2008 Ford Falcon Orion Interior and GT Exposed
June 15, 2007 by Paul Maric
Click to see the latest on the 2008 Ford Falcon.
Sporting a set of woolen mitts and beanie, our elusive spy photographer braved the frosty conditions to bring you the latest pictures that the blue oval don’t want anyone to see.
First up, Ford has been extensively testing the use of ’space-saver’ tyres. The following photo shows a space-saver tyre fitted to a vehicle. Our spy photographer tells us that the vehicle seen in the picture – along with crash-helmet clad driver – were performing continuous evasive and high-speed swerving maneuvers, most probably testing the strength and capacity of the space-saver tyre. This suggests that Ford is likely to follow in Holden’s footsteps and also offer this tyre on the new Falcon.
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Second on the agenda is the FPV range of vehicles. Spotted below is either the GT or GT-P. One thing’s for certain, the bulge is here to stay. The cover on the right hand side of the lights is labeled with “remove for night driving,” possibly indicating a Xenon headlight treatment to the upper models in the range. Also written on the front and rear wheel arches is “160mm,” possibly indicating a protrusion of 16cm for the wheel arches.
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Our spy photographer said that the vehicle photographed had an extremely meaty and mean note. It was also running a quick-shifting automatic gearbox, indicating that the ZF will remain on the cards.
Also noted was that the GT featured cross-drilled and slotted Brembo brakes, possibly opening the doors to a higher-capacity braking system.
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Next on the agenda is Ford’s XR8. Sources confirm that the XR8 nameplate will stay and the following photos also confirm that the bonnet bulge will stay.
According to sources, the Fairmont, XR6, XR8, Futura names will remain in the Orion lineup.
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The spy photographer then managed to spot a Futura model doing the rounds near one of Ford’s facilities in Victoria. The images show that Ford’s new Orion will probably carry over the same rear suspension setup as the BF Falcon.
Although a large portion of the interior was covered up, the photos indicate the Futura model spotted will receive woodgrain highlights on the doors. Also evident is a new handle for the door release, along with revised switchgear for the window operation.
A remodeled steering wheel is also on the cards as per the images, along with a new gear selector. A triangular shaped repeated on the side will replace the oval shaped repeater used on the BF. It’s still unclear if Ford will use repeaters on the wing mirrors. Every model spotted so far has had its wing mirrors covered up and the GT or GT-P photographer earlier in this post also has a small portion taped up.
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Padding is visible in the bottom right of the next photo, indicating that the bumper bar is a somewhat fake layout.
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Indicator repeater
The development of the new Falcon seems well in advance. It won’t be long before more and more vehicles are seen on the streets.
Remember, if you have any spy photos of Ford’s new Falcon – or any other vehicle for that matter – contact CarAdvice, if the photos are decent, we’re willing to pay cash (more than the major magazines). High-resolution copies of the images attached are available. Please contact CarAdvice to request copies.
Print it: 
ps:
Ford F-150 LIGHTING 5.4Litre 3V supercharged beats a 241kW Aurion and its a truck.
it beats a C300 SRT too ;) and the JEEP SRT as well;)
not to mention another few cars that have more power
but less torque;)
610Nm at 3250rom … heavy duty drive train perfect gearing , a truck like vehicle and it beats cars with 30-50kW more + cars…. but whom lack 5-100Nm less torque;)
get it:)
284kW/610Nm beats 320-350kW cars;) with less than 570Nm of torque;) get it??
correction:
50-100Nm not 5-100Nm.
Well said Sam……but that won’t shut him up.
Hey Sam looks like you fighting this Thread and me the other on TP ……hes relentless.
You actually agree with this idiot BM? That a 122kW VL is faster than an Aurion? And “a stock 130kW VR Commodore RWD “crappy old buick” oil burner the worst engine ever …. can easily overtake a 200kW Aurion on the highway or roll start acceleration”
It’s just BFII’s sh*t all over again.
Hey Jbot…no not all of it.
Just the kws torque thing….you can’t confuse the 2.
Its been tested and proven on strips that an Aurion does 0-100 in 6.6-6.9 and the 1/4 mile in 14.5-14.7, Motor mag got 6.8/14.7 They even quoted the XR6T ute a similar time with i think .1 slower in the quart.
If any of the cars above, please mention the 0-100 and quart respectively in your arguments, simply saying “my mates beaten so and so, and when ive tested its blah blah” things get biased too easily. Theres more factors than the engine power/torque to conclude one car is faster than the other.
even the REAR-WHEEL DRIVE 1996 Toyota Supra with just 3.0Litre INLINE SIX with only 165kW and 305Nm beats a 200kW Frontwheel drive Aurion and a 241kW TRD.
its the fact … you can all go and re-educate your selves.
Jbot… what are you on about seriously.
Yes the old 122kW VL 5.0Litre Calais is quicker than a 200kW AURION and 241kW TRD
and even quicker on the race track;)
its REARWHEEL DRIVE;) better control , smoother power delivery and smaller cycle , less internal engine velocity.
At the end of the day the old old old VTII 5.7Litre GENIII eats both of those Aurion cars for breakfast;)
its a shame that a 12 year old Naturally aspirated Supra RWD beats a 241kW TRD;)
its the fact … go check it yourself;)
you can never compare a large slugish and slow frontwheel drive car to a similar RWD car with a lot more torque;)
BUY FORD;) FG FALCON;) even the old BA…. better option would be a 2nd hand Fairmont Ghia 2002-2004 with 5.4L and leather;)
that thing is better than any FWD crap propaganda waste of money;)
TORQUE wins
I’d rather drive a 2003 Fairmont 5.4L V8 than a brand new TRD Aurion with close gears that revves its gutts out on the high way;)
i’d rather get a car for $14950 with a V8 , leather , sun roof , 220kW and 472Nm … thats 72Nm more than TRD … its a V8 it lasts longer … it wont over heat;)
and it will travell Australia 10x over and over;)
get it????????? $14000-15000 you get a 2nd Fairmont Ghia , its a better buy and a better luxury car that simply eats all those little FWD try hards to lunch;)
what is better???
an old “i’d say still NEW”
BA FALCON “FAIRMONT GHIA 2003″ V8 5.4L 220kW@4750rpm/472Nm@3250rpm
leather seats , 11 speaker premium sound , sun roof , LSD , leather ,Sat Nav , 4 speed Aussie auto sports shift, RWD.
For $15000
than a crappy overrated propaganda established slow slugish Aurion TRD?
241kW@6400rpm and just 400Nm at 4000rpm ??? + its FWD??? its just 150kg lighter?? but its FWD? for what? $45000-50000????
i mean you people are crazy if youthink that the FWD is better than RWD;)
I can get a freaking G220 or G8 and get a better package , more reliability and an overall stronger car;)
dude;)
i know people with a G220 whom have not changed the oil since late 2004 and it still goes better than any SIX or V8 on the market dude;)
Lets take the crappy V6 FWD on the road and see what it does in real life;)
leave the magazines and propaganda filled sites alone.
Even an old Cressida 140kW beats a 200kW Aurion FWD , because Cressida is RWD and simply applies the force at the better spot than a FWD
get it trough your heads … ps: Jbot is not a real user , he is a fake.
Dude what factors? the mass? the wind resistance? the power loss?
dude wake up … FWD can never compete against the RWD.
i had my foot all the way to the floor on the 200kW V6 and it couldnt make less than 8 seconds.
Get over it dudes……. over it!!!
a stock XR6T does less than 14.5 , late 13s in real life;) dude!!!!!!!!!!!!
you’re being objective and biased;)
OKAY I AGREE!! WITH YOU SAM!
Dont quote Motors or WHEELS TIMES for 1/4 mile runs,especially with Fords.Ford have a habit of giving no ks press cars so its jernos, I know the difference in what times a BA GT in 2003 that was given a 14.2 from memory depending who you read some more,and an actual run down the quarter 13.5 was what we got STOCK after 5000 ks . Makes you wonder sometimes if they can drive ha!
I told ya dude…….Cressida/Supra all N/A models beat 200kW or stronger FWD cars.
Even the Chev Impala would lose against the stock Falcon BA I6 XT.
get it??????
Magazines ,Media , News papers are all paid by manufacturers to promote their products.
You have to seperate the facts from the truth.
I will say it once more.
Dont read that crap and dont take them for word.
Eg: Holden Commodore Australias 1st chouce = FALSE
EG: Toyota Australias 1st choice? = Na not really.
FORD FALCON LOSES CAR SALES??? = FALSE
every 2nd car is a Ford Falcon ;) get it???? there are more Falcons on the road in Australia than any other brand:)
the 290kW GT does late 13s , Typhoon F6 13.5 or less “100s of people have told me that over the last 6 years.
Propaganda is Propaganda , everybody is gona boast about thier things…. of course.
But take the real life test and see for yourself that Ford Falcon is a much better car to drive with character and the real large car presence on the road.
Nothing beats a big Aussie SIX and the USA Mustang derrived V8 “again both Fords”
Ford rules.
^^^^^^^^Wrong! Not with their V8’s,performance and resale!
^^^^^^^^And i would like to see facts if every 2nd car on the road is a falcon, because i highly dought it!
Why did you come back BFII/Sam/Steven/anymore?? Oh, and we should all take Sam’s results as fact, as he’s a much more reliable and accurate source, and a far better driver than any motoring journalist. The Falcon is getting smashed in sales atm, don’t kid yourself. Yes its a good car, and the FG will be better, but your shitty old taxis cannot beat an Aurion like you say. And if you can only get 8s for 0-100km/h in an Aurion you can’t drive.
“Jbot is not a real user , he is a fake.”
Mind explaning that to me?
And there is no disputing the fact that in sales the Commodore is No.1, Toyota is No.1 overall, and the Falcon is struggling. Duck is also correct in saying that the HSVs are better than the FPVs, but lets hope that changes with the FG!
“OKAY I AGREE!! WITH YOU SAM!”
Whoever used my Name with that reply, thats pathetic, grow up.
When you look at cars theres factors e.g. such as Gearing, powerband, yes powerloss from crank to the hubs.
When your talking about ‘faster’ with ‘these’ level of power (not 250kw +), regardless being FWD/RWD doesnt come to affect yet.
Agree BM, Mags can be quite off with their times, but you also have to wonder how far is it to be considered still reasonable to quote, otherwise they’ll get slapped by the Motor Co, cause its almost on the lines of defamation.
If such a problem exists in Motormag in regards to giving a real qtr/0-100, then you could flow on to other cars they tested that their not at their fastest times…, and for the Aurion’s sake, they seem to disklike the car too!
I think that none of ya know what you’re on about.
I’ve been a mechanic for 24 years and i know for the fact that FWD vehicles are the worst in the category.
re:
If you want the proof.
I actually own a Nissan Maxima V6 3.5 FWD.
I also own a AU1 Falcon 4.0 RWD with 347000km on it. Its falling apart, the solenoids in the auto dont work well and i have no time to fix it. The last oil change was at 310000km.
the AU1 shits all over the Maxima in every way every day. It reaches 150 or 180 any time you want it. Just press it and there it goes. A lot faster than Maxima that also has 20kW or so more power.
please get over the arguments.
There aint such a thing as defamation, the facts need to be seperated from the truth.
Because 2+2=4 and will always be 4. If some fag out there starts his philosophy and imposes his biased view theory on ya, dont listen to him , because he will never be able to make you think that 2+2 = 5.
Just ignore the TV , Radio , Magazines. Check it out for yourself.
get it?
Just because he’s brainwashed “as above people have said” , just because he likes the looks of a car. The interior/exterior.
Doesnt mean that a car is fast or reliable or as tough as a similar brand. Okay smaller 4 cylinder FWD cars might be reliable but larger ones “no way”
Think about it. Which cars do you see very often… Holdens or Fords?
I see more Holdens in my service than Fords.
end of story.
What are ya talking about Jbot?
a stock 220kW Barra XT V8 5.4 keeps up with the 307kW HSV? what is wrong with ya , are you so ignorant and sad???
Didnt i tell ya that the HSV driver will always see that G220 or G8 or SR in the rearview mirror.
The HSV will simply never be able to GET AWAY that easy from a stock underrated 220kW 3V 5.4L.
You people are gone mad.
My cousin owns a 2003 XR8 5 speed. And that thing simply keeps up with a freaking 307kW HSV.
The HSVs 307kW where are they? where did they go? when a 260kW stock XR8 just rides along next to it on the highway at 200km/h+ and the HSV simply cant GET AWAY!!! OR MOVE AWAY FROM IT????????????????
answer that question to me Jbot? , the windows were wide open and we could hear the HSV engine revve really hard along with XR8s engine.
HSV 2007 GTS VE couldnt get away from a XR8 BA Falcon 2003.
why????????????? NO the driver in HSV was trying really hard.
He did win by 1 car lenght on take off. Of course 260kW vs 307kW 500Nm vs 550Nm
but seriously???????????????????????? dude…. Ford technology all the way.
Take a look at the V8 utes… a 5.4L DOHC vs 6.0L pushrod.
and the Utes make at least 10-15% more power and torque.
And the Ford wins 9/10 times???? why????
simply proves that its up to a driver.
;)
at the end of the day ex-Taxi Ba Falcon with 560000ks on the clock is better than a brand new 200kW Aurion.
;)its RWD , it has over 50Nm more torque , the engine is 500cc bigger.
Its more reliable , smoother , quieter , larger;)
It accelerates a lot better , overtakes a lot better than Aurion.
In fact i know people who own Aurions from work , and they are disappointed in “OVERTAKING” other cars.
Being beaten by some P-plater in his VR lowered try hard shit box commodore;)
i guess Jbot is too low up his mind to understand what i am on about;)
wa hahahahahahahahaahahahhaha
So you’re using Rob as a name too now Sam? And saying its purely up to the driver DESTROYS your own argument… Nice work mate.
No comeback?
Quote Sam: “simply proves that its up to a driver”
- worse thing you could have said when you are trying to make people believe your “real world” tests “prove” that Car A is faster than Car B. LOL
Why the hell hasnt this guy been banned… its beyond a joke, the claims he is making are just ridiculous. Joober and Jbot Im beginning to think he is just fishing for responses, no one could be this thick?
BM, its fitting you agree with BF, both thick as two bricks put together.
Can you lay bricks….only way you might get laid
Next new falcon in 2010 is gonna be the BK falcon named after me. I will be world famous then. Im still waiting for the VD Holden now thats gonna be funny. Anybody in here got VD.
did any of you guys actually notice that “sam has claimed he has been hearing certain times from typhoons for 6 years?
the typhoon aint that old sorry. try around 4yrs!!!
ive said it before and ill say it again.
some of what this guys says does hold some truth and the other half seems to be exaggeration
BK,
i was waiting for the “VW” commodore where for the special editions they would put the motor in the boot ha ha ha ha
How am I thick TP ? I would like to know?
Andrew,
Hes like a fanatical preacher, goes on and on,
…Or maybe he is a new form of spambot… ITS the future here!
ps: no it doesnt destroy my argument because i have heavier proof which is that a FWD car doesnt belong to the league of a RWD , therefore its not entirely up to a driver. As i said before i’ve driven an Aurion 200kW and i tried to catch my old AUII Forte which a friend of mine was driving , he was always 2 car lenghts infront of me , i could never NEVER overtake him with FWD and 200kW under the hood , what ever i tried he was always leading by 2-3 car lenghts and on take off by 1 full car lenght and may be 50cm extra??? GET I????? GET OVER IT!
The galable “general” public will always be naive and go for the FRONT WHEEL DRIVE car.
With out knowing anything specific or technical.
We all know that INLINE SIX engines do LESS work than V6 or F6 “FLat six engines” … the internal velocity is lower , there is more torque , no need for long stroke or wider cylinder bores.
The Inline six technology is simply better “NATURALLY”
And to add to all that.
Any person would be crazy to think that a 240kW/400Nm Aurion TRD is faster and better than a say stock 2003-2007 Fairmont Ghia 220kW/472Nm or spec2 230kW/500Nm with ZF 6 speed auto.
I mean , the Falcon is a real car. From EF to AUIII , from BA to BFII , and now FG.
If you want to get a real car , get a Ford Falcon Fairmont Ghia BFII or at least the older BA Fairmont or Ghia model with a V8 , its quieter than I6 ,it has a lot more torque , it uses less fuel when driven with car , and its one full second to 1.5 seconds faster than a 182/190/195kW I6.
And at the end of the day you get a bang for your buck , a much more reliable car with a great engine 5.4Litres.
Some people are mad to think that a car such as a 3.5Litre Aurion and TRD Aurion are better/stronger than a car with a whole 1.95Litres larger engine.
Thats almost 2Litre larger engine.
Thats 5408cc V8 vs a small 3456cc v6 engine. , thats 1952cc more in the Fairmont/Fairmont Ghia /G220/G8/Fairlane , i mean seriously!!!!
I mean wake up people HELLO HELLO HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just think about it … 5.4L and just 220kW ???
That engine is doing NO WORK , it just sits there at 1500rpm at 90km/h in 4th , just sits there at 1700rpm at 100km/h in 4th , pulling a trailer along the way with no performance hit , making close to 500Nm at just 1700rpm.
I mean isnt that better??? + its rear-wheel-drive.
Lets be serious.
I’d rather buy an XR8 Falcon BA 2003-2004 260kW 5.4L DOHC for $19999 rather than spend money on something a lot more inferior and less reliable.
Lets get real here.
220kW at 4750rpm , 230kW at 5350rpm
massive 472Nm from 3250rpm to 4000rpm
massive 500Nm from 2750rpm to 3500rpm
i mean lets get real here;)
Its better to have a larger engine with an average amount of usable power , and a large quantity of “native torque to the engine”
rather than a small V6 which is hard tuned and then fine tuned to make 200kW barely touching 336Nm + at very high RPM???
i mean seriously.
I’ve seen people smoke V6 and I6 Commodores and Falcons and old V8 Commodores up to a GENIII with 285kW with a 220kW Barra 220/230 engine.
This is the fact.
THE FACT , NOT MY OPINION.
END OF DISCUSSION!!!
and ps: a Fairmont Ghia BFII 5.4Litre does just 1500rpm at 120km/h in 6th , the engine is simply sleeping doing no work at all , i’d like to see $500000 cars do that;)
i think NOT.
;)
And who are you TP? i mean go to sleep dude!
who are you to say and ask a question to BM??
i mean why dont you just leave???
Who do you think you are TP?
you’re making fake comments that not a single law of physics actually supports!
Yes Aurion is an attractive car , but for who? for galable “as Sam said” well said ! , for galable public!
i am laughing here!
I see Ron C and Sam spell “gullible” the same way.
ps: What Joober wrote to Andew
“Hes like a fanatical preacher, goes on and on,
…Or maybe he is a new form of spambot… ITS the future here!
”
Anybody who things that the following cars are better than a EF,EL,AU,BA,BF,FG Falcons with a 4.0Litre OHC and DOHC engines are crazy.
Nissan Maxima 3.5 V6
Toyota Aurion 3.5 V6
Mitsubishy Magna 3.8 V6
Holden Commodore 3.6 V6
Chrysler 300 3.5L V6
Dodge Nitro 4.0L V6
I mean you people got to be sick in your mind to think that the cars above are better than any Falcon from EF to BFII to FG.
i mean thats just crazy !!!!!!!!!!!
Joober you have no clue or any idea what you’re on about in your life!
;) dude take a chill pill , contact your local psychologis or my suggestion would be to talk to your psychiatrist and then come back and face the facts and the reality you live in;)
Watto_Cobra dude …. there are a few ways to spell that word.
Dont act as if you’ve collected the knowledge of the whole world
;) Gullible or Galable its the same meaning “stupid and naive people” can be called “Gullible or Galable”
get over it.
Mate, I’m a Ford fan and will be buying an FG. I just don’t see why you need so many different names.
I bet holden where really thinkin of callin the VE commydore VD commodore. I would have pissed myself laughing if they did. All of the production workers at Holden have VD anyway so that makes up for it. WRXsti sounds like another disease by subaru.
BK … that shows the intelligence of Fordson buyers. To quote a journalist, ” Brand specific buyers are like your dog, terribly loyal but not too bright”. I rest my case.
Actually taking another look at the picks they will able to talk about the Falcon Legacy as thats whats its looks like, a cross between a Falcon and a Subaru Legacy. Its a bit gay really but that would suit Ford buyers.
galable is not a word…. although it is probably still the smartest thing Sam/Ron C/BFII/etc has said!
Brian, please don’t lump us all in the same basket.
Brian, ”Brand specific buyers are like your dog, terribly loyal but not too bright” would describe your average Daewoo sourced Holden and Corolla buyer perfectly.
This is a forum on Falcon and it automatically brings up v’s Commodore because thats what its all about. Holdens four cyl lineup has a dubious history at best, the only real Holden is the Commodore and right now they are the top of the tree, have been for years and this new Falcon will be no threat. Its like Ford Oz have lost the spunk to design something that Oz and NZ will love, its way too pastel and already last years design. I’ve seen the launch video and I’m thinking ‘come on Ford, do something’! They need to get real and have the nuts to build a car that will be a show stopper but it may already be too late as this one is so ‘cream and cheese’ its not funny.
Its been said, NZ is a proving ground for cars, you can drop a dud into the States and it will sell as the market is so big it will soak it up but down here we will spit it out and it won’t survive. You need to get it right to sell it here if thats your main market. I think Ford need to do a lot more than they have to impress the buying public that theirs is the car as already lots of people I know are ho hum about it and its not even here yet.
So in closing, my money is on Commodore to retain the top spot even though the press are saying small cars are taking over (funny how Commodore, big car, is still #1 while they say that). I hope the Falcon goes well as it needs to and we need to have it and maybe next time they will pull that show stopper out but in the meantime, down here, Holden is pulling the right strings and will continue to as there is new and even better stuff coming. As for Holdens four cyl lineup, who cares, no ones that passionate about Corolla are they, goes to show you can even sell a weetbix box on wheels.
I don’t mind saying , I did find the comment about the VW Commodore and the engine in the back very funny. For the rest, you’re obviously a bunch of wankers with nothing better to do than write crap here. You should just go and buy a Falcon, you deserve each other.
I love Fords they build the best cars in Australia, Holden on the other hand doesn’t mean very much here, too many rebadged Daewoos, recalls, warranty problems, rust, customer service is crap, look terrible, copied and boring designs, etc etc……..
I HATE HOLDEN AND THIER BOMMODORES !!!!!!!!!!!