LTD, Ute upgrades coming, Laser value pack launched
BY ALEXANDER CORNE | 5th Apr 2000
Ford is following the lead of Toyota, which scored a bull's-eye with its $19,990 Corolla last month.
"We will put a product into that market at around that price point. We have to," said the president of Ford Australia, Mr Geoff Polites.
The Corolla offer on Ascent, the new base model car, included air-conditioning but not driveaway pricing. Both the Corolla and the long-term success of the $19,990 starting point for the aged Nissan Pulsar are believed to have been the catalyst for Ford to act with Laser. The program has been planned for a while but the special value kits have only just gone on sale.
The popular sub-$20,000 price point will become more crowded in July after the GST hauls more expensive cars back under the barrier.
Down the track Ford is expected to revamp the Laser line-up, adding a new engine variant and restructuring the range in order to try to bridge the gaping hole in the Ford line-up created later this year when the Festiva dies.
Ford will follow up the AU II Falcon range with updated long-wheelbase Fairlane Ghia and LTD sedans in May.
The two luxury cars will benefit from the same upgrades as the Falcons, plus LTD will gain satellite navigation as standard. The Fairlane and Fairmont/Ghia will have this as an option (priced about $4500).
There will be no side airbag introduction at this stage but Ford is believed to be looking at a seat-mounted system. The company believes the structural integrity of the AU family is strong enough to preclude the need for side airbags at this stage.
Another cheaper dealer fit system is expected to become available for Falcon buyers later in the year. It will plug into the dash rather than be fitted within it. In the LTD the ashtray is sacrificed in order to accommodate the bigger than double DIN-sized audio and navigation unit.
The Fairlane and LTD models will gain the same free servicing and extended servicing period deal as the Falcon range, though Ute buyers gain only extended services. According to Mr Polites, this is because there was no demand from Ute customers for free servicing.
"Customers did not tell us they really wanted it," he said.
The AU II Ute gains the interior changes of the Falcon range but keeps its egg-crate grille and headlight assembly.
The interior upgrades are carried through including the CD-equipped radio.