2017 Falcon, suggestions and ideas.

[prydey]

i think one issue is the australian mindset, and the fact that a lot of the future direction seems to be coming from US. what works over there doesn't mean it will work here. australians perceptions are unique (as are most countries) and for the US to try to push certain things on us might backfire. FWD and 4cyl in large cars seems to be a case in point. (for the record, i like ecoboost).

[4Vman]

i think one issue is the Australian mindset, and the fact that a lot of the future direction seems to be coming from US. what works over there doesn't mean it will work here. australians perceptions are unique (as are most countries) and for the US to try to push certain things on us might backfire. FWD and 4cyl in large cars seems to be a case in point. (for the record, i like ecoboost).

Yep!! The US have been building BIG FWD vehicles for decades, even FWD V8 saloons, their designs though rarely hit the mark in Australia, to the point where in the US the most successful performance products are almost exclusively 2 door vehicles but in Australia every 2 door performance product ever made has had short term success then complete failure and extinction.

The US car market is so different to ours, to force the US models and styles on us could be a big risk, i certainly can never see the Mustang taking off here as a replacement to FPV Falcons.

[HSE2]

Well I think the product we will see will be excellent from a Ford perspective regarding transportation.
The technology, the features, for me it's not worth exploring because this is the advantage of the global product. I think the VF will find it tough going against a similar size car from a global position.
Do I expect to see something I will buy in 2017 that's another question completely.
What Ford have said is that Aust will have access to a large sedan in 2017. They don't know what the numbers will be for such a car and supposedly they can't confirm the nature of drive of such a sedan but I think we all know from a manufacturing perspective which option they prefer. I think we also know what our volume would dictate to be the case. There has to be demand on a global scale for a large RWD sedan in the Ford world and to me this is the single biggest factor in what I want to see/ suggest for 2017.
It can be downsized or as the term is today right sized but for me it needs to be a product that has four doors and can cope with 500 plus horse power. I am personally not looking past that point.

[prydey]

another suggestion, which will be a long shot as it will be expensive, or more expensive than current, is to go back to having different dashes like the au era. at least then when you spend $50k plus on your high series model, the dash doesn't look the same as the taxi spec. same with FPV.

[Falc'man]

another suggestion, which will be a long shot as it will be expensive, or more expensive than current, is to go back to having different dashes like the au era. at least then when you spend $50k plus on your high series model, the dash doesn't look the same as the taxi spec. same with FPV.

That would be good to have again. They've tried to hide that with the different materials and colours, but definitely, a unique dash is all-important - it makes it easier for the buyer at decision time to pay that extra $10-$15k for a vastly improved interior, and that's where all the money is, the luxury models.

[FTe217]

Now thats pushing the purse strings prydey but I sure like the thought.

[Airmon]

VE Can manage it and I think its certainty a good thing to separate the models. I would like to see a few different designs aswell.

[phillyc]

There has to be demand on a global scale for a large RWD sedan in the Ford world and to me this is the single biggest factor in what I want to see/ suggest for 2017. It can be downsized or as the term is today right sized but for me it needs to be a product that has four doors and can cope with 500 plus horse power. I am personally not looking past that point.

I think it is almost inevitable that the next Falcon will downsize a little. Even if it just the I6 that goes, then the engines become either I4T, V6, V6TD, V8, V8SC. All of those configurations are between 2 and 3 cylinders shorter. There goes potentially 200-300mm from the front. Allow for some extra frontal protection etc and only drop 150-250mm. Push out the front wheels forward for a wheelbase increase of 100mm and keep a similar rear overhang and the Falcon goes from about 4.85m to about 4.75m with a minimum of fuss. Along the way, with added alloy in the IRS and other measures which One Ford is mandating to reduce vehicle weights and a 1550-1600kg starting weight could well be achieved.

[Falc'man]

I think it is almost inevitable that the next Falcon will downsize a little. Even if it just the I6 that goes, then the engines become either I4T, V6, V6TD, V8, V8SC. All of those configurations are between 2 and 3 cylinders shorter. There goes potentially 200-300mm from the front. Allow for some extra frontal protection etc and only drop 150-250mm. Push out the front wheels forward for a wheelbase increase of 100mm and keep a similar rear overhang and the Falcon goes from about 4.85m to about 4.75m with a minimum of fuss. Along the way, with added alloy in the IRS and other measures which One Ford is mandating to reduce vehicle weights and a 1550-1600kg starting weight could well be achieved.

Makes a lot of sense. Bit of a tangent here - as sentimental as the "250" is to us, it does need to make way to allow the above, which is the "right" thing to do. I'll be shedding a tear or two when that times comes.