http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=121021
Fargin' eh, byes! It looks like my wish is finally coming true.
:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:
"DEARBORN, Mich. — Spies in Michigan recently snagged this photo of the next generation, Australian-built Ford Falcon sedan as it was being unpacked from a shipping crate in Dearborn.
Although the Falcon has no equivalent U.S. model, the fact that Ford brought one all the way to Dearborn for testing is fueling speculation that a new full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan for the States is under consideration. This follows GM's announcement earlier this year that it would import one of its Australian-built rear-wheel-drive sedans and rebadge it as the Pontiac G8. Both Ford and GM have been ramping up their rear-wheel-drive programs after witnessing the success of Chrysler's 300 sedan.
The current Ford Falcon is offered in various trims ranging from your basic six-cylinder family sedan to the V8-powered sport XR8 with 350 horsepower. There are also several models tuned by Ford Performance Vehicles. We recently tested the Ford Falcon Boss 290 in Australia and managed to squeeze a 5.7-second 0-60 time and a 14.5-second quarter-mile. Not bad for a sedan the size of a Dodge Charger.
What this means to you: A full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan from Ford could be in your future if the Falcon impresses the right people in Dearborn."
There had better be an XR6.
I need new pants.
(http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/0531/ford.falcon.500.jpg)
crosses fingers
I doubt we'd see an XR6 here. Most 'mericans wouldn't grasp the concept and I think it would take some major wrangling to get it to meet emission specs (IIRC they are a little "dirty"). Besides, you realize without the "My Pretty Pony" prancing around on the car somewhere, it's not going to get a real powerplant. I'm sure they'll stick one of the US-spec motors in it and call it "good".....
schweetttttt!
Too bad the G8 will have an LS3 option at 430HP already and like Chuck said, without the Pony, this thing will get a dog motor :(
I really like the Falcon's too. Maybe I'll get one anyways and swap a Terminator 4.6SC into it ;)
The truth is, the I6 is the only Aussie motor in the Falcon. The XR8 uses the 5.4 sourced in America.
I'm sure they will announce it as a prototype, hype it up a bit, and then kill it shortly before it's supposed to go into production.
Holy shiznite guys. And I thought I was a cynic.
:nkhk:
I want the Ute!!!
(http://www.nextcar.com.au/rt.i.ford.falcon.xr6.turbo.ute.black.side.JPG)
Yes! At least that one has the right amount of doors.
Darn it, you are probably right. If they did bring it over here and stayed true to their typical power hierarchy, they won't let it see a powerplant that exceeds their halo Mustang. I would like to believe that since the current top dog Mustang is at 500hp, anything below that would be fair game. But most likely they will keep the power levels at Mustang GT numbers or lower.
I was hoping for the XR6 Turbo model myself.
Brent
Ranchero GT!!!!!
Seriously though, GM already did this. The 04-06 GTO is a Holden Monaro with Pontiac badges. The Monaro is the 2-door coupe version of the Commodore. In OZ, Holden makes the 4-door Commodore, the 2-door Monaro, and the Ute all off of the same chassis. They have a Wagon as well (GTO's generation anyways). The NEW generation that just came out in 07 in OZ is starting with just the 4-door, which is coming to America in 08 as the horribly named G8. GM has already shown the production "GT" version with a 340HP 5.3L LSx motor, and there's a GTP and a GXP yet to go. OZ already has a 400HP LS2 version, which gets the 430HP LS3 in 08. In fact, last week GM released 4 touch-up paint colors for the G8 to dealers. (Nuclear Orange, Phantom Black, Apollo White, and Torrid Red) The G8 is happening (production starts in less the 60 days), and the Camaro off of the same platform. The G8 Coupe/Monaro will probably be rebadged a GTO again as a super-premium car over a possible Camaro/Pontiac muscle car as well.
Ford would do WELL to copy this with the new gen Falcon as a quality RWD sedan with a Ford badge would rock. Now that a lot of us are, ahem, older, and need to be thinking about car seats and what not, a 4-door, RWD, V8, stick-shift Sport Sedan sounds awesome. The I6 is a great motor, but will never happen in the V8 US, as we all learned with the TC 20-25 years ago.
There is no GTP G8 planned and the concept had the LS2. The GTO will be coming, but it will be based on the same car as the Camaro, just with the Holden styling again, so no pontiac below the GTO (there will be no Firebird). The next Impala is also being built on the Commodore platform (Zeta). It's also being sold in China as the Park Avenue.
Don't count out the I6 yet, though, as CAFE standards will be requiring smaller displacement engines (better Fuel Economy) to counter the V8s. We probably won't get the crazy power of the XR6t, but there is a six option for North Americans who don't like paying for much.
I don't see them getting 500hp out of either, so they should stay away from top level Mustang sales. And they won't take away from non Shelby Mustangs, as the price will be starting at $35G (my guess) for a base model.
Hey, at least Ford won't have an excuse next time for not having an IRS in the Mustang.
I wouldn't be surprised to see an I6.
Although, if it has to come from Australia, who knows.
I always wondered why Ford used to have such a fondness for straight sixes, but haven't produced one since they killed the 300 in what, '96-97?
"There is no GTP G8 planned and the concept had the LS2."
Actually, the Ozzies already have LS2 07 Commodores. GM may skip from GT to GXP, but an LS2/LS3 is happening. The LS3 has DoD so it will likely get the nod, though it may not be up to the 07 Vette's 430HP. Talks are keeping it at the LS2 400HP level.
"The GTO will be coming, but it will be based on the same car as the Camaro, just with the Holden styling again, so no pontiac below the GTO (there will be no Firebird)."
The GTO is going to be a 2-door G8, period. They already made the stampings and production is less then 8 weeks away (for the Monaro). The Camaro has less "feature" in it's version of the platform, and dependent on sales, might lead to a double car set for Pontiac.
If Ford is to pull of the Falcon right, they need to counter the entire GM ZETA invasion. A 2-door/4-door Sports Coupe (way bigger then the useless back seat Mouse Stang) with IRS and 300HP would be a good start. The problem is, as usual, Ford is a decade late and a million $ short. HYUNDAI is debuting a 340HP, 4-Door, RWD Sport Sedan as an 08 model. If the OZ Falcon shows up with 300, Ford will be laughed off the field.
Excerpt from Hyundai's press-release -
"While some important details like the V-8's 4.6 liter displacement, the six-speed transmission by ZF, and 53/47 front-to-rear weight distribution have been revealed, Hyundai is being a bit shady about some important figures. Horsepower will be "well over 300," pricing will start "well under $30,000 ," and 0-to-60 mph will be achieved in "well under six seconds." Those claims should be well within reach. The new engine, known at the Tau, is a 32-valve unit that Hyundai claims has been designed with the future in mind. That means the Tau is ready for larger displacements, forced induction, and other technologies."
(http://images.motortrend.com/future/concept_cars/112_0705_05z+hyundai_concept_genesis+front_left_view.jpg)
I think we would get a lame torqueless V6 rather than the I6...
Clarify Ford
USFord OZ has been producing I6's and still is....
I have every bit of faith that Ford will screw this opportunity up, Call me a cynic if you will, but Ford has screwed so much up over the past few years that it's hard to imagine them getting this right. Really, the only truly bright spots at Ford have been the Mustang, F150 and Explorer. The Explorer is fading fast, the Mustang is getting some serious competition, and truck sales have fallen on their faces with high fuel costs and the housing industry woes. The Fusion has been a mild success, but it ain't enough. Ford needs a grand-slam, the same way Chrysler did the 300.
My prediction:
I would imagine the Falcon, if it ever sees the light of day, will start out with a 3.5 Duratec V6 pumping out 275-300 horses, a "meat-and-potatoes" three-valve 4.6 generating around 340-350 horses, and the new Hurricane (or Boss, or whatever it's called) 5.0 belting out 400-425 horses in a top-level GT version. Perhaps a Shelby (since that brand name seems to have supplanted SVT) version might get the supercharged 5.4 (or a supercharged Hurricane) with 500 or so horsepower.
We all know the Mustang is Ford's performance leader and that no car shall top it (except the now-dead GT), but one must also remember that the Mustang is due for remodelling in '09 and will very likely have the powertrains mentioned above. I'd bet money on the 3.5 and 5.0, anyway, and with the Camaro and Challenger coming the supercharged top engine offering is almost a given as well. Economies of scale would make the Falcon carrying the same drivetrains the most sensible thing to do.
Wouldn't it be nice if a version of the Falcon was shortened to two doors and called a Thunderbird? (I'd say "Cougar" too, but I think Ford has given up on Mercury). It could pick up where the MN12 left off...
Not trying to be a dick, but I find it humorous that you say Ford will probably screw it up, and in almost the same breath say they'd put a 275 hp V6 into something that also has an available V8. Yeah right, far as I can tell, Ford has indicated they don't like to build V6's with horsepower. It would probably have 220-230 hp
at most.After the last "retro" thunderbird, I doubt it.
If they did make it like that, it'd weigh 4000+ lbs just like the "retro" model did.
if they do it, and it gets a v8 im gonna be pissed cause my mom just bought a brand new toyota (blah) id rather see her in that (Plus i could drive it)!!
The Duratec 35 starts at 265 horsepower, so I doubt it would have 220-230. I can't see Ford detuning a 265-horse engine to 220-230 just because a V8 is available, but then again, this is Ford, and there's that "They'll screw it up" prediction. When I said they'll screw it up, BTW, I meant that they likely won't bring it here
at all. As in, they'll miss the boat.
The Mustang already weighs close to 4k lbs (over that, in Shelby GT500 form, IIRC) so a 4k+ pound bigger car would be a given. You're right, though - after the retro Bird I think the Thunderbird name is dead and buried. Still, they brought back the Taurus name...
If the powers that be in Dearborn weren't sufficiently impressed already,that car would not be there now.
I'd look for that in the FLM showrooms early next year.
Maybe theyll debore the 4.6 to 4.2 liters and make it the 120hp option, lol.
That's exactly what I was saying to the guys on the Fordxr6turbo forum. (I've been leghumping over there for a couple of years now.) :D
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r170/slamedcat/2drfalcon.jpg)
Something like that?
There are two engine configurations that have an inherantly perfect balance, V12s and I6s. That's why automakers like Ferrari and Jaguar commonly produce V12s, and the most legendary BMWs have I6s. Better balance means better power.
I think those cars would be a really good hit over here.
I would KILL for that to be the new Thunderbird!!!
Add in the Aussie I6 Turbo and call it a Turbo Coupe!
:birdsmily:
The doors on that could stand to be a bit longer.
I originally did a chop of it with a 3rd door on it. But it didn't look quite right.
Oi, that G8 is one nice car. I'd buy one. I'll have to google the XR6 never knew the Falcon had performance options.
thats a cool photochop!
Think of it as 'If Ford were to build a Skyline, what would it be like?'. Other than AWD, it has the crazy big turbo Straight Six. Of course, the Skyline had 2.6L while the XR6 has 4.0L.