Blue Oval preps Falcon, Territory for battle

YET more rigorous reinforcements have been revealed for Ford's battle-weary BA Falcon and its triumphant Territory SUV spin-off in preparation for combat with next year's new Commodore and Camry, as well as Mitsubishi's all-new 380 sedan - also due on sale in October.

Ford has already announced next month's upgraded BF Falcon and SY Territory will be the first Australian cars available with an exotic six-speed auto, along with more powerful, more economical and cleaner burning six and eight-cylinder engines.

Now the Blue Oval has confirmed its volume sellers will receive also receive significant safety and refinement updates in the shape of traction and stability control, and a comprehensive noise, vibration and harshness reduction campaign.

Taking top billing in the model year 2006 refresh is the standard fitment of traction control across Ford's Falcon sedan and wagon range (excluding LPG variants). Traction control is not available in entry-level VZ Commodores.

Also benefiting from the safety feature - which is unavailable in Holden's opposite number - for the first time is Falcon ute, albeit only in XR form.

The same advanced dynamic stability control system introduced on the Territory AWD variant last year - and now offered in Commodore Acclaim sedan and upwards in Holden's VZ range - will be standard in all Territory AWDs, the rear-drive Territory Ghia and premium Falcon sedan variants, matching Commodore.

The latter represents the first local DSC application both in a V8 sedan and with a manual transmission.

"We're delivering on what the customer wants with the new Falcon and Territory range - economy, performance, refinement and safety," said Ford Australia president Tom Gorman.

"The high levels of engineering that are clearly evident in the new Falcon and Territory range continues a long line of firsts for Ford Australia."Continuing the active safety theme is the addition of latest ABS technology, a standard performance braking system for all V8 and turbo Falcons, and a reversing camera for the top-shelf Territory Ghia.

Optional on Territory TS and similar to those offered on the likes of selected Lexus, Land Rover and Pajero models, the rear-view camera displays an image of the area directly behind Territory to a distance of 15 metres on the ICC screen when reverse gear is selected.

"The addition of traction control on all our petrol sedans and wagons and our performance Utes, combines with the specially calibrated DSC applications for our luxury and performance sedans, to ensure we are offering customers a range of safety enhancements that suit their driving characteristics and wants," said Mr Gorman.

Extensive measures have also been taken to suppress engine and drivetrain noise and vibration, while stiffer wheels, a new 225/50 R17 Goodyear Excellence tyre (for Fairlane and Fairmont Ghia) and extra interior soundproofing are claimed to make BF Falcon and SY Territory quieter and more refined.

"It's only going to take a short drive in any one of the new models to realise this is a significantly quieter car, and has taken refinement to a new level.

"Importantly, we have developed a car that reduces the overall sound level in the cabin while still retaining the pure engine note that our customers love to hear.

"In combination with the dramatic upgrades to the engine and transmission we announced last month, which set new benchmarks for fuel economy, performance and smoothness, it all adds up to another exciting range of Falcon and Territory models for customers in October," said Mr Gorman.

Ford Australia's Quattro

FOUR unique calibration groups were developed for Ford Australia's Dynamic Stability Control system as part of its application across the Falcon and rear-drive Territory ranges, according to vehicle dynamics manager Stephan Presser.

"Due to the variety of engines, transmissions and body styles a total of 10 different DSC calibrations have been developed," he said.

"Realising unique customer wants and the character of our product line-up, we have developed four families of tuning, ranging from comfort to sports, for Territory, Fairlane, Fairmont Ghia and XR6 Turbo/XR8.

"Each calibration provides the full functionality of DSC, but the intervention thresholds have been carefully tuned to produce a system perfectly suited to the vehicle.

"On Fairlane Ghia, Fairlane G8 and LTD the DSC interventions are early and subtle, in keeping with the character of the car.

"Fairmont Ghia has a calibration where DSC interventions are slightly later than the LWB version, in line with the sportier image of the car.

"On XR6 Turbo and XR8, interventions do not occur too early, adding to the sporty nature of the vehicle and ensuring the driver feels in control, but still benefits from the significant safety improvement DSC provides."DSC includes cornering brake control.

Them's the brakes

BORROWED from Territory and optional across the BA Falcon range, Ford's performance braking system comprises pillar-ventilated front (322 x 28mm) and rear (328 x 26mm) brake rotors - 24mm and 25mm larger than the standard brake discs respectively.

"Testing of the new performance brakes was conducted under the grueling AMS testing regime, which involves 10 high speed braking manoeuvres," said vehicle dynamics manager Stephan Presser.

"The new brakes performed demonstrably better, with temperatures in the 10th stop reduced by 15 per cent for front brakes and 22 per cent for rear brakes, ensuring increased fade resistance and improved stopping performance."While the big-brake package will be standard on all V8 sedan, all XR8 and all XR6 Turbo variants, all BF Falcons will employ as standard the latest Bosch 8.0 ABS system (previously 5.3), including electronic brake-force distribution.

It's claimed to be less intrusive while offering improved stopping distances and low speed braking performance on slippery surfaces by checking vehicle conditions 200 times per second.

Similarly, all BF Falcon and SY Territory variants (with the exception of LPG and non-XR utes) will have the latest TCS 8.0 traction control system.

Smooth operators

A HOST of detail changes have gone into what Ford says is the quietest, smoothest vehicle it has ever produced.

Vehicle refinement supervisor Tim Hosking said new technology including absorptive headlining and a lofted outer dash - previously seen only on European vehicles - had reduced interior sound levels during full-throttle acceleration by six decibels.

"On part throttle acceleration, the I6 engine in Territory and Falcon is three decibels quieter, while road noise sound pressure levels have been lowered by up to one and a half decibels," he said.

"We also worked hard on improving the articulation index, or the ability to easily converse with passengers, and achieved an overall nine per cent improvement in this area."Mr Hosking said bitumastic pads and body sealing techniques pioneered with Territory have realized a five-decibel reduction in high frequency road noise at cruising speeds.

"We placed significant emphasis on this part of the BF Falcon design and manufacturing processes, improving body leakage sealing levels up to 23 per cent compared to BA Falcon.

"Our body static sealing is now approaching levels previously only available in imported cars much more expensive than Falcon and Territory," Hosking said.

DYNAMIC UPGRADES

Traction control:
- All petrol sedans and wagons
- XR UtesDynamic Stability Control:
- All Territory AWD variants
- Territory Ghia RWD
- Territory TS/TX RWD (optional)
- XR6 Turbo and XR8 sedan
- Fairmont Ghia
- Fairlane Ghia, Fairlane G8, LTD sedanPerformance brakes:
- All V8 sedans
- XR6 Turbo sedan and ute
- XR8 uteABS upgrade:
- All models (except XL/XLS ute)New tyres:
- Fairmont Ghia
- Fairlane sedan range
- XL SSB ute
- XL 3/4-tonne ute

REFINEMENT UPGRADES

- Retuned exhaust systems
- New transmission cross member
- Stiffened exhaust hangers
- Optimised engine mounts
- New transmission mounts
- Retuned differential bush rates
- Improved static sealing
- Additional bitumastic pads
- New absorptive roof trim
- New dash outer absorber
- New tyres on Fairmont Ghia
- New alternator
- New manifold heat shield
- New timing chain pivot arm
- Optimised air intake system
- Stiffer wheels on XT/XR