Melbourne show: Ford flies Falcon (and Mondeo wagon)

HAVING revealed its sleek new FG Falcon sedan and utility range two weeks earlier at the same venue in a media extravaganza to match that of Holden’s VE Commodore more than 18 months ago, Ford Australia was today content let its newest Falcon it 10 years do all the talking at its official public debut.

On display at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from today are Ford’s brand-new 270kW XR6 Turbo and Boss 290-powered XR8 sports sedans and two new G Series models in the G6E and G6E Turbo, the four most premium models in the eighth-generation Falcon sedan range that goes on sale in May.

Also previewed on February 17 and due on sale a month later were the performance-enhanced FPV versions of the Blue Oval’s vital new homegrown large-car, which in new GT, F6 and Super Pursuit Ute guises joined the recently released F6X super-SUV on show.

Ford Australia president Bill Osborne said that in tandem with its imported light, small and medium-sized models from Europe, the FG Falcon’s new exterior and interior architectures and designs, new front suspension, more powerful yet more fuel efficient engines, new safety package, new model line-up and nomenclature and, for the first time, three front-end designs, finally gave Ford a “no excuses line-up”.

“With the arrival of the all-new FG range, Ford now has a model perfect for every conceivable customer want across the driving spectrum,” he said.

“Supplementing locally developed world-class product with the finest available European-designed models has enabled us to offer customers a robust line-up of dynamically superior, premium vehicles loaded with safety, performance and features.



Left: FPV GT sedan.

“Ford now has a no excuses line-up which is second to none, and when considered as a whole positively outshines all local and imported competition.” Encroaching on the limelight of the big new Fords at the MEC at least a little was the unveiling of the new Mondeo TDCi diesel wagon ahead of its release in Europe, confirming GoAuto’s February 18 report that Ford Australia is considering adding the wagon to its mid-size Mondeo sedan and hatch line-up, as the brand’s third wagon alongside the (petrol-powered) Territory and mildly revised BFIII Falcon workhorse, also due in May.

“If approved for Australia, the Mondeo turbo-diesel wagon would be the perfect complement to the existing award-winning Mondeo line-up and would fill the sports-wagon niche between that sedan range and the Falcon wagon,” said Mr Osborne.

“We're taking this opportunity to gauge show-goers reaction to this exhilarating new model as we believe its inclusion could add another exciting option to the Ford passenger vehicle line-up.

“The Mondeo wagon TDCi would be an ideal family vehicle, offering performance, safety, load-carrying ability and oodles of style. Show attendee's reaction to the display model will be a large influencer on our decision to possibly introduce the Mondeo TDCi wagon as part of the permanent line-up,” he said.

Keeping the 129kW 2.2-litre turbo-diesel wagon’s meaty 400Nm torque peak in check is the same familiar Mondeo safety package comprising ABS, EBD, EBA, DSC stability control and seven airbags, but the longest Mondeo offers luggage capacity of 535 litres, increasing to a sizeable 1733 with the rear seats folded.

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