Should Ford bring the Australian Falcon here?

A video of a Ford Falcon XR8

http://www.strategicqld.com.au/files/burnbabyburn.mpg

Ford of Australia even has a performance line, FPV which stands for Ford Performance Vehicles.

check out

http://fpv.com.au/

Ford FPV backs their cars in the V8 Supercar Series

http://fpv.com.au/fpr/index.asp

http://www.v8supercar.com.au/

If 'bring it here' means export Falcon to the US, and have Aussies endure the moronic whining that befell Monaro/GTO ... please, don't do it!

I can almost hear them now ...

"Too plain, not 'retro' enough (ie not a style regurgitation of supposedly magnificent '62 Falcon). No scoops. No live axle option so internet blowhards can't boast of cutting those absolutely crucial 0~30ft ETs. Too heavy (ie too strong) and probably accuse it of being a Taurus or Tempo clone as well - despite unique platform & RWD design etc. And while they're at it they'll probably insist the boot (trunk) space be cut in half, to withstand 'typical everyday impacts' from forty ton trucks doing 70mph"

Falcon deserves a better fate than that

The Pontiac GTO is bashed for being bland, but I like it. It looks far better than the new BMWs, imo.

I think the new Ford Falcon looks great. It is understated just like a high-performance sedan should be.

I've heard Australians like their cars understated. Is that true?

This 2004 Pontiac GTO Ram Air 6 show car looks nice.

http://seriouswheels.com/top-2004-Pontiac-GTO-Ram-Air-6.htm

I like the GTO too. and the Falcon should be broiught to the US. The Taurus is too bland. We need a sedan thats got a Ford badge and is fun to drive. The 500 is too underpowered.

Ironic isn't it that 'prestige' manufacturers like Mercedes etc can offer both high & low-end product which are of a markedly similar corporate style-theme (eg budget C Class & luxo S Class, or previous-gen BMWs) without negative public reaction? Yet others like GM etc apparently cannot (eg 'Crapalier' & GTO). Public perception is a fickle concept, eh?

For my :2cents: I agree with you, re BMW's Bangalised Bungles. 6 series is at least individual, as is Z4. But 5, 7 and especially the hideous new 1 shapes strike me as both unsympathetic & distinctive in the worst way (overstyled)

Yes in general the AU market leans toward understated, less overt styling. So with our comparitively tiny market and small product range, manufacturers are less inclined to risk the outré. and from both OE & owner-modified, the traditional 'high perfomance look' here is less "look at ME!" and more accented towards 'Q Ship' stealth. More mimics our production-racers, less street-custom as in Ram Air 6. But I guess it's personal perception as to which is more subtle, in reality.

For mine, HRT's 427 from a few years ago holds more appeal that Ram Air 6
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/carcontent/reviews/holden/2002HRT42706b.jpg
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/carcontent/reviews/holden/2002HRT42703b.jpg

There was a brief time in the early '70s when things went mental (bolt-on flares, huge scoops & stripes, lairy paint-outs) but alas those days are long gone

Now 'it' is more exemplified by cars such as (XR8-based) DJR 320, below
http://www.automobileforum.com/forums/uploads/post-6-1073511309.jpg

To atone for previous sardonic post, for your interest here's some superficial FPV reviews (http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?Make=FPV&TabID=6485&Alias=carpointau)
:)

I can't stand the new BMWs.

This E34 M5 (second generation M5) was built by hand at the BMW M factory unlike the 99-03 E39 M5 and the new M5. The new M5 has a cheap interior and doesn't even have a manual transmission.

http://www.e34s.de/Bilder/am2004/Saturday/DSC_1374.JPG

The new BMW 5 series almost looks like a cross between a Pontiac and Kia Rio.

http://members.roadfly.org/bm75204/PontiacE60.jpg

http://members.roadfly.org/ohmess/e60e39.jpg

http://members.roadfly.org/bm75204/645TrunkUp.jpg

:iceslolan Haha doesn't your 5-series/GTP exemplify the style disaster that has befallen once proud & dignified BMW. And thanks for your thoughtful inclusion of AU icon Dame Edna!

I once saw Dame Edna being interviewed by the feminist 'Jet Set' magazine 'the first women's magazine with balls'. Asked by the Editor if she's ever balled a chick, Edna replied with a crooked smile .. “I may be old fashioned, young lady, but lesbianism has always left a nasty taste in my mouth”.

E34 M5s are an attractive unit, but not overly rapid. For trivia I saw a factory-entered M5 race at the Easter 1992 Bathurst 12 Hour enduro, for showroom-stock cars. Despite being piloted by Alan Jones (ex F1 champ) would you believe it was almost 3 seconds a lap slower than another showroom-stock vehicle (virtually identical to Holden pic-link below) which btw was 205hp 304cid with 6" rims & almost 7" of ground clearance?

No I'm not kidding (http://allclassifieds.com.au/img-640/2005/01/31/0e3eb202db1da4cc5a0a9bb1145bfe48.jpg)

Hmm..

David Donohue won the 1994 IMSA Bridgestone Supercar Championship in a production-based M5. E34 M5s don't have much low-end torque. I like the performance of the new M5, but I can't stand its exterior styling and interior. The flat dash is nasty. The new M5 has lost all of the taste and class of the old M5s. Now it is just a rich man's Subaru Impreza WRX. Not that I don't like the Subaru Impreza WRX, but it is more of a rally car than a big super saloon.

http://www.kindel.com/bmw/brochure/540i%20sport6a.jpg

It is awesome that Holden and Ford of Australia back their cars in racing (the V8 Supercar Series) unlike BMW.

Are these Ford Falcons only sold in New Zealand and Australia? How many were sold last year?

I really like this Ford FPV GT-P.

http://www.fpv.com.au/upload/image/355_1x24x200382610PM.jpg

Nice pics. I never thought of the Grand AM looking like the E60... The GT-P is pretty cool.

Holden V-Car in its many variants are exported to every continent (bar Antarctica) with most sales to the Middle East. But apart from New Zealand, Falcon exports are few & far between. Last I heard there was a smattering into South Africa, where high fuel prices limit sales, and in past years the occasional large batch to Hong Kong for taxi use. Almost all Oz taxis are Falcons. Btw they are not yet engineered, nor have ever been built in L/H/D form by Ford-AU

http://www.ford.com.au/inside_ford/press/View_Press_Release.asp?file=foa305.htm

In 1994, 72,914 Falcons were sold, last year the Falcon tallied 65,384 sales. Commodore sales are only about the same level as they were a decade ago. In 1995 80,452 Commodores were sold. Last year there were 79,170.

Holden says exports and a broad range of cars are the key to the Commodore's survival. Last year, with an export tally of 52,372 sedans and coupes eclipsing the record set in 1973 by the HQ Kingswood, Holden's exports increased 45 percent over 2003.

Ford AU CEO Tom Gorman says that is why the Territory recreational vehicle was so crucial to the Falcon's survival. "We make five vehicles off the Falcon platform, including the (AWD) Territory, and that gives us the economies of scale to continue making all these products."

For an enthusiast-oriented Falcon IMO it's hard to pick between your GT-P and another great FPV product the F6 Typhoon
______________________________________

WRX has been on sale here since '91, and immediately enlivened the brand. The earlier models were quite restrained - no huge whale tail or flashy gold rims - and WRXs were often seen driven by rural doctors, mature-age country commuters etc. At one stage WRX appeared in our national top-ten (by model) sales results, and was easily Subaru's best-selling model here. Then, as WRX styling add-ons became ever bigger, the rot set in as the 'youth market' discovered the car. WRX became the ram-raider of choice, joyriders, stolen-and-rebirthed etc. Even carjacking, a phenomenon previously unknown here. I recall one year the theft rates became so astronomical within Sydney that, on average, every Sydney metro area WRX was stolen about 1.3 times! It soon quite literally became uninsurable, and Subaru itself had to offer insurance to keep the model viable. Sales of WRX have much diminished in recent years, as few want the hassle of owning such a conspicuous target (for thieves as well as cops)
______________________________________

Australia used to have almost a national obsession with production-car racing (especially endurance racing) which I much prefer to an artifical, equalised & meaningless formula like V8 Supercars. Nascar here we come. Nowdays the V8 Supercars boast 20+ cars separated by less than a second in quailfying, but on race day the only way they can make some sort of a race out of it is by 'manufacturing' it in the pits

To close, pardon my off-topic rave within our friendly chat. But your mention of super saloons reminds me of our original supercars, before they were infamously outlawed here by Government in 1972. Chevy-engined Monaros, Ford's awesome GT-HO 'Phase' cars, Hemi Chargers with OE triple Webers. Fantastic overpowered monsters sliding around on razorblade wheels, exhausts bellowing, with smoke pouring off the mandated street radials. 100% stock Series-Production racecars that actually leaned when cornering, not some giant point-and-squirt slotcar like what impersonates tintop racing today

Falcon GT-HO Phase III, locally manufactured 351 Cleveland 4V, 380hp, 160+mph, 6" rims, 164 litre tank
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=503/2976Falcon_GTHO_sideways.jpg
Hope you like this 1971 pic!

Nice pics. I never thought of the Grand AM looking like the E60... The GT-P is pretty cool.

Nah. The E60's front end just looks too much like a Pontiac.

That is an awesome picture!

Did that happen at every corner on race day?

Why did the gov't outlaw those muscle cars in 1972?

The Trans-Am Series used to be really production based here in the U.S., but it isn't like that now. There are some rule changes for 2005 which shoud help, but I wish the Big Three would start making some modern muscle cars. That way, the Trans-Am Series would be more exciting.

By the way, what do you and other Australian's think of the new Ford Mustang?

check here for pictures

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=379139

hi all
i am from australia and i think ford are realy nice lookin cars

Ha ha, the new mustang is alright, but I prefer the previous model, actually a couple of models ago probably now. I don't know much about the new mustangs but the 2002/2003 models were the best ones. The Mustang Cobra SVT and that of them years.

Actually, the 2005 Mustang is much better than the 2002/2003 Mustang.

The 2005 Ford Mustang convertible's chassis has more than twice the torsional stiffness of the previous Mustang convertible.

Read the following 2005 Mustang article:

http://www.motorsportscenter.com/article_462.shtml

http://www.motorsportscenter.com/uploads/05mustang_chassis.jpg

The 2005 Mustang GT's 4.6 liter V-8 weighs 75 pounds less than the previous model year's engine thanks to a switch from an iron block to an aluminum block.

The 2005 Mustang won five races in Grand-Am Cup this season.

check here

http://www.multimaticmotorsports.com/mustang/index.html

http://bradbarnett.net/mustangs/timeline/05/05/California-7.jpg

http://motorsport.com/photos/grandcup/2005/ls/grandcup-2005-ls-tc-0162.jpg

Carroll Shelby rejoined Ford in the summer of 2003.

Edit:

Officially, the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 has a 5.4 liter supercharged V-8 with 500 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. It will be hand-built at the Romeo engine plant.

http://www.netcarshow.com/ford/2007-mustang_shelby_gt500/1280x960/wallpaper_02.jpg

Actually, the 2005 Mustang is much better than the 2002/2003 Mustang.

The 2005 Ford Mustang convertible's chassis is more than twice as rigid as the 2004 Mustang convertible's chassis.

Australian road tests said the pre '05 Mustang Cobra convertible's chassis had the torsional strength of a matress (their words, not mine) so anything is an improvement I guess

Good pics & links!

Btw although under-rated, current 5.4 DOHC Falcon GTs produce about 20 more rwhp than 400hp HSV LS2, so not too shabby

The new Mustang convertible doesn't shake going over bumps like the old one.

How much hp and torque do the current FPV GT and F6 Typhoon have at the flywheels?

How much hp and torque do the current FPV GT and F6 Typhoon have at the flywheels?
HSV Clubsport (400hp LS2): 297kW @ 6000rpm. 530nm @ 4400

Falcon GT: 290kW @ 5500rpm. 520nm @ 4500
Review (http://editorial.carsales.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/RT/ECEC6970AD7C2624CA256E940004771F_Our+Opinion?OpenD ocument)

F6 Typhoon: 270kW @ 5250rpm. computer-limited 550nm between 2000~4250rpm (over 400nm @ 1500rpm)
Review (http://editorial.carsales.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/RT/5ABE4E6A92B98717CA256F4100822640_Our+Opinion?OpenD ocument)

The interior is nice.

http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/3132-0-1.jpg

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/images/ford-aims-04-3-big.JPG

It is sold in not only Australia and New Zealand, but also South Africa.

It isn't engineered for left-hand drive and that costs a lot of money to do. It may replace the Crown Victoria in 2008 in North America.

It costs around $33,000 to $35,000 (U.S.D).

Brembo brakes come standard on the FPV GT-P.

http://www.fpv.com.au/upload/image/620_1x24x2003120320PM.jpg

New 3.5 liter V-6

Besides building the Falcon here, SVT should take the Falcon and Ford's new 3.5 liter V-6 and give it twin-turbochargers and a lot of other performance parts.

The new Ford Edge crossover will get the new V-6 later this year when it goes on sale.

Press release:

11-9-2005

- New 6-speed automatic transaxle that saves fuel - up to 7 percent in highway driving and nearly two tanks of gas a year compared with typical 4-speed automatics

- Engine designed with the future in mind - capable of super-clean PZEV emissions, hybrids, direct-injection and turbocharging

- Work begins on Ford's third-generation hybrid technology for future I-4 and V-6 engines

New 3.5-Liter V-6

The new 3.5-liter V-6 was designed to deliver the best combination of fuel economy, refinement and performance for the customer and be compact enough to fit into a variety of vehicles. The height and width of the engine is the same as the smaller displacement Duratec 30 V-6.

The engine produces 250 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque in its CUV [crossover utility vehicle] applications. It uses a dual-overhead cam valvetrain for peak power capability and smooth operation at high RPM. It incorporates intake variable cam timing to optimize fuel economy by adjusting valve timing for a smooth idle, optimal part-load driving and an impressively broad torque curve with good power.

In anticipation of future needs, the new V-6 has been designed to accommodate advanced technologies, including gasoline direct injection and turbo charging.

The engine will be built in the fall of 2006 at Ford's Lima (Ohio) Engine Plant.

6F 6-Speed Transaxle

Ford also underscored its leadership in fuel-saving transmissions with the reveal of a new 6-speed for the new Ford Edge and Lincoln Aviator. Ford is an industry leader in 6-speed transmissions with 24 nameplates already offered with the highly efficient technology.

Six-speed automatic transaxles improve performance and fuel economy. It is estimated that, for every 500,000 6-speeds - rather than traditional 4-speeds - fitted to vehicles, 12 million gallons of fuel can be saved annually (based on 25 mpg combined fuel economy for 15,000 miles).

The enhanced performance and fuel economy of the new 6F comes from a wide span of 6.04 between the transaxle's lowest and highest gear ratio. The high ratio span helps deliver improved fuel economy of up to 7 percent and improved sustained acceleration compared with a typical 4-speed automatic.

The new 6F will be fitted to the 3.5-liter V-6 in the Ford Edge and Lincoln Aviator. The combination delivers optimal fuel economy and powerful performance combined with smooth, refined and quiet shifts.

The new Ford 6F will be built at Ford's Van Dyke (Mich.) Transmission Plant.

More News on Hybrids

Ford also took another step toward delivering on its commitment of putting 250,000 hybrid vehicles a year on the road by 2010 with the announcement that engineering work already is under way on a third-generation hybrid transaxle - one developed using Ford's in-house hybrid expertise.

Engineered in Dearborn, the new hybrid transaxle will be capable of handling both 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines for future vehicles.

In addition, Ford announced that the Ford Escape Hybrid would debut this week as the first hybrid taxi carrying passengers throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Ford, the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission and the Coalition for Smart Transportation will mark the milestone on Thursday.

Improved NVH and Refinement

The elimination of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) was a particular target for the development team. Extensive use of CAE modeling on the transaxle case built a solid housing for the transaxle components.

Engineers used computer-aided analysis to determine exactly where strengthening ribs needed to be added to the casing to minimize radiated noise and vibration. CAE modeling also was used to add thickness to the case in appropriate areas for added strength.

In addition, the transaxle's three simple planetary gear sets are designed for robustness and use low-pinion pitch line velocities to reduce noise. All gears are cut using high-precision CNC hobbing, grinding and honing machines. The transfer and final drive gears are hard-treated for strength, and subsequently ground and honed to provide a more precise fit, thus reducing gear whine.

The 6F also features the first use of an off-axis pump for Ford. This package-enabler takes up much less space in the transaxle. Package efficiency is further enabled by the pump's chain drive. The pump porting also was optimized to improve NVH.

The 6F uses only plate clutches for each shift to deliver quiet, smooth shifts throughout the entire ratio span. In addition, the 6F uses a Ford proprietary control strategy that uses powerful adaptive algorithms. The 6F provides fast, responsive shifts throughout the operating range that are smooth yet crisp, which delivers an invigorating driving experience to the customer.

Factory Tested for Quality

To ensure the best possible shift quality, each 6F transaxle is bench tested at Ford's Van Dyke (Mich.) Transaxle Plant. There, the transaxle build quality is verified, detecting even minute variations in the manufacturing process.

Using a unique patent pending process, software programmed into the 6F's electronic controller individually trims and characterizes all solenoids and clutches to eliminate the variances that would normally lead to changes in shift feel, producing smooth, precisely controlled shifts that improve durability and customer satisfaction.

Power in a Compact, Modern Package

Ford's new V-6 produces 250 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque with a 3.5-liter displacement unit with a height and width that is the same as Ford's smaller Duratec 30 V-6. This enables Ford to install the engine in a wide variety of current and future products.

In developing the new engine, Ford engineers targeted excellent performance, fuel economy and low exhaust emissions. In addition, engineers designed the engine to work together in harmony with Ford's new 6F 6-speed automatic. By analyzing the transaxle and engine together, noise, vibration and harshness characteristics of the powertrain were optimized to ensure a quiet, trouble-free driving experience.

The all-new 3.5-liter V-6 architecture provides significant flexibility to incorporate additional engine technologies. The 3.5-liter engineering team included extra provisions to make upgrades relatively simple. These upgrades include such potential features as hybrid capability, gasoline direct injection and direct-injection turbo charging.

A Solid Foundation - Durability and NVH

Every world-class engine starts with a solid foundation. To optimize the base engine structure to provide outstanding durability and NVH, the lower-end design of the 3.5-liter engine features a forged-steel, fully counterweighted crankshaft with induction-hardened journals, fractured-split, powder metal-forged connecting rods and high-temperature alloy, cast aluminum pistons. These components are housed in a High Pressure Diecast (HPDC) aluminum cylinder block featuring six-bolt mains with cast in cast-over iron liners.

The engine's cylinder block design represents the first application of a high-pressure die-cast block for a V-configuration engine for Ford Motor Company. Ford chose HPDC over more conventional semi-permanent and sand casting processes because:

- Reduced raw material requirements (lower weight than if designed for conventional sand casting)

- Tighter casting process control capability
Better and more consistent casting qualities

- Elimination of reliance on casting processes that have byproducts requiring strict environmental controls

- Reduction of expensive post-casting processing (cleaning, heat treating, machining and assembly) requirements

- Ford deployed extensive CAE modeling to reduce lead-time, optimize die design and simulate critical process parameters to help ensure a consistent, robust casting.

- High Airflow, Optimized Combustion - Performance, Fuel Economy and Emissions

The 3.5-liter V-6's upper-end was designed as a system, all the way from the throttle body to the exhaust manifolds, to create the optimum flow for peak power and a broad torque curve. CAE analysis was used to fine-tune each component to deliver the required airflow without the need for intake flaps or butterfly valves in the system. Advanced throttle-control software enables precise tuning of engine response to fit the character of each vehicle application while setting the engine to run at its peak efficiency for optimal fuel economy.

The 3.5-liter V-6 uses a compact, lightweight dual-overhead cam valvetrain for peak power capability and smooth operation at high RPMs. The engine also incorporates intake variable cam timing (iVCT) to optimize valve timing for a smooth idle, optimal part-load driving and an impressively broad torque curve with good power. The iVCT system uses a hydraulically actuated spool valve that can rotate the intake camshafts up to 40 degrees within a half-second. A low-friction, roller-chain cam drive contributes to fuel efficiency.

Optimized Cylinder Head Produced with Flexible Machining

The aluminum cylinder heads in Ford's new V-6 are designed for high airflow and optimized combustion to support performance, fuel economy and low emissions. CAE was used extensively to develop the airflow and combustion system performance for this cylinder head design. This efficient combustion is enhanced by incorporating a centrally located spark plug and a high 10.3:1 compression ratio. The cylinder heads also were designed to accommodate fuel-efficient technology upgrades such as gasoline direct injection.

Low Emissions Capability

Ford's new 3.5-liter engine is PZEV capable right out of the box. Careful design consideration for the combustion system and catalysts create an engine that can meet stringent emissions standards without the need for expensive add-on technology.

The 3.5-liter V-6 is capable of achieving PZEV certification by delivering low cold-start emissions and enabling rapid catalyst light-off, which is a significant accomplishment for a larger displacement V-6 engine, says Tom McCarthy, engine systems manager for the 3.5-liter V-6 engine program. This is accomplished with low heat-loss exhaust manifolds and close-coupled catalysts for fast light off during cold start. Optimized fuel injector targeting minimizes cold-start emissions before the catalysts reach operating temperature.

3.5-Liter V-6 and 6F Automatic Technical Specifications

ENGINE

Type: 3.5 liter DOHC 24-valve V-6

Manufacturing Location: Lima Engine Plant, Ohio

Configuration: 60-degree V-6, aluminum block and heads

Intake Manifold: Composite, slit plenum

Exhaust Manifold: Cast iron

Crankshaft: Forged steel

Throttle Body: 65mm, electronic

Valvetrain: DAMB, 4 valves per cylinder, intake variable camshaft timing

Valve Diameter: Intake: 37mm Exhaust: 31 mm

Pistons: High temperature cast aluminum alloy with low-friction coated skirts, low-tension rings

Connecting Rods: Cracked-powder metal

Ignition: Pencil coil

Bore x Stroke: 3.6 x 3.4 in/92.5 x 86.7 mm

Displacement: 213 cu in/3.496 cc

Compression Ratio: 10.3:1

Horsepower: 250 at 6,250 rpm (estimated)

Horsepower per Liter: 71.5 (estimated)

Torque: 240 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm (estimated)

Redline: 6,700 rpm

Recommended Fuel: 87 Octane

Fuel Capacity: 20 gallons

Fuel Injection: Sequential multiport fuel injection

Oil Capacity: 5.5 quarts, with filter

Recommended Oil: GF4, 5W-20

TRANSMISSION

Type: 6-Speed Automatic

Gear Ratios

1st: 4.484:1

2nd: 2.872:1

3rd: 1.842:1

4th: 1.414:1

5th: 1.000:1

6th: 0.742:1

REV: 00034

About PZEV

The acronym PZEV stands for Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle. PZEV rated vehicles are supposed to produce 90% fewer emissions than the average new car and also have zero evaporative emissions.

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini1L.jpg

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini2L.jpg

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini3L.jpg

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini4L.jpg

The lower-end design of Ford's new 3.5 liter V-6 engine features a forged-steel, fully counterweighted crankshaft with induction-hardened journals, fractured-split, powder metal-forged connecting rods and high-temperature alloy, cast-aluminum pistons that are all optimized for the base engine structure to provide outstanding durability and NVH. These components are housed in a High Pressure Diecast (HPDC) aluminum cylinder block featuring six-bolt mains with cast in cast-over iron liners.

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini5L.jpg

Careful design consideration for the combustion system and catalysts create an engine that can meet stringent emissions standards without the need for expensive add-on technology.

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini6L.jpg

Aluminum block, cylinder heads, valve covers, and oil pan.

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini7L.jpg

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini8L.jpg

Intake manifold

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini9L.jpg

The new V-6 uses a High Pressure Diecast (HPDC) aluminum cylinder block, featuring six-bolt mains with cast in cast-over iron liners.

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini10L.jpg

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini11L.jpg

http://www.americancarfans.com/news/2051110.002/2051110.002.Mini12L.jpg

dont change a good thing

Ford Australia Tapped to Design New Global Light-Vehicle Architecture

By Alan Harman

WardsAuto.com, May 5, 2006

CANBERRA – Ford Motor Co. of Australia Ltd. will receive a $52.5 million ($40.4 million) grant from the Australian government for two projects, including the design and engineering of the architecture for a new range of light-commercial vehicles to be sold in 80 countries under the Ford brand.

Engineered for both right- and left-hand drive and to be manufactured in multiple locations, the first derivative most likely will be a pickup truck, although the architecture has the capability for a variety of configurations and body styles, company officials say.

“"he (research and development) work Ford will do in Australia on behalf of its global parent company will be a showcase for Australian expertise and will help lift the profile of the country’s entire automotive sector," Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane says.

The auto maker, one of Austalia’s Big Four vehicle producers, says its new strategic direction includes investment in the new projects and accompanying facilities totaling more than $1.8 billion ($1.4 billion) over the next decade.

Prime Minister John Howard says $40 million ($31 million) of the government grant is for the design, engineering and manufacture of the next-generation Ford Falcon large car and Territory SUV.

The remaining $12.5 million ($9.6 million) is for the design and engineering of the new light-commercial vehicles.

"The light-commercial-vehicle project will involve the construction of a new R&D facility by Ford Australia in Victoria," Howard says. "This will not only serve to position Ford Australia for the global market but will significantly strengthen Australia as Ford (Motor’s) major design and engineering center within the (Asia/Pacific) region."

Howard says the projects will create 273 jobs at Ford Australia and help secure the future of more than 6,000 Australian families as well as "the iconic" Ford Falcon.

The Australian government’s assistance is conditional upon Ford providing the Australian automotive parts sector with every fair and reasonable opportunity to supply the necessary components for the projects.

“The funding has helped Ford Australia secure the largest automotive R&D project ever undertaken in Australia,” Macfarlane says. “This is an investment in the domestic automotive industry’s move towards a more high-tech, high value-added future and opens a new door for our local, world-class components makers."

Ford Australia says its product development team will take an enhanced role as an engineering and design center for the Asia/Pacific and Africa region. As a result, it will expand its core design and engineering staff.

The long-term goal has the blessing of the parent company.

"As we work to build Ford Motor Co.'s global competitiveness, it is critical that we continue to invest and grow our capabilities in the Asia/Pacific region," Chairman and CEO Bill Ford says in a statement from Detroit.

"The engineering experience and capability we have in Australia is a strategic advantage for Ford, and it is important that we use this great resource not just to benefit Australian customers but to benefit customers in markets around the world. The skills and technologies available in the Australian marketplace are some of the best in our global organization."

Trevor Worthington, Ford Australia vice president-product development, says significant engineering and design work over a number of years still is required before formal program approval for the new light vehicle will be granted by the parent company.

"Once this occurs, the architecture derivatives are expected to result in more than 400,000 sales annually," he says.

The design and engineering program is expected to generate in excess of $470 million ($362 million) in research and development revenues for Ford Australia during the course of the project.

Ford vice president and president-Asia/Pacific and Africa, Peter Daniel, says the Asia-Pacific region is vitally important to the car industry globally.

"The design and engineering capability built up by Ford Australia's product-development team with the success of recent projects, such as the BA and BF Falcon; the Territory; and most recently the design and engineering of a new Fiesta specifically for the Indian market, has ensured the team is best placed to lead major new projects in this region," he says.

"This regional capability is critical as Asian economies mature and consumers continue to demand outstanding motor vehicles tailored to their specific requirements."

Says Ford Australia President Tom Gorman: "Although some of these plans are longer term in nature, the recognition shown to our product-development team and the broader Ford Australia business through projects, such as the light-commercial-vehicle architecture and the state-of-the-art rear-wheel-drive platform, proves that we are on the right track, and that our direction is the right one for the future of our company."

id like to see the falcon f6 (typhoon f6) go to japan

I Think That The Australian Ford, Fpv Is A Hundred Times Better Than The American Fords, The Aussie Ford Has More Grunt And Stylish Looks, And Its A Family Car. I'd Like To See The Aussie Ford Go World Wide In Sales

Hi,
Yeah!I too have the same opinion that Ford should bring back the falcon model and hear to the people about their views.It is having all the qualities thnat a good car should have.