No export for new Falcon ‘Orion’
October 23, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Ford Australia has abandoned plans to export the 2008 Falcon. The company has instead shifted exports plans onto the Focus which is set for local production by 2011.
The move comes as a big surprise with many expecting Ford to follow Holden’s footprints with U.S. and Middle East exports in order to maintain viability. The company has already killed plans for future Fairlane and LTD models.
Less than 18 months ago the Federal and Victorian state governments invested $100 million in Ford to help the blue oval’s left-hand-drive program for the Falcon. Ford says the investment money has been transferred into the Focus program.
Ford predicts that by 2011 over 50,000 Focus units can be built here annually. This would put Focus production levels near that of the Falcon (58,248 units in 2006).
“We can do a lot more with Focus… when we localise it. And localising it, and getting a better cost position, will allow us to go into some segments we don’t go in today. For example we don’t sell any rental cars in Focus, and if you look at Corolla’s mix, it’s heavily rental cars. So there’s volume growth available to us there, profitable growth.” Ford President Tom Gorman told GoAuto
Mr Gorman believes the case for middle-eastern exports is stronger for the Focus than then new Falcon. The new Falcon will go on sale in April 2008
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Oops i forgot the corolla in the 90’s but that ended for the fact that it is hard to make money here with small cars.
Holden don’t make just one car..
Ford make the Falcon, Ute and Territory. Holden make the Commodore; Statesman; Ute and Wagon.. the score 3-4
In the Future :
Ford will make the Focus. Holden Will make the Torana.. the score 4-5
Don’t forget the Exports
Ford will export the Focus. Holden will export the G8; Caprice; G6 and Ute.. the score 5-9
Oh and the possibility of locally built sports cars. The Next Gen Ford Mustang and The Next Gen Monaro.. the score
6-10.
I agree wheelnut, but you forgot about the Falcon wagon.
Who gives a SH*T if the orion won’t be exported to USA. It still goes to NZ and Fiji, doen’t it?
When Football Head came back, he wasn’t trying to fight dirty with me like last time. Maybe Because hes a bit of a chicken head.
As long as there are taxis in Australia, the Falcon won’t be going anywhere… it might be called something else and based on a different platform than now, but it will live on.
There’s a reason why most taxis are Ford.
Same reason they use Skoda Octavias as taxis elsewhere in the world.
Besides, how did Holden come into the conversation anyway?? Both manufacturers have said many years ago that they are not in direct competition with each other… Aussies seem to think they are.
Steve
Yay another Holden/Ford battle. After being in the VE Omega I understand how people feel; but then I went in the Senator and was definitely impressed from a quality/performance/and capability stand point – the car just totally surpasses the VZ; it’s not like they took the Omega and added – it’s a totally different car.
I think Ford can easily beat the Omega, but the Senator – not so sure. It will be interesting to see what FPV does with the new Orion platform. Definitely a new Typhoon please!
The reason Ford won’t export is the dollar is too high for the US. Same reason why the Holden Ute isn’t going out – can’t push a cheap enough car in the ‘States. Their market is too competitive.
What’s hurting Holden is they seem reluctant to add a diesel lineup into the VE platform. Ford should leap on this opportunity with the new Orion.
he “me”…grow up you twit.
Whos cares what type of variant Ford or Holden make, the point is Ford can adapt to 4cyl and 6cyl production, Holden can’t.
So lets see what happens in the next 3-4 years time, Ford will have a diesel territory, a new focus to build and a new V6 for falcons first major facelift.
Yeah Ford appears to be ‘winding down’…
Yes Me, what drugs are you on! You must be 14 years old.
Don’t get mixed up with my old name!
The Territoy was the best selling 4wd when it came out and might do again when the Diesel engine goes up into it.
hey everybody i would first and foremost like to apologize for my immature behaviour i have finally realised what a biased, immature pathetic waste of space and time i am. This is mainly due to the fact that i’ve realised that holden isn’t australian owned thus i have decided to change my name to:
Basketball,Waffles, Llamas and GM Corperation
Bravo!
No, you shoud of had eagles in your name!! :) LOL
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
come on who was that? he he he he he
yeah wheelnut the falcon wagon?
ford dont have a competitor to the senator. the only thing that i see that would come close might be a fairmont turbo in the FPV stables and that is a high possibility i think. i think turbo 6’s would seem a little more acceptable in the luxury end of vehicles compared to big 8’s
I’d love to see a turbo Fairmont based ultra lux car based on the new Orion.
Don’t you think they will revive the Fairlane?
That was you Andrew…….too intelligent in remarks to come from the original poster!!!!
i stand corrected, llamas was the only thing that came to my head. don’t blame wheelnut, as i am a new poster to this website.
but seriously though how much of an idiot is Football, Meatpies, Kangeroos and Holden Cars
haha yeah i used to go with the name hatman but i user by the name of Vt Man decided to have a go at that with a patetic little joke so i think i’ll stick with Basketball,Waffles, Eagles and GM Corperation.
Vt Man said this about my old user name:
“what kind of a name is hatman!! is it the man of the hat or the hat of the man :P”….which totally makes no sense then his mate “me.” decides to have a go at myself.
so mate i do agree with you when you say “me.” is an idiot
‘Andrew M Says:
October 24th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
ford dont have a competitor to the senator. the only thing that i see that would come close might be a fairmont turbo in the FPV stables and that is a high possibility i think. i think turbo 6’s would seem a little more acceptable in the luxury end of vehicles compared to big 8’s’
Then tell bently that its a bad idea to move to the quad turbo w16 for the new arnage.
Whats that got to do with the price of eggs in China!!!!!!!
Going Ford, Is The Going Thing Says:
October 25th, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
“About as much of a idiot as me, sad to say.”
That was not me that made that comment.
LOL to what you said about Football Hamburgers Eagles and Holdenwoo crap, but what you said about me was not funny! Yes it was “sad to say” but you are you? What did I do to you?
I’m so Sorry hatman! It really was funny what you said about VT MAN. I went too far with the next comment, but thats no reason to say “ME.” is an idiot and use my name!
I live my life one post at a time. For those 20 or more incoherently strewn together words, I look like an utter tool.
Mark,
i think every one has skipped over the point you made.
BM brought to my attention an article that was related to toyotas export program, and even the gigantic toyota motor company is starting to suffer the effects of the strengthening aussie dollar, and possible lowering of import taxes.
Quote from toyota exec’s “very serious problem”
perhaps the reasoning ford is using to not get too excited about it. maybe ford has seen the writing on the wall???
thanks for that article missile very interesting……
Going Ford, Is The Going Thing Says:
October 26th, 2007@9:19 am
I live my life one post at a time. For those 20 or more incoherently strewn together words, I look like an utter tool.
Yes the person using my name does look like an utter tool!
Andrew M; the reason the VE has flared guards is because..
the designers took the opportunity to push the front wheels further forward to improve the weight distribution -the engine now sits in behind the front wheels instead of over or in front of them.
They then pushed them a little further out making the track wider and improve performance and handling. It also allows for a more spacious cabin.
As For Holden not having a Diesel.. The VE2 will not only have a V8 with DOD and a Diesel V6. Doubt the Diesel will be standard it’s more likely to be a “No Cost Option”.
Then there’s the twin Turbo V6 [for the Torana] and the smaller “Northstar” DOHC V8 [for a new base model Commodore].. Both due around 2010 by which time Holden would have reverted back to Opels thanks to Chris Gubbey.
Holden could also use one of the various 4 cylinder engines the Holden Engine Company [build in Melbourne and] export to other countries/companies.
Afterall the VB Commodore was originally a 4 Cylinder and
as the Japanese have shown a well engineered 4 can produce as much power as a 6 the same way a well engineerd 6 can produce as much power as a V8
wheelnut,
but the proportion of overall width to track width is still pretty much the same for both the commy and falcon.
I realise that the dimensions/proportions remain the same.
But my point was that Holden didn’t design those Flares just to look good for the Yanks; and after seeing what they’ve done to the Commodore [with the front of the G8] its pretty obvious they’re not really concerned with Looks
As I said by pushing the wheels as far out as possible and getting as much of the engine as you can to sit within the wheelbase will improve Performance and Handling – which is evident in the various reviews of the VE by Wheels/Motor
The thing is that in various pictures I have seen of the Orion it appears that Ford have done the same thing.. And in some shots the front guards have a more pronounced flare to them – just not as much as the VE
I would be interested in how much GMH is making at the moment along with Toyota selling their cars OS! Most sales men tell us when buying new cars “theres not much in it for us,sorry cant lower the price” So what do the car manufactures make here when on selling them to the US ect? With the dollar now up to 92cents in the US the gap is decreasing! It costs the same to make a car in Aus and sell it to the locals as it does OS customers…..manufactures here would make more selling to the locals than the OS customers cause they in turn have to on sell in their country at a competitive price! So unless its HUGE quantities I can’t see the point with the dollar continuing upwards!! Is it just for recognition???
This post is called “No export for new Falcon Orion”. Does that mean they not going to be sold in NZ anymore?
no all RHD exports will remain, LHD exports have been canned
Thought that’s what they mean, export means going to other countrys and it’s called “No export for new Falcon ‘Orion’”
Na…..NZ is a state of Australia .hahaha
But don’t Falcons also go to New Ginea and Fiji? If not now I think they did once.
Where the hell is that “Hatman” Who called himself “Basketball,Waffles, Eagles and GM Corperation” and my old name here?
Andrew M said….
“ford dont have a competitor to the senator. the only thing that i see that would come close might be a fairmont turbo in the FPV stables and that is a high possibility i think. i think turbo 6’s would seem a little more acceptable in the luxury end of vehicles compared to big 8’s”
How could you forget the FPV Force :?: