Is this the end of V8SC?

[billy bigtime]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...007146,00.html

[cptkablamo]

Yep, Ford Aus and V8SC will need a gift from the ailing US arm to allow the Falcon to continue...

They will need to make it a world wide vehicle - like GM have done with the Cdore, or otherwise, the life of the Falcon is limited...

[Pro Racer]

wasn't that mean't to happen with the Falcon in the US aswell and as a possible police car over there too? you create a good car which no doubt both the Commodore and Falcon are and having parent companies (so to speak) in Ford and GM why not use them globally...

[bluesport]

Well, we will just have to go back to group A......the wheel will have turned full circle. There's still plenty of fast cars out there to race, we don't have to have Falcons and commodores. Just look at the B12hr.

[davester]

The car was designed as RHD only, a decision made by Ford US, as they didn't see a significant use for Falcon in external markets.

Re-engineering for LHD will only be carried out in "new models", not upgraded models, so you wont see it in Orion.

Pity...it's actually a pretty good looking car, infact I'd say the G6 models look more contemporary than the XR models.

[Buckshot]

I thought this as soon as I saw the new Falcon, that is not going to sell. The Commodore already outsells the Falcon 2 to 1 and after seeing how ugly the new Falcon is (I even vomited in my mouth a little and had to swallow it) this will be the last Falcon.

Within 5 years the Falcon model will cease to exist and V8 Supercars will collapse. Hopefully GT3 might get up to replace it, we can only wish huh ?

[cptkablamo]

Oh it would be glorious

[n.kuiper]

it will be interesting to see what they do if the falcon is stopped but no one can predict the future so stop guessing

[agosling]

To say that Ford have drop the ball on the new Falcon is a massive understatement, I would love to know how they managed to spend $800m and build a car that seems to be a minor facelift or what they already have.

Predicting the future of V8SC is like trying to predict anything else, the current Holdens and Fords will be around for the next five years, I doubt either company has any solid plans beyond that at the moment and I doubt even more that what they will be racing then would be strongly influencing their decisions.

[GTRMagic]

So.. is there a competition to predict what "FG" stands for in the new Ford model designation?

FG: Faded Glory (ahhh remember that story from those years ago...)
FG: Fred Gibson
FG: Filippa Guarna
FG: Fairmont Ghia (which is now a dead model)

or.... FG: Flipping Great (which a Ford exec told me was similar to their thoughts...)

[Boxy]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

So.. is there a competition to predict what "FG" stands for in the new Ford model designation?

FG: Faded Glory (ahhh remember that story from those years ago...)
FG: Fred Gibson
FG: Filippa Guarna
FG: Fairmont Ghia (which is now a dead model)

or.... FG: Flipping Great (which a Ford exec told me was similar to their thoughts...)

FG: Falcon Goooooooooooooooooonnne

[Chatters]

****ing Ghastly?

[dsg]

Fair go

[dsg]

Fool's Gold

[SSbaby]

I saw a new yellow FG XR8 yesterday on the back of a truck heading westward. Very disappointing overall. I was expecting better given the hype from various quarters. It's basic problem is that it still looks like a BA. I think Ford have either misjudged the public's perception of what a new Falcon should look like or Ford just ran out of funds.

The FG is the nail in the coffin for Ford Oz. It's a pity because it's my belief that Holden need Ford to survive. I'd hate to think that Holden will become Toyota's local punching bag given Holden's relatively small product range.

[MPA]

I doubt it will be the end of V8SC racing.

Ford will race the import they replace the Falcon with.

Perhaps engineer a drive shaft to the back wheels too.

[Uncle Cranker]

Farewell Geelong.......

[MRJUCY]

We've heard every Falcon since the XD would be the last, it gets kind of boring after awhile.
The FG is a fantastic looking car & very well specified hopefully people buy it on what it is rather then outdated preconceived ideas of what a Falcon is & the same could be said for Holden as GM is in an even worse financial position then Ford is.

P.S. Ford has said FG is a farewell salute to the Fairmont Ghia badge.

[agosling]

Outdated pretty much says it, a car that looks like the current model and has an engine that goes back 40 years. Surely for $800m they could at least have found a nice V6 somewhere in Fords catalog.

I wish Ford had tried harder, as another post said, Holden needs to have Ford there otherwise they will just get pounded by Toyota and worst of allwe will end up with V8SC being replaced with Corolla V's Focus and I don't think anyone would want that.

Originally Posted by MRJUCY

The FG is a fantastic looking car & very well specified hopefully people buy it on what it is rather then outdated preconceived ideas of what a Falcon is & the same could be said for Holden as GM is in an even worse financial position then Ford is.

[Suttory]

They should have made it on a global platform for sure. Imagine how profitable the Falcon would be if it replaced to Crown Victoria, mind you, maybe the Americans wouldn't like the lack of 'Made in the USA' badge on it.

[Uncle Cranker]

And did I hear the Australian motoring public scream

"Where is a diesel option".........

[WebberForWDC]

Holden sell 50% of units overseas. Falcon BF is superior to Commodore VE in every area: economy, power, even holden's traditional useless gadgets with launch control on lowly XR range > MRC on pricey yob HSVs. It has similar to BF, conservative Toyota style styling to make sure it does not offend fleet buyers who are swaying from their favoured Toyota. That is all.

[WebberForWDC]

Originally Posted by Uncle Cranker

And did I hear the Australian motoring public scream

"Where is a diesel option".........

They already offer the Mondeo in diesel form, which is vastly superior to the craptacular Epica. The Mondeo may be a front driver, but that will not stop Ford Europe from offering a sporty diesel variant one day too.

[WebberForWDC]

Originally Posted by Suttory

They should have made it on a global platform for sure. Imagine how profitable the Falcon would be if it replaced to Crown Victoria, mind you, maybe the Americans wouldn't like the lack of 'Made in the USA' badge on it.

Ford USA made the decision, they are the almightly leaders with infinite wisdom. What do you suppose the local arm should do against such insight!!!!!!!?

[Phase3]

I like the look of the new Falcon, but like the majority of posters here, I'm biased. As the News article said though, the days of big Aussie cars are passing, the question is weather the Australian public will embrace a racing series comprising of European Fords V's Holden's rebadged Daewoo's?