New Ford soars like a falcon

But questions are being raised about the lack of standard side-curtain airbags.

The car maker yesterday offered motoring media the first drive of its new sedan range and - apart from the side-curtain airbag - the Falcon looks and drives like a winner.

The new model looks well worth its $750 million development costs and is further evidence of Ford's large-car prowess, offering precise steering, roomy cabin and reduced interior noise.

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After a short first drive in the new FG Falcon range, the feeling is Ford can breathe a little easier - if prospective buyers spend some quality time behind the wheel on varied surfaces, they'll be sold.

The launch earlier this year of Ford's critical Falcon was targeted by Holden, who tried to spoil the FG Falcon's party by announcing its Commodore line-up come with standard side-curtain airbags.

Toyota's Aurion has standard side-curtain airbags, leaving the Falcon the only locally-produced large car without this feature.

The base XT gets side and thorax bags for the driver and passenger, a fitting that Ford president Bill Osborne says is in keeping with the car's high level of safety. Osborne does not want to speculate on the car's crash test rating, but is confident it will do well.

Privately, Ford executives anticipate the Falcon will score a maximum five-star crash rating when tested. “It's our safest Falcon ever,” Mr Osborne says.

Taking a swipe at the Australian New Car Assessment Program, Mr Osborne says public crash testing is designed to standardise a test for many different vehicles.

“But how relevant it is to real world safety is debatable,” he said.

“We have not designed our car for a rating - we have designed it so people can walk away from a crash. We have designed it for real world situations not marketing,” he said. Apart from the ultra-rigid body, the car uses clever door sensors that trigger the side airbags, technology borrowed from the XF Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Saturday's carsguide: Full details of first FG Falcon drive.