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BA: Ute For All Seasons

4K views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  8EHiND 
#1 ·
The new BA Falcon Ute will offer the ultimate combination of heavy duty work tool and high performance recreation vehicle.

Building on the reputation of the market-leading AU range of Falcon Utes, the BA Falcon Ute will continue to offer the choice of Supercab or Chassis Cab, payloads up to one tonne and towing capacity up to 2300 kg.

Powered by a stunning new range of six-cylinder and V8 engines, new Falcon Ute will give buyers a wealth of riches to choose from.

Starting point is the new Barra 182 six-cylinder engine, the most technologically advanced to be designed and built by Ford Australia's engineers.

Boasting double overhead camshafts, dual VCT, 24 valves and Electronic Throttle Control, the Barra 182 will offer Ute drivers a class-leading 182 kW of power and a thundering 380 Nm of torque.

Matched with infinitely variable valve timing, this ensures great performance low down in the rev range for optimum towing performance, and miserly fuel consumption at cruising speeds.

LPG fans will benefit from the technology invested in the Barra engine program with the new E-Gas engine, offering the best of both worlds. Boasting an impressive 156 kW and 372 Nm, the E-Gas BA Falcon Ute has all the economic benefits of LPG without compromising on performance.

XR6 Falcon Ute owners can tick the options box on engine and have their vehicle motivated by the brilliant new Barra 240T. This turbocharged and intercooled engine churns out a stunning 240 kW of power, while peak torque of 450 Nm arrives at just 2000 rpm – staying at that level right through to 4500 rpm.

Boasting unique styling and an optional hard tonneau cover, the XR6 Falcon Ute is set to steal the show in town or country.

V8 owners will enjoy the benefits of the new Barra 220. This multi-valve, overhead camshaft engine is good for 220 kW and a healthy 472 Nm of torque.

Inside, BA Falcon Ute buyers will revel in the luxury of all new seats and a totally redesigned interior that complements perfectly Falcon Ute's unique Supercab design.

A new Interior Command Centre dominates the interior, controlling all audio and heating/cooling features. The ICC has been designed to resemble an expensive European hi-fi and offers brilliant sound quality. It has also been ergonomically designed to be easy to use with clever, intuitive features.

"The Falcon Ute is one of Australian motoring's genuine success stories, enjoying unprecedented levels of dominance in the sales market," said 4WD and Commercial Vehicle Marketing Manager, Kevin Lillie.

"To improve on that we had to offer an exceptional ute, and the BA Falcon Ute certainly delivers on that front.

"The list of changes is enormous – all aimed at providing the ultimate tool for work and play," he said.
 

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#2 ·
INTERIOR

Customers can look forward to a luxurious environment, with BA Falcon Ute boasting a total redesign of the interior.

The main feature of the dash is a new Interior Command Centre, a prominent centre stack containing a large LCD panel that gives information on air conditioning (where fitted), the audio system, trip computer and time.

Ford Interior Design Manager Marcus Hotblack said the Falcon Ute interior was designed with the driver in mind.

“We wanted to create a cockpit feel, with all the necessary controls falling easily to hand. We angled the centre console towards the driver and moved the gear shifter rearwards, which helps create an intuitive ergonomic feel.

Marcus said a great deal of attention was paid to the tactile impact of controls in the car.

“A lot of work went into the feel of the interior surfaces. Items such as braille controls and rubberised thumbwheels help create a Ute interior quite unlike those of the past.

"We've created a real prestige feel to the interior, while still maintaining the robustness and useability that's been a hallmark of Falcon Ute interiors," Hotblack said.

Lighting the way

The instrument panel and Interior Command Centre lighting uses latest technology LEDs, green for XL and XLS, and blue for XR.

Similarly, the LCD readouts have green illumination on XL and XLS and white for XR.

The Interior Command Centre has a PC-style layout, with drop-down menus and cursors.

“The overall look of the ICC is similar to high range stereo systems, with its brushed aluminium look and high-tech read-outs,” Marcus said.

The instrument cluster has more closely grouped dials that are easier to read in one sweep through the upper arc of the steering wheel.

The large tachometer and speedometer dials are spaced outward, while two smaller stacked centrally positioned circular gauges display water temperature and fuel tank information.

A nice touch

Ford’s designers left nothing to chance with a deliberate and thorough policy of harmonising all switches, buttons and knobs to ensure the interior both looks and feels cohesive.

The attention to detail extends down to the markings on dials as well as the grooves on switchgear.

Circular switchgear features radial grooves, while Braille identifiers on alternate audio switches help the driver or passenger locate a particular button without distraction.

The new-style steering wheel has additional buttons to provide increased auxiliary audio function control. Cruise control, where fitted, is operated entirely via steering wheel mounted buttons.

Braille markings are also embossed on the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning control switches and on the electric window switch control bank on the driver’s door armrest.

The translucent panels surrounding the audio control knobs and the CD entry slot are illuminated in green (XL and XLS), and blue (XR).

A cigarette lighter is now optional: the 12V plug is dedicated to powering mobile phones or other accessories.

The light switch control has been moved from the dash to the end of the indicator stalk, making it easy to locate without having to remove hands from the wheel. The on-off button for the cruise control has been moved onto the steering wheel.

The steering wheel itself has also been redesigned, with a thicker rim and a flat, grained centre housing the dual-inflator airbag.

Also new is the central mounting of the wheel on the steering column, so the wheel doesn't ride up and down as it is turned from lock-to-lock. This also helps reduce rattle and shake vibrations fed through the steering wheel rim.

The dome light cursor switch has been moved to the centre console so the front passenger can reach it, while the hazard warning lamp switch has been moved from the top of the steering column to the left-hand side of the instrument binnacle.

Take your seat

All new designs, luxurious trims and standard power adjustment across the range highlight the dramatic changes to seating in the new Falcon Ute.

BA Falcon Utes will have all-new seats with four-way power adjustment as standard.

The four-way adjuster controls the height and tilt angle of the seat cushion for greater personal comfort.

Comfort behind the wheel was a key priority of the BA development team and the seats have been completely redesigned to deliver for the customer.

Both seats will feature manually adjustable lumbar support and seat back adjustment.

Ford devised the new seats using considerable feedback from customers. There are simple, clean lines and richer fabrics.

Greater cushion height adjustment and increased fore and aft track travel also improves comfort, while attention to detail will improve the backrest recliner mechanism action.

The new seats feature upright, formal architecture, with wide, soft bolsters, guaranteeing better lateral support to hold occupants in place.

Head restraints are bigger and positioned higher up and further forward for greater rear impact safety.

In a first for Australian utes, power adjustable pedals complement the new seats. On automatic models, the optional brake and accelerator pedals can be moved forward and back over a range of 65 mm. In tandem with the electric seat and fully adjustable steering wheel, this makes the optimum driving position easier than ever to find.

BA Falcon Ute buyers will also appreciate changes such as the on-glass antenna, which reduces wind noise and eliminates the possibility of the antenna being damaged in a car wash.

Other changes include windscreen washer nozzles being relocated under the bonnet line, contributing to the clean look of the new Ute and further reducing wind noise.
 

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#3 ·
DYNAMICS

Falcon BA Ute rear suspension retains the tried and tested live rear axle for its excellent load carrying capacity.

However, all elements of the rear suspension have been retuned to offer improved ride performance, while maintaining established Falcon values including safe, reliable handling, towing capabilities and robustness.

New shock absorbers have been incorporated in the rear. The bigger diameter (36 mm compared to 30 mm on AU) and lower friction shock absorber offers improved ride comfort and greater resistance to overheating.

Dynamics engineers have also included a voided bush, replacing the solid bush used previously, to improve NVH.

Falcon’s renowned steering system has been comprehensively overhauled to provide even greater driver involvement and precision.

The steering wheel has been redesigned and includes new ergonomic audio controls (and cruise control buttons where fitted). The rim diameter is reduced and rim thickness increased compared with the previous model.

The steering column and its mountings have been strengthened to diminish NVH, particularly on rough roads.

Steering offers increased road feel and responsiveness, especially on centre. Steering effort is reduced with a tighter 2.8-turns lock-to-lock.

“Drivers will notice an improved linearity between steering inputs and the car’s response, adding to peace-of-mind motoring,” said Ford Chassis Development Manager Alex de Vlugt.

The steering gear itself has been improved with reduced friction, less compliance and a more direct ratio. Steering and suspension ball joints offer reduced friction, assisting responsiveness and feel.

The BA Falcon Ute is available in three levels of suspension tune – Standard, Sports and One Tonne.

The XL Styleside Box is available with Standard Suspension that rides on Dunlop 215/60 R16 tyres. The Chassis Cab version features the One Tonne Suspension set-up, featuring heavier leaf springs, a slightly raised ride height and Dunlop 215/60 R16 C (Commercial) tyres. The One Tonne Suspension package is optional on the XL Styleside Box.

The XLS comes standard with the Sports Suspension pack, which rides 20 mm lower than the Standard Suspension and features stiffer front and rear springs and FPV-supplied sports shock absorbers. They ride on lower profile Dunlop 215/55 R16 tyres.

One Tonne Suspension is optional on XLS.

Sports Suspension is the only available set-up on XR6 and XR6 Turbo Utes.
 

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#7 ·
redwards said:
Can you order IRS on the XRs. If not how come because Holden have it.
And Holden utes can't carry SFA in the tray either. IRS on a vehicle designed to carry a load is plain bloody stupid in my books.
 
G
#9 ·
Nooooooooo, the idea of the braile is that, drivers memorise the feel of each of the buttons so they can supposedly change the air-con and windows and stuff without taking their eyes off the road, which means safer driving.
(PS- i am sorry if you were joking and already knew this, I am sure you were joking but i was not sure if you knew the actual function of the braile, so now you do)
 
#12 ·
Does anyone know whether or not the new VY ute will be able to handle one tonne? You think that they would have after the AU utes kicking its arse in sales. Youd think that it would be pretty stupid for them not to.

In saying that however, i seriously hope that they do not so that BA will have both work and play utes as hot property!
 
#14 ·
The maximum a Holden ute can carry is 400kg. That a mixer, a box of tools and your dog. Fords can carry two mixers, a dog and it's 7 pups, tools to rig up the eiffle tower and the National Spokeperson for the Obesity Council of Australia all in the back at the same time.

FM the utes might be able to carry a tonne, but with one of those 150-odd kW engines it will be straining like a dog. HSV or not they had better put some good strong engines in them. Not Callaways either.
 
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