Ok guys,
Heres what I think we might see in Series 2 BA:
Maybes
Heres what I think we might see in Series 2 BA:
- All black switch gear in the BA series 1 is now colour coordinated to match the rest of the interior trim in series II
- Futura’s receive a subtle bootlid spoiler to help differentiate the car from the XT model - at least as an option. Think AU series III.
- New front and rear bumper designs for all models. Design is inoffensive, but still has a slightly more sporty look to it over the BA 1 designs
- XR series also receives new bumpers that are more angular in appearance to series 1 cars.
- The sunglass holder from series III AU and deleted from nearly all BA models is now back in all models except possibly XT for series II
- New wheel trim design for XT, but remains a steel wheel underneath
- Fairmont Ghia is offered with a 230kw or so turbo six. Premium brakes and an even more sportier suspension tune are mandatory with the turbo option. This suspension is much closer now to XR specification. Engine is deliberately listed as being slightly down on power to the XR6T, to help differentiate the cars. In all probability there is bugger all in it when you drive the car though.
- Some more tweaking of the Turbo models computers to try and stop third parties from boosting performance. This will be only half hearted, but will help Ford in any legal wrangles with customers who have overridden the computers default settings to boost their cars engines and suffer mechanical failures as a result - especially for those who try to make warranty claims after the event. Think of this as the upgrade the legal department asked for.
- Fairmont gets a bit more chrome around the tail
- Quick down feature now on front passenger electric window switch from Futura model up
- Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia get a revised front grill – possibly with more chrome
- The finish used on the centre instrument binnacle, door handles etc is lightened a few shades and is more silver then gun metal in appearance
- XR’s get a new rear wing
- XR’s get new wheel design. To the surprise of some, the 17inch wheel diameter remains the standard fit on XR
- Mandatory change of font for all badges on all models
- Instruments such as speedo and tacho are made less cluttered in appearance and are much easier to read at a glance. Needles change from red to either orange or white
- XR6 Turbo given more prominent badges in line with changes to XR8 badges. Goal is to further differentiate XR6 and XR6T.
- All Falcons rise in price slightly, but XR6T goes up in price more then the others. XR6NA looks like a bargain, or XR6T is now overpriced, depending on your perspective. This catches the Medias attention, but doesn’t dramatically affect sales of either car.
- No changes to specific engine outputs, despite howls of protest from Ford performance fans. Ford instead targets a minor tweak of motors to improve fuel economy and even more slight improvements in refinement. Ford still wants to get some money back on R&D before doing too much to these motors. Boosting the XR6T for example would require repositioning the entire V8 range to ensure no cannibalism of sales – this is ruled out as too costly. Ford is able to point out that some loss of weight in series II has shaved a few fractions of a second off all model times. Ford evaluates new Holden V6 closely and starts significant new development of the BA series engines, the result of which won’t be seen until series III or all new Falcon is released.
- A very slight drop in weight for all models. Probably no more then 15kg or so. This minor weight loss, together with attention on much heaver VZ Commodore, helps get media focus off the Falcons curb weight. They become obsessed with the new GM V6 engine instead.
- Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia have some tweaking of their audio equipment to help keep product differentiation from the base models.
- XR6T and XR8 get prestige audio as standard. Premium is still an extra cost option
- New Turbo six enters the FPV range. Power is around 250 to 270 range. This car also sports the Tremic 5 Speed manual gearbox from the XR8 and GT as standard
- 6 speed automatic introduced on FPV range. Rest of Falcon range makes do with existing 4 speed auto. Ford claim revisions to 4 speed have made it a better box etc
- FPV range is moved up in price to ensure there is a market for XR’s – particularly XR8.
- All Falcons get revised taillights. If history is anything to go by, then clear lenses for the indicators in the back light cluster will probably return.
- Automatic headlights on feature now a standard feature on all models. It was only a very cheap thing to implement anyway, as the onboard computer already knew about it, but the sensor and wiring was missing on most BA series 1’s sold.
- Side airbags are now standard on XR6T & XR8
Maybes
- Leather wrapped handbrake lever for XR8 and XR6T
- Futura gets white instrumentation backlighting
- Futura gets prestige audio kit as standard
- Rear power windows for XT
- Possibly a change of roof lining colour for XR series cars
- Possibly NA XR bumper treatment is slightly plainer then other XR’s
- Traction control an option on NA XR6
- Reverse parking sensors standard on Fairmont
- High end auto box is now an option on Fairmonts and XR’s
- XT finally gets a sunglass holder
- Futura is dropped and XT gets some of its options such as rear arm rest. Alloy wheels still an option or at least only 16” alloy design used – probably an old alloy design from Futura or Fairmont
- All V8 engines have a minor power boost of between 10 and 30 kw. XR6T also benefits from a small boost in power.
- Fairmont has more chrome put on it and takes the title fight of old farts car against the Berlina.
- Fairmont Ghia is moved more in a different direction and is now made even more sportier in intent, to take on successful Holden Calais. Price is now not much different from some base FPV products as Fairmont Ghia tries to compete on more equipment over Calais. This causes some heartburn at Broadmeadows as to wether this is the right choice.
- New colours for all new Falcon due in 16 months is trialled on this, the last of the BA cars
- Possibly some mechanical revisions are trialled on this car as well.
- A model runout bonus pack (think Sapphire or SR) is reintroduced to compete with series 2/3 VZ Commodore. This might well be where the new colours are tried out.
- BA series III goes down in the history books as one of the best sorted Falcons ever made.