Hints that we get to keep the old faithful existing platform (Grandpa's axe) and presumably all the current good stuff (I6 & V8, RWD, AWD) with styling inspired by Ford's 427 Detroit concept car.
Interesting stuff, but more than a little concerning on a few fronts.
* Styling - I'll be dead in the cold cold ground before I accept generic Seppo corporate styling!
* Platform - if Aus Falcon is based off a US platform, then this new US platform had better hurry up and become a whole lot better!
* The example of the Pontiac GTO - if Ford US decides to hijack and control the Australian Falcon, who knows what we'll end up with
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is Richard Parry-Jones doing Bill's job?? because everyone i read of late he has been doing most of the work! Jag f1 comes to mind, he must be the scarifice if things go wrong but in saying that he seems to have got jag f1 in shape
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It's better to remain quiet and let people think you are a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
American and Australia have very different tastes. They have the Crown Victoria and we have the Falcon. They have LHD and we have RHD. They say ass and we say arse. Having a American built Falcon would only futher cement the idiots notion of "FORD IS AMERICAN". Americans don't care that their Camaros chew heaps of oil and piston slap, but we do. Would an American built car have problems that they wouldn't even consider and when the car was to come over hear would it just be a lemon? I'm not a big fan of conversion jobs and American cars are so tacky and tasteless in my opinion (with a few exceptions, thats is). Ford DO NOT develop a Falcon off their platform.
On the issue of styling, some of the recent american show car stuff is beautiful. Sure, the overall effect is very american but the cues and trend, DNA etc is a fresh breath of air. Whilst BA is overall a good looking car it lacks the intricate styling touches and details shown on much of AU. Take a close look at some of the features of AU in isolation and it is mind boggling (good, and clever).
I see a lot of positives in the 427, Ford 49er, Mustang etc etc.
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'Pepper' Dog - General's and My Little German Shepherd Sweetie - 1996?-02Apr2006. 'Sako' Dog - My Beautiful and Pretty German Shepherd - 2001?-23Aug2006.
Remember guys, they're only talking about the 427 styling at the moment - nothing is set in stone, and considering the disaster that was Taurus, I'd say unless it's a direct order from Bill Ford, it ain't gonna happen.
Personally, I'd like to see a 2005 Mustang style job for the next falcon.
A totally modern reinvention of the XR-XY range, with all the old style and the modern tech and design touches; that would be an awesome showcar car in my own mind.
And don't bitch about the 2005 Mustang platform either. If the same Ford suspensions guys that came out here and did BA got hold of a new platform (remember Falcon's dates back to 1959), imagine what we could do to Holden/HSV.
With the Sigma platform VE coming in 2005/6, it's something we may not have a choice about (though I still tend to agree the all them money spent on the platform in relation to E265 means it will be around for at least one more generation).
Cheers
Jason
__________________ Editor: Street Fords Magazine - Issue #1 on sale MARCH 2005
E-mail: jr@streetfords.com
Co Founder: 3FB Inc.
To see my old BA Falcon XR6, click HERE
i actually think that the 427 is beautiful, it's like a sweet, sweet mixture of retro cool and functional future. Seems to me that the genuine motoring journos agree (MOTOR & wheels).
and get used to it, seems that J Mays (head of ford design, global) is convinced that the horizontal front grille design can be made to work across the ford empire
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Ford Ponders Future of Australia’s Falcon
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