2008 Ford Falcon Orion – Artist’s Impression & Spy Photos & Video
31 Aug, 2007
69 Comments 
As Ford’s 2008 Ford Falcon draws closer to release, the CarAdvice automotive stylist has been hard at work creating a computer generated image of the next Falcon – namely the XR6.
After undressing the vehicle, courtesy of exclusive access to the spy photo database CarAdvice holds, the stylist has created a design that accurately represents the final product. Spy photos have indicated that XR variants will receive tear-drop treatment to the headlights – inline with models dating back to the EB Falcon. It is also probable that higher models – if not all models – will receive indicators in the wing mirrors.
Although all test mules spotted on the road have featured indicator repeaters on the side of the body, CarAdvice believes this is simply a ploy. All vehicles have had their wing mirrors covered and it is believed that side mounted indicator repeaters are simply there to comply with registration requirements while the vehicles are in the test phase.
More from our automotive stylist will appear over the coming months, leading up to the vehicle’s release.
Our spy photographer in the meantime has taken the following images of a base model Orion testing in Victoria, revealing that the ‘tucked under’ exhaust will stay for a more discreet rear end.
Click for larger version
Click for larger version
Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) test mules are now also hitting the roads. User T2TL50 from FordForums.com.au took video footage of an FPV GT testing on Victorian roads. Our sources have confirmed that the vehicle spotted is in fact a GT and not a GT-P.
The following screen shots from the video indicate that FPV’s GT will receive a dual exhaust treatment, along with continual use of Brembo brakes. The test mule – which has probably seen its fair share of the rev limiter – shows custom exhaust carvings in the rear bumper bar, along with a visible FPV mesh grille in the lower front air dam.
To see a copy of the videos, please visit PhotoBucket via the following links:
The entire album (including the rest of the available stills) can be seen via the following link:
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.
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August 31st, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Nice pic, still lacks a bit as too many have grille fill in on bottom air intake too and can look monotonous. Overall great pic but would look better with front wheels of car pushed further to front like Commodore and some flares as looks boring if put beside Commodore. Very good layout where driving lights are installed as does car proud, only other ??? is top and bottom of grille is too horizontal and becomes void of character as tad rectangle-ish.
Vote:August 31st, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Wow! Looks pretty darn good!
Vote:August 31st, 2007 at 8:56 pm
wow..looks good…..although these are only impressions. as long as it doesnt have those god damn stupid oversized front wheel arches like the commode…………….
Vote:August 31st, 2007 at 10:13 pm
The car has beautiful flow lines and gives the impression it is moving while remaining stationery. I don’t believe it needs flared guards because these would interfere with the smooth lines that accentuate the fast forward movement appearance. I do not a Ford, but think this is a very impressive looking vehicle.
Vote:August 31st, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I always stated that the flares on the Commodore are a tad too big (the front looks nice when viewed from beside car some distance back but once you get to front you realise it should be somewhat less sized as looks like John Howard dancing at a disco (TERRIBLE) and with the back it looks somewhat funny as flared all the way down to bottom of bumper bar and it should have bumper bar out somewhat further from current position to lessen the over flared look from behind car as it currently stands)… but looking at the Falcon it could honestly do with something as bland as eating dirt for dinner as it is!
Vote:August 31st, 2007 at 10:40 pm
It’s a great opportunity for Ford to come up with a very good car. The VE has quite a number of imperfections, including an ancient 4-speed auto in entry-level models. It also has some niggles inside. The Orion should do better, and it’s up to Ford whether or not it would happen. A 6-speed standard auto transmission is a brilliant idea; at least even base model buyers are assured of the best available performance and economy.
Looking good is the easy part; beneath the skin is what matters more.
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 7:41 am
Hopefully the interior in the falcon is better than the VE, the glovebox and plastics on the VE are sub standard EVEN for a comodore~!!!
Flares are so 70s. if holden want to make their state of the art car look like a mid 70s torana, well… so be it. but the falcon is european inspired, and euro cars these days are sleek and slippery in design, not boxy and chunky.
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 7:59 am
FORD better get this right as annoyed that they have been on the nose since that abortion of a bomb AU. The BA is much better. I think some flares whilst not huge like on Commodore would help as ends of bottom of bumper have bulge there which meet up to wheel arches with nil flaring at all which looks odd. The headlights are spot on and as long as the XR range have black background with silver inserted lights, blinker unit. Iam a Ford fan too. I would be more concerned why the door shape has not changed at all since 1998! The bottom of the grille should be slighly pointing downwards towards middle and at top of air intake it should have some 40mms black plastic going across top recessed back from bumper bar a tiny bit just to brake up the front a bit
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 8:08 am
Ford designers musnt have to think hard… from what Ive seen, the; Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo & Falcon all have the same front end.
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 8:18 am
roberto,
Vote:from what i gather the doors have changed. dont be fooled by the camoflage as that is to fool the simple ones
September 1st, 2007 at 8:25 am
When I look at these latest pictures of the Ford Orion it surprises me the similarity between it and the new XF Jaguar. I refer to the basic lines. I notice the fitment of the front lights on the two cars is similar especially when you look at bonnet shots and how it fits over them. I do hope that Ford approach the engine area of the new Orion like the new Jaguar. When you open a bonnet on a car, what you see usually gives you a perception of the car’s ability.
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 8:40 am
Andrew M… Hope your right as suspect might of changed as simply overdue. I hope it quicks Commodore ass
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 8:41 am
the lights higher in the bumper arent new. they used them there in the EL GT (97)
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 8:43 am
Paul… look at Holden mate you are getting Korean grilles and lights on them as they all look similar. The Epica is a Commodore! Designed in Korea by some major Aussie input at the expense of Aussie jobs downunder… How great is that?
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 8:46 am
Lol yeah Im not saying the Falcon doesnt look 100 times better then the Commodore, but you cant deny from the computer generated images going around all of Fords concept designs are very similar.
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 8:47 am
Holden should be worried… with Aurion success it might just pinch Commodore sales somewhat and with Falcon I suspect they will go overboard without the hoopla and fanfare of bigbucks Holden went on about and produce a better car. Falcon already has the 6speed auto as standard for great fuel economy and Iam certain this car coming up will be a winner!
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 9:26 am
I can still see Au in those lines !Looks similar to an AU mated to a current Subaru Liberty, theres nothing in the styling ,are they even trying ? If it looks like that Fomoco are in trouble as from what i hear the proposed chassis changes will leave it lacking in areas already even compared to Commodore which is only in version 1 of the zeta .
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 11:01 am
To me the Subaru Liberty is a class act but what we really have here is a family resemblance from the Focus, Mondeo and now the Orion (?). But what needs to be remembered is Ford is looking at overseas markets as has Holden. Without them the chances of survival is slim in Australia.
Vote:The heresay that seems to exist in many blogs is one part fact and 5 parts wish. When you design and build a car you always look at the “parts bin” because that’s what keeps the manufacturing price down. Maybe that’s why Ford will import their V6 engines from the States. Also note that there is currently and 4.6 litre V8 in the same family line as the V6 engine (duratec) that might be the replacement for the 5.4 litre V8 we use now.
Note the 6 speed auto is an import, the rear suspension is of European design (blade independed rear end used in the Focus and Jaguar cars and I think the new Mondeo). I believe we in Australia produce the best chassis in the world (based on price). So for me it’s easy to see where the new Orion is coming from and what it’s true market place might be (similar to Holden).
The biggest killer of our big cars is going to come from Europe where engine design is at its pinnicale both in diesel and petrol and hybrids. The European cars make the best transmissions and their suspension designs have always surpassed anything from Japan or America. By us using the “parts bin” and adding these componets to our chassis we do make the best big cars in the world but does the world want big cars? We will have to wait and see because both the Commodore and Falcon are world class but is that what the world wants? Could this be why Ford will start to build the Ford Focus in Australia?
September 1st, 2007 at 11:19 am
I belive the design is spot on, ford have done a great job , they always seem to make a young car a fit car, the smooth lines not interrupted, the strong front and sides giving the impression of strength, the raised back letting you know its rear wheel drive ready to pounce, the flowing roof line giving you a impression of speed.
Its a much better evolved design over the BA falcon, and its much cleaner then a VE, the VE has a strong charicter also but i feel it just did it a bit to harshly and the lines are to crisp now.
anyways got to see the real thing at the Melbourne motor show right.
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Agree NIK516 that improvement over BA and looks hot
Vote:September 1st, 2007 at 6:52 pm
paul,
is it a bad thing that you can see similar styling traits across fords proposed range?? they come from the same family dont they?
roberto, who needs flared guards? body lines are in at the moment big time and when ford releases the orion the commy will look like its 5 yrs old.
Vote:LEAVE THE FLARED GUARDS FOR NASCAR PLEASE!!!!
but i agree with you on the grey highlight to the grill. but this is only a sketch and i would guess it would have the highlight as in the BF series
September 2nd, 2007 at 12:36 am
Why does it have a bonnet from a VZ Commodore?
Vote:September 2nd, 2007 at 8:13 am
I think the new jag from the base of the windscreen back looks a LOT like the falcon.
at least the falc gets a nicer front than the jag.
Vote:September 2nd, 2007 at 11:45 am
Happy Fathers day to all Dads hope you ALL have a great day!
Cheers
Lisa
Vote:September 2nd, 2007 at 12:19 pm
umm could they have chosen to ‘not’ play their choice of music while recording it as to get some sort of sound from the car they were spying on :P
Vote:September 2nd, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Paul = loves Toyotas. Pseudo nerdy TRD Aurions with the Supercheap auto crass look that when lined up with HRT or FPR looks devoid of style over and above Aurion’s being bland and boring as watching paint dry or grass grow!
Vote:September 2nd, 2007 at 7:46 pm
roberto,
I understand that you’d like to sound all ‘oh listen to my terminology and accept me for I speak so specific and what not’ .. but you can voice your opinion in a more mature way and also spam less on the community here k thanks.
Vote:September 3rd, 2007 at 8:47 am
One of the things that worries me about the Orion is the “family” resemblence it has with the Focus and Mondeo. I know it’s the way of car design these days, which is practice by all the manufacturers but it does remove a lot of the individuality of our cars. The one that stands out the most is the new Camry and Aurion.
Vote:September 3rd, 2007 at 9:10 am
Apart from the position of the tiny spotlights in the bumper it looks like a really nice car. They should have been more central – like the EL GT.
As for flares.. they’re starting to make a comeback in Europe as they help improve the cars stance as well as its image. A wider track can often means better stability and grip. so maybe a subtle flare treatment on the sportier versions would help diferrentiate the from the basic Falcons.
I also like the indicators in the wing mirrors as it will be easier for drivers coming the other way to see if the car is turning a corner as a lot of headlights are too bright making it hard to see the normal indicators.
Having said that.. by the time the new Falcon is relaesed a VE2 will also be out which is also expected to have Wing Mirror indicators and a new ZF 6 Speed Auto [among other features]
Vote:September 3rd, 2007 at 9:38 am
The new Corolla sedan is very similar to the new camry as well..
Vote:September 3rd, 2007 at 12:26 pm
The VE11 update will NOT get the ZF 6speed gearbox…if it recieves an updated gearbox it will be american.
Vote:I’m very interested in how much better the orion will be for fuel consumption…the BF11 fairmont ghia and XR6 get 10.2l/100klm while the aurion/camry get 9.9l/100klm, i’d bet Ford will match Toyota with some of the falcon models.
If this is the case, i’d buy a 6cyl vehicle again, over a 4cyl camry.
September 3rd, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Adam: I don’t know if you need a big car or you need a car with plenty of torque fro overtaking, towing a trailer etc. But have a look at the latest Focus turbo diesel or perhapes the new Mondeo with diesel next month.
Vote:If you need a big car, I bet that Ford will have shaved off a couple of hundred kilos from the Orion which will easily give it sub 10s/mid 9s per hundred kilometres fuel figures.
When you buy a new car the gloss starts to fade within the first 6 to 12 months then the true character of the car starts to reveal itself. i believe the VE Commodore will start to shows its true colours over the next 6 months. There already appears to be issues regarding battery life, finish inside the car and high fuel consumption figures.
You might find that when the Orion is released those issues that have started to dog the VE Commodore will not be an issue for the Ford.
September 3rd, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Hey Tony M where can I sign up for this bet that Ford will shave ‘a couple of hundred kilos’ off the Orion? That is completely laughable. If they replaced the entire chassis/body/external structure as well as suspension with aluminium they might approach this figure, but guess what I don’t think the average buyer wants to pay triple the price for their new Falcon. It will weigh about the same as a current Falcon or Commodore – same size, same materials, same price = same weight – not hard to work out.
Vote:September 3rd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Tony m…
I understand the argument of the need for a big 6cyl vehicle, i’m having that debate with myself at the moment as i’m going to be chasing a new car in the next year or so.
Vote:The problem i have with making my mind up is i wouldn’t mind a Mazda sp23 with leather, has everything i need, except fail safe overtaking ability as i travel many highways with only 2 lanes and i do carry passengers reguarly and big car, like falcon can do these jobs very easily. The trouble is i don’t really need the pure size of a falcon anylonger…
If fuel consumption is improved even more so than BF11 the choice becomes harder, i mean this sort of fuel sonsumption is fantastic for such a big big, RWD vehicle with the power it has…i even thought of a mazda 6, the fuel sonsumption is better at around 8-9l/100klm but…it requires Premium fuel bringing the cost of fuel at the same level as a falcon, as where the mazda sp23 2.3l doesn’t require Premium like the 6.
I’ll wait to see what the orion package is like when released and go from there, i won’t even consider a VE, less power , more fuel and less refinement than a Bf11 falcon as it is!
September 3rd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
i have also considered a diesel, 3, focus and 6…very tempting!
Vote:September 3rd, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Adam: I don’t know if this is possible, but if you could rent the cars you are interested in buying maybe you could get a good idea of if they meet your needs.
Vote:September 4th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Tony m,
I work in the auto trade, i’ll be driving all of them before i buy for sure!
Vote:Very curious to see how the orion will turn out.
September 4th, 2007 at 8:35 am
SLATEMAN IS CORRECT I SUSPECT
Vote:September 4th, 2007 at 8:48 am
I think slateman is too…
Vote:September 4th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Slateman: I suggest you read the article by the CSIRO about weight saving in the automotive industry (http://www.csiro.au/science/ps1jb.html).
But if you find that hard maybe you should read Toby Hagon’s report on the new Mazda 2 dated 21/06/2007 where he states “The small car class has a new biggest loser. Mazda’s all-new entry-level hatchback, the 2, has shed 100kg in the quest to reduce fuel consumption and lessen its environmental impact.”
Note the year, 2007. Is not Mazda a subsidury of Ford. If Mazda can do it on a car that weighs about 1100kg surely Ford can do it on a car that weighs 1800kg.
Vote:September 5th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Tony M…
Sorry, but i think the falcon will weigh pretty much what it does now.
Vote:Mazda 2 yes, but it’s sold around the world as a world platform, the falcon does not, the economy of scale is not there yet and the cost would be prohibitive with more exotic/lighter materials for such a small volume model.
or the the purchase cost of falcon would be considerably higher at this point.
September 5th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
one thing about weight, it almost certianly wont get any heavier even once they add extra stuff. im sure they are working on that a a key thing. but honestly is gaining .3L 100K less, or so (like the aurion does with 100kgs less) really make people think that the money spent on doing that makes it worth it??
hey i also remember quite a few years ago that ford had a deal sooo close to being wrapped up with a magnesium mine to supply metal for their cars for quite a while. the aim of that was weight, weight, weight.
Vote:the company went half way under if i remember correctly (big shame)
September 6th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
i dont like those foglights hope there not like that because they look so ugly.
Vote:September 6th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
that looks sweat as cant wait to comes out, go drible over it in my lunch break looks orsm the way it is hope it stays like that cant wait holdens gonna wanna be scared GO FORD
Vote:September 10th, 2007 at 1:01 am
dunno if anyone has said this yet, could be bothered reading every comment, but i sure hope that ford go witht he painted front bar which we can see in the CGI at the top of the page, it looks sooooo much better than the images that were found at the tip or where ever, the black plastic front looks kinda wierd and doesnt suit the car at all. I still reckon that ford let those images go so that they could get a response from the public, they sure arent that stupid to just let them float around.
I hope there is an early release, and i hope they go ahead with the 320kw V8, those pesky emmision laws might knock it back to 310kw.
Hope that ford can match the commodore and hope the utes are as good as the BA/BF. But Holden has gone with the sports utility and has scraped the idea of a true aussie work ute, where as ford has gone for a more work mate style, but thats where FPV comes in to tickle them up a bit to make them a mean machine.
Hope this falcon turns out the be a good one as i am sick of people saying shit about fords just because holden has more publicity and support in V8 super cars. What happens in V8 super cars doesnt mean its the same on the aussie roads.
Vote:September 14th, 2007 at 12:14 am
PLEASE OH PLEASE FORD DO NOT PUT THOSE FOG LIGHTS IN THAT POSITION…They NEED to sit lower and wider in the holes provided.
And still not liking the headlights. Need to be more BA/BF XR style.
Once those changes are made, then we are talking…
Vote:September 14th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Shane said: From what I have seen to date, most of the fog lamps are being fitted inside the air intakes for the brakes. After all what we are looking at is an artist impression.
Vote:September 14th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Here is another for you Shane to look at.
Link is next post.
Vote:September 18th, 2007 at 7:48 am
you can see that Ford will say it’s a real “euro” car like the ads for the current BFII Famont Ghia and the way it looks like a mondeo and a focus.
It will be a good car. I hope it will come out soon.
Vote:October 2nd, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I want to have the new GT. Pitty about them stupid fucking driver laws up hear in QLD. ANTI-SPAM was FPV
Vote:October 3rd, 2007 at 9:22 pm
I belive it looks awesome the lines are great but they should move the spot lights [ the tiny lights ] onto the bottom grill very muscle car GO Ford
Vote:October 5th, 2007 at 10:06 am
They got it wrong, there is two lights under the bumperbar if you see the lumps (Boobs) through the bra. One must be a flasher or somthing.
Vote:October 6th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Too much rear overhang, front end looks kinda like a Lexus in the CGI, but apart from that it’s great!
Vote:October 9th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
I hate that stupid music playing in one of the video links. that guy, no person (I don’t want to take that risk) must be showing off his favorite song when it is filming the Falcon.
Vote:November 10th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
[...] of the latest developments in the Falcon hunt – and one that has already been picked by our vehicle stylist – is the redesign of the rear passenger doors. As you can see below, the uneasy entry/exit trait [...]
Vote:November 30th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Another flop for ford it seems.
Vote:They have ripped alot of ideas of the VE, and i think your looking at the last Falcon period.
They have to bring out something that will bury the VE, and by the looks, its nice yes, but i think they will struggle beating the VE in sales, therefore i think Ford Australia is in bigger trouble than it thinks
November 30th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I hope its not a flop, but I wish they would make a V8 that is competitive with what Holden has to offer. It has been lobsided for too long
Vote:November 30th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
This car sux, it’s not even a new chassis, it based on a BF chassis which is a BA. Total pus.
Vote:November 30th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
HEY Matthew!!! Pissoff and go back to your Holdenwoo forum. How does a BA platform affect the whole car?
I didn’t need to bother with you, because you sound like a one-post wonder who knows nothing about cars and the same old one-eyed view idiot.
Vote:November 30th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
matthew,
Vote:the embarrising thing is for you holden losers that this so called useless and Pus BF chassis will still give the billion $$ world classis a touch up
November 30th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Is this the same Matthew that came on to the original Cobra blog?????? He got pounded!
Let me find something dumb he said then too…..
Vote:November 30th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Hey BM! there was another Matthew on the “New 2008 Ford Falcon Orion Computer Generated Pictures” post who was almost like a Holden version of Toyota Paul.
Vote:Remember?
November 30th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Matthew said on “2008 Ford Falcon Orion Computer Generated Pictures”…
“Also while you are at it Barvairan Missile, please tell me why the Falcon chassis based on the AU will be better than the VE chassis which is the strongest and stiffest chassis ever produced in Australia?, i would love to hear your rationale.”
So, the way he goes on about the floor pan seems like he’s that same twit.
Vote:December 11th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Seen the new Falcon today driving along Horseshoebend Road, Torquay at about 1030am. There where two cars following it and one in front of it. Its a great way to get everybodys attention as it did for me. Great camoflauge they use on it but the FORD badges stood out. I bet they be takin it on the Great Ocean road to give it a good run.
Vote:December 28th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
THAT Blue FPV looks like it has a V8 Supercar front end.
Vote:January 2nd, 2008 at 11:23 am
Falcon chassis has been better than holdens chassis for decades. The first commodore that where out struggled against the falcon. Holden had to spend a billion dollars on makin the chassis as good as the falcon. Ford still have a superior car over all over the commodore. Holdens billion dollars wasnt much of an improvement.Wait till the new car reviews over the new falcon and commodore and as usuall the falcon will be a better car than Commodore. Falcon still the best…..
Vote:January 4th, 2008 at 9:52 am
looks like it was designed by the same clown that designed the BLOODY UGLY AU as it looks just as BLOODY UGLY.
Vote:January 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
^^^^^^^^
Vote:Nahh, you are just a biased Holdenwoo fan that needs to go back to his Holdenwoo forum. How can you judge a car coverd up in cammo armour and bras and say it’s an AU?
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
good to see all you abos arguing about holdens and fords! get over it and buy 1 of each. 2008 cobra – 2007 ve gts.
Vote: