Huge savings for commemorative Ford XR50 Falcons

FORD'S Falcon hit the big 'Five-Oh' last week and now Australians have been offered generous incentives to join its 50th birthday party.

Extraordinary savings of more than $5000 – on top of drive-away prices for all models - have been announced for the six 50th Anniversary models that will begin rolling into Ford dealerships nationwide from late next week.

Factoring in on-road costs and an array of extra standard equipment, we estimate the collectible 50th Anniversary Falcon range will add between $9000 and $12,000 of extra value for buyers.

Ford began production of its upgraded 2010 Falcon range in May, when efficiency and equipment gains across the entire (now all-six-speed automatic) six-cylinder petrol sedan range were accompanied by price increases of mostly $500 or $600, pushing the base Falcon sedan price beyond $40,000 for the first time.

Now the Blue Oval has announced a sedan starting price of just $36,950 drive-away (including all statutory and dealer delivery costs) for the XR50 sedan that opens the 50th Anniversary Falcon range, details and images of which were also released in late April.

Before on-road cost savings are factored in, that represents a saving of some $5050 over the 2010 Falcon XR6 sedan ($42,990 plus ORCs) upon which the 50th Anniversary model is based - as well as a saving of at least $3440 on even the entry-level 2010 Falcon XT auto ($40,290 plus ORCs).

As we’ve reported, Ford’s commemorative-edition XR sedan and ute and G-series sedan line-up is distinguished by chequered-flag ‘XR50’ lower door decals and/or rear 50th Anniversary Falcon bird of prey logos.

It also comes with a raft of unique interior and exterior cosmetic features plus upgraded equipment including specific 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels, partial leather trim, dual-zone climate-control and a premium audio system.

Left: G6E Turbo 50th Anniversary.Now revealed on Ford Australia’s public website ahead of a formal media announcement later this week, the limited-edition 50-year Falcon price list also includes the XR6 50th Anniversary Ute at just $32,950 drive-away – at least $5240 less than the regular XR6 Ute ($38,190 plus ORCs) and just $1555 more than the base Falcon Ute ($31,395 plus ORCs).

Similarly, the 50th Anniversary XR6 Turbo models, which will follow the naturally aspirated XR6s on to dealer forecourts, will be priced from $38,950 drive-away for the Ute (down at least $3240) and $45,950 drive-away for the sedan – at least $3050 less than the regular XR6T four-door.

The last and most expensive 50th Anniversary Falcon to market, the G6E Turbo sedan auto, is now on sale for $54,950 drive-away, which represents a saving of more than $4583 over the normal G6ET ($59,533 plus ORCs), while the naturally aspirated G6E sedan auto offers a $2440 saving over the garden-variety G6E, at $47,950 drive-away.

Although the 2010 Falcon already brings fuel consumption reductions of up to 8.5 per cent (to 9.9L/100km for all non-turbo petrol autos), Ford is yet to reveal replacements for its two remaining V8 models - the XR8 sedan and ute – which ceased production earlier this year ahead of stricter Euro 4 federal emissions laws from July 1.

However, as reported exclusively by GoAuto in early April, Ford is developing up to three versions of an all-new supercharged 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ V8, which won’t become available until around September.

The tamest will deliver a Holden Commodore SS-bashing 315kW in Ford’s own upgraded XR8, which will go on sale around September, while Ford Performance Vehicles’ GT is likely to emerge with a 335kW version of the locally assembled blown V8 around the same time.

At the other end of the Falcon spectrum, next-generation LPI liquid-injection E-Gas and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost versions of the FG range will be released in the first half of next year.

And while the BFIII Falcon wagon is now discontinued, Ford of Australia’s Falcon-based Territory SUV is also to receive a major midlife facelift and V6 turbo-diesel power in early 2011.

However, expected to top the Falcon range some time next year – 40 years after Allan Moffat won the 1971 Bathurst enduro by a lap in an XY Falcon GT-HO, with similar Phase III Falcons placing second, third, fifth and seventh – is a born-again (FPV) GT-HO flagship slamming out up to 400kW and 650Nm of torque.

The first (XK) Falcon rolled off Ford’s Broadmeadows assembly line on June 28, 1960, making it Australia’s oldest - and the world's second oldest - automotive nameplate by a solid margin.

2010 Falcon 50th Anniversary pricing:
XR6 50th Anniversary ute	$32,950 drive-away (down $5240)
XR6 Turbo 50th Anniversary ute	$38,950 drive-away (down $3240)
XR6 50th anniversary sedan	$36,950 drive-away (down $5050)
XR6 Turbo 50th anniversary sedan	$45,950 drive-away (down $3050)
G6E 50th Anniversary (a)	$47,950 drive-away (down $2440)
G6E 50th Anniversary Turbo (a)	$54,950 drive-away (down $4583)