So your the CEO: what would you change with Falcon?

[imugli]

I actually don't mind the idea of taking Falcon back to it's glory days with a bit of retro.

Not too much, but enough to be able to draw the link. Enough to remind people that Ford once made the fastest 4 door car in the world (instead of leaving it to Shannons). Enough to remind them that Mad Max's XB was based on a real car, not some clay model developed by a couple of industrial design grads who probably weren't around when the original came out.

For all that we heap **** on the bogans that put Chev badges on their Commodores, it's a "halo" within the bogan community. Ford don't have that.

Ford went from the XRGT to the HOs to the XA/B/C coupes to the ESP 5.8s to nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nothing. They went from balls and all to grandpa mobiles. OK so we have the GT / GTP now, but when you compare them to the std Falcons, do they really hold a candle to the REAL GTs when you compare them to the std XYs?

Ford need to remind people that they used to make the biggest baddest phattest cars on the road. They need to remind people that their car, the XA HO IV, was the reason for the supercar scare. There needs to be some "passion" put back in the car and stirred in buyers. A bit of retro mongrel in the styling and a few "F*&k you" kw's may do just that.

Even if that's not where the bulk of sales are now, it would create a halo effect. Just as people who can't afford a HSV buy an SV8 and put chev badges on it. People who can't afford a Malloo buy an SV6 and drop that on it's **** instead. They're Halo vehicles and I don't think FoA has one right now... The Black COULD be it if we see it in FG2. COULD be. But it needs to sit above the rest of the range, not simply be a sticker pack.

[imugli]

Just thought about it some more...

Something like the 300+ coupe would have been to the AU. A Balls out, shove that up your clacker, halo car.

[davenl5l]

change g6e to fairmont.g6et to titanium ( because ford stupidly sold the ghia name ) and yes bring back the wagon with a v8 and a turbo 6 option

[Chilliman]

Instead of dwelling on past glories or fanatising about twin-turbo, supercharged, V10 GTHO Phase VIII Falcons I prefer to work with what we are most likely to get; an enlarged CD4 platform car that will also be the basis for the Taurus...and from such a car I am hoping for the following:

1. That it is still made here
2. It contains the best technology from around the Ford world (cause quite frankly its the only thing that gets the general public excited about cars these days)
3. There is still a performance version in the line-up - I'm thinking AWD, 3.5L V6 EcoBoost for motorvation and at least the option of a manual gearbox.
4. V8 enthusiasts can have the Mustang

[cartaa100]

best mates uncle was ceo of ford for quite a while! helped with the territory alot! unfortunately he passed and apparently all ford did was give his wife a brand new focus and sent her on her way.... obviously they supported her through the time but yeah just saying

[Rusty62]

They need to bring back the Fairlane or at least add more luxury to the GTE. I'm waiting for FG2 GTE, but test drove a HSV Grange, a lot less performance yes, but well and truly more luxurious than anything Ford has to offer IMO.

[ILLaViTaR]

I'd make LPG the primary fuel and successfully change Australias opinion on a misunderstood fuel. If it worked it'd destroy the competition too.

[FPVGT500]

Ive always thought of a F8 Hurricane thats a twin turbo 8, and a real FPV GT-R spec that takes on this Nissan R35. Also optional IRS on the Utes

[pottery beige]

factory door sales heavily discounted new vehicles with no warranty...... no need to deal with frauds fd up dealer kents ever..

[Terror_Tree]

Get a better marketing department
Get a better marketing department
Ford Aus have all these great cars, but nobody knows about them

I would also have

Diesel Falcon

2 door FPV GTHO ( I know I'm dreaming)

AWD Falcon Ute

[fordfreak1]

gee i hope the guys at ford read this thread. bloody good thread i say.

BUT the question is.......if i was the CEO, well i would be reading this exact thread.

[prydey]

i hope 90% of the people in this thread never become ford CEO. it would go down the girgler quicker than any manufacturer before it.

[DBourne]

Not sure of everyone elses replies, but if I was Fords CEO, I'd simply turf the marketing department, get a whole new one in, and tell them to market the damn thing.

Holden bring out a new door handle and we hear how awesome it is and how just by touching it your family will live forever in peace.

Ford have an amazing lineup of cars and MAYBE, just MAYBE we get a 20 second add that shows a dog barking at the stereo..

[Wretched]

1) Get better product planners.
2) Utilise the One Ford program more, use more out of the Ford parts bin, includes using better technologies that are already available in other models.
3) Listen to the market (ties in with 1)
4) Increase value for money
5) Focus on quality, if required move assembly offshore.
6) Market the vehicle better

[atec77]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Lets do something fun, lets pretend you have been given the job of CEO of Ford Australia, what would you do to improve Falcon sales, and all you could do was make (relatively) inexpensive changes to the lineup, including changes to variants, options, trim levels, etc. So ignoring things like marketing and dealers.

Would you make LPG availale on everything, Get rid of XT to focus the range, bring in a model below XT etc?? Its all harmless fun, but I guess there is a serious aspect to it in the current climate...What I would do:

*Align RRP closer to actual transaction prices so your not giving prospective buyers sticker shock.

*Give base Falcon ute an extra inch of ground clearance so it no longer looks like a toy ute

*Make the 3 seater, column auto an option on the entire XR ute range to steal sales from dual cabs and to give it a point of difference from the SS utes

*Replace the G6 name with Fairmont and GGE name with Fairmont Ghia, broaden Falcons appeal so that the XR goes for the younger crowd and the Fairmont range goes for the older crowd.

*Bring back the RTV ute, this time with Downhill Descent Assist (stolen from the Territory, a simple ABS program in the ECU).

*Bring back the XR8

*Introduce the G8E (crazily in 2011 with petrol prices and the environment etc, I feel the V8 is more important long-term for the Falcon than most other things, I feel the Falcon's greatest hope is to align itself closer to the premium/sports sedan segment rather than the churn and burn fleet market)


So what are your suggestions? Not to be a dig at what Ford is doing wrong but more about positive suggestions from enthusiasts.

I can see imho over the years the Falcon got way to big , over the last several decades adding 300 or 400 kilo’s made the car loaded in every way and meaning , I would like to see a decent wagon added into the range again perhaps based on the ute / crew cab , the new 4 pot ,a turbo diesel , a good I6 and a v8 all with an auto std and a 6 speed manual option . Having a common RWD base with additions in a lighter car has to improve fuel economy and performance , the Fairlane was a great car but having a common wheel base with several levels of luxury optioned over the basic car will reduce initial costs and certainly will provide several advantages in cost and weight . Quality seems to be an issue which can be attended to on the line with simple mechanical fit and finish being attended to , injected lpg should be an option across the models along with considerations in colour and upgrading to better driveline on low interest factory finance.
Certainly the marketing dept. needs a kick in the groin and placement on low salary and a performance bonus , there are problems with the stealers who need admission to the performance and fairness concept with penalties on failure and reasonable fixed price servicing , after all if you p&*s off the customers your business will fail
I can see the Euro car company’s charge a premium for service and quality which I will pay but the feeling that I am about to be bent over needs to disappear from the Ford stealers , some of the conversations with the service depts. Have gone badly with a change in attitude needed or like so many others I won’t be supporting the brand any longer

[BrisVegas]

Put the 3.7 V6 in the Falcon. There's a perception in the market, that the Falcon is a dinosaur/taxi. It doesn't matter if it's actually more efficient and driveable than the Holden v6, the perception is that the Holden is newer tec. The V6 would allow the front overhang to be shortened and would improve the weight distribution.

The ecoboost version of that motor would make for a handy XR6T.

Bring the interior tech in the Falcon up to par with the Focus & Fiesta.

Get real with RRP. The depreciation numbers would immediately improve!

[blue sleeper]

Something real simple.... Find a way to make it weigh 200kg's less.

Yes I know it's pie in the sky but it would help in so many areas a LOT!

[Polyal]

For me I think the Falcon sadly is becoming more obsolete with the rise of SUV's and even to a smaller extent dual cab pickups that are becoming more and more like multi task vehicles when you look at the upper ends of the range.

The Mondeo represents a problem in that it basically does everything the falcon does and better in most cases.

Also the Falcon needs more volume, even at figures the commy sells Im sure the case gets harder and harder each evolution to justify its existence; One Ford will do no favours for that.

So, in saying that all is not lost. What the falcon does deliver on is performance through RWD. For me it would be a two pronged approach. Have a luxury line, two spec models, and a performance line, with two spec models. Or even just two different styles and you option what pack you want.

So the Luxury car would be styled differently to the rest of the range, why have a Falcon looking like a Focus/Mondeo, makes no sense. Something like what Chrysler has done with the 300C. Out there but not too crazy. Then you can option one of the following engines, I4T, TDI, 6, 6LPG or V8.

With Performance you would keep the XR range and offer only XR6T (V6 or I6, whatever) and a V8. Have two trim levels, basic or Luxury which would be the same as the base luxury above..if you want a full luxury with a XR bad luck, get a full spec Luxury car. Then the XR would be styled more aggressively as it is now.

Then FPV stays the same, using the XR models as the base and they continue with Miami and the F6.

No more XT, want povo then get a base mondeo. Have the Luxury base model not to overly price in order for it to take the sales volume, even if the margin is small, try and make it up via upgrades.

I dont think blending the Falcon into a global look is going to help its cause much.

Id probably drop the ute while I was at it and make the ranger more attractive, and FFS make a V8 ranger.

[XRDeeze]

get rid of the Taurus

[FalconXV]

After the Ecoboost model has run it's course and desensitized large car buyers on the 4 cyl issue, bring out a lower tier model with an engine made in Geelong.
a half barra. 2.0 inline 3 with same bore/stroke ratio as 6, higher comp ratio afforded by iron block, and offset crank to keep it smooth. Turbo and LPG variants. Variable valve lift.
Turbo running much smaller turbo at higher boost than XR6T, should yield around 170kW. Less rotating mass means higher redline too.
Torque would be adequate, lighter steering, gearbox and driveline components would be added for better feel .
'Half barra' engine could open the range, and the whole engine would sit behind the front axle line. Keeps a link to Falcon past while adapting to the future.
Also, revive Falcon wagon and fit 4.0 to Ranger.

v6 Focus, Fiesta with Miami engine behind drivers seat, Dual Engine Territory; Diesel under bonnet with I6 behind second row. 6/10ths scale Falcon sedan that conforms to Japanese kei car regulations. Ford definitely needs to hire me ;) .

[Franco Cozzo]

Look into bringing the F250 over at around $55-$60K.

[cedric]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Look into bringing the F250 over at around $55-$60K.

i will second that but 35-40 like they pay.
and BIGGER WHEELS on the falcon, it is the only full sized performance car in the world with small profile tyres, ie 245/35 19 when camaro,ve,mustang,300c,charger,most if not all the euro's have the looks of 19's-20's but still have decent sidewalls you can then have good looks and good ride