Ford Falcon to go front-wheel-drive?
27 Aug, 2008
105 Comments 
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?
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I can’t see the Falcon becoming front wheel drive, I think this is more of a realisation from Ford HQ that it is struggling and needs to adopt more global platforms. Given that they already have a large FWD car in the Mondeo, the decision is do they adopt the Falcon for a global RWD platform (as GM has with the VE) or do they cut their losses and just kill it and rebadge the Mondeo. It could be all or nothing for Ford Australia, the message is the Falcon won’t survive as an Australia/NZ/Pacific region only vehicle. Sink or swim.
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:28 am
*****PRIMO!*****
This is nonsense, a FWD Ute WON’T work, end of story!
Still, i am very happy with my BFMk11 Ute [765km from LPG!] and will change it over soon as the V6 Cyclone is out in 2010 as long as its injected LPG [i think yes]
What about Falcon Glovebox -v- Commodore Glovebox, i REALLY want to see and know which is 5-star and superior
:-)
Cheers
F-0
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Id much prefer ford switch to a more efficient turbocharged 4cylinder (i think theyre calling it ‘EcoBoost’ in the U.S.) than give up the rwd platform. But i think this is more an indication that the falcons days are numbered, kinda depressing really
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Ford is obviously in a tight spot. Fuel prices and speculative non consistent talk of environmental issues and big cars are also not helping the problem.
First thing that came to mind was a FWD V8 Supercar…lol!!!
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:50 am
A FWD Falcon will be a disaster for Ford in Australia.
Remember when they dropped the V8 from Falcons in the 80s - it cost them heaps in sales and image.
Likewise when they introduced the Taurus here people wondered if they were just testing it as a posible replacement for the Falcon. Australian buyers didn’t want anything to do with it and thankfully it quietly faded away.
Given that Ford has FINALLY discovered the concept of global platforms I think the smart move would be for the next Falcon to be built on the next-gen Mustang platform (which apparently is a good size and supports LHD and RHD).
I really can’t see Ford building a full-sized FWD car here (or importing one from the US) that would be more sucessful then the Camry/Aurion.
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:55 am
If Falcon goes FWD, i’m handing in my Australian Citizenship./
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Much speculation going on, so I may as well contribute my thoughts:
- The next gen Falcon WILL be built on a NEW global platform. It will NOT be a revised Mondeo platform.
- Ford AUSTRALIA will be a major contributor to the design and engineering.
- The layout is likely to be FWD/AWD capable. For Australia this means that the volume models will probably be FWD, with performance and commercial models getting AWD.
- The car will be built worldwide, with only localised styling differentiating them.
I would be sad to see the end of a RWD Falcon, but if thats whats needed to survive in a tight fuel market then so be it. A FWD Falcon, with AWD performance & commercials is better than no Falcon at all.
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:16 am
It wouldn’t be the first car in the history of the world to switch from rear to front drive. Plenty have done it successfully in the past like Escort, Corolla, Sierra to Mondeo, Celica, and to no ill effect in sales or motor sport success.
The new Audi A4 shows how you can even make a fwd car look like a rwd car these days.
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Put a V6 in a Mondeo and put it up for sale against the Falcon on a trial basis.
Now I would normally buy a Mondeo over a Falcon any day, but I can pretty much guarantee the V6 buyer will go the RWD Falcon 90% of the time.
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:26 am
the s60 volvo is FWD, as is the s80. The high performance models are AWD, but pretty much 90% FWD. Apparently when the AWD fails, the torque steer is shocking, but then again that is 220KW, 0-100 in under 6 seconds. The s40T5 came out initially in FWD and had no torque steer, getting 0 - 100 in under 7 seconds from 180KW. The turning circle can be bigger, and you can get understeer, but for normal driving most people wouldnt know the difference.
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Thats very true Golfschwein, in addition to this various Auto engineering firms like ProDrive are creating electronic system that remove the need for AWD thus creating a FWD system that drives just as well as AWD or RWD.
See: new Focus Rs
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I’m no mechanical wizard but basically why the concern of FWD!
laurie
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:44 am
The problem is most of the buyers wont even be aware until it’s too late (if they do change over). Or they just wont care.
Its a case of too many commuters and not enough enthusiasts.
Imagine the torque steer in the FPV’s?
Change lanes at a prod of throttle anyone…?
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Having written what I just wrote, I think of Falcon as a rwd car. Change could be difficult, unless it was to all wheel drive. I just don’t have the fear and loathing of front wheel drive, as some do.
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Well there goes any hope in exports of them,especially to the States! isn’t part of the reason the Americans imported the Commy was because they lacked a good RWD platform car????????
Big mistake Ford if you do,there goes any Performance car out the window in the future.
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
i have to say i have an image of Falcons being a rwd car and as such would rather have another car than a fwd falcon…. call it something else if ford really want to introduce a fwd falcon.
could the higher specs have all wheel drive and the lower spec - xt models be fwd?? or will that be too expensive to maintain in terms of getting two different layouts?
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Wow, this is a tough trick for Ford MoCo to pull off!
Almost any aussie interested in driving and Fords will be going bananas about the prospect of a FWD Falcon, awd wouldn’t be too bad, but still different.
The main detractors of FWD would be obviously Torque Steer and Towing ability. I can’t imagine a FWD being able to comfortably tow 1600kg let alone the current falcons maximum of 2300kg. This would be a big turn off for a lot of falcon buyers.
On the AWD side of things, this would cancel the torque steer and towing issues, but it would greatly add to the cost
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Any chance they could do rwd as a made-to-order kinda thing? Like someone said earlier, the fwd can be the volume model but there are rwd and awd versions available as more exxy options. Or is that waaaay too costly in the real world?
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Yup, base models FWD and upmarket AWD, its actually a sensible plan, partic if the base model drops in price, weight and fuel efficiency. I’m with you Golf and Laurie, this fear of FWD is beyond me, partic for the base models. Holden will follow the same direction in time.
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Pat most base model Falcon buyers are fleets, so they wont care one little bit, if the vehicle is lighter, easier on fuel and cheaper..they will be more than happy. If AWD is avail as you go up the price list, then this is where most retail buyers are at anyway…its a smart move.
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I remember a little while back when the VE commodore was still in its gestation period, holden admitted that while their prefered layout for the VE was RWD, they had not ruled out FWD, and the marketing people said that they where very confident that they could sell a FWD commodore if they had to, they just didn’t want to!
But in saying that, holden’s marketing department could sell salad to fat people, while ford’s on the other hand is generally acknowledged as being crap.
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
One drive of a Golf GTI, and you can really understand how good FWD can be, the car is just beautiful, and on a twisty, uneven broken road I can still keep up with a Subaru 1999 STI, which has more power, and AWD.
I never gave FWD any thought until the Golf, as I had previously have 12 different Subarus, and I can say if done right FWD are a whole class above the normal run of the mill falcon.
One thing worth noting, is that less than 20% of Falcons are bought by private buyers, so unless you are a fleet manager of some company, what you think re the falcon does not really concern Ford.
Lastly if you can not find a better pace for $30-40K worth of your money than a massively deprecieating large car, that used too much fuel, and typically carries no more than the driver, then you are going to relegated to the same fate as a Dinosaur, (and we can dig you up in a million years and turn you into Oil.
Already the fleets have realized, and are buying things like mid and small sized AWD’s as even if they cost slightly more to buy, the retain their value much better, compared to a traditional large car. It is simply a case of supply and demand. Everyone that runs these fleets realized that depreciation is the largest cost of car bar none.
For what a falcon looses in the first 12 & 24 months, you can have a fully maintained, and have guaranteed hand back BMW 3 series for the same period.
Ian
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Ian, Atlas Copco and Woolworths are just 2 big companies saying, “yes, we’d like 6 Jettas this time please”.
Times sure are changeing, and our local makers must move with it.
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
As another aside, how important is V8 supercar racing to the australian psyche?
I cant see a hypo FWD V6 taking up the challenge otherwise toyota & mitsubishi may have pursued this.
Also, Ford’s retraction of commercial support to some teams is beginning to tell.
The end of V8 supercars and subsequent industries surrounding it is coming………
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Same old lame argument about resale etc and how a Euro/Japanese alternative is better. Please have a think about it…
I drive an FG G6 myself 90% of the time. Now that other 10% is for my son in his baby seat and my wife and the pram in the boot. And on the odd occasion taking some friends or relatives. I can fit a person either side of the baby seat. Can’t do that in a BMW 3-series, Accord/ Euro etc. The 3-series offer with a guaranteed buyback has alot of conditions attached to it. ie the maintainance which is part of the cost, keeping the car in excellent resellable condition. Not to mention it is not big enough to suite my needs.
Oh and my Falcon has a 5 Star safety rating too…
Depreciation = what you are prepared to pay for a car. Have a think about that one. If you are conditioned to think the Falcon has bad resale, then you will not be willing to pay top dollar. Yet when you trade the same car back for another, you’ll want almost what you paid for it as a trade in!
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I reckon Jimbo is on the right path.
If Ford can’t sustain a RWD Falcon, they should just let it go and ramp up the Mondeo, which is probably a better car in any case.
Nissan has improved its local sales since stopping local production (and most likely Mitsubishi will too). I know Ford plans to build the Focus here, but you have to wonder if Ford Australia is about to ‘jump the shark’.
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
@WVB … maybe the bastards will let the Nissan GT-R back into local racing, haha!
(Love the HSV anti-spam word for this post too, btw.)
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August 27th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Woolworths have also ordered a substantial amount of TDCi Mondeos as well..
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Look at it this way if falcon does go FWD, or commodore for that matter at least they will be able to make a FWD platform handle properly.
It certainly wouldn’t want to feel like an aurion dynamically, yuck.
Ford’s CEO is correct, comes down the buyer preferences and what will be more efficient.
Sorry to say but the reason for keeping V8,s and RWD no longer exist in todays cut throat market.
Maybe 15-20 years ago V8’s etc were more important but i think Ford will have to act more like cold hearted Toyota too survive the ever more competitive market, globally.
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
back @ liam. i read today that mitsubishi have already posted good returns on its imports since the tonsley closure, albeit including the huge shut & payout costs.
Also, having watched mitsubishi conduct themselves in the 5 years leading to 2008, if i were at ford i’d be considering my options.
…….and i loved the godzila racing!!
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Bavarian Missile, I think you missed the point somewhat. The very reason that it may be FWD is because it will be a global platform that will be built and sold in the USA, and the yanks have less aversion to FWD than we do.
Also consider this: Ford Australia do not need massive export markets to survive, all they need is larger production numbers over which to spread development costs. And if those development costs are spread over large production numbers, regardless of where they are built, then Ford Aus will do OK. If you look at there profit/loss statements and remove most of their on-going development costs (which will be contributed to from other markets) then the bottom line is actually quite good.
Thats why Toyota Aus are profitable - little or no development costs. All they make here are cars developed elsewhere, with huge global volumes.
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
WVB,
mate you need to stop scaremongering. In their dying years Mitsu wound back their R&D, it was writting on the wall stuff.
Ford on the other hand is continuing to EXPAND it’s local R&D area - they are here to stay for the long term.
I don’t know were your alliegence lies, but Australia has about reached critical mass as far as automotive manufacturing - if we lose another manufacturer, we will probably lose the lot.
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
This is exactly why Ford MoCo is doing so poorly, they make stupid decisions. If you look at the kind of crap US Ford, Mercury and Lincoln sell, it’s clear why Ford MoCo is digging its own grave and wanting to bring the rest of the company outside the US with it.
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
What the? A Failcon already handles bad enough without throwing FWD into the mix to exasperate the situation!
Damn… next it will be BMW making some sort of dumb announcement like this and we may as well give the game away.
The ONLY reason Ford would do this is for cost saving. May as well line up for a Camry if this happens - why the hell would you buy a FWD Falcon! Idiots!
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Myke…
One question for you…
Where is Toyota’s affordable, budget RWD platform????????
there isn’t one…
Flying high…
What crap are you talking?? falcon outhandles, VE, aurion and 380…
And to top ot off you compare BMW business decisions and activities with that of a mainstream manufacturer like Ford!? wake up!
Jeez some of you have sh*t for brains!!!
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August 27th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Bret I didn’t miss the point,I was talking about the current model that the Americans would love,its a far better RWD car than they make currently.Maybe the Americans are more receptive to FWD but that doesnt take away the mistakes GM made in the past by allowing most of their models now days to be front wheel drive.
There will always be a markets for rear wheel drive cars especially in Australia.This isnt the first time the USA has tried to force feed FWD to us,in 1998 the fith generation AU Falcon was released. Ford North America had been pressuring Australia to scrap the Falcon and replace it with their crappy Taurus despite the fact the Falcon was extremely profitable and the Taurus was a market disaster in Australia being smaller, slower and front wheel drive. Ford Australia refused to kill the Falcon and Ford North America grudgingly accepted.
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Not Happening!! i though better to go AWD on the FPV models!!
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
If this went ahead, it would be the end of Ford in this country. If it’s not broken, LEAVE IT ALONE! Maybe this is why there is another job available at the top of the Ford Australia tree, who would want to announce this to the Australian public? Lets see them announce this in the states and see what reaction they get…. a front wheel drive Mustang anyone?
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
A lot of the arguments about FWD and RWD etc currently put forward are flawed. Why? because our mindset is based on a petrol/diesel/LPG style combustion engine.
What if the engines were electric inside the wheels with of course no drive shafts. Or perhapes a FWD combustion engine with an electric engine across the diff.
What I am seeing is a lot of 2 dimensional thinking rather than the possibilites in R&D in drive development.
As for the V8 Supercars, their days are so numbered it’s not funny. What would happen if you had 100kw electric engines in each of the wheels and when it came time to recharge the batteries all you did was replace the power packs (alla cordless drills).
It’s time to move out of the square and look at all the possibilities. I believe the Australian car industry is going through a period of change. Remember, and I say this with great pride. Australia is one of the most enervative countries in the world.
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Adam (aka Moron) I was not comparing BMW decisions to Fords you dope. I’ll raise my hand next time I blog something tongue in cheek like that so you know the difference.
Outhandles what? yeah OK whatever you say. Does not take away from the (lack of) quality of handling to which I was referring.
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
flying High…
You certainly ‘high’
sorry i misunderstood your pointless sarcasim.
WTF are taling about in relation to Fg’s handling abilities, ‘moron’?
It outhandles, VE, aurion, 380…
You were saying again???
Please explain what you are tying to ‘point out’…
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
(lack of) quality of handling??
Right…
FG is superior dynamically than it’s primary competition, understand that??
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
as an american that is also a ford fan this pisses me off. i drive a mustang and i know the next gen mustang was going to share a platform with the falcon. now i know back in the late 80s or early 90s ford wanted to turn the mustang into the mazda built ford probe. that idea was shot down after the mustang guys found out and wrote to ford. currently the only rwd ford sedans we have here is the lincoln town car, mercury grand marquis, and the now fleet only ford crown victoria. those cars are now older then the t rex. i guess if i need 4 doors i will buy the aussie built pontiac g8 or save up and buy a BMW.
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Hey Jason, just out of interest does the G8 sell well in the USA?
Also, how do you think the Aussie Falcon would go selling to the USA market? Maybe that is the way Ford should be going from a financial point of view..
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August 27th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Ok, so Mr Mulally, Im a Ford buyer. If you build a FWD Falcon, I WONT BUY IT!!!!
Did you hear me Mr Mulally?!
Good. So keep it RWD like a real car and go find some other old bomb that the US are building and rip it to shreds with your FWD platform!
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August 27th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Mr Brooksy…
Put your money where your mouth is, when are you buying a NEW FG falcon, anytime soon?
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August 27th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
well jimbo i haven’t seen too many G8’s on the road but i also haven’t seen very many at dealers. i think the current state of the economy has a lot to do with it. the cadillac cts which is also rwd has been selling pretty well here in the states and the cts-v should be out pretty soon with the awesome 550hp V8. as for the falcon goes i think it could sell well in the states. ford could sell a lot of them to police departments. also if you give the falcon the new ecoboost motors it would make the performance and fuel economy that us car fans and everyday people would like. gm has plans for a small 4 cylinder cadillac so i don’t see how ford thinks they can’t get good mpg’s with rear wheel drive.
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August 27th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Front wheel drive worked well for another Aussie made 6cyl sedan…………..the 380 NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont see how awd would be more economical and cheaper to make??????
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August 27th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
380 problems weren’t which wheels drove the damn thing…
hello…
That would indicate that ALL FWD vehicles aren’t efficient or business smart.
this has to do with Ford worlwide making a decision if they base ALL of thier large sedans on a global AWD/FWD or RWD platform…
falcon will simply follow the parent compaines decision, naturally.
Ford AUS can’t go it alone, thats what got Ford into trouble globally, thank god they have CEO who has some common sense.
Yeah lets keep the falcon while the ford motor company slowly dies due to back business decisions!
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August 27th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Falcon sales Commodore Focus Mondeo
July 08 - 3448 4906 1243 309
July 07 - 3186 5134 1082 0
YTD 08 - 18229 28229 9804 2927
YTD 07 - 19757 35217 10432 0
Source www.autonews.net.au/static/vfa....._model.pdf
This shows that sales of both these vehicles are falling in real time and in trendline.
Who knows what would happen if either or both went FWD - if the RACV or whatever says they are dearer to run than a Mazda 3, then the educated private buyer will go for a Mazda 3 and the uneducated will go for a Corolla.
Both cars have outsold Falcon this year to date.
People who need to tow boats or horses will no longer buy a Falcon, they are probably already moving to Prado or similar. Before you Falcon nuts start carping that Falcon is a better tow vehicle than Commodore, it is - but that’s not helping sales, is it? Neither is the much praised but way over-rated LPG Falcon - 60’s gas technology just doesn’t impress buyers.
Building the Focus here doesn’t seem to be the answer, after all, sales are pathetic, and Mondeo is no shining light either.
I’m glad I don’t have the same disease that Ford AU has…..it’s terminal in my view, unless some as yet undiscovered cure is found.
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Thanks Jason, hmmm…. sounds like the US market would be at least worth Ford Australia giving it a go. What do they have to lose? Make some money and secure Australian jobs, and people in the US get a better Ford RWD option. Sounds like a win-win to me.
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
you know i sent an email to ford once about the need for the falcon in the US. the only thing i got back was a joke. it told me to go to the aussie ford site to learn more so that done no good. maybe i\’ll try sending a letter the old fashion way and mail it to mr. mulually himself. oh yeah a friend of mine has a 2004 gto and it’s a really great car. i think it would\’ve sold better here in the states if gm worked on the styling a little more.
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Actually there was an interesting piece on Radio National yesterday afternoon discussing the drop in tariffs from 10% to 5%. They had a couple of industry bods online and there was some stat that suggested for every 1 job lost at a manufacturer (eg. Ford) it can impact on 6-7 jobs at supplier and local economy levels.
That’s the sad part.
I tend to agree that Ford Aus is at least facing serious trouble, if it’s not already in it!
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
WHAT ABOUT THE GLOVEBOX’S??
Cheers
F-0
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
DEAR MR MULALLY,WE CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR DECISION TO MAKE THE NEXT FALCON FWD.WE UNDERSTAND THAT FOR YEARS NOW TOYOTA AND MITSUBISHI HAVE BEEN REALLY ANNOYING YOU WITH THEIR FEEBLE ATTEMPTS TO RIVAL THE FALCON AND COMMODORE,AND THATS ITS NOW YOUR TURN TO OFFER A CAR THAT RIVALS THEM.DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE MONDEO EITHER(IT WILL BE O.K).AFTER ALL,RWD CARS ARE HISTORY,ARN’T THEY.WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO GIVE UP HALF OF OUR COMMODORES TO THE USA,THE B@STARDS.NO FUTURE AT ALL…SIGNED….EVERY HOLDEN DEALER IN AUSTRALIA
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I dont know the details, but I cant imagine that any money could be made mass exporting cars to the US. They pay US$50K for something that we pay $100K, and $60K for something that we pay $150K. Their dollar is not worth much more than ours. A lot of their euro cars are (apparently) constructed in the US, reducing cost. Their home grown cars are cheap as chips. I dont know whether GMH make a profit on the G8, but I can remember the old capri was sold at a loss over there. To be competative, the falcon might have to be sold at well under US$30K. Is that achieveable? Maybe if they are built there, but no jobs for Oz in that.
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
FFS, where has it been said that falcon IS going FWD..????
learn to read.
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
if ford was going to share the falcon platform with the mustang then they could be built side by side at the plant in flat rock, michigan. i did hear a while back that gm was thinking about building the pontiac g8 at the plant in canada that the camaro is getting built at but i don’t really know now.
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August 27th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
In regards to majority of falcons being bought by fleet companies - yes this is true. However the end users still get to choose the vehicle they get (in most cases) and also get to spec the vehicles within a certain limit.
The increase in people buying a falcon through a fleet company via a Novated Lease is also increasing substantially. This shows that people still want to buy a falcon, but they want their company to pay for it. (smart really)
The general publics want for Falcon is still strong, large car sales aren’t down just because people don’t like them anymore, they just don’t want to spend 40K+ on a vehicle. And in regards to fuel consumption, think about this - Toyota Camry 2.4L 4cyl uses 9.9L/100km. A falcon with a 6spd auto (same as camry) uses 10.1L/100km - not much difference is it.
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August 27th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
AWD would be a much better option not only in terms of performance and safety - As Neil Crompton says it’s much easier to push 1300Kg of car than it is to pull it
But also as Holden are strongly considering the possibilitty of releasing an AWD Commodore in a couple of years [as well as the Torana] which I expect will use a similar system to that under the Saab 9-X AWD which was copied off of Subaru
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August 27th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
FWD Falcon XR6T an ute = TRD Aurion = joke = Ford losing more sales = Ford packing up and living Oz = More sales for Toyota = More pressure on Holden = Meaning they might have to stop and pack up as well = More boing Hybrid cars on the road = More people falling asleep at the wheel = More road Accidents = Hospital overload = System overload = The end to life in Australia as we know it.But in all seriousness Making the Falcon FWD is a Dumb Idea,Thats What saving it,and this guy runs Ford.
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August 27th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Dont worry every one it will not happen why would ford wreck the best car on market bye going front drive.Thay finnaly got much better car than commodore in all areas and there getting heaps praise for them i cant see them wrecking it like that
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August 27th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Does a G6E Turbo with direct injection twin turbo V6 in AWD, with design led by skilled Aussie engineers and built in Australia sound so bad? Not at all! – I’ll buy one (and there’s a prospect that it may be even better than my current FG (which is a sensational car by the way)
My reading of Mulally’s comments is that he mentions AWD as much of a possibility as FWD, however it is somewhat predictable that the media and “Ford are finished” scaremongers have focussed on the FWD part.
I can’t see that they’d only do FWD without AWD. A large number of manufacturers have successfully shown that AWD works well in conjunction with FWD (eg using AWD for higher spec versions). Also, AWD solves Territory at the same time. And isn’t the point of a global platform to get sufficient scale and have it used in as many configurations as possible (eg Focus/Kuga)
I would be much more concerned about the future of Ford if they were blindly sticking to something without doing some thinking about it. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen Ford criticised as being a dinosaur and building cars people don’t want. When they show they are doing some thinking they cop flak like this! Can’t win
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August 27th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
fwd Falcon is just dumb.
AWD would price it out of its market.
Just use the next Mustang platform!
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August 27th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Phil is in agreeance where Ford is at. The writing is on the wall with Mullaly BS.
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August 27th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
From an engineering point of view FWD is a sensible decision. And to be honest, when does one need RWD on the road…legally? I have a Mitsu Mirage as a second car and I prefer to drive that on the road to the GTR, less fuel, don’t need the power, can be less of a handful in certain circumstances (and no one tries to race you in a Mirage, doesn’t attract attention from thieves/police).
On the track it’s different of course. I mean honestly, who here needs a RWD for legal driving? The little Mirage will take any corner I have ever encountered at the speed limit and usually slightly above.
The other thing is this, the general public/fleet buyers don’t know/care/need RWD. In fact, evidently there are car enthusiasts on this forum who either drive AWDs or high performance FWDs (like a Golf GTi). In fact there’s a few people who’ve commented who don’t actually understand the engineering difference between FWD and RWD. People like that buy a RWD car purely to boast that they drive a ‘RWD car’.
The base model Falcon and Commodore aren’t sports cars and RWD seems to me to be an unnecessary indulgence. Switch the FPVs and HSVs to AWD (with turbo 6s would be great), car enthusiasts still get what they want. Limited run high output V8s and everyone is set.
Same argument applies for BMW and Merc.
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August 27th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Yea Nm with this guy running the company and media doomsaying lets hope(alot) Ford Oz don’t go the same way as Mitsubishi Oz.AWD may be acceptable but they would have to keep the weigth down,meaning more cost(Agree Realcars).An AWD FPV GTP would weight over 2 tonne.
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August 27th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Everyone is saying FWD is ok for base model, and AWD for high spec model, but with all this extra AWD gear comes a weight and fuel penalty which they are trying to get away from…
If it was just RWD (as opposed to AWD) it would have the great performance and use maybe 10-15% less fuel!
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August 27th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
In saying that however, it is still a much better alternative than a FWD only Falcon.
Think how bad the F6 would be to drive as FWD… the TRD Aurion is already a pig to drive now with much less power and torque than the F6.
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Are you a moron flying high? I have to ask because every review, be it internet or magazine, has been overwhelmingly positive and praise FG for it’s superb dynamics (and engine, and interior, and etc, etc).
Rated above everything else produced here and any imports for same price or less.
Do some reading mate, or better yet, go test drive one to destroy your pre-concieved misconceptions.
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August 27th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
NO!! If ford changes the Falcon to front wheel drive, i’m going to turn red!! I just might end up buying a holden.
There are more benefits to a falcon staying rear wheel drive, they can tow better, cheaper to service, more robust (CV joints for FWD), Brake Better, Even weight distribution, Better tyre wear. Australia does not need FWD because we have virtually no snow and very little rain. WHO needs front wheel drive??? The same arguement FWD lovers have i can turn around and suit my side. FWD was developed with compromise in mind and just so happened there was 2 benefits, easier to drive in snow and no oversteer. FWD is SH!T END OF STORY.
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
All this is speculation for the moment. It may be a few years before it happens if ever. This possibility doesn’t change my buying position however.
I’m still getting an F6 this year or next, before they switch to V6 in 2010. Last real Aussie engine, and “if” FWD happens (I very much doubt it), also the last real (RWD) Falcon.
“If” I ever wanted another new car after this “scenario”, it’d be a RWD Commodore.
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Adam (aka Mada)
Ive already owned 5 models since 1999. Money where my mouth is, isnt a prob mate.
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August 28th, 2008 at 12:19 am
You know i’ve heard a lot of good things about the I6 you guys have donw there. The 300 I6 in the F150 pickup was the last straight 6 Ford gave us here. The next year Ford put a 4.2 V6 in the base model truck. It was an ok engine but no where as good as the I6. The new V6 you guys will get soon is a pretty good engine but i don’t know much about the 6 cylinder you guys already have.
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August 28th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Let’s face it — it’s hard to get away from the notion that “real” Aussies drive RWD cars. This has worked well with the Falcon / Commodore platform and their predecessors. But what worked well in the 80’s and 90’s don’t mean that they can keep on working in the current global car market.
The vast majority of new car platforms worldwide (from compact to small/medium to large segments) are either FWD or (increasingly) AWD. Ford and GM Holden can’t ignore the fact that their future platforms have to be viable globally. They can’t just sell locally, they need to build cars that can be exported worldwide.
If we want to retain substantial car manufacturing in Australia, we have to make some hard choices. Do we stick doggedly to an potentially unviable platform and risk more jobs losses (as if we haven’t had enough already), or bite the bullet and help to retain jobs and expertise in Australia?
Or perhaps manufacturing in Australia is already doomed, and we need to resign ourselves to the fact that we are only viable in R&D, leaving the manufacturing to ultra-efficient Japanese- or European-run factories?
Any thoughts, folks?
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August 28th, 2008 at 12:53 am
And another thing……. the planned Aussie-assembled Ford Focus can’t come soon enough with the boom in small car sales. And yes, it’s FWD!
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August 28th, 2008 at 1:58 am
Something I’d thought I’d never say. If Ford stop making RWD Falcons, Id switch to the Commodore.
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August 28th, 2008 at 2:41 am
well au_prius the difference between ford and gm is that gm is planing on having one global rwd platform. holden, cadiallc, and other gm cars will use it. ford doesn’t have a global platform but i still have hopes they can come up with one.
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August 28th, 2008 at 2:48 am
What I would like to know is how would a front wheel drive car be more fuel efficient than a rear wheel drive?
I understand that smaller cars handle well with front wheel drive, but on a large and heavy car like the Falcon? It doesn’t sound promising.
Maybe the Falcon is going to get smaller - which means that it will still handle ok with front wheel drive.
Maybe Ford HQ wants to kill Ford Australia’s in-house R&D - so that Ford Aust will just end up being a manufacturer. Just think about it, if they want FWD, then what’s the point of having R&D in Australia? The next Falcon may just be a US-designed but Australian-manufactured FWD/AWD.
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August 28th, 2008 at 4:15 am
just got back from canada and ford has the fusion, a v6 fwd or awd and its the same size as the falcon. and its nice too.
has it ever crossed your mind that this is just to get publicity for ford?
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Au_prius has it right. This is about global rationalization by FORD. Many car makers in the USA now face the dilemma of the new CAFE regulations and most of them seem to be of the opinion that FWD is the general way to go to lower the average fuel consumption in that market. It’s a good bet that FORD will keep one large RWD platform but it is not guaranteed. People carry on that they will not buy a falcon if it is FWD yet that is exactly the problem that the falcon has now - not enough sales.
Another thing - Revo knuckle - might just make a FWD falcon a good drive.
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Mr Brooksy…
And? i’m not impressed yet…where they new or 2nd hand? company cars?
Do you plan on buying a NEW FG falcon?
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:39 am
AG…
Agreed.
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August 28th, 2008 at 8:27 am
It would be a big mistake for ford not to take advantage of the excellant chassis/drivetrain in the new fg falcon. FWD is not the answer, as I have said before the answer is for ford to wake up and follow holdens lead and export the fg falcon to america and the arab nations. Where there is a market for large sporty rwd vehicles.. FORD is mad to miss out on this opportunity..
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August 28th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I ask where Holden has gained so much out of this export of RWD vehicles, Holden profit has been similar to Fords.
The world is going to smaller vehicles, including the US, China will soon start taxing bigger cars more heavily. only the ME is open to big vehicles.
The future does not hinge on Large RWD vehicles.
Who will have more choice and flexibility come 2011 Ford or Holden?
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August 28th, 2008 at 9:15 am
If Falcon goes Front Wheel Drive, then I will never buy a new one again.
It will be the second hand car market for me!!!
The advantages of Large front wheel drive cars are NOTHING!
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August 28th, 2008 at 9:32 am
people complaining should realize. The majority of people… globally speaking. Don’t care if its rwd, fwd or awd.
from an engineering and manufacturing point of view, it is logical. Ford is in trouble and as stated by some, its a way to cut their losses and stay afloat.
Definitely going to affect the demographic it appeals to in Oz. Now for those people who want a sporty family sedan, the advantages of Ford gets trimmed down.
But this isnt an overnight thing, most likely around 2012 implementation.
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August 28th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Hopefully the Falcon will retain RWD and if his comments carry some weight we should see the Falcon become the basis for Fords large car program.
“I think as far as I can see that the expertise we have in large vehicles in Australia we will utilise for as far as I can see in the future,” says Mulally.
That should mean the end of the aging Ford Crown Victoria / Lincoln Town Car ect. The only reason that they are still in production is that they have a solid popularity with Police, Taxi and Limo industries. The Crown Victoria cannot even be bought by the general public now, it is fleet sales only.
So it looks like local development for a global platform and hopefully a continuation of local production.
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August 28th, 2008 at 9:44 am
If the falcon, if at all goes FWD it won’t happen until 2014.
Ford hasn’t even made that decision yet.
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August 28th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
FWD Falcon will not evolve, hopefully not in my life time.. The FG is world class why in hell would you change it for “F^*K” sake..
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August 28th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
ROFLMAO!!!
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
R&D isnt dead in Ford OZ.
they already have the task of developing the next Ranger RWD platform,
and the next RWD sedan platform has already been granted here (although some speculate a backflip may be done).
there still needs to be a RWD platform in the Ford family.
The US public isnt as phased by FWD passenger cars because there number one sellers are F-Trucks.
people in the US dont care about FWD sedans because they mostly drive their trucks,
in the same way aussies dont care about FWD mid sized cars because the real cars (falcons and commys) are RWD.
taking the RWD option away will be a different story.
it would also cost them more money to offer multi platforms through out the range from FWD to RWD, than it would to make them ALL RWD.
the utes would still have to remain RWD.
not even toyota could make FWD utes and sell them (and thats saying something).
i am also still waiting to see proof that FWD is more efficient.
i mean the apparently “game changing” Lighter FWD Aurion isnt any more economical than the bigger, gruntier, RWD Driven falcon.
could all you guys saying ford need to export the falcon to survive, please get your hand off it????
if the falcon is to become a global car (great idea) it wont be exported from OZ. Sorry.
the falcon should be made in the US using the Aussie falcon recipe. that way they will actually make some dollars by selling it in the US, and still be able to share developmental costs with our aussie batch
to export it from here is pointless.
holden doesnt make jack shyte from its export program and it wont be long before the realise it is worthwhile switching their assembly plants to manufacturing the commy in the US
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
AU Prius - don;t be surprised if Holden come out with both AWD VF Commodore Sedan and Wagon as they are planning to bring back the Crewman ute with an AWD system far better than what was under the Cross 8 or Adventra.
However; the next AWD Holden will most likely be the new Torana which could also be available in Coupe as well as Sedan [Or it could even become the new Commodore.]
because the Torana will be built on the Insignia Platform whci can also take AWD..
If Ford want to go AWD they could use the Volvo Platform
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August 28th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Wheelnut,
i would be massively surprised if the VF comes out in AWD
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August 28th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Whats that……FORD Australia wants to restart where Mitsubishi Australia left off…….what?….build the 380 again?….
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August 29th, 2008 at 10:22 am
You know what people do when things get financialy hard. They use their cars to provide mobility to get to holiday places. And guess what, they tend to attach caravans behind them. Have you ever tried to tow a caravan with a FWD car with four people in the car plus luggage. Not good, you could say down right dangerous. We Australians like our independence. If Ford Autralia gets rid of the RWD plateform for a FWD plateform for our Falcon I think Ford Australia might go the way of Mitsubishi. People look very carefully when they buy cars and I think it’s time these so called experts in Ford look closely at the type of product AUSTRALIANS WANT. Australia is not America and we can turn our back on a car company if we feel they are not providing the right product.
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August 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
If ford goes FWD for the falcon, that means Holden will be the only Australian car manufacture to have a locally built large rear wheel drive family car, considering Toyota Aurion is only FWD and the 380 was FWD and its gone!
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September 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
FWD has always been a compromise - I’d rather spend the extra few hundred bucks for a proper handling car. The Aurion handles like a P.O.S. and it’s the same price as the Falcon. Leave the FWD to shopping trolleys and have proper RWD for proper cars.
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September 7th, 2008 at 4:33 am
FWD for the Falcon, its bad enough getting the American v6 and losing our iconic I6, infact Ford should change its mind and keep and do more R&D on the I6, (better economy etc..) and forget about FWD for all the reasons stated above, ie towing etc..
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October 6th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Ford Transit is available in FWD or RWD.
Perhaps, future generations of the Falcon can be designed to accomodate various drive line options.
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October 6th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
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.
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October 19th, 2008 at 8:57 am
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.
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October 25th, 2008 at 11:49 am
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.
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October 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
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
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October 25th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
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.
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