Ford Falcon
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| Ford Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 1960—present |
| Predecessor | None |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door ute 2-door panelvan |
| Platform | FR/RWD EA169 |
| Engine | 4.0 L Barra 190 I6 4.0 L Barra 245T I6 Turbo 5.4 L Barra 230 V8 5.4 L Boss 260 V8 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual (XT) 6-speed manual (XR) 4-speed automatic 6-speed automatic (optional in lower models, standard in higher) |
| Related | Ford Fairmont Ford Fairlane Ford Territory |
| Similar | Holden Commodore |
- This article is about the Australian car model. For models produced for other countries, see Ford Falcon (disambiguation).
The Ford Falcon is a car manufactured by Ford in Australia since 1960. The Falcon remains Ford's most popular model in Australia. The Falcon is a fully Australian designed, developed and built car. As a result of the longevity of its Australian production, the Falcon is one of the biggest selling names in world automotive history.[1] The Falcon's main competition is the Holden Commodore and the two have been trading sales and motorsport victories for almost 30 years.
Unlike Commodore, Ford has no plans to export the Falcon to North America[citation needed], though the US press has observed that "Australia has become the place to find the quintessential American muscle sedan" and noted these cars "could save Ford now, if they were for sale in North America." [2]
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Ford Australia has manufactured over three million of its versions of the Falcon which have been sold since 1960, being the top-selling car in Australia on many occasions.[3] Throughout its history the Falcon has been available in sedan, station wagon, hardtop, Ute, and panel van versions. Falcons dominate the ranks of taxis in Australia and New Zealand and are also widely used as police cars.
Other Falcon-based models continue to be made in Australia, continuing many nameplates no longer used in North America, including the better-appointed Ford Futura, and a luxury version called the Fairmont & Fairmont Ghia. Falcon and Fairmont station wagons, as well as the Fairlane and LTD limousines, have a longer wheelbase than the Falcon. For this reason they are sometimes rebuilt for uses such as stretch limousines and hearses. In 2007, a decline in sales of long wheelbase cars in the face of new North American models such as the Chrysler 300 put the future of these cars in doubt.
[edit] History
[edit] Beginnings
| XK Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | September 1960–August 1962 68,413 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six |
| XL Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | August 1962–February 1964 75,765 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six |
In 1959, Ford built a factory at Broadmeadows, a suburb of Melbourne, for local production of the North American Ford Falcon.
The first Falcons sold in Australia, from September 1960, were designated the XK naming and were essentially a right hand drive version of the North American model. Ford Australia needed a car that was larger than modified European Fords, such as the Zephyr, which although a volume seller was not considered suitable for the Australian market. However, XK sales suffered from complaints about the durability of US-designed cars on rough outback roads; the car earned the unflattering nickname "Foul Can" during this time. Ford Australia introduced some local design changes to the XL in early 1962, such as a heavier suspension system. Nevertheless, the Falcon was still widely perceived as unsuitable for local conditions and was not a rapid success in the Australian market. However, Ford stuck with the Falcon and sales gradually increased over the following years as improvements to durability and reliability were applied.
[edit] First Australian design
| XM Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | February 1964–February 1965 47,132 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six |
| XP Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | February 1965–September 1966 70,998 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six |
| XR Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | September 1966–March 1968 90,810 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six
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| XT Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | March 1968–June 1969 79,220 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six
Mustang V8
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| XW Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | June 1969–October 1970 105,785 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six
Mustang V8
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| XY Falcon | |
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| Production | October 1970–March 1972 118,666 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six
Cleveland V8
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The XM, released in 1964, was the first Falcon with an Australian-designed body, although it differed little in appearance from US models. The following model, the XP, saw the Fairmont introduced as an upmarket variant. During this period Ford Australia took a major gamble to prove the XPs strength and mercilessly drove a fleet of XP Falcons around its You-Yangs testing grounds for 70,000 miles at over 70 mph. it was a major gamble but it paid off with the Falcon winning the prestigious Wheels Car of the Year award. The largely American styled XR won the award in 1966 giving Ford two straight Car of the Year Awards. Ford introduced a GT variant of the XR in 1967, featuring a 289 cubic inch V8 sourced from the Mustang. The GT heralded the dawn of the Aussie muscle sedan. All of the original XR GTs were painted in the colour 'GT Gold', except for eight that were "Gallaher Silver" and another five that were "Russet Bronze, Sultan Maroon, Polar White, Avis White and Ivy Green". The non-gold GTs, while having the same specifications, are the rarest of the early Australian muscle cars. The 1968 XT model featured a mild facelift, with a divided grille and and fog lamps for the GT. The GT also gained narrow pinstripes along the sides of the car.
With the XW in 1969, the GT gained a bigger V8, the 351 cubic inch (5.8 L) Canadian-made Windsor engine, producing 291 hp (217 kW). The XW also gained a GS ('Grand Sport') model, with a 302 Windsor and optional 351. The GS lasted until the 1978 XC series, when the runout Cobra GS coupes were built. GTs remain valuable collectors' cars and this is especially true of the XY GT, released in 1970, in which the Windsor was replaced by a 351 Cleveland, producing 300 hp (224 kW). An upgraded Cleveland, in the 1971 XY GTHO Phase III, produced 385+ hp (287 kW). Power figures are still debated today as Ford still claimed 300 hp as the standard 351 Cleveland V8 in the GT though the GTHO Phase III received many modifications to increase its reliability and race performance. Here is a recent auction for one of these: XY Falcon GTHO
The end of production in the US paved the way for much greater Australian input in the design of Australian-made Falcons, from 1971 onwards, although for several years there was still a distinct resemblance to US-made Mustang. The XB Falcon bore a strong resemblance to the 1970-71 Ford Torino Sportsroof bodystyle.
During 1976 Ford Australia started producing the Cleveland V8s locally.
The Falcon, while popular, was outsold in Australia by GM Holden's Kingswood until 1978, when Holden decided to replace the Kingswood with a smaller model called the Commodore, based on the European Opel models. Holden gambled that predicted increase of oil prices during this era would drive consumers to choose smaller, more fuel efficient car, but the oil price rise never materialized. Ford Falcon remained number one seller in Australia until 1988, when Holden returned to the full-size Australian sedan design.
[edit] XA-XC Falcon
| XA Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | March 1972–September 1973 152,609 Units produced |
| Engine | crossflow Straight Six
Cleveland V8
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| XB Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | September 1973–July 1976 220,765 Units produced |
| Engine | crossflow Straight Six
Cleveland V8
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| XC Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | July 1976–March 1979 171,082 Units produced |
| Engine | crossflow Straight Six
Cleveland V8
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[edit] XD-XH Falcon
| XD Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | March 1979–March 1982 206,974 Units produced |
| Engine | crossflow Straight Six
Alloy Head Straight Six
Cleveland V8
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| Length | Sedan
|
| Width | 1860 mm |
| Height | 1370 mm (dimensions based on GL ) |
| XE Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | March 1982–October 1984 193,890 Units produced |
| Engine | Alloy Head II Straight Six
Cleveland V8
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| XF Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | October 1984–February 1988 278,101 Units produced |
| Engine | Alloy Head II Straight Six |
| Wheelbase | 2829 mm (dimensions based on GL ) |
| Length | Sedan
|
| Width | 1854 mm |
| Height | 1367 mm |
| Curb weight | 1363 kg |
Ford's next model Falcon, the XD, introduced in 1979, bore many external styling resemblances to the European Ford Granada, but was slightly larger and less luxurious.
Initially, quality and fuel consumption concerns dogged the XD. 1980s introduction of the crossflow Alloy Head improved fuel consumption of the ageing 4.1 OHV engine, an engine with its roots in the 1960s. Government pressure and the fuel crisis began to curtail the development of high performance cars. The Australian assembled V8s were continued until 1982 when Ford Australia built up a large stockpile of V8s to last until 1984. After the announcement of the end of the V8 the stockpile was evaporated by the end of 1982. During this period, Ford Australia also built a quantity of 4-bolt 351s - similar to those used in NASCAR at the time - for race purposes in Australia. When the 351's race career ended in 1985, the remains were shipped and sold in the United States. The 4.1L EFI six-cylinder was introduced to replace the V8 but initially produced only 111 kW and 325 nm of torque, well down from the 149 kW and 415 nm previously produced by the 5.8 litre V8. The Ford V8s remained absent between 1983 and 1991.
With hindsight, the deletion of the bent-eights was the lesser of two evils presented at the time. Ford had considered replacing the Falcon with a model from "Project Capricorn", which would have seen a front-wheel drive car based on a stretched Mazda 626. A four-door version of the European Ford Scorpio, which at the time had only been designed as a five-door hatchback, was also proposed and progressed as far as the clay model stage.
As the fuel crisis eased, Australians moved away from the downsized Commodore back to the traditional full-size Falcon. In 1982, For the first time in more than a decade, the XE Falcon eclipsed its Holden rival in terms of sales and did so for the next decade.
The XF sedan and wagon sold between October 1984 and February 1988 with the Ute running through to March 1993, remains Ford's best-selling Falcon model to date; over 278,000 XFs were built.
Ford persisted with developing an all-Australian car under the codename EA26 (E for the large size, A for Australia, 26 for the (usually in sequence) global project number). EA26 would retain the traditional Falcon hallmarks of width and rear-wheel drive. This proved to be the correct move as sales of the Falcon began to climb after the fuel crisis aftermath, while those of the rival Commodore slipped. It became clear that Australian buying patterns had not truly changed and what the public wanted was a full-size family car.
In addition, Ford's dominance of the taxi market in Australia meant that a car that could comfortably seat three along the back seat—and even the front, with a bench seat installed—was necessary. It also ensured that Ford could retain, at least until Holden released the new Statesman in the late 1980s, the market for official cars for governmental use.
[edit] Continuation of the XF commercial versions - 1988-1999
When the XF Falcon passenger car range was replaced by the redesigned EA series, the XF commercials (utility and panel van) continued unchanged due to there being no EA series versions. The XF commercial models continued unchanged stylistically, but over time would gain the EA series engine updates.
A light facelift was given in 1993, codenamed XG. The XG model Falcon (also referred to as the 'Falcon Longreach') was released in March 1993 and ran through till October 1996. Ford Australia added the Longreach name for its tough "workhorse" image, as the birthplace of Qantas and the home of the famous Stockman's Hall of Fame on the boundaries of the outback. This particular series was solely a Utility and Panel Van model, being a mild update of the long running XF Ute and Panel Van. It gained the EBII's 4.0L OHC Inline 6, with a 5speed manual or 4speed auto being the available transmissions. It also gained minor interior updates, which were from the EB model Falcon, these included the instrument cluster, centre console (in two seater models), steering wheel, and interior seat trim material. Exterior changes was minimal, and included an EB style grill, black window trims (as opposed to chrome on XF 's) EB style door 'rubbing' strips, and indicator lights on the front quarter panels.
An XR6 model was released in October 1993. Over the standard model, it gained the ED's XR6 161 kW engine, distinctive quad headlights, indicators in the front bumper (due to the different headlights), sportier suspension, ED XR6 seats and trim, ED XR6 ten spoke 15in alloy wheels, and applicable exterior badging. 1050 of this particular model was sold between October 1993 to March 1996.
[edit] EA-EL Falcon
| EA / EA Series II Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | March 1988–July 1991 Series II October 1989 223,612 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six |
| Wheelbase | 2794 mm (dimensions based on GL ) |
| Length | Sedan
|
| Width | 1857 mm |
| Height | 1340 mm |
| Curb weight | 1445 kg |
| EB / EB Series II Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | July 1991–August 1993 Series II April 1992 36,374 EB Units produced 84,847 EBII Units produced 121,221 Total |
| Engine | Straight Six
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| Wheelbase | 2794 mm (dimensions based on GL ) |
| Length | Sedan
|
| Width | 1857 mm |
| Height | 1340 mm |
| Curb weight | 1445 kg |
| ED Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | August 1993–August 1994 72,571 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six
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| Wheelbase | 2794 mm (dimensions based on GLi classic) |
| Length | Sedan
|
| Width | 1857 mm |
| Height | 1399 mm |
| Curb weight | 1504 kg |
| EF / EFII Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | August 1994–October 1996 Series II October 1995 192,100 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six
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| Wheelbase | 2791 mm (dimensions based on GLi) |
| Length | Sedan
|
| Width | 1861 mm |
| Height | 1453 mm |
| Curb weight | 1536 kg |
| EL Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | October 1996–September 1998 133,461 Units produced |
| Engine | Straight Six
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| Wheelbase | 2791 mm (dimensions based on GLi) |
| Length | Sedan
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| Width | 1861 mm |
| Height | 1453 mm |
| Curb weight | 1536 kg |
The EA model Falcon introduced in 1988 bore a passing resemblance to the European Ford Scorpio but under the skin, it remained entirely Australian. The EA was only produced in sedan and station wagon models, with the previous-model (XF) ute and panel van continuing in production. Between 1989 and 1992, a version of the XF Falcon ute was badged as a Nissan under an unsuccessful government-backed model-sharing scheme called the Button Plan (which also saw the Nissan Pintara badged as the Ford Corsair). The EA engine options consisted of a 3.9L straight six cylinder engine (putting out 139 kW and 311 nm), as well as a short-lived, rough and poorly received CFI 3.2L straight six (putting out 90 kW & 235 nm). A 3-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual were the transmission options. The EA model, while initially popular, ultimately proved unreliable: transmission issues and electrical faults (also experienced by their major competitor at the time, the Holden VN Commodore were commonplace before the EB model was hurriedly released in 1991.
Indeed, corporate competitiveness proved to be the downfall of the EA Falcon. From the start the EA (and its VN rival) possessed all the trademarks of cars released onto the market too early - uneven shutlines, computer problems, poor paint quality, and various mechanical issues. An irony of the unsuccessful release of the EA series was that its final body design was completed and - through scoop photographs in Wheels magazine - shown to the public in 1985, three years before the car hit the market.
When the EA series II was introduced it brought with it many benefits that should have been introduced on the original EA, but due to supplier problems were not available. These options included a 4 speed Australian designed automatic transmission and a high-mounted brake light. The 3.2L engine was dropped. Also during the EA series II Ford released the 30th anniversary Falcon to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the release of the Falcon in Australia. This included exclusive badging, colour-coded bumpers, and other minor extras.
EA model reliability also curtailed resale value and still does to this day; most second-hand car purchasers usually prefer to pay more money for the preceding XF model or the succeeding EB model than for the EA. Despite the EA series II having significantly fewer problems than the series I, series II prices are also affected by this issue. This also affected the Fairlane and LTD, as well as the ute and panelvan models, which still persisted with their old XF styling.
The 5.0-L Windsor V8 was reintroduced on the EB range but did not reappear in the ute until the "EF-shaped" XH series ute in 1997. Also, the front suspension geometry was changed and positive camber was introduced on the front wheels, affording the car a much better level of grip and steering feel. Negative camber was retained for the EA-series because suspension settings were finalised before it was decided to include power steering as standard across the range. Despite its handling drawbacks, negative camber would have made non-power assisted steering easier for drivers, especially while parking.
The EB Series II saw the engine upsized by 35 cc (from 3949 cc to 3984 cc) to bring the nominal total swept capacity to 4.0L (with 141 kW and 348 nm). The transmission and electronics were improved, and there were tweaks to the styling. The EB saw many firsts; anti-lock brakes became an option, a Falcon first, and in 1993 a lap sash centre rear seat belt became standard - a first for an Australian car. The EB also introduced the Smartlock security system which featured Tibbe locks and an engine immobiliser. To demonstrate the effectiveness of Smartlock, South Australian Police invited four professional car thieves to steal the EB. After four days, they gave up.
Also introduced in the EB series II upgrade were foam-filled A-pillars which greatly increased crush protection and stiffened the frame, thus helping to reduce Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH).
Following the EB came the The ED in 1993. This was was arguably one of Ford's best ever Falcons, righting the wrongs of the previous EA and EB models - so much so that no substantial changes were made until the EF of 1994. Build quality, standard equipment levels, options and styling were all finally resolved in the ED. Engine output for the 4.0L was increased to 148 kW. Introduced in August 1994, the EF brought with it a new slicker body design and new interior. The 4.0 litre inline six-cylinder engine was upgraded to aid refinement and increase power to 157 kW and 357 nm of torque. The EF is also the first Australian produced car to have a driver's side airbag as standard across the range, even though the Holden Commodore was the first to feature it as an option. Changes were also made to the suspension with the aim of providing a more supple ride, but drew criticism for producing nervous handling and an unsettling feeling of roll oversteer (a problem not corrected until the EL facelift).
By this time, the popularity of the panel van had faded and Ford released their final panel van in 1997 with their XH & XH2 models (based on the EF model of the previous year). The XH Falcon ute was basically the old XF ute with an EF Falcon nose grafted on. From the A pillar forward it was EF and from there back it was XF. It was also during this model the V8 was re-introduced into the ute range.
The final E-series model, the EL, was produced from 1996 to 1998. A mild facelift of the EF, the EL introduced improvements to the rear suspension and steering to address handling concerns with the EF.
Falcon-based utes continued evolving along the lines of the sedan, however; the next model (AU) offered the first tray-model ute in many years commonly known in Australia as the One-Tonner.
[edit] AU Falcon
| AU Falcon | |
|---|---|
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| Production | September 1998–April 2000 111,420 Units produced |
| Engine | Intech Straight Six
Windsor V8
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| AUII Falcon | |
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| Production | April 2000–November 2001 93,250 Units produced |
| Engine | Intech Straight Six
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| AUIII Falcon | |
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| Production | November 2001–August 2002 111,420 Units produced |
| Engine | Intech Straight Six
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The radically redesigned AU model Falcon was released in 1998. According to Car and Driver, the Aussies dubbed the redesign a “cockroach”, following Ford’s failed attempts to replace the Falcon with a U.S.- or European-sourced car such as the Ford Taurus.[4] Panned by the motoring press for its styling, many buyers and especially police agencies fled to the new VT model Holden Commodore.
The AU — actually developed under the code name "EA169" — had Ford's New Edge design style, which was meant to differentiate it from the Audi-like styling prevalent in the 1990s. The gamble, which had worked with the Ford Focus, did not particularly endear the AU Falcon to its buyers. Complaints were also leveled at the AU's NVH, cheap-looking dashboard and the lack of a competitive high-performance "hero" car for the range, with the aging Windsor V8 engine unable to compete in a 'power-hike' war with the Commodore's new LS1 V8.
Series II and III
Attempts were made to address these issues with the AU Series II (April 2000) and Series III (November 2001) updates, which brought with them minor styling changes, a laminated firewall to reduce NVH and incremental power upgrades for the V8 among other things. This car received harsh criticism because of its futuristic design. The rear door openings received many complaints from passengers because it was hard to get in without hitting your head. This problem continued in the BA and BF series Falcon.
During this period the Windsor was phased out of production with the last being sent to Australia. These Windsors were then hand assembled by Tickford Engineering and turned into the most powerful EFI Windsor V8 made in the world. It was stroked to 5.6 litres and boasted 250 kW and 500 nm of torque. The six-cylinder engine was not forgotten during this period with the XR6 version receiving VCT in the top of the range model XR6 and optional on Fairmont Ghias. This engine had 172 kW though was detuned for the Fairmont Ghia to 168 kW through the use of a quieter exhaust system. However, it was not until the release of the BA model that Ford's sales fortunes were turned around.
[edit] BA Falcon
Ford Australia fought back with the BA Falcon, introduced in September 2002. It was yet another unique design that addressed many of the issues of the AU Falcon, most notably its styling. The BA Falcon retains the same doors as the AU (due to engineering limitations), but otherwise appears as a very thorough redesign. Engineering-wise, substantial improvements were made to allow the BA — also officially part of the "EA169" platform — to compete well against the Commodore.
BA brought the new Barra engines to the Falcon range, the 210 hp (157 kW) SOHC 4.0L was given a new DOHC variable valve-timed head (this version produced 245 hp (182 kW)), with the Windsor 235 hp (175 kW), 268 hp (200 kW) & 295 hp (220 kW) 5.0L versions and 335 hp (250 kW) 5.6L V8 replaced with a 24-valve 295 hp (220 kW) SOHC 5.4L V8 in lower models; 32-valve 349 hp (260 kW) and 389 hp (290 kW) 5.4L DOHC V8s powered the sportier FPV GT models.
Also new to the model range was the XR6 Turbo, powered by a 323 hp (240 kW) turbocharged version of the base model's 4.0L engine (Barra 240T). This engine is currently unique to Australia, and is also used in the Territory Turbo models. Turbocharging was initially experimented with during the early development of the 4.0L engine, which was being developed for the EA in 1988. Its relatively high power output - 147 kW in MP-EFI version - was considered more than adequate for the time and plans for turbocharging, along with a DOHC variant, were dropped.
The turbocharged BA engine is lightly stressed and a favourite platform for tuners who have extracted over 1,000 kW from it. Companies such as Air Power Systems can supply kits to provide around 400 kW (536 hp) for around $AU4,000. Rumours and conspiracy theories abound, but a widely held belief is that the turbocharged engine was over-tuned in the initial BA release and, during routine servicing, would be de-tuned to reduce the stress and the possibility of warranty claims.
The BA model offered substantial improvements in styling, interior, engines, reliability and performance. Within a year of its release, Falcon sales had increased substantially and, for a time, eclipsed Commodore sales. The BA Falcon won Wheels Car of the Year in 2002, ending a 36-year drought.
The BA Mark II, introduced in October 2004, incorporated small improvements more akin to a model-year upgrade, one such upgrade being the introduction of a six-speed manual throughout much of the range.
[edit] BF Falcon
The BF model, introduced in October 2005, brought many mechanical upgrades to the Falcon, including but not limited to dual-independent variable cam timing on the 6-cylinder engines and improved knock sensing on the SOHC V8 which, in conjunction with ECU modifications, led to increases in power and fuel economy, required to comply with recently introduced Euro III emissions standards. Long a Falcon (and indeed, Australian-built vehicle) weakness was the continued use of 1980s-originating 4-speed automatic transmissions. With the BF, Ford introduced a 6-speed automatic developed by German company ZF and Bosch dynamic stability control available as an option on many models. The XR6 Turbo got a power increase to 245 kW.
On the 6 October 2006, the BF Series II was officially launched by Ford President Tom Gorman.[3] Disappointingly, stability control was not included as standard across the BF range. BF Falcon MkII went on sale 22nd October, 2006. The XT, Futura and Fairmont sport a facelift, while the XR range gets some minor interior updates. Only little changes on the exterior are visible on the BF range, but the sporting image has been incorporated greatly throughout the range. The Ford Fairmont Ghia has had a major exterior image upgrade (compared to the other models) including more chrome and larger diamond finished alloy wheels. The Fairmont on the other hand does not receive the special sports body kit but still receives small visual upgrades. The 6-speed automatic was now offered as an option on the base XT model.
It is interesting to note that much of the Falcon's success in Australia can be attributed to Ford Australia (and indeed also Holden) continuing to face the same problem that led to the Falcon's introduction in the 1960s: the resistance of Australian Ford buyers to "smaller" models. Attempts to sell the US Ford Taurus in Australia and New Zealand as a possible future replacement for the Falcon proved unsuccessful. Conversely, the Mondeo - which proved unpopular in Australia (but a success in New Zealand) - is the largest model available from Ford in Europe since the Scorpio was dropped in 1998.
[edit] Falcon Ute
The Australian affection for the ute (short for "utility") allowed the Falcon to serve as the base model for their line of utes and panel vans, starting in the late 1950s and gaining rapid recognition by (usually younger) enthusiasts by the mid-1960s. As the base sedan and station wagon models of the Falcon further evolved, so too did the ute and panel van models, although usually up to a year or so after initial release into the market.
The only exception was the XF series, which lasted through the initial EA26 era due to the perceived unreliabity of the base EA model. While EA26 pickup prototypes were actually built, the XF shell continued through to the 1998 release of the AU model, in 1996 gaining the nose treatment of the then current EL series Falcon.
The Falcon Ute is the closest equivalent to a modern Ford Ranchero, though Ford has listed no plans of importing the Ute to the United States as of January 2007.
[edit] Exports to other countries
Australian Falcon exports have traditionally been confined to right-hand-drive countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations like Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Since the closure of Ford's assembly plant at Wiri, Auckland in the early 1990s, all Falcons sold in New Zealand have been fully imported from Australia.
The only significant export market for the Falcon outside of Oceania has been South Africa, where it was released in 1996 after an absence of nearly 20 years, but was dropped in 2003. Some limousines and hearses are exported to the UK by Coleman Milne, which used to convert European-made Granadas and Scorpios for the same purposes.
Hong Kong also imported a small batch of Falcons for trial as taxis, but they have not seen success there.
The Falcon will undergo some changes involving the E8 Orion platform in 2008. It is expected to be designed for left-hand drive from the get-go, increasing the likelihood that the car will be exported to some left-hand drive countries. However it is unknown what bodystyles will be on offer, or if long-wheelbase versions (Fairlane, LTD) will be available.
The U.S. press has suggested that Ford should import the Falcon to the US. It is rumored that Ford Australia could export the Falcon to the United States to replace the Ford Crown Victoria, as the long wheelbase market is in decline for lack of an export market.[citation needed] Comparing the Australian LTD to the Crown Victoria, the LTD is shorter (202 vs. 212 inches), about as heavy (4096 vs 4157 lbs), has a 5.4L V8 with much more horsepower (308 vs 224 for civilian, and 250 for police version). Since the Falcons are a common police interceptor in Australia, and Australian requirements for ruggedness are also severe, the Australian platform at least on paper would appear to be similar or superior.
[edit] Ford Performance Vehicles
Ford Performance Vehicles (commonly abbreviated to FPV) is the official high-performance arm of Ford Australia, replacing Tickford in this role with the introduction of the BA Falcon platform in 2002. FPV currently offers five sedan models (GT, GT-P, F6 Typhoon, Force 6 & Force 8) and three ute models (Pursuit, Super Pursuit and F6 Tornado). The F6 models feature the Barra 270T turbocharged (270 kW) 6-cylinder engine, while the other models feature a higher-performance version of the Barra V8, known as the Boss 290 a modified version of the 260 kW 4-valve V8 in the XR8
[edit] Ford Territory
| Ford Territory | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Production | April 2004-present |
| Engine | Barra 4.0L I6 DOHC |
| Wheelbase | 2842 mm |
| Length | Sedan
|
| Width | 1898 mm |
| Height | 1714 mm |
| Curb weight | 2015 kg-2045 kg |
The Ford Territory is a crossover SUV built by Ford Australia and based on the EA169 platform of the Falcon, released in April 2004. Its code name inside Ford was E265. It won the prestigious 2004 Wheels Car of the Year award, the reviewers praising car-like handling and practicality as reasons for its win. Ford had reportedly spent A$500 million on developing the range over four years. It is built on the same production line as the Australian made Ford BF series Falcon. Ford's reputed design brief was for its engineers to develop 'a BMW X5 for Falcon money'. With the clever use of an extensible platform, parts-bin components and a competent though superseded all-wheel drive system, Ford came very close to achieving its goal. The Ford Territory was heavily criticized in its model change in 2005, due to the fact that it was 'the only car to ever be allocated a different model designation' without any external modifications. However, there were major advancements mechanically due to the upgrade from the BA's 182 kW/4speed auto combo to the 190 kW/6 speed auto combo, which provided drastic improvements in fuel efficiency (gains of up to 30% were spoken of). Of late (July 2006) Ford has released a Turbo Territory which runs the BF Turbo driveline and a top mount intercooler (rather than the Falcons front mount intercooler).
[edit] Falcons in motorsport
Falcons have been raced in Australia's premier touring car racing categories for many years. The car first took the spotlight in 1962, when Harry Firth and Bob Jane won the 500-mile Enduro at Phillip Island in an XL Falcon. When the race, open only to showroom-standard production cars, shifted to Mount Panorama in Bathurst, it became a stage where Ford could showcase a high performance version of the Falcon to appeal to buyers. The XR GT raced to immediate success in 1967, when Firth and Fred Gibson teamed up to win at Bathurst.
In 1969, Ford debuted the XW with a GTHO (Handling Option) variant, dubbed the Phase I. The following year, the Phase II won the Bathurst race in the hands of Allan Moffat, who went on to win again in an XY GTHO Phase III in 1971.
In 1972, Ford built a GTHO variant of the newly-designed XA, called the Phase IV. Ford had intended to race them at Bathurst, with Moffat at the wheel, but only a few were built. On June 25, 1972, The Sydney Morning Herald published an article by Evan Green, its motoring editor, suggesting that carmakers were building street legal supercars that could top 220 km/h. The article and its impact later became known as the "Supercar Scare". Government pressure forced Ford to abandon the Phase IV, and Moffat and others to drive outdated Phase IIIs at Bathurst. That year, Peter Brock won the Bathurst race in a Holden Torana. Ironically, Green later became a PR boss and board member at Holden and made his name as a rally driver.
Since 1973, touring car regulations in Australia have allowed for modifications to the cars and thereby eliminated the need for race-ready supercars on showroom floors. For many years after Ford Australia did not have a factory team (there were drivers that got 'back-door financing' however), and support for the Falcon occasionally dipped and dived. It was due to the true believers in the Falcon, the likes of Allan Moffat, Colin Bond, Dick Johnson and Murray Carter that it maintained a presence on the racetrack.
It was not until the rise of V8 Supercars in the 1990s that the Falcon became popular again on the track.
Ford Falcon V8 Supercars will be raced by the following teams in 2007:
- Ford Performance Racing - factory-sponsored team owned by Prodrive.
- Stone Brothers Racing - responsible for Ford's resurgence in V8SC.
- Triple Eight Race Engineering - TeamVodafone
- Dick Johnson Racing - Jim Beam Racing
- Brad Jones Racing - Team BOC
- WPS Racing - Owned by Craig Gore, who also sponsors the Team Australia cars in Champ Car & NASCAR Busch Series.
- Britek Motorsport - Fujitsu Racing, Owned by V8SC Driver Jason Bright.
- Team Kiwi Racing - Switching to Ford in 2007
- Paul Cruikshank Racing
[edit] Falcons as police cars in Australia and New Zealand
The Ford Falcon and its rival the Holden Commodore make up the majority of the state police fleets in Australian states and territories, as well as those of the New Zealand Police. General duties cars are almost identical to the stock Falcon XT, except for upgrades such as modified seats which provide better support and comfort to officers wearing equipment belts, a limited slip differential, sports suspension and dual airbags.
Other modifications include a heavy duty battery, alternator, and wiring, to enable the installation and use of extra equipment like speed detection radar and police radios, a police-certified speedometer with two kilometre increments which provides greater accuracy, a map reading lamp, and reduced insulation in the car roof to facilitate the fitting and wiring of the emergency lights. The various police forces fit their own sirens, emergency lights and decals.
General Duties patrol cars run the standard 190 kW six-cylinder engine (some on LPG), and some states use high powered Falcon XR6 Turbo (245 kW), F6 Typhoon (270 kW) and XR8 (260 kW) sedans as traffic enforcement vehicles.
Falcon sedans are commonly used as police vehicles in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory. The South Australia and Western Australia police forces mainly use Holden Commodores, however when the AU Falcon was released in 1998 they were used almost exclusively in WA. Caged trucks (commonly known as "Paddy Wagons") based on the Falcon XL cab chassis are frequently used in Victoria and Queensland, and occasionally in Western Australia. South Australia uses the Holden Rodeo in conjunction with the Ford Falcon.
[edit] Falcons in popular culture
Falcons featured prominently in the George Miller films Mad Max and its sequel, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, mostly in the role of police patrol cars. A 1973 XB Falcon GT was the basis for the black Pursuit Special driven by protagonist Max Rockatansky (a car famously referred to as "the last of the V8 interceptors"). One XA and two XB sedans were the basis for the blue and yellow police interceptors in the first film. The original car was sold after the first movie and had to be repurchased for Mad Max 2 after the original film was a hit. A replica was destroyed in the second film and the restored original is displayed in the Cars of the Stars museum in the United Kingdom. There are a number of replicas around the world; one company will build a Pursuit Special replica to order as well as the blue/yellow cars. A Ford Falcon was also blown up in the movie Mission: Impossible 2 while IMF agent Ethan Hunt was attempting to leave the Biocyte Facility on an island in Sydney, Australia.
[edit] External links
- XB GT Falcon Registry
- Australian Falcon/Fairlane Mechanical forum
- XR6 Turbo enthusiast forums
- Ford XR6 Turbo, Typhoon XR8 Forum
- Ford Australia
- E-Series Owners Club Australia
- The Home Of Perth E-Series
- The Ford Modifications Website
- Fastlane.com A brief history of the Falcon's 40 years
- SaveMyXY.com A resource for information and links on the XY series of Ford Falcons
- Restoration, commercials, literature, galleries on the 1960 - 1970 Ford Falcon
- Australian Ford Forums
- Australian Ford Information
- Ford Falcon XE UTE Feature Car
[edit] References and Notes
- ^ "The Ford Falcon Story...", FalconClub.com
- ^ [1] Car and Driver "Fords that could save Ford now, if they were for sale in North America. "
- ^ Ford Heritage, Ford Australia website
- ^ [2] Car and Driver "Fords that could save Ford now, if they were for sale in North America. "
