Reports of the demise of the Falcon..are somewhat premature

Elements of the Australian press went into overdrive earlier this month, predicting and in fact writing off the production of future Ford Falcons in Australia. The origins of the story came from a high source, namely Ford worldwide chief Alan Mulally, who told the press at the recent Detroit motor show of plans for the blue oval's globalisation and a decision that there would not be unique models in any country.

Such news looked like the death knell for the locally designed and produced Falcon - Australia's longest running nameplate and certainly one of the most revered. There is a suggestion that the Falcon could share the same architecture as the Ford Mustang to create a new rear-wheel drive platform after 2015. Meanwhile Ford Australia president and CEO, Marin Burela, says that the Falcon will continue. He confirmed that reports staling the four and five speed gearboxes could be dropped with a move to a six-speed automatic only, was also premature.

The current Falcon has several years to run, and will receive appropriate tweaks when available. These will include a new liquid-injection LPG system for its six-cylinder.
Brian Tanner