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

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

June 01, 2007, 08:16:01 AM

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=121021

Fargin' eh, byes! It looks like my wish is finally coming true.

"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.

What this means to you: A full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan from Ford could be in your future if the Falcon impresses the right people in Dearborn."

There had better be an XR6.

I need new pants.

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

Reply #1 – June 01, 2007, 08:37:34 AM

crosses fingers

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

Reply #2 – June 01, 2007, 09:42:02 AM

I doubt we'd see an XR6 here. Most 'mericans wouldn't grasp the concept and I think it would take some major wrangling to get it to meet emission specs (IIRC they are a little "dirty"). Besides, you realize without the "My Pretty Pony" prancing around on the car somewhere, it's not going to get a real powerplant. I'm sure they'll stick one of the US-spec motors in it and call it "good".....

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

Reply #3 – June 01, 2007, 09:43:03 AM

schweetttttt!

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

Reply #4 – June 01, 2007, 10:00:43 AM

Too bad the G8 will have an LS3 option at 430HP already and like Chuck said, without the Pony, this thing will get a dog motor :(

I really like the Falcon's too. Maybe I'll get one anyways and swap a Terminator 4.6SC into it

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

Reply #5 – June 01, 2007, 10:09:13 AM

The truth is, the I6 is the only Aussie motor in the Falcon. The XR8 uses the 5.4 sourced in America.

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

Reply #6 – June 01, 2007, 10:15:45 AM

I'm sure they will announce it as a prototype, hype it up a bit, and then kill it shortly before it's supposed to go into production.

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

Reply #7 – June 01, 2007, 10:21:58 AM

Holy shiznite guys. And I thought I was a cynic.

:nkhk:

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

Reply #8 – June 01, 2007, 10:27:58 AM

I want the Ute!!!

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

Reply #9 – June 01, 2007, 10:36:54 AM

Yes! At least that one has the right amount of doors.

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

Reply #10 – June 01, 2007, 10:45:47 AM

Quote from: Chuck W;151116

I doubt we'd see an XR6 here. Most 'mericans wouldn't grasp the concept and I think it would take some major wrangling to get it to meet emission specs (IIRC they are a little "dirty"). Besides, you realize without the "My Pretty Pony" prancing around on the car somewhere, it's not going to get a real powerplant. I'm sure they'll stick one of the US-spec motors in it and call it "good".....

Darn it, you are probably right. If they did bring it over here and stayed true to their typical power hierarchy, they won't let it see a powerplant that exceeds their halo Mustang. I would like to believe that since the current top dog Mustang is at 500hp, anything below that would be fair game. But most likely they will keep the power levels at Mustang GT numbers or lower.

I was hoping for the XR6 Turbo model myself.

Brent

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

Reply #11 – June 01, 2007, 11:16:48 AM

Ranchero GT!!!!!

Seriously though, GM already did this. The 04-06 GTO is a Holden Monaro with Pontiac badges. The Monaro is the 2-door coupe version of the Commodore. In OZ, Holden makes the 4-door Commodore, the 2-door Monaro, and the Ute all off of the same chassis. They have a Wagon as well (GTO's generation anyways). The NEW generation that just came out in 07 in OZ is starting with just the 4-door, which is coming to America in 08 as the horribly named G8. GM has already shown the production "GT" version with a 340HP 5.3L LSx motor, and there's a GTP and a GXP yet to go. OZ already has a 400HP LS2 version, which gets the 430HP LS3 in 08. In fact, last week GM released 4 touch-up paint colors for the G8 to dealers. (Nuclear Orange, Phantom Black, Apollo White, and Torrid Red) The G8 is happening (production starts in less the 60 days), and the Camaro off of the same platform. The G8 Coupe/Monaro will probably be rebadged a GTO again as a super-premium car over a possible Camaro/Pontiac muscle car as well.

Ford would do WELL to copy this with the new gen Falcon as a quality RWD sedan with a Ford badge would rock. Now that a lot of us are, ahem, older, and need to be thinking about car seats and what not, a 4-door, RWD, V8, stick-shift Sport Sedan sounds awesome. The I6 is a great motor, but will never happen in the V8 US, as we all learned with the TC 20-25 years ago.

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

Reply #12 – June 01, 2007, 12:58:41 PM

There is no GTP G8 planned and the concept had the LS2. The GTO will be coming, but it will be based on the same car as the Camaro, just with the Holden styling again, so no pontiac below the GTO (there will be no Firebird). The next Impala is also being built on the Commodore platform (Zeta). It's also being sold in China as the Park Avenue.

Don't count out the I6 yet, though, as CAFE standards will be requiring smaller displacement engines (better Fuel Economy) to counter the V8s. We probably won't get the crazy power of the XR6t, but there is a six option for North Americans who don't like paying for much.

I don't see them getting 500hp out of either, so they should stay away from top level Mustang sales. And they won't take away from non Shelby Mustangs, as the price will be starting at $35G (my guess) for a base model.

Hey, at least Ford won't have an excuse next time for not having an IRS in the Mustang.

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

Reply #13 – June 01, 2007, 01:24:58 PM

I wouldn't be surprised to see an I6.

Although, if it has to come from Australia, who knows.

I always wondered why Ford used to have such a fondness for straight sixes, but haven't produced one since they killed the 300 in what, '96-97?

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

Reply #14 – June 01, 2007, 01:43:54 PM

"There is no GTP G8 planned and the concept had the LS2."
Actually, the Ozzies already have LS2 07 Commodores. GM may skip from GT to GXP, but an LS2/LS3 is happening. The LS3 has DoD so it will likely get the nod, though it may not be up to the 07 Vette's 430HP. Talks are keeping it at the LS2 400HP level.

"The GTO will be coming, but it will be based on the same car as the Camaro, just with the Holden styling again, so no pontiac below the GTO (there will be no Firebird)."
The GTO is going to be a 2-door G8, period. They already made the stampings and production is less then 8 weeks away (for the Monaro). The Camaro has less "feature" in it's version of the platform, and dependent on sales, might lead to a double car set for Pontiac.

If Ford is to pull of the Falcon right, they need to counter the entire GM ZETA invasion. A 2-door/4-door Sports Coupe (way bigger then the useless back seat Mouse Stang) with IRS and 300HP would be a good start. The problem is, as usual, Ford is a decade late and a million $ short. HYUNDAI is debuting a 340HP, 4-Door, RWD Sport Sedan as an 08 model. If the OZ Falcon shows up with 300, Ford will be laughed off the field.