Ford's Final Ute

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

The Ford Falcon Ute will bow out for 2015, alongside its Falcon sedan sibling, and Ford is preparing a final edition to commemorate the end of an era.

The last Falcon Ute will come with a 4.0L I6 making 260 horsepower. A turbocharged version of this mill is also available, and bumps power up to 362 horsepower. Both manual and automatic transmissions will be offered. The Ute’s final redesign follows an update for the Falcon sedan.

Ford’s Australian manufacturing arm will shut down in 2016, with arch-rival Holden ending its own operations a year after that. The Ute is considered an icon of the Australian motoring industry, which has now largely collapsed in a short time frame due to a strong Australian dollar and shifting market conditions.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Sep 12, 2014

    FPV will make a supercharged V8 version of this ute. The Ford V8 is called the Miami. Most of the work for the supercharged engine was done in the UK and Australia. http://www.motoring.com.au/news/commercial/ford-performance-vehicles/gt-f/final-fpv-pursuit-ute-revealed-44080 Well, I do know you guys in the US love your V8 pickups. But imagine this, 4.5 second 0-100kph, or under 4.5 0-60mph. I do know this sounds arrogant but, this is one fast pickup. It use's GM's supercharged 6.2. You gotta love CAFE! But it's a pity to see these two vehicles disappear, but was sadly inevitable for years now. http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/holden-releases-the-worlds-most-powerful-ute-20140911-10fmmh.html I do actually like the HSV Maloo over the Ford, but I'd have anyone. It will take some time for the US to beat this pickup in speed and acceleration.

  • SoCalMikester SoCalMikester on Sep 13, 2014

    i dont understand why they cant move the tooling someplace cheaper and keep building them, or for GM too with their version. theyd have a lock on the US market, and still be able to export to other countries

    • See 1 previous
    • Pch101 Pch101 on Sep 13, 2014

      Ford and GM both used to build these here. GM stopped almost 30 years ago; Ford pulled the plug about forty years ago. There used to be a market for these, but there is no market for them anymore.

  • Skor Skor on Sep 13, 2014

    Ford of Oz received the tooling for the original Falcon in the early 60s where it evolved into a fine car line. The Australian Ford engineers took the wheezy American I6 and developed it into a an excellent engine, as good as any German or Japanese inline 6. It's a pity we never got it here in the US.

    • RobertRyan RobertRyan on Sep 13, 2014

      The engine the 4 litre Barra was definitely the best thing, Ford Australia produced. Extremely reliable, and the ability to be turned into a monsterously great. Engine with turbocharging

  • TonyJZX TonyJZX on Sep 14, 2014

    i can imagine how silly this vehicle looks for non Australians because its ridiculously silly to me who wants a rwd live axled 4,000lb ute with a Ford Fusion note glued on? nah me neither? i dont like the current Fusion looking model the old Aston Martin looking model is one of the best looking sedans ever made but thats just me

    • RobertRyan RobertRyan on Sep 14, 2014

      Silliness is in the mind of the beholder, many have wondered why Ford dropped the FPV version of the Ute. a lot of the negatives regarding the Falcon Ute come down to the fact that it is much expensive than the cheaper Ranger

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