Ford is likely to make a considerable fuss over the five-star success, as the rival VE Commodore only has a four-star ranking. The locally-made Toyota Camry and Aurion also rate four stars, the same as the now-dead Mitsubishi 380.
The new Ford Falcon has just earned the world's highest safety ranking.
The FG Falcon scored a five-star result in the latest round of tests for the Australian New-Car Assessment Program, matching the benchmark set by luxury cars such as the Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3-Series and Renault Laguna.
It is the first Australia-made car to achieve a five-star ranking.
Results of the testing will not be announced until Wednesday, following a recent series of crash tests and safety assessments of Ford's new local flagship.
Apart from the traditional frontal-impact test, any five-star contender must also pass a side-impact test. And it must have seat-belt warnings for every passenger space.
From the start of this year, any car awarded the top ranking by ANCAP must have ESP stability control fitted.
Ford is likely to make a considerable fuss over the five-star success, as the rival VE Commodore only has a four-star ranking. The locally-made Toyota Camry and Aurion also rate four stars, the same as the now-dead Mitsubishi 380.
Full results of the ANCAP testing should also include the Falcon's rating for both child occupant and pedestrian safety, which are now taking a higher priority in safety scoring across the globe.
A five-star result will allow Ford to promote the car in showrooms with a special ANCAP sticker, which has been offered to any carmaker with a safety standout but so far only taken up in Australia by Subaru.
