Ford Engine Plant in Geelong to Stay
November 20, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Ford Australia has just held a press conference to announce the company’s Geelong Engine Plant will continue to operate post-2010 producing Ford’s iconic in-line six-cylinder engine.
The plant currently employs 400 people, with the blue oval having already spent over $200 million dollars on the Geelong operation since 2006. An additional $21 million will be spent to keep the plant up to date and also insure new I6 engines comply with stringent Euro IV emissions standards.
“This decision is good news, not only for our employees in Geelong, our suppliers and the surrounding community, but also for the many fans of our I6 engine, which will now be re-engineered to achieve Euro IV emissions standards,” said Ford Australia President & CEO Marin Burela.
The announcement is good news for the 400 staff as well as the local manufacturing industry which supplies parts (intake manifolds, engine pistons, gaskets and bearings) and services to the operation.
“This is the first step in a broad product investment strategy to reduce emissions and deliver improved fuel economy across our locally built vehicle line-up, including Falcon, Falcon Ute and Territory.”
Ford says the Federal Government’s Green Car Innovation Fund will help set the agenda for further environmentally-oriented projects in the future.
“Our I6 engine continues to receive rave reviews for its performance, fuel economy and quietness. Keeping this engine in our product line-up will allow us to maintain our competitive edge and provide a distinct advantage over our direct competition,” said Mr Burela.
What are your thoughts on Ford’s decision?
Print it: 
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This is speculation by me,but just wonder if an LPG hybrid using an all alloy 3.5l or 4.0l version of this engine is in the pipeline.
Hyundai have announced one & more will probably follow.
Given the government handout which will have strings attached & the stated objective to make “greener” vehicles,
something will give.
Honda website says the V6 Accord consumes 10.0L/100km
Falcon website says the XT Falcon consumes 10.5L/100km
(both of the above figures are with 5spd autos)
Now the falcon produces 195kW/391Nm
V6 Accord: 202kW/339Nm
The Accord supposedly has Variable Cylinder Management – well it sounds pretty underwhelming to me!
And Honda has nothing that comes even close to the XR6 Turbo which has 270kW and 11.7L/100km
Davo,
im firstly interested to see how much work they put into the LPG falcon with out the thought of hybrid tech.
I cant wait to see how much effort they have put into the E-Gas falcon when it is upgraded in jauary
The Last Word,
your figures mean nothing
real world testing shows the falcon drinking under 10L, and the accord over 10L
also even though the falcon seems to have less power, it is clearly faster than the Accord.
also what is not stated is the rev ranges for power and torque.
the falcon is easier to drive thanks to its massive torque advantage, coupled with the idle style revs it reaches it at.
the honda can keep its 7kw advantage because i am not fooled by a paper figure
thinkin about a DI 2010 F6.. yum, great to hear the engine will live on alittle bit longer, LPG xr6 for me when it comes :)
off topic question if anyone has any knowledge, the only engines i know of that have cylinder shutdown are american pushrods and honda’s SOHC 3.5, is there something stopping cylinder shutdown with DOCH setup’s? been trying to research it on the net but cant really find what im lookin for
I just did a 2000 km drive over 2 days in my BF F6 Manual Typhoon, average economy 11.1 l/100 km for 82 km/h average (in NZ not easy to maintain a higher average). Actually for the first 1700 km it was averaging 10.5 l/100 km Average speed 76 km/h, it was just a spirited drive for the last 300 k’s. I think the I6 is the best method of meeting users needs in real world driving conditions. BTW ain’t those Commy v8’s still pushrod 2V engines with basic design dating back to 1955, they honestly go alright all things considered.
But I still want I6 Turbos in my future.