Ford Australia Secures Government Money, Raises Questions About Industry's Future In Australia

One big problem with the current Falcon is it's sitting on a really quite dated platform. The underpinnings have remained largely unchanged since the AU was introduced in 1998. Which itself was not a clean-sheet design a (albeit major) reworking of the E-series introduced in 1988. Also the I6 engine found in the vast majority sold isn't found anywhere else in the world and only used in one other local model (Territory). The Commodore on the other hand got a an entirely new platform 6-years ago and uses engines found all over the GM Empire.

@Oosh That's not true. The front suspension was changed in 2000 for the AUII, the complete rear structure of the car was changed in 2002 for the BA, then the whole lot was revised including another change to the front suspension for the 2008 FG. It is a common belief that the FG was just a facelifted B-series but there are only a couple of small stampings that were not changed.

@Pch101 While there were some unfortunate circumstances the experience of the Pontiac G8 bears this out. The Falcon is about to be launced with the 2.0 Ecoboost engine, which would slot right into the Camcord market but it is rwd only (as a sedan) so automatically loses consideration from many. I also agree on the upmarket side of things - standard Coyote engine, or supercharged, rework it as a Lincoln. A minor sheetmetal facelift would see it echo the styling trends of the MKZ concept with the exception of the roof line as that would be too costly to change - unless they were doing a lwb version...

Pch101 is spot on, the reality is that the large V8 market is dwindling and the people who can afford cars that come equipped want smaller displacement V8s from the Teutons. Australia's car culture is very similar to America's rust-belt/midwest perception and the reality is a small portion of sales happen there, the vast majority of the money for the industry is on the coast, selling Accords, Camrys, Fusions, and Passats (apparently...). I would much rather see the domestics challenge the C & B segments with seriously updated engines that use turbocharging for the much-needed oompf. Even now the Koreans are storming the mid-sized segment with turbocharged cars that aren't necessarily sporty but certainly don't stand still and certainly crunch the Accord and Camry off the line at stoplights.

@Oosh The current Falcon is actually a great drive - WHEELS magazine in Oz rates the based model as having a better ride / handling balance than the current 5 series. The problem with the current car is in the interior - the rear is hard to get in / out of, and the driver's seat is too high.

@Pch101 In Australia you can get a Commodore with a 3.0L V6, and you can get them from the factor to run on CNG in a dual fuel configuration of CNG or gasoline - just flip a switch. The equivalent of what was a Pontiac G8 is over $50K in Australian dollars when equipped with a V8, around $35K Australian in the smaller V6 configuration. No idea what the CNG/gas dual use version stickers at. I do think that Chevrolet should not be bringing the new Colorado to the states (thank you UAW - NOT!) and instead bring the Holden Ute here as an El Camino with three engine options. A small fuel efficient V6 or turbo four, the GM 3.6L V6 in a 300HPish configuration and an LS3 SS model.

@Ben "the rear is hard to get in / out of, and the driver’s seat is too high" Have you sat in one? The Falcon is the de facto taxi down here. No issues getting in or out of the back seat, on an BA/BF. The FG has even larger doors. While looking for a car I sat in a FG XR6. The front seat height was also normal.

@Pch, my post was wishful thinking, I had a flashback to when I discovered the big Aussie cars when back in High School. I'll take an '11 9C1 when Johnny Law starts decommissioning them in a few years. LS3, in black, please :)

@Pch101 "I’ll take an ’11 9C1 when Johnny Law starts decommissioning them in a few years. LS3, in black, please" You will get the nice car, but forget about the LS3 because those have something more in the lines of an LS2... unless you do a swap. You should read about the special versions... ;)

@Pch101 I stand corrected.

@Athos Nobile - I spend around $500 a month on cabs in Sydney and Melbourne, so I get plenty of practice hopping in and out of either side. The rear footwell is tight for my size 10s, and I don't have the same problem when I get the rare Commodore or Prius cab. As for the driver's seat, it feels like you are sitting on top of it and is exaggerated by the reach it requires to the shifter, as opposed to the Commodore in which you sit more snugly.

@outback_ute Revision upon revision upon revision going back over 20 years. There may not be one part the same from back then but the compromises are inherent along the way. One BIG one being its perennial weight problem. Sometimes you just need a clean sheet of paper to truly progress. @Ben Wheels, like most mags, is morally and ethically bankrupt. They give 'Car of the Year' to whatever major local release came out almost without fail. I do believe BMW and their ilk are over-rated (and certainly over-priced) in this country but that is a hard one to swallow.