check out the falcon, sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/02/a...versary-model/

 

Why can't we get anything like that in the US? ...wow.

 

+1% on the wow.... I just don't understand why they can't do that here!

 

Not for the Stang certainly, but what a great car in its own right! I'm just dumbfounded that Ford NA doesn't have any sedan that can remotely touch this car's cool factor.

500/Taurus? How sensible, how boring. Yawn.

Fusion? How sensible, how boring, but smaller. Little yawn.

Crown Vic? Not all the Viagra in Vegas would perk that gramp-mobile up.

MKZ? Flashy chrome-plated boredom (see 500/Taurus entry).

Town Car? The pimps have to wear an extra 10lbs of bling to look cool in this barge.

Montego? How sensible, how boring, how like the 500. Yawn clone.

Milan? How sensible, how boring, but smaller, like the Fusion. Little yawn clone.

Grand Marquis (de Sade?)? About as old and dead as the real Marguis de Sade. Will someone put a wooden spike through this relic already.

Anyway, who needs Ambien with a lineup like that. And look what the Aussies get -- a 389 hp 5.4 DOHC 4V 6-speed stick IRS boomer!

GMs finally waking up, or at least Lutz is kicking enough butt over there, and bringing over the Commodore as the Pontiac G8.

DC has had the way-cool Hemi-powered 300/Magnum/Charger for a couple of years already, with stonking 425hp SRT versions of each to boot.

Ford? There probably having interminable meetings figuring out why they can't bring the Falcon over or do something equivalent and how best just to slash and burn the lineup, budget and company. Personally, they ought to just fire about 3/4 of the Ford NA staff and management and simply bring over the excellent product that Ford Europe and Australia turn out as a matter of routine.

 

Gorgeous 4dr sedan. Ford hasnt "gotten it" in years as to body style. This would be a perfect example of what a Ford should be here in the U.S. Various drive trains and interior levels from a 4 banger up to this awesome GT with the Boss 290 (I've been reading about this engine for the last year or so).
With style oozing from every corner. I dont need 20' wheels or the wing, but man why can't Ford see beyond there noses. Whoever is in charge of Ford Australia, needs to be in charge of Ford North America.
Ford, if you build it, they will come. People will come. They will come from all over without knowing why. Looking for whats been lost in FoMoCo for a long time.

 

I agree, this thing looks WAY better than a Dodge Charger, and the Charger has sold well. We need to start a petition to get Ford to bring some of their Australian cars over here.

 

WOW!
That car is beautiful!
We really need it over here...
The Falcon from AU and the Focus from EU would make FordUSA awesome-u (I couldnt think of anything wittier)

 

Sorry, that Aussie Japanese-Euro Bland thing just doesn't do it form me. I'd never buy one. That artsie drawing that makes it look a lot better than it will in real life. It's tall greenhouse is a un-hip as a Ford 500.

Ford doesn't need to go to Australia for inspiration, all the need to do is build the Interceptor!

 

I'd rather have my cake and eat it too:

MY Ford North America 2010 sedan Lineup, small to large:

Mazda2-based B-car
Global Focus
Mondeo-Based Fusion (TT option)
Falcon-Based Taurus (add SHO)
Interceptor


The Interceptor and Falcon are pretty close in size, but I think Ford could successfully put them both in the lineup if they are properly executed. For example: make the Interceptor RWD only, and 5.0+6.2 V8s only. Give the Falconized Taurus AWD, base 3.5L, TT, and 5.0.

 

You're negative.

 

Now THAT is what I call a lineup!!
With Coupe versions of the Mazda2-based, Focus (3-door), and AWD Fusion TT

 

now i wonder if that engine would fit in a s197 mustang

 

Its a 5.4L, so in theory it would fit.

 

You betcha, and for good reason! Look at what, say, Ford Europe our Australia is giving their folks and then look at the generally old, bland and generally insipid lineup we're getting here. Is it any wonder then that Ford N.A. is doing so awfully. As they say, the opposite of love is not hate, but rather, indifference. I'd love to see Ford do the right things, build the right cars and succeed. But that their not saddens and angers me greatly, but at least I still care enough to get mad and angry.

Whereas Ford Europe and Australia seem to be focusing on and devoting their resources to developing excellent product, Ford N.A. instead sinks its efforts into schmaltzy marketing and ruinous rebates to try to either con or bribe people into actually buying their insipid lineup.

Call me negative, but sadly, I don't think I'm far from the mark as any quick glance of Ford N.A.'s overall performance and success, or the lack thereof, would clearly confirm.

Hopefully Mulally will kick some hide of Ford N.A.'s hidebound management and get them finally focused on what really matters and sells cars, excellent product at an excellent value with excellent sales and service. No amount of marketing and sales gimmicks will get past that if you don' have that.

 

too many doors .. who is gunna haul the kids around in something like that.. i`m just no fan of 4 door cars ..

 

Well, if I had kids, and the need for a four-door, I'd certainly consider this --certainly a more plausible conveyance of one's spawn than a Mustang. While I too would prefer a coupe, should reality and offspring intrude upon my carefree driving ways, I'd certainly like the option of driving a fun, fast and exciting car, even if, gasp, it has four doors. Where is it written that, somehow, practical cars are somehow consigned to be bland, boring cars. Or plain? The upcoming Aston Martin Rapide is about as beautiful a car as there is, regardless of the door count.

For some reason, I have a real weak spot for what I call power wagons, i.e., high performance wagons. Examples might be the Dodge Magnum SRT8, Volvo V70 Rs, Audi S4, Merc E55/65 AMG. Just something cool about a car that on one hand is so practical yet on the other can burn massive rubber, slay a curvy road and see the far side of 150mph.

 

Is Ford, Dodge, and GM are marketing boring, crappy performing cars to north america because they think our standards are lower? Have you ever complained about a minor issue on your american car only to be told "well it's not exactly a Lexus!"?--as if you are supposed to accept an inferior product or else pay $48,000 for a Lexus.

 

I was being facetious. Just out of curiosity, do you even read my posts?

 

Hey, that's +5hp for the giant red R-badge, right?

 

I agree...

This is bascially like the Australian version of the GT500. Ford doesn't have any coupes down there anymore, so they make do with their 4 doors. There are companies there doing aftermarket coupe conversions on Falcons!

That Falcon body style is more than a few years old now and will be reskinned soon , so I don't think the Mustang will be inheriting any styling cues from it.

While that Falcon is nice, I really don't think a 4 door GT500 like car is going to save Ford in the US. Are the big motored "hemi" Charger and 300 adding tons of volume to Chrysler's sales ? We had the Marauder here for a few years but it sure didn't sell in volume. More public awareness (i.e. more advertising) might have helped the Marauder though.

It's funny that a lot of people on automotive enthusiast web boards think that cars that they feel are cool are going to sell to the U.S. general public in huge quantities, but then those cars die due to lack of sales. Look at these enthusiast darlings:

SVT Focus -- dead
Focus hatch -- dead in 2008
Holden Monaro (better known in the US as the GTO) - dead
Mercury Marauder - dead

The reality is that the general public thinks a lot differently than enthusiasts.