BOY, did the AU Falcon cop a caning over its appearance. At the late-1998 launch Ford called it a stunning example of the "New Edge" global styling theme, yet buyers stayed away in droves. The chief stylist was redeployed, replaced by an American, Scott Strong, who devised quick fixes to make the lower series cars, particularly Forte, look more upmarket. The clever, cut-price sheetmetal changes seem to have paid off and Ford heavyweights now even admit they got it wrong first time around.