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Ford Australia's Marin Burela confirms the current BF Falcon will run until 2015, with the Territory out to 2016, and says Ford does not need to make any serious planning decisions on the cars until the middle of 2011 at the earliest.
Australia's own are a surprising source of excitement at this year's Detroit Motor Show.
It should be the major American brands who make the news in the snow and cold of Motown, but the Ford Falcon jumps into the spotlight with questions about its future and the Holden Commodore joins it with talk about a renewed export push for the VE.
We start our Detroit 2010 coverage this week with a preview of the global Ford Focus and news on the Aussie connection for the upcoming Holden Barina, but cannot ignore the Falcon and Commodore.
The Ford sparks interest when the company's worldwide chief, Alan Mulally, talks about the Blue Oval's globalisation and a decision not to do totally unique local models in any country. It looks like a potential death sentence for a truly homegrown, locally-developed Falcon.
But, less than 12 hours later, Mulally clarifies things and it seems the Falcon could actually be twinned with the classic Ford Mustang to create a new mechanical platform with rear-wheel drive for use after 2015.
"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 says. "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."
Local Ford president, Marin Burela, then fills in more detail with talk about a common go-kart for the Falcon and Mustang with individual 'top hat' bodywork over the engine and running gear. "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 says.
"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. It's actually delivering a very, very very exciting return."
He confirms the current BF Falcon will run until 2015, with the Territory out to 2016, and says Ford does not need to make any serious planning decisions on the cars until the middle of 2011 at the earliest.
The good news on Falcon - despite the uncertainty about the level of local involvement in development beyond 2015 - is matched when General Motors talks openly about the chance for the VE Commodore to rebound from the loss of the Pontiac G8 export deal with a new connection.
Mark Reuss, the former Holden boss who is now the top trump for GM sales in North America, refuses to be specific but admits there is a live opportunity. It could be with either Chevrolet or GMC, with the sedan or the ute, but he will not be drawn as he talks to Australian journalists in Detroit.
"There are other opportunities there. I don't want to ruin one (by talking about it)," Reuss says. "It only gets more attractive."
