THE Falcon SR came out a year after the AUII launch, the latter doing much to quell the negative reaction encountered by the AU Falcon. At the late-1998 launch Ford called AU a stunning example of its "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. SR goes a small step further by adding a rear spoiler, side skirts, body coloured mirrors, side protection mouldings and grille, a chrome exhaust tip, 16-inch alloy wheels and SR decals.