Ford badly needs to pull an ace out of the pack with the newest Falcon sedan, ute and wagon.
The arrival of the new Ford Falcon, codenamed Orion, and the hot FPV performance models are the biggest car events on the calendar.
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Large-car sales stagnated last year and the Falcon was one model that felt the heat.
Its main rival, the Holden Commodore, has scored many accolades for its driving experience and safety, despite an average report card on the build quality of some of the earlier examples, so Ford is hoping its newcomer can eclipse the Commodore.
Details are still sketchy, but as some of the leaked, and official, Falcon spyshots show, the car is more wedge-shaped and borrows some of Ford's “kinetic” design language that has appeared in the Focus and the just-launched Mondeo.
More details will start to be rolled out from February 6 and, despite the speculation, company insiders say there are a few “surprise and delight” features in the new car.
But we do know the 4.0-litre straight-six and 5.4-litre V8 will carry over, with modest gains in economy and refinement.
The smooth 4.0-litre is expected to be tweaked to about 200kW.
New transmissions are expected, with a five-speed automatic replacing the four-speed. The ultra-smooth ZF six-speed carries over.
On the safety front, curtain airbags and electronic stability control are expected to be standard on many models.
A big part of the design overhaul has been to address criticism of the BF Falcon's rear door opening.
The rear doors on the new car are now bigger, opening wider to allow better access without bumping your head or hitting your legs on the lower door panel.
The car's wheelbase is said to be only slightly longer, but clever engineering has delivered gains in interior space and usability.
Improving quality has been a big target.
But the current Falcon is recognised as one of the best handling, precise-steering big sixes available and the Orion is not going to fiddle too much with this effective combination.
Ford is likely to massage the car's ride, handling and overall dynamics a notch above the current car. The Territory's strut front suspension is tipped to carry over to the Orion.
FPV will unveil its FX6 turbocharged Territory, with 270kW and 550Nm.
The FX6 will come with the expected FPV enhancements, including Brembo brakes, lower ride height and 18-inch alloys.
The Falcon is expected to be the star car at the Melbourne Motor Show from February 29 and will go on sale about May.
