Aaand Drive is at it again.

[Road_Warrior]

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor...0303-pikb.html

Ford’s global product development chief Derrick Kuzak says the company’s Melbourne-based Australian operations are a crucial part of the new One Ford world, which aims to develop a single vehicle to suit the world.

But amid speculation the future of the Falcon is under a cloud following recent comments by senior executives in the US suggesting it could make way for the US-made Taurus he is still refusing to shed light on the fate of the locally made large car.

However, Kuzak again hinted that the rear-wheel-drive formula that’s been a foundation of the Falcon over five decades could make way for the more efficient front-drive configuration used by most family sedans. He also reiterated comments by Ford’s global boss, Alan Mulally, that a Subaru-like all-wheel-drive set-up could make sense for large cars like the Falcon.

“Clearly we’ve gotten really, really good at front-wheel-drive (and) all-wheel-drive cars, their design proportions, how they drive,” said Kuzak. “Where we are doing front-wheel-drive on [large cars] they also always have all-wheel-drive.”

He said the Mustang – an American muscle car classic that relies on rear-drive performance – and Ford Australia’s top-selling Falcon were vehicles that could still make sense as a rear-wheel-drive model.

“There still is room for rear-wheel-drive cars; Australia is the perfect example but we haven’t finalised our decision.”

Ford’s much publicised One Ford policy means the Falcon cannot exist as a specific model just for Australia.

Rumours continue about options, which range from taking the Taurus and rebadging as a Falcon to a General Motors-style option of using Australia as the development centre for rear-drive two- and four-door vehicles, such as the Mustang.

With the current Falcon expected to continue until at least 2014, Kuzak said time was on Ford’s side.

“We just did the Falcon, it’s a very successful product. We just did the Taurus, it’s a very successful product. We don’t have to make that decision yet, so we’re going to do the analysis and will see what the markets do.”

But Kuzak refused to speculate on options, instead reaffirming Ford’s position as a significant engineering base for the Asia Pacific region.

“Ford Australia is fundamentally a major piece of One Ford,” he said.

“Our global compact pickup is being led by the Australian team. The Australian team provides core engineering foundation for all of our Asia Pacific team and all of our Asia Pacific products so they are today a fundamental piece of the One Ford product development team and it will stay that way.”

Great glass-half-empty crap there Drive. Or is that Drivel?

[Auslandau]

Can't see any real negs in that? Must be reading it wrong ...... my take is they are still thinking about it and is still good news .....

He said the Mustang – an American muscle car classic that relies on rear-drive performance – and Ford Australia’s top-selling Falcon were vehicles that could still make sense as a rear-wheel-drive model.

“There still is room for rear-wheel-drive cars; Australia is the perfect example but we haven’t finalised our decision.”

With the current Falcon expected to continue until at least 2014, Kuzak said time was on Ford’s side.

“We just did the Falcon, it’s a very successful product. We just did the Taurus, it’s a very successful product. We don’t have to make that decision yet, so we’re going to do the analysis and will see what the markets do.”

But Kuzak refused to speculate on options, instead reaffirming Ford’s position as a significant engineering base for the Asia Pacific region.

“Ford Australia is fundamentally a major piece of One Ford,” he said.

“Our global compact pickup is being led by the Australian team. The Australian team provides core engineering foundation for all of our Asia Pacific team and all of our Asia Pacific products so they are today a fundamental piece of the One Ford product development team and it will stay that way.”

I am seeing 1/2 full .......



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[Road_Warrior]

Perhaps I'm just grumpy and everything is half empty at the moment, but my take on that article is that they have tried to bring in the same neg spin as they did when they "broke" their first "story" on the issue.

[Wretched]

I don't see a problem with the story. I think some people on here are a little too precious and look for any negativity in articles these days.

This article is just reporting what is available, I think it is up to Ford to strategically give responses, to give enough info without revealing too much.

[ltd]

Not really negative although merely mentioning it the same day that another Holden boss leaves could be seen as a weapon of mass distraction.

[Auslandau]

Agree though .... anything with with the slightest hint, 'Falcon might go' , no matter how miniscule it is, they will try to spin it as gone! 4 years is a fair amount of time and there will be 10 decisions made on the future before anything is set in concrete.

One thing is though ...... if the Coyote (and the other developments: 4cyl Falcon etc) is a hit, it would certainly help in the longevity of a rear wheel platform at least. No matter what happens though ...... we WILL be driving the same car as the yanks in 5 years time ..... in some form or another!

And yes .... stop being grumpy



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[Powdered Toast Man]

To me it just sounds like a slow news day so they are rehashing the same old unsubstantiated theorys that have already been covered.

[cosmo20btt]

I think it is good news so far from what I've read in that article, saying that Australia is a major part of the One Ford thing, meaning we know our rear drive, so we could be closer to the Falcon-Mustang setup yet.

[FOMOCO 1]

Im sick of this crap............I wonder if the media is trying to force an outcome as per Mitsubishi 380. Fundamentally a good car but perceived as being unreliable and built by an organisation that was teetering on the brink of collapse if you believed the media at the time, and buyers stayed away.
All this speculation on whether the Falcon will be around post 2014 cannot be good for sales. Maybe blue blooded fans would not care but to the buying public.......
I really believe Ford should take a stand and be definitive on this subject so as the public can be at ease with purchasing the product. Just my 2c worth.

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by FOMOCO 1

Im sick of this crap............I wonder if the media is trying to force an outcome as per Mitsubishi 380. Fundamentally a good car but perceived as being unreliable and built by an organisation that was teetering on the brink of collapse if you believed the media at the time, and buyers stayed away.
All this speculation on whether the Falcon will be around post 2014 cannot be good for sales. Maybe blue blooded fans would not care but to the buying public.......
I really believe Ford should take a stand and be definitive on this subject so as the public can be at ease with purchasing the product. Just my 2c worth.

What is the matter? Drive just wrote Current model Falcon till 2014, not end model Falcon 2014, there is a difference.

[tranquilized]

Slightly off topic, but why is the current generation Falcon slated to end in 2014, 5 years after it was introduced? Is it emmission/safety standards? Every other generation has lasted around 10 years. If past trends are followed we'd have the current rear drive platform till 2019...

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Slightly off topic, but why is the current generation Falcon slated to end in 2014, 5 years after it was introduced? Is it emmission/safety standards? Every other generation has lasted around 10 years. If past trends are followed we'd have the current rear drive platform till 2019...

It might have some thing to do with euro 5 and 6 emissions how ever I did think that was earlier than that. All I can think of is if the Falcon will have to fall in line globally by being the shared platform with Mustang or we get the Taurus which I don't think will happen as that would mean the end of Broadmeadows as we know it. But as stated in article, Ford Australia has a big part to play globally.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by cosmo20btt

It might have some thing to do with euro 5 and 6 emissions how ever I did think that was earlier than that. All I can think of is if the Falcon will have to fall in line globally by being the shared platform with Mustang or we get the Taurus which I don't think will happen as that would mean the end of Broadmeadows as we know it. But as stated in article, Ford Australia has a big part to play globally.

Alternatly, FoA could become the regional maker of RHD Mondeo and Taurus on one new platform.

What I'm hoping for is a Mid sized and large RWD joint project that doubles FoA sales....
XR could become the sporty mid sizer and G series could remain Falcon size...

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by jpd80

What I'm hoping for is a Mid sized and large RWD joint project that doubles FoA sales....
XR could become the sporty mid sizer and G series could remain Falcon size...

Now that would be an awesome lineup. Someone get this man a job at Ford!

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Alternatly, FoA could become the regional maker of RHD Mondeo and Taurus on one new platform.

I think if manufacturing continues here that is the most likely option...

Perhaps even a SUV Top-hat on that Platform also.

[Quicksand]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Slightly off topic, but why is the current generation Falcon slated to end in 2014, 5 years after it was introduced? Is it emmission/safety standards? Every other generation has lasted around 10 years. If past trends are followed we'd have the current rear drive platform till 2019...

I'm not sure what is classified as a 'generation' for car manufacturers, but Wikipedia has this to say about Falcon generations:

1 First generation (1960–1966)
1.1 XK
1.2 XL
1.3 XM
1.4 XP
2 Second generation (1966–1972)
2.1 XR
2.2 XT
2.3 XW
2.4 XY
3 Third generation (1972–1979)
3.1 XA
3.2 XB
3.3 XC
4 Fourth generation (1979–1988)
4.1 XD
4.2 XE
4.3 XF
4.4 XG
4.5 XH
5 Fifth generation (1988–1998)
5.1 EA
5.2 EB
5.3 ED
5.4 EF
5.5 EL
6 Sixth generation (1998–2008)
6.1 AU
6.2 BA
6.3 BF
7 Seventh generation (2008–)
7.1 FG

It seems to me that 6 years (up until 2014) for the 'seventh generation' FG is more or less in line with the life span of previous generations (6 - 10 years)

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Slightly off topic, but why is the current generation Falcon slated to end in 2014, 5 years after it was introduced? Is it emmission/safety standards? Every other generation has lasted around 10 years. If past trends are followed we'd have the current rear drive platform till 2019...

10 years is now considered too long. Most manufacturers are now working on 6-7 year cycles. So come 2015 when the new Falcon is due it will be 7 years as the FG was released in 08. And i'd say it is to match up with Mustang which gets an all new platform in late 2014. Good chance that contains the answer right there. All new RWD platform in 2014 for Mustang makes it highly likely the Falcon will soon share it in 2015.

I wish they would hurry up and get Global RWD up and running.

[legt]

Whatever happens, I'd be holding onto my GT Falcons as they will surely become more collectible & expensive.

[Luke Plaizier]

The trouble is the headline that Drive chose to give to that article.


Lukeyson

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

The trouble is the headline that Drive chose to give to that article.


Lukeyson

"Falcon FWD: latest news" :

[g220ba]

So basically they've re-hashed an article from a couple of months ago with absolutely no new information whatsoever.

I suppose this what we've come to expect from the motoring "journalists" in this country.

[Joe5619]

can someone tell me where the "new" news is in that article? Is this all old news with nothing new to add...

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

can someone tell me where the "new" news is in that article? Is this all old news with nothing new to add...

This is old news almost bordering on repost.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

can someone tell me where the "new" news is in that article? Is this all old news with nothing new to add...

That was my point exactly

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

can someone tell me where the "new" news is in that article? Is this all old news with nothing new to add...

Yeah that's what crossed my mind....must be a slow news day. Holden must not have announced their hydrogen powered SIDIDIDIDIDIDIDIDIDIDI Direct Injection.

[Luke Plaizier]

The only part of the news that is new is that the 'motoring writers' (they are not journalists AFAIAC) got to talk to Derrick Kuzak at Generva this week.

So what's new is that they got the answer at Geneva rather than Detroit.

News worthy stuff!


Lukeyson

[G6ET8U]

I'll take an AWD twin turbo if the whole things falls over please

Plan for the worst/hope for the best... no expectations/no disappointments.

[Brazen]

This is Kuzak saying all this, if people are sick of hearing about it then blame the Ford execs.

[Kryton]

If people stopped reading it - it wouldnt exist.

[glavas]

as a holden man i hope that falcon still lives on. why dont they just kill of the tarus and sell the falcon worldwide? or america want there own american made car?