First look: Ford’s last Falcon uncovered

FORD has pulled the covers off its last-ever Australian-made hero, revealing the look of the Falcon large car that will reincarnate the XR8 badge for the final time.

The Blue Oval has revealed a car that makes a half-step from more than 50 years of locally flavoured design influence to adopt the American motor company’s global corporate face, bringing it into line with imported models that will command the entire showroom floor once Ford closes its Australian manufacturing operations – and retires the Falcon and Territory – in 2016.

The XR-badged line-up will headline the upgraded final Falcon and Territory range to launch in the fourth quarter, and includes a milder-looking XR6 that the car-maker says is a sporty yet premium look.

Ford Australia said last week that it released the look of the XR models first in response to customer requests.

The reborn XR8, which last sold in 2010 priced from $48,390 plus on-road costs, features a power bulge that now runs almost the length of the bonnet, as far back as the windscreen.

“This look is also found on the Mustang that will arrive next year so it’s perfectly in keeping with Ford’s V8 performance vehicles,” Ford exterior design manager Nima Nourian said.

According to Ford, the strong family resemblance also highlights the Falcon’s DNA shared with the new Mondeo, which is expected to join the line-up in Australia next year.

The last XR8 is expected to use the Ford Performance Vehicles-developed supercharged 5.0-litre V8, with the car-maker leaning towards a 335kW tune for the engine.

The XR6, meanwhile, is expected to stick with the locally made 195kW 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine. It currently sells for $39,990.

Ford said the Falcon XR6 and XR8 “showcase the Australian design team’s interpretation of Ford’s global design DNA with a signature trapezoidal grille, chiseled head lamp treatment and smoother, wrap-around tail-lamps with LED technology”.

“These features accentuate the high levels of design refinement that will appear across the refreshed Falcon range,” it said.

“As a mark of distinction among the sporty XR series, the XR8 features strong exterior graphics with a distinct sporty front end treatment, as well as signature bonnet power dome that has been enhanced for the 2014 Falcon XR8.

“This is complemented by a specific exhaust system tuned for the sporty V8 exhaust note.”The headlights also include signature XR cues to help them stand out from other Falcons that are expected to appear in Ford showrooms from December.

“The XR’s slim headlamps provide a high-end technical look and feature hockey stick-style LED daytime running lamps that mimic the ‘double drop’ headlight treatment of past XRs,” Ford said.

“The lens reflectors also get distinctive ‘XR’ shields inset into the overall headlamp design. There are also unique fog lamp bezels.”Down the rear, the new Falcon features split tail-lamps that accentuate the car’s wide, purposeful stance and smooth exterior lines.

“The new tail -lamps use LED technology while the new sculpted boot lid has an integrated rear spoiler on XR models,” Ford said.

“A bespoke lower diffuser on the XR8 houses the round quad exhaust tips and further emphasizes the performance of the XR8 from the rear view.”Ford confirmed today that the new Falcon range would continue to also give buyers the choice of either the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a liquid LPG-fuelled version of the locally made in-line six-cylinder engine.

Pricing, features and specifications of the 2014 Falcon will be revealed closer to launch, Ford said.