2008 Ford Falcon Orion spy photos
10 Nov, 2007
113 Comments 
After spending time away on other projects, our spy photographer is back into the swing of things, bringing you the latest developments from Ford’s ‘Orion’ project.
Despite what it may look like, thisXR8 prototype is not driving around with training wheels on…
The small wheel attached to the rear is used to check the accuracy of the on-board trip computer under varying loads and driving conditions. In this instance, the rear of the vehicle appears to have been filled with heavy material, increasing weight and making acceleration a slightly harder task.
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One 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 common to all Falcons from the AU, to BF may have been alleviated with a straight cut door line, and an extension of the roof line, allowing easier entry and exit.
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The rear end has been somewhat of a mystery during the course of the vehicle’s development. These photos shed some light on the angle and shape of the rear lights, suggesting more of a smooth and flowing design.
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A reader has also sent in some photos of a base model sedan and tubbed utility testing in country Victoria. Certainly not discreet, the awkward colours and shapes were a dead give away to our keen-eyed reader who had a camera on hand to snap the pair testing.
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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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November 11th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Hmmm, still hard to make out lines with the camo and padding. It “looks” like the ute still has a seperate tub to the body, unlike the VE. Probably not a good thing for a show pony, but fine for a proper tradies ute.
Tired of seeing that horrible fake panel on the bottom of the doors to hide the scallop that the CGI pics allude to.
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November 11th, 2007 at 12:23 am
One point about seperate cab to tub, very easy to make a cab-chassis. Maybe that’s why Holden has dropped the cab-chassis idea with VE seeing as it has a one piece panel.
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November 11th, 2007 at 6:55 am
DONT NO? WHATS WITH THE MUCK BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK WHEELS ON THE LOWER PANEL???
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Any one read the latest Australian Muscle Car mag? Interesting story on the HO to be released ……..
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Whats the go with roof aerials? Doesn’t the new VE UTE also have one? Why only on the utes?
Good job on yet another exclusive load of shots,Ford must really be getting annoyed by now!hehehe
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:27 am
well looks like the utes ready to go drag racin’! lol rear doors are becoming more noticeable in shape too. only a handful (and a half maybe) months to go…
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November 11th, 2007 at 10:28 am
According to the latest Australian Muscle Car mag the new HO wont be called a phase 5. Barrett has said IF the HO is to be revived it must be unbeatable on a track ,weight distribution must be a big factor like the early legend was which is why they are saying the blown 5.4 wont be happening. Maybe they really are looking at the 427 V10 for it.Me for one would like to see it normally aspirated. . It will also be sold in homologation numbers like the original…..looks like a lot of people will miss out on this car if that happens. How on earth are they going to allocate cars to people ? Action all of them? If there wasn’t enough Cobras to go around and there were 100 more of those in 4 doors how is 300 of the car we ALL have been waiting for going to be distributed?
Barrett has said the new car must be as competitive on a track relative to its modern opposition as per the original! The Super-Roo decal will not be revived until the GT-HO re-appears! As it should. Looks like we are just going to have to wait at lest until the end of 2009 to find out what will be coming in 2010 or later!
I feel we should have had a similar Cobra decal to the early one not one out of the parts bin off a mustang!
Hey if you get the mag or take a look at the article at the newsagency go to page 60 ,there is a 4 door black A9X with simmons wheels on it,I use to own it ! Ex Tassie car! Low ks had only something like 13,000 ks on it from new when we sold in 1990 for $30,000 . Hate to think what its worth now. Funny thing is the guy we sold it to in Canbera sold it and bought an M3 .Still has the same wheels we put on it almost 20 years ago. We sold it to buy a new Merc….der!
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November 11th, 2007 at 10:30 am
(Just turn on computer) HAAAAAAA!!!! WHOOHOO, an update! Updates of the Orion make me feel so good!
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November 11th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Note the Mondeo-esqe grill on the front bumper (lower and upper).
I think Ford Is catching on and finally aligning its car design to Ford Europe, which for once is a good think because Ford Europe is the only profitable branch around the World at the moment.
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November 11th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I don’t like the angle of underneath the car. Hope it’s just turning hard or braking hard.
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November 11th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Yes Hendrik, the mesh is just like one of the Mondeo’s grills.
I thought the wheel at the back of one of the Utes was a wheele bar,LOL! To stop it from fliping it backwards because of it’s power!!
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November 11th, 2007 at 11:04 am
The CGI shots may not be too far from the truth. I also don’t like the fake door panels
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November 11th, 2007 at 11:05 am
bavarian missile are you from tassie??? if so where abouts (city) and what type of ford do u drive/own?
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November 11th, 2007 at 11:07 am
by type i obviously mean model, and any features (colour etc.) that i may be able to pin point whether i have seen u about or not
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November 11th, 2007 at 11:08 am
LOOKS FANTASTIC!
The top pic of the ute is an XR8 because of the lump in the bonnet.
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November 11th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Originally…….Hobart! Now in Perth W.A !
Have still got an XAGT Coupe had for over 20 years hubby also just bought a new Cobra,I drive an M3.
You from Tassie?
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November 11th, 2007 at 11:35 am
It’s Falcon and Falcon to be specific…It’s “Trim, Taut, Terrific”.
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November 11th, 2007 at 11:46 am
I’m looking hard at the pics…are Ford pulling a shifty and using the old ute’s body with updated front styling and door handles? The radius of the door windows’ frames looks the same as today’s car, whereas the sedan’s frames have been squared up noticeably. The sedan will clearly no longer use the roll-over frames, of course, and I’m squizzing at the ute pic to see if it’s going the same way or not.
Wonderful tricks can be wrought with disguise tape. In the history of Ford and Holden, it wouldn’t be the first time a ute has been freshened up with a new generation front grafted onto a previous generation back.
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November 11th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
yeah i live in launnie, no shortage of driving thrills then….. was just wondering cause i havent been able t track down who the cobra and 40 gt owners down here where…… thought u might have been one
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November 11th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
hey a launcestonian! I grew up there before moving to canberra. Good memories, blocky runs on friday nights in my old telstar tx5, good times.
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November 11th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
We use to be part of the GT Club in Hobart,had a an XYGT and another couple of XAGTs at the time as well as the same current XA GT Coupe. Rodney still is the president of the club as far as I know in Hobart.
Tom ,Another one from Launnie…..hows the fog in Canbera as bad ? hahaha
Tarmac race way is still running I see? Good memories at that track. Blocky runs in Hobart too,any more than 3 in a row and the cops would kick you out of the city. We use to drive up to Launnie some Friday nights ,just for pizza and the great drive. Mad days……200 klms for pizza and too do blockys.
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November 11th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Might be prototype, but doesn\’t bode well…
Look at the sedan\’s gap between the doors.
They don\’t line up properly….
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November 11th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Its not a production model,I have found that the latest BF Cobras panels line up a whole lot better then the old BAGTs,I doubt FORD will allow bad panel fit again in the new model.
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November 11th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
yeah, the fog’s as bad in canberra, although in launny it was more wood smoke getting trapped in the valley than fog. And canberra in winter is actually colder than launny is! I never thought moving 1000km north would actually be colder , but there you go. Weather though at the moment is fantastic, and next year i move to newcastle, which will be even better.
JW, i wouldn’t worry about fit and finish just yet. At this stage I can’t imagine they have recalibrated their production line to produce the Orion, so the prototypes are probably hand built, and the last thing you tend to care about with prototypes is build quality, as long as it doesn’t fall apart during testing.
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November 11th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
hahaha those were mad days, i here plenty of stories from the old man of similiar trips in his many varied cars…. including his road registered race car.
canberra is inland hence the cold, dont have the climate effect of the water, wood smoke is gradually improving….. yeah the blocky route of both north and south are still alive and well, new hoon laws are giving the cops a bit more power though.
agree with tom, the panel gaps would be last thing on there mind atm….wil hopefully see that improve on mules closer to release
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November 11th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Hey JP what type of race car was it?
So did you Tom move from the Isle cause of work ?
I miss the great Tassie seafood ,Crays that big on the West Coast you need a helicopter to pull up out of the water!Oysters to die for.
Hoon laws are evident all around the country now,what ever happened to nothing to hit but the heights when on the open road? Seems we speed just as much in those days but knew where our limits were,we didn’t think we were playing PS2 GranTrismo on the road,we never had good brakes,cars were that low they had no where else to go but around a corner if you ran over a coke can when on its side and your car didn’t scrape over it ,it was to too height ……out with the oxy!!hahaha . Every one had TAs and 10s on the rear which taught you how to drive in the rain cause they were really crap. Bet your Dad JP remembers those days too…
Looking forward to seeing the new ORION it looks very sleek from the rear!
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November 11th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Please Ford, Ive just noticed the circle behind the door handles, PLEASE don’t have it like that!! Make it an oval, PLEASE,PLEASE!
Now I don’t want one anymore. Looks like the silly curves the AU had that means nothing. It needs to be stylish not random ugly circles like the AU did.
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November 11th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I don’t know why both Holden and Ford have adopted those handles. Handles flush with the body look far better.
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November 11th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Yeah I joined the air force, so I had to move to canberra. Its been good though, living on the mainland, being able to drive to melbourne or sydney instead of flying is nice. And skiing is great, tassie has just really bad ski fields so I never got into it growing up.
ImportJap I agree, most cars have them now its the ‘in’ thing for some reason, and its not that they are any easier to open either. change for changes sake
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November 11th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
There is nothing wrong at all with the type of door handles, it’s just the circle behind, not an oval like the Territory.
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November 11th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
True GFIGT, now that i think about it a bit more I guess that sort of door handle would be great for tall cars and short people/children. But i still prefer personally the simple lift up door handle, sits nice and flush with the car. Its hard to know how much these test mules will look like the final product, but given the BF has the pull up handles, I’d say these new ones will probably be in their current form on Orion. It might look good with the rest of the car
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November 11th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Cool….. CAs has two boys from the deffence forces…..
Problem with the lift up handles they always seem like there going to break once they get a little stiff….like the the early Fords and even on the passenger side of the M3 it feels as if its going to break cause its not used!
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November 11th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Hope they have an oval for the dent behind the door handles, insted of a circle. There has been changes made on the Orion like the back window pannel, hope so with the door handles now.
FORD AUSTRALIA …LISTEN, CHANGE THAT DENT SHAPE TO THE TERRITORY’S.
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November 11th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
I’d prefer they didn’t change to pull type handles. Handles on my AU and bro-in-law’s BF XR6 are great. Nothing like the easy to break crap that XD-XF Falcons and Cortinas had.
Well, if they must go this way, I hope the shape will be oval too.
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November 11th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
started life as a lj torana with minor mods, until a crash changed his plans, then came the cut and shut xu1 front end, and custom build by some race team he was involved in, motor was fully blue printed, with custom flared guards the works, his eyes just light up when he talks about it…..b y th time he was finsihed with it was one of if not th fastest six cylinder in the state. used to give most v8’s a floggin too, ran against cricky and bailey at symmons with the prelude and supra’s with 350’s in them! whilst we are both true blue ford supporters, he put his life on hold to build that car and still regrets selling it to this day…..
yea i dive the north east for the elusive orange fish and abalone! havent hit the west coast yet but have heard you can haul quite a catch
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November 11th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Yeah……My ex is an Abalone Diver……well too old now hes
44 has bought a big boat take others out{abb divers } and has a cray licence….someone else dives for his abbs!
I know Bailey…….another abb diver from years ago!
Yep use to spend 3 months a year up at Marrawah,good abs and surfing not much else! Fancy you diving for abbs too!
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November 11th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Hardly any new cars don’t have that sort of door handle. The AU/BA type are becoming outdated.
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Outdated, yeah I suppose. But the old ones work perfectly, and it seems like changing just for the sake of it. But I’ll get used to them
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
the first time i saw any spy shots i said no way to the door handles.
i do prefer the recessed BF handles at least you couldnt tie a rope to them and rip em off movie star style.
i dont think the handles look quite finished yet. i think it is only something tacked on at the moment. the similar styled ones on other ford models dont stick out quite as far and are actually flush with the panel.
there is still a lot of camo on these too but i think the camo has gotten better disguised around the doors.
the doors on the ute dont carry the same panel lines as the sedan where it runs towards the bonnet.
although we are seeing plenty of spy shots i think we will all still be surprised as to how much wasnt predicted
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Is Kerry Bailey still in the fishing industry JP?
ex use to regularly catch a 1000 kilo in a day that was about $6000 in a day {1983} now I guess its $60,000 in a day.Out of a shark car,his DAD also an ABB diver would go out and do the same!
I think he spent a couple of million on his new boat,more of a ship….good looking boat!
Im thinking the same Andrew,car will not look anything like what we antsipate!
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
I guess you have gone for the night Andrew?
Do you read Australian Muscle Car mag? One of the best Mags that come out these days
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
so is it safe to come back?
i mean has Paul gone?
i had to go find a brick wall to talk to as at least i was getting fresh air in return!!
i was getting sick of leading a horse to water only to have him try convince me it wasnt water!! GRRRRRR
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
all these spy shots and info must be ruining fords sales aswell.
if i didnt keep getting led along by these articles, i prob would have already purchased the current BF.
And im sure there are a lot of people in my boat too.
so when is the first motor show it is at? will it be at brissy before the release?
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Paul was banned for 24hours a few days ago, but he must of realised that what he was banned for was the only reason why he ever posted here anyway.
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November 11th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I know what you mean Andrew.M. And I would not buy a BF FPV right now for 2 reasons…
1. The HSV is faster that them right now.
2. I know there is a new one comming out next year that will have more power than those HSVs.
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November 11th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
I can’t wait until tuesday! On 20 to 1 on channel nine, it has Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup’s bathurst win last year.
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November 12th, 2007 at 1:03 am
I think if you look hard at these spy shots you can see some of the 2009 lincoln . The grill & window sill level look very similiar. These traits alone should make for a very stylish vehicle.
We definately don’t need any crazy lines like mitsu 380/camry ,these things don’t seem to know shape they want to be .
Ford will come up trumps with this car .
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November 12th, 2007 at 1:26 am
Really going ford? Awesome i’m gonna be watching that! oh and Golfschwein, the ute appears to be a whole new design i reckon. The roof on the BA ute is a AU’s roof of which has a rounded windscreen at the top and the doors are new. The styleside tray would have to continue on the scollop design from the cab. Only similarity might be the tail lights which might be an alteration of the 2008 F-250 in the US. Only thing i hope they change on the ute is hide those hinges on the tailgate. Otherwise the design of the falcon ute is brilliant, even the tail gate was design with the scollop in the current model so that a trailer wont dent the gate when you open it. Ford is so smart.
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November 12th, 2007 at 7:58 am
*****{NOT}Primo!:-)*****
For mine this is the wrong car at the wrong time for Ford, large car sales and going backwards, ULP @$1.50 is ONE of the reasons.
Because they are so far advanced in the Orion project {and cannot scrap it] believe they should look at make other vehicles off the platform.
Such as a van, panel-van, double-cab ute, 4×4 ute etc etc
Need to take more risks and chase some more volume in new market segments
Cheers
F-O
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November 12th, 2007 at 9:12 am
i wish they would just bring it out!!!
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November 12th, 2007 at 10:14 am
I see it, Astroboy.
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November 12th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Yeah I joined the air force, so I had to move to canberra. Its been good though, living on the mainland, being able to drive to melbourne or sydney instead of flying is nice. And skiing is great, tassie has just really bad ski fields so I never got into it growing up.
ImportJap I agree, most cars have them now its the ‘in’ thing for some reason, and its not that they are any easier to open either. change for changes sake
==================================================
Ah Tom, you would probably have heard of my brother who has spent years up in Canberra with RAAF. He is not there anymore but he is a officer at another base now. He is a sqnldr but up for another Prom in the next couple of months.
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November 12th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Frugal One, things are about to get interesting in Ford showrooms. It’s going to become a stage for the survival of the fittest. Does the punter want this traditional Falcon here? Or would Sir and Madame prefer this European Mondeo that is a mere 86mm shorter (and roughly 35mm bigger in every other key dimension!) with a choice of 4 or 5 cylinder petrol engines or 4 cylinder turbo diesel?
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November 12th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
What needs to be remembered about the new Ford “Orion” is that it is a heavier car and has a lot more torque than the Mondeo. That means it will handle the trailer with a ton of sand, or the caravan or the long trip up to say Queensland with 2 kids mum and dad without much trouble.
The Mondeo is for a different market. It’s more the car for the self funded retiries, maybe the more conservative group in our society. But the Ford Orion is the work horse.
From what I can see on these pictures the new Orion is following the design lines (family) of the Focus and Mondeo. Its major strength will be its durability, remembering that its “nuts and bolts” have been perfected throught the AU design to the BF2 evolution.
I do believe that the new Orion could quite possibly be the “cat among the pideons” when it is released, that is I believe it could eat heavily into the VE, 380 and Aurion market base.
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November 12th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
If anyone says the Falcon needs to be FWD, they don’t realise what the Mondeo is.
The Falcon does not need to be FWD. That’s what the Mondeos for.
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November 12th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Check the Mondeo’s weight, Tony. Yes, it’s lighter than a Falcon, but only by a torque tube. And I do realise the Falcon has by far the greater torque. I don’t see the Mondeo as the conservative retiree’s car, it’s too un-camry for that.
If anything, it’ll probably hold greater interest for thirty and forty somethings who don’t need to tow a trailer of sand. I live in the city and will never need to tow a trailer of sand. If I did…yeah, maybe Falcon…or, better still, pay the Soils Ain’t Soils man to come by in his truck and drop it on the verge.
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November 12th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Astro boy,
are you serious? can you really drop the tail gate when you have a trailer on the back of a falcon ute? if you can i got ripped cause i cant drop mine down with a trailer on!!!
also i think the hinges will stay the way they are. the tail gate is rated to 500kgs and if they set them up like the commy they would lose that advantage.
Frugal one,
are you serious aswell?
you blame fuel prices for large car sales being poor yet you say to combat that ford should make vans, 4X4’s, duel cab utes etc. mate all of those cost more to fuel!!!
oh and for the record large car sales arent going backwards last time i looked. they are just not growing as much as the other categories. they still have positive growth though.
too many people blame fuel prices for the growth not being in falcons and commy type vehicles. sorry i dont buy fuel prices. so why is the biggest growth being seen in SUV’s and 4X4’s the very type of vehicles that easily cost more to fuel??????
Tony M,
yes i agree the falcon will be the cat amongst the pigeons in the way the BA was.
ford AUS can build some great ahead of their times vehicles but the problem lies where they sit on them for too long giving other manufacturers the time to catch up.
great examples can be seen with the BA falcon and territory.
only now are holden and toyota able to claw some sales off of the territory. and how old is it??
ford should have re-styled and upgraded the territory again a few months ago before the new kluger hit.
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November 12th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Yes Andrew M…
Frugal one, how come Ford should stop large cars because they not selling well because of fuel prices. Look at Holden, how is the VE Commodore selling? Also you say the Toyota LandCruser is the best 4X4 in the world when they take up more fuel than any Falcon.
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November 12th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
There is still too much front and rear overhang on the Falcon, a problem they can’t change due to the carry-over platform. This makes it look dated already. The trend is for shorter front and rear over-hangs like the VE Commodore
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November 12th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
I agree Shane, in previous posts I have said VE looks great with tiny front overhang. Ford will look dated here as you say.
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November 12th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
That front overhang because they need to fit that big inline six in there. After the Orion in 2010, it hopefully won’t be like that.
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November 12th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
After the I6 has gone, there won’t be much overhang. I hope the V6 Duratec 35 comes as an option or standard for base models in the Falcon next year.
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November 12th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Looks like your going to have to wait till Melbourne Car Show Feb next year,FPV have just announced their canceling their open day in Feb they normally have…….I guess they are concerned the NEW GT maybe leaked a month before its release!
DAMN!
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November 12th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Don’t get me started BM…When ever I here anything about the Orion GT, I get too crazy in joy!!! Now I wish tomorrow is the first of March 2008.
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November 13th, 2007 at 10:06 am
I don’t know why people are so hung up about the overhang.
Ford are not taking design cues from Holden (ripping-off BMW styling ), Ford have a global concept.
It is more important the car is well porpotioned and has an individual style.
Personally I think the dating BA/BF body is still the better looker when compared with the VE.
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November 13th, 2007 at 10:46 am
i can tell you all now… falcon has been delayed till at least may 08….. finally went to bite the bullet and order an orion GT and have just been told that…. and its not just FPV models delayed its the whole lot!
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November 13th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Any idea on the price tonyn?
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November 13th, 2007 at 11:16 am
So I guess no Melbourne Motor Show for it!
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November 13th, 2007 at 11:25 am
nope, was told that it would be similar to the BF, but no set pricing….. they would take my deposit but!!!
No melbourne motorshow for it im afraid…. or at least i dont think so!
I am trying to find colours and stuff now, but i have been told that there should be 30% power increase over BF too…. how true i dont know but it came from a good source!
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November 13th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Shane…
Orion will have shorter overhangs than the BF series falcons, around a 30mm increase to wheelbase.
Take a close look at the spy pics, there isn’t that much more front overhang compared to VE and the rear is the same.
I agree with BlueBlood, too many focus on one or two styling elements when the whole package should look cohesive.
To me the VE looks too blocky, thick and heavy, the weheel arches in base models in particular look too pumped out.
The VEs side profile also looks too bland and plain.
So far from what i can tell from the spy pics, Orion has a slimmer more athletic look to it, look at the size of the front structure, for having to fit a tall inline 6 engine Ford from the looks of it have done a bloody good job making it look petite and tight.
The sill panels don’t look too thick or overdone and the side profile, creases and character lines look more detailed than the VEs.
Holden tends to over do some styling elements imo.
I hope this falcon looks more efficient and smaller than VE.
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November 13th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Also too, RWD platforms are the one that can afford short front overhangs, FWD cars you will find still have bigger front overhangs.
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November 13th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
i infact hope the thing has big buldging guards, personally think the commo isnt that good looking, but i love the guards. doesnt look like it on the pics but
Maybe the fords could do the audi trick and make the guards wider on there sports models to define them!
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November 13th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
You think the wheel arches look good on base omega VEs!?
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November 13th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
base models never look good…. not even a base model mercedes or bmw looks good…. but yeah i like the flared guards on the commos….. omega looks crap…. id much rather the falcon look low and wide than tall and skinny, i think that was the AU’s problem… where even the base model omegas look low and wide….
I think that was the AU’s problem it was too skinny and tall, amazing how the look changed with them when you lower the hell out of it and stick some good size rubber under AU’s!
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November 13th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Agree about AUs looking to narrow, falcons always had a low, wide stance and that was the problem with AU.
I don’t think you will see Ford do any sort of styling mistakes again on falcon.
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November 13th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Not all base models look underdone though.
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November 13th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
i dont think you will either
I havent seen to many good looking base models though!
i guess they rely on the higher end models to promote though!
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November 13th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Tonyn,
30% increase in power on the GT’s????
thats 377kw!!!! are you sure it was 30%??
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November 13th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Well you know he has a good source…..not sure on what make of Orion hes referring to though. Send him a private email and ask him!
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November 13th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Hope he was right about 30% increase in power. LOL!
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November 13th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
And a wheelbase increase? Tom Gorman himself (I think) admitted it was just gonna be a Top and Tail job. That means no changes to engines, suspensions, wheelbase or other key hard points, just a shiny new body and interior.
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November 13th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
golfschwein,
i thought it was getting territory front suspension though.
i thought that was a given…
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November 13th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
I doubt you right about TOP AND TAIL…….it doesn’t take that long to tool new panels!
FPV are getting more so why wouldn’t the rest of the range!hmm
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November 13th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
This is so crap! Still have to wait untill next year too see the Orion and know that it’s not a “failure”.
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November 13th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
BTW, F6X soon…
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November 14th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Apparently orion will get the territories front mounted steering rack hence the wheelbase stretch of about 30mm.
remember the VE commodore is the first commodore in history to have a longer wheelbase than falcon, and shorter front and rear overhangs.
I didn’t see this handicap the commodore against falcon for the past 30 years??
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November 14th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Just a thought also.
See how the orion seems to have better packaging in relation to rear door openings and general green house space.
Wouldn’t this indicate that the wheelbase would have to bee enlarged in order to make this improvement??
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November 16th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
THIS IS WHAT I WONT TO SEE HAPPEN. (NOT ACTUAL SPECS)
XR6N/A=230kw/430nm
XR6Turbo=280kws/550nm
XR8=300kws/570nm
F6 Typhoon=315kws/585nm
GT/GT-P=335kws/600nm
GT-HO=351kws/670nm
This would be the best possible result for ford/fpv and the have the gear and NOW the right person in the drivers seat to do it! They have also had over 18 months to do it. Come on ford and fpv and thank you rod barrett, you are our new god!!!
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November 16th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
GT HO only 351kws??
i think you are on the money though.
im definately waiting till next yr then if those are the figures we will get. N/A needs to be 230kw. they cant only match the others but they must pass them.
people are simple and percieve the KW figure as being the true judge of a cars power.
for eg is the aurion the most powerfull?? not in my eyes.
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November 16th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
oh and i think you are being conservative on your Typhoon torque figure too
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November 16th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Na Im thinking more than 351………Rod Barret wont bring a Ho out if he thinks he cant beat an HSV or even a EVO on a track. He’s dead serious that the HO name has to live up to its previous reputation,and that was the fastest 4 door in the world ! Which is why they are now saying no blown 5.4 because of the weight. Maybe as I have said before the V10 will happen 427 and the engine weighs less than the 5.4 .Bring it on!!!!!!
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November 16th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Great one Cobra 302, Wikipedia says the FPV V8 might have only 550nm and F6 570nm. That’s just not enough torque, because HSV will soon upgrade their engines now that they herd about it. What you said is more promising, I hope FPV will equal that - or even better it. LOL!
I don’t know if the V8 would have more torque than the turbo six, because the current ones have more torque than the V8s, that’s why the F6 is faster when it has less KW than the V8.
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November 16th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Me I wouldn’t worry too much about the new Phoon….from what I have heard it shakes when its running just like HSVs will when they hear it……hahaha sounds awesome! Na really it will not only be fast in a straight line but faster around a track than anything thats currently in the Performance car series……true!
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November 16th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
That David Flint was a trator for Ford fans. Glad this new Barret guy sounds like someone to give them the power they needed a long time ago.
The GT-HO should be 400kw & 700nm, 351 should be for the normal GT V8.
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November 16th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
It’s good the Orion FPVs will handle well and won’t be a VZ HSV (straight line speed only)
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November 16th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
I think Rod is seriously taking on his new role at FPV and will be a that breath of fresh air we have been waiting for , …..again in true FORD PERFORMANCE VEHICLES!
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November 16th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Now FPV stands for FORD PERFOMANCE VEHICLES…not FORD POWERLESS VEHICLES!
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November 16th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
C’mon Ford/FPV! If they do what Cobra 302 said, it’ll be the end of Holden, because 300kw XR8 does sound over the top, but it should happen.
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November 18th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Shit poo ugly stooge homo ford.
Its filthy ugly.
Unlike the sexy ve!!!!!!!!!
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November 19th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
pff shut u dont know what your talking about fords allways benn powerful u dumb ass
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November 19th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
don’t know about anyone else… but I hate those door handles, my missus has an ‘07 civic with the same style and her rings frequently scratch it underneath.
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November 19th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Hey cantong, you love showing your self up don’t you?
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November 20th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
I like what Cobra 302 said, but this is what’s most likely to happen…
XR6TURBO=270kw/550nm
XR8=295kw/530nm
GT=325kw/570nm
F6=315kw/600nm
GT-HO=390kw/680nm
C’mon FPV/Ford! you can do it!
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December 9th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Looks a bit arse up in the air design to me. Imagine its so boot space can grow.
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December 10th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
lol is that all you got to say (Me) Hey cantong, you love showing your self up don’t you? lol how was i showing my self up farout your dumb
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December 10th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes, you are showing your self up! If you can’t talk cars, maybe you should leave this site.
Far-out, your dumb.
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December 10th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
ME. went up +1.00
Cantong went down -9.99…
So, Is your moma making Cantong? It doesn’t take long!
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December 11th, 2007 at 11:51 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.
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December 12th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
hey Me i recon u should leave this site what your sayin to that other guy has nuthing to do with ford bye the way i would probebly laughf at :So, Is your moma making Cantong? It doesn’t take long. year 5 so what i reacon iff people dont wanna talk about cars they should leave
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December 12th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
enterlude, who the hell are you? do you even know what this “cantong” is? BTW you are just an idiot. I’ve made almost 500 posts here and you?????
How do I know you could be him with a different name.
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December 12th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Cantong, I know it’s you…Great work covering your self up to look like someone, NOT!!!
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December 13th, 2007 at 7:29 am
To the idiot by the name of ‘enterlude’ You have to be an idiot if you want anyone to think you not ‘Cantong’
But if you not ‘Cantong’ you would have to be a total retard because you attacked the person named ‘ME’ by saying.. “pff shut u dont know what your talking about fords allways benn powerful u dumb ass” so he just says “hey cantong love showing your self up dont you” than you loose the plot “lol is that all you got to say (Me) Hey cantong, you love showing your self up don’t you? lol how was i showing my self up farout your dumb” So no one would think your some person other than this “cantong” the way you stick up for your self and your poor spelling…
SO THERE YOU GO… Your momas making Cantong it doesn’t take long…twit
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December 13th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
wow man thats funny that is really funny i think every body laughft at that when they red it good work keep up the funny posts because alot of people what to read them lol you killed it
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