new rear-drive Lincoln could appear, the Town Car will have been out of production for three to four years, and with high gas prices in Australia, no-one expects major growth in Falcon sales. These factors taken together seem to have conspired to torpedo the global rear-drive platform. "The [next generation rear-drive] Falcon is dead," said one Ford insider bluntly, in apparent confirmation.

Town car out of production for 4 years has exactly what to do with gas prices in australia and no major growth in falcon sales??? That is just four isolated facts in a sentence with little correlation to one another. :

So because the towncar will be out of production for 4 years and petrol costs alot in australia they wont bother with designing another lincoln??? :togo:

Or is his point that all three cars have to be unveiled on the same day and that the lincoln couldnt possibly be released prior to 2015?

This article is tripe.

[auxr]

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

I was talking today with another Ford co-worker who knows a guy that knows how to spell Detroit, and lives next to a guy that read a magazine article that quoted another magazine reporter supposedly hearing about a top Ford source who claims to have knowledge of Marin Burela, who is somewhere else in the world, state that Derrick Kuzak, the President of Global Product Development, stated in a press conference to the media at the North American International Auto Show that the company was going to build cars.


Mind you, this is just a rumor, so you can take it to the bank.


Geeesshh!!! My kingdom for a reporter with integrity, credibility, and pride!!!!


Steve

Ditto to the above - though I have an insider working as a disguised tea lady in the basement kitchen of Ford AU, who is supplied with leaked documents that are hand delivered by a person who was handed this information by a bloke in a black coat in the darkened Ford carpark that goes by the codename of Deep throat. Stay tuned.

[Brazen]

Mually and Burela have both claimed that front wheel drive is a great package. Burela has said that aussies dont care about RWD as much anymore and that front wheel drives have their advantages.

Most importantly, Kuzak - product development chief has said that Taurus and Falcon need to 'align' themselves into one. You cant get more black and white.

These things are being said by the three most infulential people on the Falcons fate. No senior Ford person yet has confirmed that the Mustang and Falcon will be based on the same platform.

People on here have said that its a certainty that the Falcon and Mustang will share a platform. However not much of the media has this level of inside information, going by publicly available information at the moment it almost seems certain that the Falcon will be a Taurus or Taurus based, until Ford confirm otherwise, the media are spot on.

[Joe5619]

It is official!! I'm over this topic about "The future of Falcon", it as been done to death...

Lets just wait & see what happens

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Mually and Burela have both claimed that front wheel drive is a great package. Burela has said that aussies dont care about RWD as much anymore and that front wheel drives have their advantages.

Most importantly, Kuzak - product development chief has said that Taurus and Falcon need to 'align' themselves into one. You cant get more black and white.

These things are being said by the three most infulential people on the Falcons fate. No senior Ford person yet has confirmed that the Mustang and Falcon will be based on the same platform.

People on here have said that its a certainty that the Falcon and Mustang will share a platform. However not much of the media has this level of inside information, going by publicly available information at the moment it almost seems certain that the Falcon will be a Taurus or Taurus based, until Ford confirm otherwise, the media are spot on.

And you how failed to quote them saying otherwise!! (Which they have!!) And one of your quotes is about 6 months old & has since been changed by said person!!

[I6DOHC]

In a further twist this week, Ford Australia axed more than 30 contracted employees who Drive believes were working on computer-aided design studies for projects relating to the next-generation Falcon.

Has anyone been able to confirm the last throwaway line yet? Of couse they could have been janitors as the nicely place disclaimer "who Drive believes" allows them to yet again get away with not placing facts in the way of a good story.

[Chopped]

That is the media - don't like it, ignore it.

The media has a tendency to exaggerate or sensationalize a story on ANY topic.
This is not new !

[Falc'man]

Lol, Drive are quoting MT, who in turn are quoting Drive, who had no idea in the first place. /goes back to sleep.

[Deco28]

Originally Posted by jpd80

What a surprise, a pro GM site (Drive) quoting another pro GM site (Motor Trend).

We need to understand that these journalists won't give it a rest even after
they've been told the facts.

The best thing that can happen now is Ford releases FG II, new LI LPG engine,
then Coyote V8s and then New Territory, Ecoboost I-4 Falcon.
No one will even remember or care about these articles in 6 months time when
Ford begins updating the FG and brings out the new Territory this time next year.

Gm enthusiats don't see it like that in America lol.

Motortrend is pro-europe.

[Gaz]

I remember BMW had an advertising campaign 1-2 years ago rubbishing FWD and talking about why RWD is better and they will continue to develop RWD cars.

More advertising like that please

[bathurst77]

Question.
Why RWD for Falcon?
Seems RWD is heavier (thus fuel inefficient) and less space efficient thatn FWD.

DO your average falcon buyer (fleets, rentals, mum and dads) really give two hoots which pair of wheels does the work? Given that the VAST majority of cars sold in Aust are FWD it would seem not. Your average new car (esp new large car buyer) is not an enthusiat.

I consider myself a car enthusaist (but not a hoon) and i sold my falcon and bought a Mondeo last year. I have no probs with how it drives. (could use a few more neddies tho). One of the most fun cars I have driven was one of the last of the Magnas that I hacked round tassie in number of years back.

So who needs RWD? hardline performance lovers. For them Ford will offer RWD Mustang and perhaps FPV might offer All WD falcon. Anyhow but look at all the hi-po FWD cars coming out ot Europe n Japan now.

Tradies with utes (Courier and its derivatives)
People who tow (AWD territory)?

OK this site is full of people who say "RWD or nothing", but the few hundred AFF members (many of who drive used or small cars cars anyhow, so dont matter) vs the tens of thousands of potential buyers who just want safe efficient comfortable economical and dont give two hoots about ?WD

Ford are in business to sell as many cars as they can at a profit, not to appeal to car enthusiasts.

If a FWD falcon could grab a good percentage of Camry buyers and the lost hardline RWD lovers could be sold 'stag/territory/courier. Thats a sound business plan. Especially if most teh RnD costs are paid for by Ford North Am.

[jamesson1980]

.. so assuming the Mustang guts and chassis comes over here for Ford Aust. to pop their own body onto (as outlined in one of the many 'quotes' above), or even comes here as a whole unit to be Ford's only 'big RWD' replacement for Australia's family sedan/wagon market, is the plan for Australian families and all other RWD Falcon lovers to continue to pay 35-40,000 for the base model as we currently do for the FG? : *doubts* Whilst I do believe the Falcon name will live on as a RWD beyond 2014, I'm concerned the predominantly foreign replacement may be out of reach of today's typical XT or XR6 type buyer.