FG X, The Last EVER Falcon - Picture & Discussion Thread

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by Blem

Did you get to specify trans, colour etc ?

That's for the auto, haven't chosen the colour yet, but I'm leaning towards either white or what ever the orange is called...

[naddis01]

Hey Boss. Is the family and friends program only on built stock again?

[LooLoo18]

Originally Posted by XBv8mmm!

Finally got the dealership to take a deposit on an F? XR8 this week.
So I guess I'll see it late this year, cross fingers.

Hurry up November.

Do they give you a price? Whats the deposit for? How much deposit do they want for a car you can't see and they know nothing about lol

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by naddis01

Hey Boss. Is the family and friends program only on built stock again?

I think so.

[naddis01]

Thanks mate. I have a few more questions so I started a new thread on Family and friends instead of clogging this thread up. Would you mind chiming in there where possible?

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Don't think the LPi has it now.

Was lead to believe it does. Either way it'll get it.

[XBv8mmm!]

Originally Posted by LooLoo18

Do they give you a price? Whats the deposit for? How much deposit do they want for a car you can't see and they know nothing about lol

G'day Loo Loo.

It's more a holding deposit than anything, an expression of interest if you will. I put 1K down.

The dealer actually booked it against a GS, since that is still in their system, even though you can't get them any more. With notation that the deposit is actually for the F? XR8 and is fully refundable depending on price and fit out, which I have in writing and signed by the new car manager.

The only "option", if you like, that I could specify now was auto or manual (I chose auto). The rest I will see about when it is finally in the dealer system.

With the speculation on the forum about build numbers on the XR8 being low, by some people with pretty good track records when it comes to inside knowledge, I wanted to get in as early as possible. I don't think I would miss out if I waited but damit, I want the XR8 ASAP. I don't want to have to wait until February next year.

[EDManual]

Saw a new ranger wagon today. Had the camo on it, and it was a complete unit, not the half and half ranger/teritory type. Looks real tuff from behind!

[Bossxr8]

I saw 2 of them going into PD today. First time I've seen a complete one and not a hacked up Ranger/Territory Frankenstein.

[spyman03]

Hey,

Proving ground this week outside

Spyman

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by Callum31

G'day guys, I've been working with Trav to help him make this sketch of what looks almost identical to the 2014 Falcon (Correct me if i'm wrong Spyman). And personally it looks great! Well done to Trav!

Hey,

Yea not far off


Spyman

[au2000]

Welcome back spyman, how's it all been ?

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Is this some of your work Spyman?

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257CDE00219906

Exclusive: Ford Oz working on mystery large car
Lincoln 2016 MKS Another one: It might look like a mid-sized Ford Fusion, but telltale rear wheelarch flares suggest a wider rear track under test at Ford Australia’s You Yangs proving ground.
Another one: It might look like a mid-sized Ford Fusion, but telltale rear wheelarch flares suggest a wider rear track under test at Ford Australia’s You Yangs proving ground.


‘Lincoln MKS’ joins the global new-model engineering logjam at Ford Australia







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click to see larger images
20 May 2014

By RON HAMMERTON

FORD Australia engineers are working on a mystery large car that is likely a replacement for its ageing Lincoln MKS for North America and China.

The test mule – based on a left-hand-drive American Ford Fusion but with major modifications under the rear end that appear suited to a larger vehicle – has been spotted by GoAuto going through its paces at Ford Australia’s busy You Yangs proving ground in Victoria.

As our pictures show, the disguised test vehicle has rear wheelarch extensions, seemingly to cater for a significantly wider rear track than the standard set-up for Fusion or its Mondeo sister model that is due Down Under in the second half of this year.

While Ford has no plans to introduce its Lincoln luxury line to Australia, the work on a large vehicle sitting on the company’s ‘D4.3’ large-car platform might have implications for a Falcon replacement once the homegrown sedan goes out of production in 2016.

Under the One Ford plan, all Ford large cars – namely the Taurus and Lincoln MKS sedans and Explorer and Flex SUVs – will be based on the D4 architecture from 2014.

By our count, the large car spotted at the You Yangs, near Geelong, brings to at least five new vehicles under development by the Blue Oval’s local engineering team – the Falcon/Territory facelift, Ranger facelift, Everest SUV global development, Escort small car for China and now, the large car.

The Lincoln work appears to be a contract job for Ford’s American parent, probably to do with rear chassis development and calibration.

A similar mule was spotted by Car and Driver in North America last year, with the American magazine adamant that the car was a technology test bed for the next Lincoln MKS large sedan.

When the new Lincoln goes into production in 2016, the under-the-skin overhaul will be complemented by a new body designed by former Holden stylist Max Wolff, who was poached from General Motors to head up Lincoln design.

Although Mr Wolff appears to have slipped a rung and is now reportedly Lincoln exterior design manager, he has still had a major influence on the latest Lincoln vehicles such as the MKZ sedan and MKX crossover – the latter just revealed as a concept at the Beijing show.

The current front- and all-wheel-drive MKS – launched in 2008 – is based on the Ford Taurus and its D3 architecture that also spawned the Volvo S80.

However, the Lincoln has been an abject sales failure in its home market, selling only about 1000 units a month – a drop in the bucket in the huge United States market where rivals such as the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class sell many times more.

Critics says the MKS is heavy, thirsty and relatively cramped inside for such a large car.

Some US journalists speculate that Ford plans to reinvent the MKS by not only completely redesigning it and making it more spacious, but also rebranding it – perhaps as MKL – in an effort to recapture the ascendancy that Lincoln had in 1998 when it was America’s leading prestige brand.

The rebranding theory was given some credence recently when Ford announced at the Beijing motor show its plans to launch Lincoln in the huge Chinese market this year, saying it was planning “an all-new full-size luxury sedan” – and not “next MKS” – as part of a five-car line-up there by 2016.

Like other Lincoln models bound for China, the large sedan will be imported from North America, meaning it will likely be made as one variant for both markets.

The current MKS comes in two V6 mechanical specifications – a normally aspirated 205kW 3.7-litre V6 driving the front wheels and a twin-turbo 275kW 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 driving all four wheels.

The EcoBoost V6 will likely carry over and be joined by Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder, as used in the current Ford Falcon and many other Blue Oval models. Some journalists speculate these engines will be joined by a rumoured 2.9-litre EcoBoost V6 called Nano.

At some point, these engines are likely to be hooked up to a new nine-speed automatic transmission under joint development by Ford and GM.

Many Lincoln fans in the US hope Ford will plonk the MKS replacement on a rear-drive chassis to take on European rivals head on, but the mule seen by GoAuto appears front-wheel drive or at best all-wheel drive, in line with D4 architecture.

Expanding the Lincoln brand to China against Cadillac and the German brands will give the new-generation MKS a much greater potential volume.

But Ford Australia has ruled out any Lincoln move here, saying all Ford cars sold here will carry Blue Oval badges.

Hey,

Yep and still we get ppl that know better, telling us diff it's going to be what it said and also the replacement for the Turass on the same chassis on the d4

Spyman

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by au2000

Welcome back spyman, how's it all been ?

Hey,

Good,.....you mate

Spyman

[au2000]

Yeah ill pm u once your mail is clear

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

Can we get a technology recap too?

Is there a diff tech in the tail lights?
Do we get front park sensors?
Any interior gadget changes?

Do we get Bluetooth streaming?

I believe we get some sort of under-front plastic thingies for improved aero??? hence better economy????

Hey,
Radar on the front screen for lane departure etc etc


Spyman

[dirtyclevo]

even though I'm not going to buy one. I'm still going to go and have a look at one.

I think ill wait for the commercial on tv, to see what it looks like. They better have made a commercial!! there damned if they don't!!

should be one about fords history in australia and how it was as australian as kangaroo's. montage ad or something, probably not though. because now days they have a stupid poticially correct teeny booper marketing department.

based on what that form i saw on the GT-F thread, there building them in june. so it will be out in a few week then? thats cool!


Question!, does it have passive vehicle entry and push button start?

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by spyman03

Hey,
Radar on the front screen for lane departure etc etc


Spyman

Isn't that just for the auto wipers.

[Road_Warrior]

Yeah that is for the rain sensing wipers.

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Isn't that just for the auto wipers.

Hey,

I'll reword it there is a new black box moulded around the mirror that's not on the current car

Spyman

[FalconXV]

Adaptive Cruise as well hopefully.

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by FalconXV

Adaptive Cruise as well hopefully.

Hey,
With front sencers any things poss


Spyman

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by spyman03

Hey,

Proving ground this week outside

Spyman

I saw two of these around the factory the other day. First time I've seen them in full body spec and not a hacked up Ranger/Territory hybrid.

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I saw two of these around the factory the other day. First time I've seen them in full body spec and not a hacked up Ranger/Territory hybrid.

Hey,

They have been screwing them together in the pd centre in Geelong for the last six weeks now there are 8 floating around interiors an update ranger

Spyman

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

My other half and I drove past the proving grounds last week as she has lived in Lara her whole life and didn't know the proving grounds were just up the road. I myself never knew that if you parked on the side of the road you could see the cars go around the speed track. We watched the Everest mules go round, a red car (medium sedan)

Hey
it was this car and it was testing with said black fusion

Spyman

[Smoke Pursuit]

Thanks for the great posts spy man! Anymore falcon ones ?

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Thanks for the great posts spy man! Anymore falcon ones ?

Hey,

Sadly falcon other than the one coming out the factory when I shot the geely pics,has not been tested/seen by me for nearly 10 weeks now

And I haven't cropped out the test gear from the update interior shot I have yet ;-)


Spyman

[spyman03]

Hey,

Best I can do but not much new at this point


Spyman

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by spyman03

Hey,

Sadly falcon other than the one coming out the factory when I shot the geely pics,has not been tested/seen by me for nearly 10 weeks now

And I haven't cropped out the test gear from the update interior shot I have yet ;-)


Spyman

How different is it?

[spyman03]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

How different is it?

Hey,
The new silver strip (grooved) and some new buttons

Butt don't quote me,it could still be in line for more changes but if the air vent on the outer dash is still square I don't think the centre air vents are in for a change


Spyman