Ford Falcon 2015 News

New-car sales hit the accelerator for the second month in a row after the best March result of all time - but former Australian favourites Holden and Ford hit a wall.

The total of 105,054 registrations was one of the best ever and confirms an upswing in February, following a Reserve Bank interest rate cut.The figures, obtained by News Corp Australia ahead of their official release next Tuesday, show a broad-based rebound among private and business buyers and across all vehicle types.One in every three vehicles registered is now a high-rider.SUVs accounted for the bulk of the additional 7800 sales with demand up 15.3 per cent, led by Mazda's CX-5.One in every three vehicles registered is now a high-rider.However, the Toyota HiLux spearheaded a resurgence in light-commercial demand, with 2000 additional private buyers cancelling out a fall in business purchases. Rather than looking to utes, fleets bought an extra 1400 passenger cars over the same month last year in a rare boost for the traditional format.Toyota's Corolla, which was March best-seller with almost 4300 sales, and the company's locally built Camry, with deliveries up 11 per cent over last year, were two of the main beneficiaries.But Holden and Ford's Australian-made vehicles failed to fire, with the recently refreshed Falcon finding only 700 buyers and Commodore sales slipping 18 per cent.Ford's Melbourne-made Territory SUV also missed out on the sunshine, with sales down 15 per cent, while Holden's Adelaide-built small car, the Cruze, slumped 24 per cent.Most mainstream carmakers had a strong month but luxury brands were among the biggest winnersAs all three Australian makers prepare to halt production over the next two years, fewer than one in 12 vehicles sold is made locally.Most mainstream carmakers had a strong month but luxury brands were among the biggest winners, with Mercedes recording a 30 per cent increase and its second-highest number of registrations ever.The new Mercedes C-Class, which this week was awarded the World Car of the Year accolade during a ceremony in New York, is on a roll and outsold all other mid-size cars at any price except the Camry.Most premium makers outperformed the overall market, with demand for Lexus and BMW both up 14 per cent. Land Rover was up 19 per cent, Audi 22 per cent, Porsche 87 per cent and Maserati tripling its sales compared with March last year.

After an almost 10-year absence from the pinnacle of V8s, the 38-year-old Launceston-born driver has his first race in Adelaide next weekend in the Dick Johnson Racing team Penske Ford.Ambrose took out the Australian series in 2003 and 2004 before forging a career with seven Nascar wins in the US, including two in the top-level Sprint Cup. He says there is a long list of challenges to get through to beat the new generation of V8 drivers who have emerged during his years away."For me the biggest challenge in the V8s is slowing the car down," Ambrose said yesterday.The person who can brake the best wins the race"In Nascar the whole aim is to keep the car running at very high speeds for the entire race, 330km/h to 340km/h for 500 miles (800km)."You don't have to slow down that much."With these V8 cars it's the slowing down that makes the difference. The person who can brake the best wins the race.So I really have to refine my braking technique"So I really have to refine my braking technique as well as get a better understanding of the dynamics of the car on old tyres, new tyres. Time will help with that."Ambrose and Johnson yesterday unveiled their new car at Johnson's race headquarters at Stapylton, south of Brisbane.The team announced a major sponsorship from Shell for the joint venture in which US billionaire Roger Penske has bought 51 per cent of Dick Johnson Racing.The "new" sponsorship deal would warm the hearts of Johnson fans, with the Queensland legend synonymous with the brand during the glory days of the 1980s.The new car is of course a brand new FG X Ford Falcon, but carries a definite retro feel with its livery.In NASCAR he achieved wins that no other Australian has ever doneAmbrose said he grew up as a fan of Johnson, especially because Johnson's teammate John Bowe was a fellow Tasmanian. He was delighted to now be driving a car with Johnson's No. 17 on the side.Johnson, 69, who started his racing career in an FJ Holden 51 years ago, said he was thrilled to secure a driver of Ambrose's calibre."Marcos has always had a high profile in Australia," Johnson said."When he left for America he was on top of the game in V8 racing and in NASCAR he achieved wins that no other Australian has ever done."

Best of all there is actually a reasonable excuse. Interest rates are still at record lows and prices on imported goods are likely to rise if the Australian dollar continues to dive.Whether you want something on two wheels or four — or even for the water — there is plenty of temptation to spoil yourself rotten. Because you're worth it.Powered by a supercharged V8, the HSV GTS Maloo is the world's fastest ute. Only 150 were supposed to be built but Holden squeezed an extra 100 into the production schedule (the balance to be built at the start of this year).Despite the $90,000 price tag, all are spoken for. But you could get lucky if someone else's deal falls over.With a 0 to 100km/h time of 4.5 seconds it's as fast as a Porsche. If anyone asks why a ute needs so much power, tell them you don't understand the question. Or that it also has the biggest brakes ever fitted to a ute, as well as a stability control system similar to that used by Porsche.If the budget doesn't stretch as far as a HSV GTS Maloo, then the new Ford Falcon XR8 could be a bit of you.It has the supercharged V8 from the previous GT Falcon but, at $52,000, costs about $20,000 less. If the missus can save $100 on a pair of shoes, imagine what a champion you'd be by saving $20,000. At this rate, you're almost making money. Ahem.Forget what you may have read in the car buff magazines, the new Falcon XR8 is so quick it gives the Holden Commodore SS a bloody nose.No wonder it's sold out until March. It'd be a good idea to get in quick because Ford massively undercalled the demand for the last V8 Falcon of all time.If you want a workhorse that's also a show pony then the top of the range Toyota HiLux TRD Black Edition is the go.Toyota has raided the parts bin for the HiLux because the first all-new model in 10 years in due in October.The Black Edition has no extra power, payload or towing capacity but it gets pimped-out looks and a leather interior. Available from about $55,000 in, er, black or white, the Black Edition costs $550 extra if you want a black one.With a design inspired by Formula One motor racing cars and a supercharged engine that uses aerospace technology, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 is expected to claim the title of the world's fastest motorcycle when it goes on sale in the first half of this year priced about $30,000.It is said to blast from 0 to 100km/h in less than 2.5 seconds — as quick as an F1 racing machine, if riders can hang on to it.The supercharged engine has almost as much power as a Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatch, but the Kawasaki Ninja H2 weighs barely one-fifth as much as a car.The supercharger technology is so sophisticated it has been banned from international motorcycle racing since 1946, but has returned to a modern, road-going motorcycle in the search for more power from smaller engines. Cool factor: infinity.The price of a jet ski (or "personal water craft", as they're officially known, because "jet ski" is a Kawasaki name) has been cut by more than half with the arrival of the Sea-Doo Spark which is about $9000 tow-away, no more to pay — including a trailer.The Sea-Doo Spark has a little less power than the $20,000 to $25,000 beasts but is barely any slower and still capable of giving you a fright — or a workout.The best way to get this over the line with the other half is to explain that riding one is like Pilates and Yoga for men.Jumping waves and skimming over choppy waters will work your pelvic floor and other core muscles you didn't know you had, including those in your glutes and quads. I know because I tried it and have only just started to walk normally recently.This truly is Yoga at 100km/h on the water, with a nice sea breeze. Best of all, you have to put the phone away. And it's light enough to tow it with a hatchback. If you dare.

Ten contenders, two exhaustive days of testing by six judges...

Mercedes-Benz C-Class wins CarsGuide 2014 Car Of The Year award as sales figures show it outsold the Ford Falcon by almost two-to-one last month.

Former Rudd Government spent $14 million taxpayer dollars on a four-cylinder Ford Falcon -- and then bought just seven cars.The true scale of the former Rudd Government's waste on supporting the collapsing Australian car manufacturing industry is revealed with new figures showing taxpayers funded almost a third of the cost of each four-cylinder Ford Falcon.In 2009, $42 million taxpayer dollars were pumped into the four-cylinder Falcon and two other fuel-efficient Ford vehicles under the $500 million "Green Car Innovation Fund".But confidential figures reveal just 1800 "Ecoboost" four-cylinder Falcons have been sold since it went on sale in April 2012 -- less than half as many as Ford originally planned to sell. Furthermore, Federal Government departments have bought just seven four-cylinder Falcons over the past two-and-a-half years, News Corp Australia can exclusively reveal.It means the Federal Government invested an estimated $14 million in a four-cylinder Falcon that it did not itself deem worthy enough to buy in significant numbers.The four-cylinder Falcon has effectively received a subsidy of almost $8000 on each $37,000 vehicle -- or $11,600 on each car bought by private buyers and businesses if you exclude Ford's company car fleet.The Ford figures compare to a $1490 subsidy on the $20,000 Holden Cruze ($149 million towards 100,000 cars sold so far) and a $1093 subsidy on the $35,000 Toyota Camry Hybrid ($35 million towards 32,000 cars sold so far) funded from the same scheme.RELATED: Ford to hire sacked Holden workersThe 2009 grant to Ford -- spent on a four-cylinder version of the Falcon sedan, a new LPG system, and a diesel version of the Territory -- failed to boost sales or reverse the company's decision to close its Broadmeadows car factory."We know that the Labor Party's quick-fix, band-aid approach to the car industry was unsustainable," said Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane."Labor's record is littered with examples where it scrambled to throw cash at problems, with no strategic approach to industry development or any attention to detail."Minister Macfarlane said the four-cylinder Falcon experiment showed there was a "failure to put in place any safeguards that public money would lead to long-term outcomes or job guarantees".Private car buyers also bought the four-cylinder Falcon in small numbers: 200 went to individual buyers while fleets have taken delivery of just 150 examples.The biggest buyers of the four-cylinder Falcon is Ford itself: issuing 600 company cars from April 2012 to October 2014.Ford declined to comment on the confidential figures which are shared among car makers but not released publicly.However Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said the four-cylinder Falcon has been "an important addition to the lineup, especially helping retain customers who were looking at competitive vehicles for better fuel economy."Over the past three years Ford posted a loss of $700 million and announced the closure of its car assembly line in Broadmeadows and engine and stamping plants in Geelong in October 2016.In October, the Falcon posted its lowest monthly sales tally in the 54-year history of the nameplate.But despite the downturn, Ford says the four-cylinder Falcon will remain in the line-up of the new model range.As the last ever Falcon of all time, dubbed the FG-X, began arriving in showrooms this week Ford refused to say the updated model would boost sales."It's going to be based on what the customers want, we're continuing to match production to demand," said Ford Australia boss Bob Graziano, who is one of the company's 600 employees driving a four-cylinder Falcon.Ford says it won't increase production from the current output of 83 cars per day -- the same rate Mitsubishi's Adelaide factory had slowed to before it closed in 2008 -- which is down from 133 per day last year, 260 per day in 2010 and a peak of 500 per day 10 years ago, in 2004."We're really excited and we're really proud of what the team has been able to do (with the new model), the early feedback has been very positive," said Mr Graziano.Ford may have over-estimated the appetite for a four-cylinder Falcon but it under-estimated how many fans still want a V8.Ford plans to double production of its XR8 performance sedan because most dealers have sold out until March.

As the exhaustive COTY drive program starts, CarsGuide covers the market segments — the focus as ever is on testing real cars for real people on real roads.The field for the 2014 Carsguide Car of the Year contest is in the starting blocks.The 10 contenders cover every corner of Australia’s new-car showroom, from baby cars to SUVs and luxury cars to people-movers. There is even a performance car.The COTY favourite is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class but there are dark horses including the updated VW Polo and Toyota Corolla sedan, as well as the classy little Mazda2 that’s a late inclusion for the contest.And then there is the Ford Falcon XR8, an Aussie hero that’s the poster car for the final FG X Falcon.The two-day COTY contest puts them head-to-head with a simple mantra: real cars for real people on real roads.So we’re looking first at value, then everything from safety to comfort, quality and efficiency. It’s the same approach that most people take to their new-car purchase but with a much sharper focus.VW has dominated the COTY results in recent years with the excellent Golf and Polo, which work so well despite unanswered questions about ownership beyond the warranty.But no one knows what will happen when we get down to voting for the biggest prize in Australia motoring.  The contenders are:Ford Falcon XR8From $52,490This is as good as the Falcon gets, as Ford Australia does all it can to make the FG X special for the time it has left as a car maker at Broadmeadows. Ford fans have been calling for the return of the XR8 for years and the best news is the car picks up the 335kW supercharged V8 engine lifted directly from the discontinued FPV GT.Honda Jazz VTiFrom $14,990Honda retreated in the global financial crisis, and has also just axed the Accord Euro that’s been so popular in Australia. Honda played smart by adding a standard rear-view camera to the new Jazz but that’s just the start for a car that’s a genuine step forward.Honda Odyssey VTiFrom $38,990Few Australians buy people-movers but the new Odyssey provides a good reason to look past an SUV. A genuine family van, it is also well equipped and well built. It’s been a long-term success in Australia, despite rivals including the Toyota Tarago and the latest classy Citroen Picasso.Mazda3 NeoFrom $20,490Australia’s favourite car for 2013 got a total makeover for 2014 that includes everything from the SkyActiv powertrain to a new body and chassis. It’s a looker that backs the style with impressive quality and driving dynamics. The Mazda3 take the fight to the Toyota Corolla for sales and the VW Golf for everything else.Mazda2 NeoFrom $15,790More like a condensed Mazda3 than any previous Mazda2, the Japanese company’s new starter car is mini but definitely not tinny. The cabin quality is impressive, it goes well with SkyActiv technology, and the value is up with a price that’s down.Mercedes-Benz C200From $60,900The world’s oldest car maker performed a magic trick with the new C-Class, creating a condensed S-Class limousine that still comes in below the LCT threshold. It’s packed with technology, takes a new approach to luxury cabin design and drives incredibly well in C200 starter form.Nissan Pathfinder hybridFrom $42,990Earlier Pathfinders were a bit rough-and-ready despite their heavyweight credentials but the new model is much more car-like and a serious alternative to a Toyota Kluger or Ford Territory for Australian families. The hybrid package is the icing on the cake.Subaru WRXFrom $38,990The long-term Subaru hero is still a performance bargain. Its user-friendly constantly variable transmission is one of the biggest changes and challenges to the turbocharged pocket rocket. This time around the emphasis has switched from the engine to the chassis in the WRX, a major departure that changes the game.Toyota Corolla sedanFrom $20,740Four-door compacts are not generally as popular as hatches but that has not stopped Toyota from creating a sedan that trumps its five-door variant. It’s a little more expensive but the pay-off comes in greater refinement in a body that works for many downsizers.VW Polo 66TSI$16,290The starter car for VW in Australia following the axing of the Up is a long way better than basic motoring. It goes surprisingly well, has a solid Golf-style feel and meets most of the needs of baby-car buyers. As always, though, we wonder about life beyond the warranty.We’re looking first at value, then everything from safety to comfort, quality and efficiency. It’s the same approach most people take to their new-car purchase but with a much sharper focus.

2015 FG X Falcon XR8 orders exceed expectations ahead of showroom debut.Ford's Broadmeadows car factory was given a boost this week with the new Falcon going into production -- and demand is already outstripping supply, a situation Ford hasn't found itself in for more than a decade.Demand is so strong for the new Falcon XR8 performance flagship -- at $55,000 the most expensive model in the range -- that Ford is urgently trying to double production of that particular model.Several dealers have sold out of their initial allocation and orders being taken today will be delivered in March.We've been overwhelmed by the customer responseFord only planned to build fewer than 1500 of its XR8 sports sedan over the next two years, roughly 10 per cent of the Falcon's sales mix -- even though 37 per cent of all new Commodores sold today are a V8."We are definitely looking at increasing XR8 volume, it's fair to say we've been overwhelmed by the customer response," said Ford marketing manager David Katic."It's now a matter of going back to (parts) suppliers to see if we can increase our orders."The XR8 has the same supercharged 5.0-litre found in the previous Falcon GT and comes with the same performance brakes, sports suspension and wider tyres -- but it costs at least $20,000 less than the old Falcon GT.

No chance of an XR8 ute to sit alongside the 335kW GT RSPEC-in-disguise FG X Falcon XR8 sedan.Ford fans hoping for a supercharged V8 XR8 ute will have to make do with the new FG X XR8 sedan, with Ford confirming that there are no plans for a Blue Oval semi-equivalent to the HSV GTS Maloo ahead of the Falcon nameplate’s demise by late 2016. Speaking with CarsGuide at this week’s FG X Falcon launch, Ford Australia’s E8 (Falcon and Territory) Vehicle Line Director David Wilkinson confirmed that the returning XR8 performance flagship will remain four-door only for the last iteration of the Falcon. Returning after a four year hiatus, the new XR8 sedan marries the drivetrain and chassis of the limited-build 2012 FPV GT RSPEC with the restyled and refined FG X Falcon XR package. This means that the previously FPV-only 5.0-litre supercharged ‘Miami’ V8 is officially joining the Ford lineup for the first time, and pack the RSPEC’s 335kW tune, staggered wheel and tyre sizes and track-tuned RSPEC suspension package.    So why no XR8 ute?“The full XR8 package just isn’t available to us,” Wilkinson said.The most powerful drivetrain homologated for the ute body is the 315kW tune used by the final supercharged GS and Pursuit utes, and a (leaf-sprung rear end) ute version of the RSPEC’s suspension package was never developed.“Unless it’s got the full package, it’s just not worth doing,” Wilkinson added.The demise of the FPV GS ute earlier this year also sees Ford without any form of V8 ute for the first time since the first XH II XR8 ute arrived in 1997.The previous FG XR8 ute still makes up the bulk of the field in the national V8 Ute racing category and currently leads the 2014 championship. David Wilkinson also squashed any hope of a return of the FG FPV GT F’s 351kW tune supercharged 5.0-litre V8 in any bodystyle during the Falcon’s remaining days. “We’re not reintroducing a 351 engine,” he asserted.Ford will instead preserve the limited-build GT F’s status as the most powerful production Falcon ever, maintaining the high note formed by Ford’s farewell to the Falcon GT nameplate and the FPV brand.This will also help protect the resale value of the 550 FPV GT Fs snapped up by eager collectors earlier this year, and protect the HSV GTS Maloo's status as the world's fastest ute.