A five star ANCAP rating could give the FG a positive push against its rivals.
A lot hangs on the outcome of the Australian New Car Assessment Program crash test of the FG Falcon in the next couple of months.
If it gains five stars it will have massive repercussions and give Ford the opportunity to tell a magic marketing story.
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A maximum five-star rating will see it outdo the Holden Commodore and Toyota Aurion which both carry four stars.
No one at Ford Australia, despite persistent questioning, would say whether they expect the FG Falcon to return a five-star result.
That would be akin to digging themselves a very large hole.
Trevor Worthington, vice-president of engineering at Ford Australia, proudly says the FG Falcon is “the safest car, by a significant margin, we have ever made.”
But he was careful in commenting about what to expect from the independent crash test.
"It's not up for me to decide and I can't say what Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) will award it but we have improved this car not just in passive safety, body structure and airbags but safety related to trying to avoid accidents in the first place.”
While it does not affect ANCAP's findings, there was some concern shown over the rear-seat headrests.
The headrests are part of the seat back and are not adjustable and they offer questionable support against whiplash on people of average height (170cm).
There is no centre rear headrest. However, Ford says that based on legal requirements and customer feedback they have exceeded all the safety standards.
“'We're good to go with what we've got,” Worthington said.
“In terms of customer and legal requirements the backseat exceeds those standards.”
Worthington admitted that to replace the rear seat and incorporate higher adjustable headrests would add some complexity but stopped short on talking about how much it would cost.
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