Ford hopes it can convince Australians to keep buying six-cylinder family cars with the improved G series.
The wraps are finally off Ford Australia's most important new car in decades; the good looking FG Falcon.
Its success will help determine Ford's future manufacturing footprint in Australia.
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The Falcon sedan and ute go on sale in May, only weeks before the Ford Performance Vehicles models. The full range will be the star cars at next week's Melbourne Motor Show.
But the newest Fords arrive at a time when the large-car market is stagnant. Buyers are fleeing to more fuel-efficient cars and crossover all-wheel drives, and Japanese-sourced utilities have eaten into local ute numbers. The challenge for Ford will be to convince buyers its large sedan is a better all-round performer than its arch-rival, the Holden Commodore, with reasonable fuel economy.
Both are battling for the hearts and minds of the traditional Aussie buyer.
Ford president Bill Osborne says the Falcon has attributes “to blow off the cobwebs and reassert its place in family life.”
“It has the right blend of luxury, road presence, refinement, cleverness, safety and innovation,” he says.
Osborne told guests at a lavish launch this week that the car will become “Australia's favourite family getaway car.”
The Falcon is more contemporary, and has sharper styling, upmarket interiors, new gearboxes, fuel economy gains, increased safety and better visibility.
Ford has taken the opportunity to reposition the models, dropping the familiar Futura, Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia names. These have been replaced by the G series cars, the G6, G6E and G6E Turbo.
Click here for more on our extensive coverage of the Falcon Launch.
Only the entry XT model carries over, as do the performance XR6, XR6 Turbo and XR8 sedans and utes.
The BF wagon will carry over as the Mk III model. The RTV ute has been dropped.
For the first time the XT gets a five-speed automatic. Other models get a choice of Tremec six-speed manual and the superb six-speed ZF auto, which carries over from the old car.
Though the FG is largely based on the previous car, Ford engineers say it is “90 per cent new.”
Dynamic stability control is now standard and, for the first time, curtain airbags will be available as an option on lower-spec cars and standard on some luxury and sports models.
All models get dual front and side/thorax airbags. Rear parking sensors and a rear parking camera are available.
Ford undertook an almost microscopic assessment of each aspect of engineering and designing the car.
Visually it adopts Ford's global “kinetic” design language already used in the Focus and Mondeo. The new rounded nose, raised beltline and boot lid give the car a more aggressive on-road stance. Subtle creases at shoulder height and along the sills give a more purposeful look.
Though the in-line 4.0-litre six and turbo six carry over, they get more power and torque. The Boss 290 5.4-litre V8 engine has been grabbed from Ford Performance Vehicles and is now standard in the XR8.
All engines deliver better fuel economy and refinement and are quieter.
The XR8 gets a semi-active muffler found on high-performance sports cars such as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Jaguar XK8.
At low engine speeds a spring-loaded valve remains closed, which translates into a quieter exhaust note from the V8. At engine speeds above 2800 revs, the exhaust gas back pressure opens the valve and delivers a throaty, rorty exhaust note for enthusiasts.
None of the exterior panels carries over from the BF Falcon Mk II.
The doors, glasshouse and other key structural areas such as the A, B and C pillars have been realigned to allow for better interior headroom.
Gone is the compromising curving roofline of the old car, which traces its ancestry to the 1998 AU Falcon.
Ford has spent millions on developing a one-piece side body stamping press that has helped improve body tolerances and door fit.
Door seal gaps and tolerances are also improved, delivering what Ford describes as class-leading interior noise levels.
The doors are now “inset” into the body for better insulation. Triple seals ensure noise and dust are kept out.
Rear legroom has improved 10mm and there have been gains in rear shoulder room.
The rear doors are bigger, giving easier access to the rear seat.
The boot-lid struts do not protrude into the boot, leaving space for 535 litres of luggage space when fitted with a spacesaver spare, or 505 litres when fitted with the optional full-size spare.
The cabin has a quality European air about it. The dashboard is new and the controls upgraded across the range. The centre console has been raised to give a cocoon feel for front-seat passengers.
The centre screen, dubbed a human machine interface (HMI), has been moved to the top of the dashboard and other controls have been repositioned.
The HMI incorporates the controls for the interior, a multi-function display and, where fitted, includes the reversing camera, a Bluetooth mobile phone integration module and full MP3 integration with the stereo system.
The system can be operated through steering wheel-mounted controls, along with the cruise control. The dashboard houses an Audi-style centre multi-function display that allows a digital speed readout, trip computer details and audio information.
The cruise control system is a more intuitive set-point system. The indicators have a Euro-style one-touch operation for lane changing.
Depending on the model, the HMI has a monochromatic white LED backlight or full colour 7in. screen with high-resolution graphics.
The FG has grown 25mm in length, has a 30mm wider front and rear track and slightly longer wheelbase over the BF Falcon.
The Falcon's already well-sorted suspension has been further refined, with an new lightweight aluminium virtual pivot control link front suspension, modified from the Territory.
The rear control blade independent rear suspension has been improved, courtesy of revised damper rates and springs.
The rear bushings have also been changed, to lower noise levels.
All models get monotube shock absorbers front and rear, which improve body control and handling.
Ford says the shock absorbers improve ride plushness and vibration absorption without any perceived “floatiness” in the suspension.
The steering has a forward-mounted steering rack and variable ratio technology. The result is a reduction in the number of turns lock-to-lock to 2.6 and a sharp 11m turning circle. There are also specially developed tyres with appropriate suspension tunes for each model.
Ford has not confirmed how much the new car cost, but has said it was more than the $500 million spent on the BA Falcon in 2002.
When the first cars roll into showrooms in May, Ford will be hoping the money has been well spent.
FG Fuel economy
4.0-litre in-line six cylinder (five-speed auto) 10.5 litres/100km
4.0-litre in-line six cylinder (six-speed auto) 10.1 litres/100km
4.0-litre in-line six cylinder Turbo (six-speed auto) 11.7 litre/100km
5.4-litre Boss 290 V8 (six-speed auto) 14.0 litre/100km
Inside view
XT (carries over)
ENGINE: 4.0-litre in-line six cylinder
POWER: 195kW at 6000 revs (95RON 198kW)
TORQUE: 391Nm at 3250 revs (95RON 409Nm)
GEARBOX: Five-speed automatic (six-speed optional)
EQUIPMENT: Automatic climate control, four-way electric driver's seat, four-speaker CD stereo, LCD command centre, cruise control, 60/40 split fold rear seats, dynamic stability control, dual front and side/head thorax airbags
G6 (replaces Futura)
ENGINE: 4.0-litre in-line six cylinder
POWER: 195kW at 6000 revs (95RON 198kW)
TORQUE: 391Nm at 3250 revs (95RON 409Nm)
GEARBOX: Five-speed automatic (six-speed optional)
EQUIPMENT: (in addition to XT) G Series front bumper and grille, front fog lights, 17-inch alloys, suede seat upholstery, rear centre armrest, sports suspension, reverse sensing sonar
G6E (replaces Fairmont Ghia)
ENGINE: 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder
POWER: 195kW at 6000 revs (95RON 198kW)
TORQUE: 391Nm at 3250 revs (95RON 409Nm)
GEARBOX: Six-speed ZF automatic
EQUIPMENT: (in addition to G6) side indicators in rear-view mirrors, 17-inch alloys, G6E grille treatment, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, premium six-disc in-dash CD stereo, seven-inch colour screen, electro-chromatic rear-view mirror, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, eight-way electric driver's seat with three-position memory settings, reversing camera and side curtain airbags
G6E Turbo (new model)
ENGINE: 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder with dual independent variable camshaft timing
POWER: 270kW at 5250 revs
TORQUE: 533Nm from 2000 to 4750 revs.
GEARBOX: Six-speed ZF automatic
EQUIPMENT: (in addition to G6E) 18-inch alloys, rear lip spoiler, bright headlight bezels, fabric-wrapped lower door trims, iPod integration
XR6 (carries over)
ENGINE: 4.0-litre in-line six cylinder
POWER: 195kW at 6000 revs (95RON 198kW)
TORQUE: 391Nm at 3250 revs (95RON 409Nm)
GEARBOX: Tremec six-speed manual (five-speed/six-speed automatic optional)
EQUIPMENT: Sports suspension, XR double-drop lens headlights, XR front bumper, grille and side sills, front foglights, 17-inch alloys, sports instruments, sports seats, alloy pedals, aluminium gearshift
XR6 Turbo
ENGINE: 4.0-litre in-line six cylinder with dual independent variable camshaft timing
POWER: 270kW at 5250 revs
TORQUE: 533Nm from 2000 to 4750 revs
GEARBOX: Tremec six-speed manual (six-speed ZF automatic optional)
EQUIPMENT: (in addition to XR6) 18-inch alloys, limited-slip differential, upgraded front brakes
XR8
ENGINE: 5.4-litre Boss 290 V8 with high-lift inlet and exhaust camshafts
POWER: 290kW at 5750 revs
TORQUE: 520Nm at 4750 revs
GEARBOX: Tremec six-speed manual (six-speed ZF automatic optional)
EQUIPMENT: (in addition to XR6 T) bonnet power bulge, semi-active muffler, 19-inch five-spoke alloys (optional)
Has Ford convinced you with the new G series?
