There could still be hope for the Falcon's future

[AaronEF8]

Hi guys,

Don't know how many people have seen this yet, but it's a spy pic of a 2015 Mustang mule fitted with IRS that is basically a BA-FG Control Blade setup. The 2015 Mustang and *HOPEFULLY* the next real Falcon will be out around the same time.

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/spotted ... 46451.html

A snippett from this link:
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/featur ... ewall.html

"Because the Mustang will have to be sold globally to make the bean counters hum, the new platform is likely to be shared with other models such as the Australian Falcon family or even new sedans here in the States."

There's also mention of how Lincoln want to become a Cadillac competitor again, and can only do it with a sophisticated RWD platform, AKA Falcon.

I know it doesn't guarantee anything, but it's a lot better reading this than it is reading some of the shit the local media is saying, trying their best to kill the Falcon like they did to Mitsubishi Australia.

Also, the 'ONE Ford' programme is basically a wordwide effort to make all Fords look & feel like Fords, similar to what companies like BMW and Mercedes do. It also aims to have all Fords available to every market, hence why we'll be seeing the next Mustang here, and get every Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo variant here now. In theory, it means the Falcon needs to be exported, which is what will probably save it.

And a couple other articles I came across, basically more Seppo praising of the FG and Ford Australias efforts. Always good to read.
The spy pics of what could well be the GTHO
http://wot.motortrend.com/spied-spicy-s ... 26433.html

An interesting read on a Seppo's drive of the 5.0 Miami GT in Australia, with some brilliant photos.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sed ... ewall.html

[EFFalcon]

The discussion on falcon forums indicates the IRS is based on the XF Jaguar setup, not the BA-FG one.

[AaronEF8]

He's wrong. lol.

DEW98 is/was the global RWD platform that the AU was going to use, instead Jaguar mainly used it. Tata basically bought DEW98 when they bought Jaguar.
D2C is the current Mustang platform, and only the current Mustang platform.

*edit*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_DEW98_platform
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_D2C_platform

[EFFalcon]

thanks for clarifying
just need to fix that diff bush issue lol

[TUFED6]

Hopefully they don't just stretch D2C to produce the next Falcon platform - Macpherson strut suspension is trash compared to double wishbone.

I don't know whats worse - Falcon getting dropped totally or being rebadged into some FWD shitbox.

[AaronEF8]

I don't know whats worse - Falcon getting dropped totally or being rebadged into some FWD shitbox.

I know. I think I'd rather the Falcon name go out with a bang. Falcons have been RWD I6 for 52 years.

Reading about the 2015 Mustang, it sounds like it has to be a handler, as it's going to Europe and Asia to compete with cars that actually get the concept of cornering.

Funny sidenote on the D2C/S197 2010 Mustang, Ford US developed IRS for it, but dropped it to save, get this, $100 per car. AND, it ended up costing $100 MORE per car trying to fix the live-axle problems. Muppets.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/repo ... ar-suspen/

If they had BA IRS as planned, Carroll Shelby would have made a crazy strong diff bush replacement in about 8 seconds.

[EFFalcon]

along with a diff hat to replace when the bolt shears lol.

[Bipolar]

Surely it would make more sense to have the Falcon and 'Stang share platforms than drop a Top 12 best selling model and lose that share of the market...

[AaronEF8]

Not only the Falcon, but the Ute (generally not included in Falcon Sedan sales figures) and Territory too. Together they make up a reasonable market share, and you can't have one without the other.

Rough calculation says there's still 1.5 to 2 billion dollars in turnover a year just from those 3 cars. Seems a bit stupid to turn your back on 3 quite decent cars.

The Mustang was originally a re-skinned Falcon, makes sense to do it again. Everything's already done. A bit of a tidy-up with the suspension specs and you've got a world-class handling Mustang for a bargain price.

[Nikk O'lass]

Going off the average numbers (1000 falcon, 550 ute, 1500 terri monthly, + 500 to NZ in a year), ford stand to build just over 37000 units...not great, but not bad in this climate.

Under 'oneford', the falcon can utilise global componants (engines, wirelooms, trim/seats, minor and major sheetmetal etc) to minimise cost.

If the mustang indeed uses a form of controlblade IRS that can be used in the falcon, its an even greater gain. Now the falcon uses the EB4, and Coyote global engines...