Ford Australia will next week reveal its last ever Falcon, which will be spearheaded by GT, XR8 and possibly XR6 ‘F6’ performance models from next year.
However, because the 2014 ‘FH’ Falcon is still a year away from showrooms and not even pre-production prototypes yet exist, motoring.com.au understands it will be revealed in either clay model or computer-generated image form.
As we reported in June, Ford will reveal some of the new models it will release in Australia before it axes Falcon production and local manufacturing in October 2016 at a future product briefing hosted by global marketing chief Jim Farley in Sydney next Tuesday (August 13).
While the headline announcement will be the return of Ford’s next-generation Mustang to Australia, the redesigned 2014 pony-car – which shares key chassis and drivetrain components with the Falcon – will not be shown ahead of its world debut in North America early next year.
Instead, Ford is likely to display the facelifted Fiesta and all-new Fiesta ST hot-hatch that go on sale in September, and the all-new EcoSport city-crossover due on sale here in December.
As part of Ford’s commitment to increase its model portfolio by 30 per cent by 2016, the Transit Custom commercial van may also make its Australian debut next week before it replaces the existing Transit here in the second quarter of next year.
Ford may also use the event to show its fourth-generation Mondeo mid-sizer, European production delays for which have pushed back the local launch until at least mid-2014, but will not reveal the new T6 Ranger-based SUV, which is yet to be officially confirmed for Australia but is expected to be revealed in concept form by the end of this year before going on sale some time in 2014.
Nor is Ford expected to make any announcements about the future of its Ford Performance Vehicles division, which will reportedly close its doors next year in preference to investing in FPV versions of the FH Falcon range.
However, motoring.com.au sources have confirmed that FPV’s demise next year will open the door for a number of FPV models to continue as Ford models, including the entry-level GS, range-topping GT and, possibly, the turbocharged six-cylinder F6.
We understand the top-shelf FPV GT’s 335kW/575Nm supercharged 5.0-litre V8 will continue unchanged in Ford’s 2014 ‘Falcon GT’, while fitting the entry-level FPV GS sedan’s lower-output 315kW/545Nm version into the born-again 2014 Falcon XR6 is a similar no-brainer.
Ford could also deem the FPV F6’s 270kW/565kW 4.0-litre inline turbo-six, which some regard as the finest engine ever produced in Australia, too good not to continue in the MY14 Falcon line-up, perhaps badged as the FalconXR6 F6.
FPV’s existing GS ute will similarly morph into the 2014 Falcon XR8 ute, but our sources say this will remain the hottest Falcon ute because its leaf-sprung rear-end cannot cope with the additional power and torque of the 335kW engine.
Ford engineers have developed far more potent versions of FPV’s ‘Miami’ V8, but Ford Australia will not spend the money to introduce them given the limited return on investment before October 2016, when strict new Euro 5 emissions standards come into effect.
Our sources have confirmed a number of other key facts about the final upgrades for both the Falcon sedan/ute and Territory SUV, which will emerge as 2014 models about this time next year before both models are discontinued forever two years later.
Ford employees were shown a version of the 2014 Falcon earlier this year. They described a new front bonnet, guards, bumper and headlights, plus new tail-lights and a new rear bumper. One worker described a new bootlid as well.
Falcon development is being juggled with Asia Pacific R&D work, which is taking on more importance now the Falcon's fate is sealed. Existing cars fitted out with new components are due to start public road testing soon, before the first prototypes are produced in November.
Ford is targeting a 0.5L/100km fuel consumption reduction for the base model, which would see the entry-level Falcon XT’s 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol engine average just 7.6L/100km and maintain its efficiency advantage over Holden’s new VF Commodore Evoke, which is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 consuming 8.3L/100km.
As with the VF, performance outputs will remain the same and the only engine changes will be to software management; Ford will achieve this by lowering engine speeds both in-gear and at idle, while low rolling-resistance tyres are also expected to be fitted.
All six-cylinder cars will get Ford’s China-sourced ZF six-speed automatic transmission from the EcoBoost Falcon, although the current high-torque six-speed ZF auto carries on in XR6 Turbo and supercharged Miami V8s.
ZF will stop producing the latter soon and Ford Australia is stockpiling them rather than investing in local development of the eight-speed ZF unit that replaces it. As such, Ford Australia is currently calculating how many high-torque ZFs it will need until Falcon production ends.
Ford will stick with a hydraulic power steering system for the Falcon, despite moving to an electric set-up with the upgraded SZ Territory. Nor will the Falcon employ aluminium panels like the VF Commodore, and there will be no significant suspension changes.
As we’ve reported, Ford’s 2015 Mustang will borrow a number of components from the Falcon, including a 2.3-litre version of its world-first rear-drive turbo-four powertrain application, a derivative of the Virtual Pivot alloy front-end engineered for the SZ Territory and FG Falcon and an aluminium version of the Control Blade independent rear suspension that debuted in the same vehicles.
Ford to reveal final Falcon next week
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