All new designs, luxurious trims and standard power adjustment across the range highlight the dramatic changes to seating in the new Falcon.
Barra Falcons will have all-new seats with four-way power adjustment as standard, with the range-topping Fairmont Ghia featuring six-way adjustment.
The four-way adjuster controls the height and tilt angle of the seat cushion for greater personal comfort. It will be the first time Forte and Futura models have offered power adjustment.
Fairmont Ghia’s six-way adjuster adds the convenience of powered fore and aft movement.
Comfort behind the wheel was a key priority of the Barra development team and the front and rear seats have been completely redesigned to deliver for the customer.
Ford devised the new seats using considerable feedback from customers. There are simple, clean lines and richer fabrics.
Functional benefits include greater cushion height adjustment, increased fore and aft track travel and an upgraded backrest recliner mechanism.
All seat tracks will have plastic covers for improved visual presentation.
The new seats will feature crisp, clean architecture, with deep, sporty bolsters, guaranteeing better lateral support to hold occupants in place.
Improved contours and backrest height provide greater comfort.
Head restraints will be bigger and positioned higher up for greater rear impact safety.
The level of detailing is consistently high throughout the interior with map pockets and grained plastic covers on the seat backs.
The seat trim is attached to the foam pads by a new method that holds the material more tautly in the seam grooves using a new hook and loop system that is similar to Velcro.
This method was devised to provide seats that were not only more comfortable, but also more durable.
In the rear, the seat shape and squab angle will be improved for greater comfort while a vibration isolation mat with flat springs is inserted into each seat cushion to help enhance the high levels of vehicle refinement in Barra.
Using computer-aided engineering, the seats have been tuned to match body and floor vibration modes that also dial out unwanted vibrations.
The redesign of the 60/40-split fold mechanism will offer more secure location. The centre armrest is bigger and will feature two integrated cup-holders.
World-renowned automotive supplier Air International is set to push the button on an exciting new enterprise inside Ford Australia’s Campbellfield vehicle assembly complex.
The 40,000 square metre production facility will house 130 new employees, producing a range of seats and other components for the new Ford Falcon set to go to market later this year.
“The addition of Air International marks a generational change in the way Ford goes about the business of producing Australia’s finest cars,” President Geoff Polites says.
For some years Ford has utilised 'Just In Time' manufacturing principles, in which parts and other supplies for its production line are manufactured and delivered as close as possible to the time at which they are actually needed. This system eliminates the need for massive storage space and double handling of materials.
"Having Air International here is another step in this evolution, with in-line sequenced delivery of parts and components. Rather than waiting for parts to be transported from locations across the country, we can transfer Air International components directly to the production line as they are needed," Mr Polites said.
Air International employees will be fed an electronic message via computer the instant a new Barra Falcon starts down the assembly line.
That information will include the model specification and the seats required for that car. Batches of seats will be transported between the two factories every 24 minutes, delivered to a receiving bay on the east wall. From there they will travel along a conveyor system to the point where they are assembled into the car.
“Having the Air International team on site will ensure maximum productivity with a huge reduction in waiting times, a lowering of transport costs and help with our drive toward maximum efficiency."
Mr Polites said the Air International decision to move on site continued Ford's move towards total efficiency in its manufacturing operations.
Air International has been supplying steering systems to Ford since 1993, and its history can be traced back more than 30 years to its formation in 1967.
Since then it has grown at an exponential rate to become one of the country’s premier businesses.
Air International is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Futuris Corporation, one of the country’s Top 50 enterprises, with market capitalisation in excess of $1 billion and an annual turnover of $5.8 billion last financial year.
Originally posted by Jesmol Noticed how the basic design on the side cover lower is almost identical to the VT side cover....No point re-inventing the wheel I suppose.
No reason why it shouldn't - Air international build the seats for Holdens too.
Paul B
XR6WGN
__________________
476 EF XR6 Wagons - 198 were Manual
Member Tickford / FPV Club - SA
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