Ford Caught Testing Australian Rear-Wheel-Drive Sedan in Michigan

[mikeyb]

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.

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/news/2007/0531/ford.falcon.500.jpg

- Insideline

[LinuxRacr]

I guess the American car makers are starting to figure out that they need to swallow their pride, and put out the better styling that sells in the rest of the world....at least I hope they are.

[SuperStretch18]

It's about time! The Ford & GM actually have some decent product outside the US. The late model Pontiac GTO is also an Australian import...

[LinuxRacr]

The late model Pontiac GTO is also an Australian import...

Yeah, minus the Pontiac re-styling, with the kidneys in the front... (sad2)

[mikeyb]

Yeah, minus the Pontiac re-styling, with the kidneys in the front... (sad2)

What was wrong with the Poncho kidneys? I know the GTO was bland but with the Ram air hood and sport aero package it was alot hotter then the 04 model.

[Donas64]

Yeah, people need to stop hating on the GTO restlying. Sure it didn't look quite as good as the Holden Monaro but the styling was handsome and it didin't have any ugly rakes, streaks or tacky aero add-ons.

Note to Ford: The Fusion is ugly, bring over the good stuff from Europe.

Note to Pontiac: Thanks for bringing over the Commodore. Keep the good stuff from austrailia comin!

Note to Dodge: The Challenger needs to be out yesterday! I'm sick of looking at V6 secretarial mustangs with their pony packages (or as I call them: The Gelding Package)

[LinuxRacr]

What was wrong with the Poncho kidneys? I know the GTO was bland but with the Ram air hood and sport aero package it was alot hotter then the 04 model.

LOL! Agreed.

[seanmcsean]

(yippy) (yippy) (yippy) (yippy) (yippy) (yippy) (yippy)

Hopefully something comes out of this. I'd love to see a production falcon on US soil.

[03promaz]

Its about time, I've like that car since I think it was Gran Turismo 3 came out and had it on there

[Donas64]

http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/10/fpvgtp05.jpg

[tunersteve]

Maybe they'll finally come out with something based on that Interceptor concept that was at the NAIAS this year. So far it's gotten great reviews, so it would only be fitting to build it in the next few years.

[RODSCALIP5]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123672342

[Donas64]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123672342

Thats a Holden/Pontiac not a Ford. I'm much more excited for the G8 than I am with anything ford is offering.

[RODSCALIP5]

Thats a Holden/Pontiac not a Ford. I'm much more excited for the G8 than I am with anything ford is offering.

I know, I just wanted to post the competition. Someone above mentioned the Big 3 finally opening their eyes.

[sandspeed]

http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/10/fpvgtp05.jpg

Nice!! I like the front bumper alot. The wing resembles my 03.5 msp wing and the wheels are sort of like rx8 wheels, weird(shady)

[Donas64]

I know, I just wanted to post the competition. Someone above mentioned the Big 3 finally opening their eyes.

Gotcha! But until Ford decides to bring this bad-boy over, there is no competition. Ford has no horse in this race.

[Mikey444]

http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/10/fpvgtp05.jpg

Now that looks like a really nice solid build. If it were as good as it looks, I would trade my RX-8 for one.

[lasermp5]

http://a19.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/80/l_14fd66b2297edc0baa3a908246739c92.jpg

Me posing with my friends Falcon GT FPV Boss 290 while down under this past summer. It drove great. Power was nice, but not greatly impressive. I favored the Holden products more while I was over there. The falcon's interior, while slightly better than what we see here, is still shit compared to Holden. The car's styling however I think is pretty sweet... I would love to see them over here...

[coolmazda5]

All right! The Ford Falcon vs. Holden Commodore (Pontiac G8) challenge comes to NA from Down Under :D.

IMO it seems that GM has made the "Commodore" more appealing than Ford its "Falcon"...

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/images/commodore-ss-vs-falcon-xr6t-6.jpg

Some Down-Under comparison, may not be very relevant for the specs that will come to NA, but it gives a good initial perspective :D:
http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/holden-commodore-ss-v-vs-ford-falcon-xr6-turbo-review.htm

[Donas64]

C'mon pontiac G8! I can't wait.

[coolmazda5]

No worries, once it gets to NA it will be stripped down to a 150Hp I4 and will sport awesome 16in wheels (sad2)

These concepts are great Down-Under, grrrrr...

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/10/cobraflyer1copynotext.jpg

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/07/australians-get-404-hp-398-lb-ft-fpv-cobra/

[seanmcsean]

I love both.. I'd love to replace my tacoma with that ute though.

[mikeyb]

The current Falcon is very long in the tooth.

[JunZ33]

Looks like a protege on steroids!!! If it gets to US production, Ill def take this thing for a spin.

[tunersteve]

No worries, once it gets to NA it will be stripped down to a 150Hp I4 and will sport awesome 16in wheels (sad2)

These concepts are great Down-Under, grrrrr...

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/10/cobraflyer1copynotext.jpg

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/07/australians-get-404-hp-398-lb-ft-fpv-cobra/

The great thing is that Ford Europe (anywhere but NA) makes concepts that look like real cars. I hate going to NAIAS every year and seeing what shitboxes Ford comes out with, and I wish that they'd just stick to cars that have a dose of practicality and reality to them. The only car that I've seen lately that impressed me was the Interceptor, which I hope gets built soon

[jred321]

please please please bring over the turbo 6 falcon. a rwd turbo 6 cylinder car makes me happy

[Donas64]

please please please bring over the turbo 6 falcon. a rwd turbo 6 cylinder car makes me happy

they will probably wait till there is a model refreshning if at all. As was stated earlier the current platform is quite ancient.

[jred321]

i'm pretty sure that the model refresh is very soon (2008 maybe?) and that test mule in the first post is the future gen. they'll surely have a turbo 6 in the future gen in oz (check out how many different variations there are with the current gen http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1137385365703&pagename=FOA%2FDFYPage%2FDefault1024&c=DFYPage plus utes http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1137384216525&pagename=Page&c=DFYPage they're everywhere over there), whether we see it or if americans only want v8s according to ford is the question. i'll take a 350hp 353lbft turbo 6 (if they don't bump power for the new model)