This is what Wikipedia has to say about AU:
Developed under the code name "EA169", the AU series adopted Ford's New Edge worldwide styling, which was meant to differentiate it from the "conformist" styling prevalent in the 1990s.[33] The gamble, which had worked with the Ford Focus, did not particularly endear the AU Falcon to its buyers.
AU still isn't endeared by me either, and probably never will be, but on the other hand I also much dislike the looks of US Taurus from the same years
The only thing AU has going for it in my view is the reliable and simple mechanics. Same class as Volvo's 240 series probably. Could last over a million km with some basic fixes. Despite that approx. 16000 of them have disappeared from Australian roads over a few months from January to October.
Anyway, let's not start another AU discussion in this thread. Apology if my comment upset someone.