Ford Falcon Futura sedan Reviews | Dash

> car reviews > ford > falcon > futura sedan > Dash

Make / Model Search

Car reviews - Ford - Falcon - Futura sedan

Dash

31 Oct 2002

A TOTALLY redesigned dashboard is the highlight of a comprehensive cabin facelift for Falcon. Like the VY Commodore, BA Falcon takes on a decidedly European interior look, but in this case the crisp, clean new appearance is backed up a consistently high standard of tactile and well laid-out controls.

Dominated by the new Interior Command Centre, the revised cabin layout is also a big step forward ergonomically. Using three-dimensional modelling software called RAMSIS to determine the positioning of controls, Ford interior designers moved the gear lever and dash fascia back toward the driver by 30mm and 40mm respectively, relegating the long gearshift reach to the past.

By moving the new front seats inboard by 12mm to accommodate the optional side airbags, there is now more room to reach the side-mounted seat adjuster and, more importantly, the Falcon driver now sits in line with the steering wheel and has a better view around the still-intrusive A-pillars.

The dash itself resembles that of a more expensive vehicle, featuring a sharply hooded binnacle, stylish new instrument panel and an array of well presented controls.

Wrapped in Thermoplastic Elastomer Polyolefin, a soft, textured, animal skin-like material that also graces the upper part of the doors to produce a two-tone effect, the new dash is complimented by satin chrome highlights on the door handles, gear lever, door lock button and the four control knobs on the entry level ICC.

Said to contain a deposit of real metal and not just paint, the satin chrome finish feels classy and cool to touch, while instruments and most buttons are backlit using LEDs instead of bulbs - green on XT and Futura, white on Fairmont and Ghia, and blue for XRs.

Velour inserts to match the seat trim and light coloured, woven headlining material to match the lower dash and door trims contribute to a brighter and classier cabin ambience, let down only by some minor fit and finish issues, especially where the carryover doors and new dash meet.

The lack of a redline on the new tacho is an oversight, but otherwise the new gauges are well executed. Featuring a large 7000rpm tacho on the left and 220km/h speedo on the right, with fuel and temperature gauges stacked in between, the new instrument layout is smart, simple and effective.

Did you know?

Ford's engine lab completed 24,000 hours of endurance testing - the equivalent of five million kilometres at 200km/h or 125 times around the equator

Click to share

Click below to follow us on
Facebook Twitter Instagram

GoAuto can help you buy a new Falcon

Customer Terms and Conditions – New Car Lead enquires

Agreement

This is an agreement between GoAutoMedia Pty Limited ACN 094 732 457 of PO Box 18, Beach Road, Sandringham, VIC, 3191 (“we/us”), the owner and operator of the GoAuto.com.au website (“the website”) and the person wanting GoAuto.com.au to provide them with a lead for the purchase of a new car (“you”).

By completing a New Car Lead Enquiry, you agree to the terms and conditions and disclaimers and acknowledge the policies set out below.

Terms and Conditions

In order for us to effect a lead you must you must complete a New Car Lead Enquiry (“Enquiry”).
We will call you as soon as possible after you complete the Enquiry and certainly no later than the next business day. When we call, we will discuss with you your new car requirements.
You consent to our passing on the Enquiry and your requirements to an appropriate authorised motor car dealer as a lead.
We will contact you again in approximately eight days following your initial enquiry to check on the progress of the Enquiry.
While we will provide the dealer with the Enquiry and details of your new car requirements, we take no responsibility for what happens after passing on that material as a lead.
You acknowledge that we are a new car information service providing new car editorial information, pictures and prices to our customers as a guide only. Any new car prices published on the website are the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices and do not include delivery charges and on-road costs. Any authorized motor car dealer to which we pass on your Enquiry as a lead will provide you with full details of the price at which the vehicle will be sold to you.
You acknowledge that we do not sell motor vehicles. Any sale of a new car to you by a dealer after we have passed on your Enquiry to that dealer as a lead, is a sale by that dealer not by us.

Privacy Policy– New Car Lead Enquires

We take privacy very seriously. We understand that you will only complete an Enquiry if you can trust us to protect your personal information and use it appropriately. Our policy is to ensure that the personal information collected when you make an Enquiry is only used for the purposes of connecting you with an authorised motor car dealer.
We do not on-sell information collected from you or any other customer.
From time to time, we may email you with information or promotions that may be relevant for car buyers. You will continue to receive communications from us unless you tell us that you do not want to receive any advertising or promotional information in the future by unsubscribing from these communications.

Motor industry news

GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events.

Download page