BA Falcon wins its first gong

FORD is on-track to scoop both major annual new car gongs after the new BA Falcon Futura was named Best Family Car in Australia's Best Car Awards in Melbourne today.

And to make it a sweeter day for Ford Australia, the storming XR6 Turbo was named by the judges as Best Sports Car under $57,000.

The Futura defeated the new Holden VY Commodore and Toyota Camry V6, while the XR6T knocked over the Commodore SS and Subaru Imprexa WRX STi among other rivals.

The next step for Ford is to claim the Wheels Car of the Year, which is named on November 26. The new $500 million BA Falcon is one of the favourites for that prize, along with the Mazda6 mid-sizer and the new Mercedes-Benz E-class.

In fact, both the Mazda and Benz were winners under the ABC format today, the former collecting best mid-size car over $25,000 and the latter picking up best luxury car over $57,000.

However, while the ABCs are handed out over 12 categories and are open to all vehicles on-sale in Australia up, while only cars launched in the last 12 months are eligible for the Wheels COTY.

Falcon hasn't won the Wheels award since 1966 with the XR, and Ford hasn't won at all since 1992 with the AX Telstar.

Ford was one of four manufacturers to collect dual ABC gongs today, with Renault (Clio Expression and Laguna Privilege), BMW (M3 and X5 3.0) and Toyota (Avensis Verso and LandCruiser GXL-D) the others.

Holden (Astra City), Mazda (6 Classic), Mercedes-Benz (E320 Elegance) and Subaru (Forester 2.5 X) were the single winners.

"Ford needed to claw back the ground it has lost against Holden and a win in Australia's Best Cars will give them a major marketing edge," said Australia's Best Cars chief judge, Ernest Litera of the Futura's win.

"It's a great car in a category with very little between the final contenders, which included Commodore and the new Toyota Camry V6."The ABCs are run and judged by the various Australian state motoring organisations.

2002 Australia's Best Cars Awards
Best Small Car Renault - Clio Expression (new release)
Best Mid-size Car under $25,000 - Holden Astra City
Best Mid-size Car over $25,000 - Mazda 6 Classic (new release)
Best Family Car - Ford Falcon Futura BA (new release)
Best People Mover - Toyota Avensis Verso GLX (new release)
Best Sports Car under $57,000 - Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo (new release)
Best Sports Car over $57,000 - BMW M3
Best Luxury Car under $57,000 - Renault Laguna Privilege (new release)
Best Luxury Car over $57,000 - Mercedes Benz E320 Elegance (new release)
Best Recreational 4WD - Subaru Forester 2.5 X (new release)
Best Luxury 4WD - BMW X5 3.0
Best All Terrain 4WD - Toyota LandCruiser GXL-D