The Ausie Falcon platform is not as small as prehaps you think it is.
In its Falcon and Fairmont form its certianly smaller than the Crown Vic, however along with the Holden Comodore its comfertbly the largest car on sale here in NZ and Ausie (with the exception of the 7 series BMW and S class merc, which are only just bigger in exterior dimensions).
Its the car of choice for both police forces (who buy both in equal numbers) while Taxi's generaly favour the Falcon, as a Taxi kit is avliable from the dealer, although the Comodore is still very popular.
However, a streched version of the Falcon platform is avliable, the current one being badged as a Fairlane.
I don't how it compares to the Crown Vic in size, but its noticably larger than the Falcon/Fairmont, and is larger than the Holden Calais, which is built useing the Chevy Caprice Body.
Heres a PDF with the full specs and dimensions:
http://www.ford.co.nz/fairlane/downl...lane_specs.pdf
or
www.ford.co.nz or
www.ford.com.au
While Ford has several extermly good FWD global platforms they lack a global RWD one. The falcon would make an excellent base, its of a size that it can be made bigger or smaller to suit differnt markets, and due to the large number of differnt models made off of it for the Ausi and NZ market, its extremly adaptable. It also uses the new generation of Ford V8 engines, and is able to use the new V6s, although it currently uses a reincarnation of the Ausi straight 6, an engine that has been around since the late 70s.