Ford Falcon to go front-wheel-drive?
August 27, 2008 by Karl Peskett
In a press conference in Melbourne yesterday, Ford Motor Co chief Alan Mulally would not rule out the possibility of Ford’s iconic Falcon switching drive layout.
Speaking to journalists, he noted that Australians were “obsessed with rear-wheel-drive”. And your point is? But the real reason for the push to change, is the global realisation that it makes more economic and environmental sense to utilise front-wheel- and all-wheel-drive layouts.
“All-wheel-drives and front-wheel drives are pretty spectacular and they’re going to continue to get better”, Mulally told Drive.com.au. “We are aggressively transforming our product line to have more fuel-efficient small and medium sized cars and utilities. We’re doing that worldwide.
“The real focus to be successful long term is going to be that you have absolutely dynamite smaller vehicles to support worldwide [consumer demands].”
Mulally did offer hope that Ford Australia would be an engineering base for the global manufacturer, thereby allowing scope for input from Aussie designers. After all, he has been quoted as saying that the current Falcon is a “dynamite vehicle”, and that there is “going to be a significant market worldwide for the Falcon.”
Whether that is in rear-wheel-drive, or another platform is unclear at this stage.
“It will be driven by what the customer wants and values, and especially the fuel economy and the performance,” said Mulally.
What do you think? Is it time for the Falcon to switch drive layout?
Print it: 
A front wheel drive on an iconic family sized car would ideally be annoying those people in the US whom were addicted to Australian family cars because they were rear wheel drives.
I can’t imagine how much more economical sense would a front wheeler be compared to a rear wheeler when the difference is very minor. Nor can I imagine how a front wheeler would be that much more quicker than a rear wheeler.
BMW once had an ad about FWD vs RWD. When cornering whilst accelerating, FWD have more understeering because of the same wheels that are driving the car in the direction that’s preferred by the driver along with the turning. RWD has this separate.
Needless to say that RWD are tail happy but I can’t imagine fitting a V8 in FWD layout without having a very wide front bonnet.
I don’t understand whats people’s obsession with cramming everything in such a small spot and making Ford Falcon front wheelers will lose me as a customer as I am sure I won’t be the only one.
I have been saying this since EA241/FG was launched. As the CD345 Mondeo is wider, taller and has a longer wheelbase, it was clear the Falcon didn’t fit with Ford’s plans over in Dearborn. The problem is that the current fuel crisis could be over by 2011, and Aussies will want big cars again—making Ford look as stupid then as when they killed the V8 the first time in the 1980s.
I don’t know about Australia but with the Fairlane dead, cabbies wanting an LWB sedan have gone to the Statesman en masse. Ford is going to experience the same if Falcon goes FWD.
Looks like ford doesn’t really have a clear direction where they want to go. Don’t get me wrong the FG XR6T is an excellent car but dumping the inline 6 and v8 for other engines in 2010 and then now this FWD stuff in 2013 great way to lose customers. I originally decided to get an FG XR6T but after finding out the dumping of the inline 6 (INSANE)I was hesitant to hand over 50 grand, went for a SSv instead. Also the timing wasn’t right for me, released the FG’s but no XR6T, waited for a a month still nothing. Ford really need to get their house in order and sort out the internal politics. I’ve owned a ba inline 6, easy to mod and great to drive loved it. If this the direction Ford is going I’m sticking to GM. I just hope GM doesn’t go down this path otherwise my next car will probably be a something in the direction of a Z350 or Euro. This is all just cost cutting BS just look at how the FWD Japanese 6cyc are cheaper than a base model falcon or commie.
Johnny L – Its more likely that the Commodore will remain RWD. mainly because its expected that by 2012-14 when the next generation Commodore is due to be released;
Holden will make it more “compact” [similar in size to that of the TT-36 Torana Concept Car] and will probably be built on the same platform as the Opel Insignia [which isn't confirmed for Oz] which can accept FWD RWD and even AWD layouts.
Engines are likely to include a 4cyl V6; and a 280-300Kw Direct Injection Twin-Turbo Optimised [DITTO] V6; and maybe even a Quad Cam V8 as well as a diesel
Wheelnut – That’s good to hear, nothing like a good RWD, these cars really need to have less weight too hopefully the more compact may mean less weight. I was looking at the performance of Corvette’s the 1lt with the ls3 has a 0-100 aprox 4.1 sec and not to mention the Corvette (z06,zr1)and Dodge vipers that do the 0-100 in under 4 sec. Wouldn’t mind seeing something with that kind of performance in AUS, most cars with that sort of performance cost as much as a house. A nice fast coupe like one of those with a affordable price tag would be nice. Corvette 1LT US$49000aprox = HSV GTS aprox price AU $, compare that to what HSV has done with the LS7 engine 150K. Some time it seems like we pay more for less in OZ.