Major Ford announcement....

[Coyote mk3]

Where's here? I thought the east coast was 3 hours ahead of Wait Awhile during winter??

11:05 Here in Brissy

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Where's here? I thought the east coast was 3 hours ahead of Wait Awhile during winter??

Head Office..

[TUF_302]

I think its a good move with the TD Terry and the possiblity of exports for both it and the Falcon, im still unsure about a 4cly Falcon though, ill have to get back to you on that one

[Jason[98.EL]]

I'm thinking it would be a good idea for us to wait and see what they anounce at 11.30 when they say what is happening

we as the general public can only guess what is going on .......

how many times have we seen the media get it wrong and people cry fowl ?

i'm waiting for the official announcement before i get to excited or totally dismayed on this one

Jason

[flappist]

My spies tell me that the turbo I6 is now going to replace the V8 completely and be FPV only with stocks for 5 years whereas the new V6 will be fitted to all falcons with no turbo option.

2011 GT will be an I6.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by flappist

My spies tell me that the turbo I6 is now going to replace the V8 completely and be FPV only with stocks for 5 years whereas the new V6 will be fitted to all falcons with no turbo option.

2011 GT will be an I6.

double barrel shotgun!!!

[HSE2]

Originally Posted by flappist

My spies tell me that the turbo I6 is now going to replace the V8 completely and be FPV only with stocks for 5 years whereas the new V6 will be fitted to all falcons with no turbo option.

2011 GT will be an I6.

There is only one person on this forum that can get away with this.

[King Nothing]

Diesel falcon???

http://www.theage.com.au/national/fo...0724-dvhc.html

Ford will abandon plans to build the small car Focus in Australia and instead produce a four-cylinder version of its existing Falcon and Territory range.

An announcement from the company is expected later this morning.

But a source confirmed the announcement would centre on the introduction of new environmentally friendly engine technology for the Falcon and its locally built offroader, the Territory.

It is believed today's announcement will include a $230 million investment in new petrol, LPG and diesel engines for the Falcon and Territory - and that no jobs will be lost at the Geelong and Broadmeadows plants.

The move away from a locally produced Focus - previously promoted as part of a global shift towards smaller, more fuel-efficient cars - is expected to come as a surprise across the industry.

It is understood that the high cost of producing the Focus in Australia, compared with lower-cost economies overseas, was a major barrier.

By 2011, the Ford and Territory range is expected to include:

* A four-cylinder, two-litre petrol ``eco-boost'' engine with greater fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.

* A two-litre liquid-injection LPG engine that will be promoted as the most advanced LPG engine in the country.

* A 2.7 litre V6 diesel engine - again with lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency.

Ford had planned to build the Focus small car in Australia from 2011, but is believed to have canned the project in favour of building a new turbo-charged four-cylinder engine claimed to deliver six-cylinder performance with the fuel consumption and emissions of a small car.

The Eco-boost engine has been developed by its US parent and Ford global product boss Derek Kuzak recently told the media the company planned to have a four-cylinder engine in every car in its range.

Ford planned to build 40,000 Focuses a year, with 15,000 earmarked for export.

Senator Kim Carr, Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry Science and Research, will attend the announcement at Ford's Broadmeadows headquarters.

The new engine program is likely to receive funding under the Government's Green Car Innovation Fund, which has already spawned similar programs from Holden and Toyota.

Holden has received $149 million in funding to develop a new small car, the Cruze, at its Elizabeth Plant in South Australia from 2010, while early next year Toyota will begin selling a hybrid version of its locally built Camry sedan with $30 million funding.

The Ford source said the new engine program would not affect the company's existing six-cylinder engine operations in Geelong.

Ford had planned to close the Geelong engine plant in 2010 and import a V6 engine from the United States, but reversed the decision after receiving assistance from the Government late last year.

All three local manufacturers are reshaping their operations in an attempt to come to terms with the shift away from locally-produced large family cars to offroaders and small, fuel efficient vehicles.

According to industry sources, Ford is expected to announce that the production of the three new engines will mean that no jobs will be lost.

It is understood that Ford will continue to source the Focus from overseas locations.

An announcement from the company is expected in the next few hours.

[flappist]

Of course there is a reason why spies are usually shot.......

[King Nothing]

Originally Posted by flappist

Of course there is a reason why spies are usually shot.......

lol don't even joke about stuff like that...

[Road_Warrior]

From Drivel:

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...eID=64516&vf=2

Ford will abandon plans to build a new small car in Australia and instead produce four-cylinder versions of its locally made Falcon and Territory models, according to sources at the company.

The local car maker will reveal its plans later today, but a source confirmed the announcement would centre on the introduction of new environmentally friendly engine technology for the Falcon and its soft-roader spin-off, the Territory.

Ford had planned to build the Focus small car in Australia from 2011, but is believed to have canned the project in favour of building a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine claimed to deliver six-cylinder performance with the fuel consumption and emissions of a small car.

The ‘Ecoboost’ engine has been developed by its US parent company, and Ford global product boss Derek Kuzak recently told media the company planned to have a four-cylinder engine in every car in its range.

Ford planned to build 40,000 Focus models a year, with 15,000 earmarked for export. Senator Kim Carr, Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry Science and Research, will attend the announcement at Ford’s Broadmeadows headquarters.

The new engine program is likely to receive funding under the Government’s Green Car Innovation Fund, which has already spawned similar programs from Holden and Toyota.

Holden has received $149 million in funding to develop a new small car, the Cruze, at its Elizabeth Plant in South Australia from 2010, while early next year Toyota will begin selling a hybrid version of its locally-built Camry sedan with $30 million funding.

The Ford source said the new engine program would not affect the company’s existing six-cylinder engine operations in Geelong.

Ford had planned to close the Geelong engine plant in 2010 and import a V6 engine from the United States, but reversed the decision after receiving assistance from the Government late last year.

All three local manufacturers are reshaping their operations in an attempt to come to terms with the shift away from locally produced large family cars to soft-roaders and small, fuel efficient vehicles.

[MR_SIDO]

Just had the announcement from Ford. Media release should be out soon.

[4Vman]

XR4T Falcon...

[MAD]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

XR4T Falcon...

XR4TDCi

[Luke Plaizier]

Right, so by "Ford is expected to announce that the production of the three new engines will mean that no jobs will be lost" I take it that the 4-Cyl Petrol, LPI and V6 Diesel engines will be made in Oz?


Luke

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

Right, so by "Ford is expected to announce that the production of the three new engines will mean that no jobs will be lost" I take it that the 4-Cyl Petrol, LPI and V6 Diesel engines will be made in Oz?


Luke

Diesel is Welsh, but the I4 rumour seems to have traction.

[Grunter]

From an e-mail from Ford's Business Centre

As a valued customer of Ford Australia, I wanted you to be among the first people to hear the exciting news contained in the following press announcement being published to the Australian media today.
FORD AUSTRALIA INVESTS $230 MILLION IN NEW FUEL-EFFICIENT ENGINES FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED VEHICLES

• Ford Australia builds on its fuel economy leadership by adding three new, fuel-efficient engines as part of $230 million investment in sustainability initiatives. These initiatives add to Ford’s previously announced investment in engineering its I6 engine for Euro IV by mid-2010.
• Ford continues global roll-out of EcoBoost by adding an all-new 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine to the Falcon range in 2011, the biggest environmental transformation in Falcon’s fifty-year history.
• Ford is also introducing an advanced liquid injection LPG system for the Falcon and a clean diesel 2.7L turbocharged V6 engine for Territory.
• Ford ends plans to build Focus in Australia due to changing global economic conditions. No job losses are expected as a result of the decision.

MELBOURNE, Australia, July 24, 2009 – Ford Australia announced today it is investing $230 million to improve the fuel efficiency and environmental impact of its Australian-made models, including the first global application of Ford’s advanced 2.0-litre 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine in a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the Ford Falcon.

This continues the global roll-out of EcoBoost, the new technology from Ford that provides consumers with an affordable engine that delivers up to 20 per cent better fuel economy and 15 per cent fewer CO2 emissions.
Ford Australia is taking two other steps, in addition to EcoBoost, to offer consumers more choices for vehicles with better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions:

• In 2010, Ford will introduce an advanced liquid-injection LPG system for the Ford Falcon, providing customers with the most advanced LPG technology on the market and making the Falcon even more attractive to private, taxi and fleet markets.
• The Ford Territory, the only Australian-made SUV, will receive a clean diesel version of Ford’s 2.7-litre turbocharged V6 engine, giving buyers the choice of an engine which improves fuel economy and reduces greenhouse gases.

Today’s announcement is supported by assistance from the Australian Government’s Green Car Innovation Fund and the Victorian State Government. It is in addition to Ford's previous investment to engineer the company's locally manufactured I6 engine for compliance with Euro IV emission standards.


Starting in 2011, the iconic Falcon, one of the largest-selling brands in automotive history and the first Australian-made car to be awarded a 5-star ANCAP rating, will become one of the greenest family cars in Australia with EcoBoost. Slated for a range of global vehicles – from small cars to large trucks – EcoBoost uses petrol turbocharged direct-injection technology to deliver improved fuel efficiency, emissions and driving performance versus larger displacement engines.

As the first rear-wheel drive car from Ford to receive the 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder EcoBoost, Falcon is benefiting from the One Ford strategy of accelerating products that customers want and value – and then making those products available on a global basis.

“Today’s announcements put Ford Australia in a strong position for profitable growth in today’s auto industry,” said Marin Burela, President & CEO of Ford Australia. “We are ensuring our core Falcon and Territory vehicles will have the most advanced, high-tech and cleanest engines possible. At the same time, this represents the biggest environmental transformation in the fifty-year history of Ford Falcon by giving buyers the newest engine in the Ford Motor Company stable.

"Falcon customers will now have the choice of either the continually popular I6 engine, which will be Euro IV compliant, or one of the first global applications of Ford's EcoBoost, 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engines, while in a similar timeframe Territory customers will be able to access Ford's world-class clean diesel engine technology," Burela continued.

Ford Australia also announced that as a result of changing global economic conditions, the company has ended plans to manufacture the Ford Focus in Australia. After assessing the global requirements and costs of producing the next Focus in Australia, Ford determined that the changing economic conditions meant it could not make a business case for profitably manufacturing the car at its operations outside of Melbourne.

Ford’s new strategy allows the company to economically source small cars for the Australian market from overseas locations, while investing in leading-edge technologies to serve its core Falcon and Territory customers. The decision to not make the Focus in Australia will not result in any job losses.
“Although difficult, this is the right decision for Ford Australia,” said Burela. “Ford Australia has a strong commitment to manufacturing in this country built on ongoing support from employees, customers, dealers, suppliers and government. Our investments today demonstrate not only our commitment to address climate change – but to bringing leading edge technologies to the Australian market."

"Ford is fully committed to working towards fuel economy leadership in every segment in which we compete, across local and imported vehicles. In fact, later this year we will introduce the most fuel-efficient vehicle in Australia when we launch the Fiesta ECOnetic, which will be more economical than hybrids at only 3.7L/100km," said Burela.


These significant projects add to a continued program of ongoing investment by Ford in the Australian market, including:

• More than $500 million investment in the current FG Falcon range of vehicles.
• Leading design and engineering work on Ford’s next generation compact pickup truck, which will eventually be sold in more than 100 countries.
• More than $80 million invested at the Lara Proving Ground, including building the largest environmental wind tunnel in the Southern Hemisphere.
• $21 million investment in ongoing production of the company's iconic I6 engine, which will become Euro IV compliant in mid-2010.

“Ford is the only local manufacturer to increase market share in Australia over the past year. Last month, we reinstated two non-production days back into the production schedule as a result of rising demands. In June, Falcon Ute sales were their best since June 2006, the Falcon XR had its best monthly sales on record, and demand for the new-look Territory has exceeded our expectations” said Burela.

About EcoBoost
The EcoBoost program is part of Ford’s ongoing and wide-ranging global initiative to deliver fuel-efficient powertrain systems with the power and performance found in larger-displacement engines. EcoBoost will be offered on Ford vehicles throughout the world. On sale now in select Ford vehicles in North America, more than 90 per cent of Ford’s North American nameplates will be available with EcoBoost by 2013.

The key to the EcoBoost system is the harmony between the turbochargers and direct-injection fuel system. The turbochargers recover energy from the exhaust that otherwise would have been wasted and put it back in the engine to gain efficiency. Simply, the turbocharging system puts more air into the engine for more power. A compressor increases or “boosts” the pressure of the air entering the engine. An intercooler reduces the air temperature before it enters the engine.

About LPG
The liquid injection LPG engine for Falcon is the most advanced LPG technology on the market. By injecting liquid LPG directly into each intake track, the system delivers better fuel economy, reduced CO2 and improved performance through a more precise metering of fuel to the engine. Initial analysis indicates liquid injection LPG technology can reduce CO2 levels 12 per cent or more compared to current LPG technology.

About Clean Diesel
Technology advancements are reducing the tailpipe emissions that diesel engines traditionally produce. Buyers of Ford's Australian-made Territory SUV will be able to get a clean diesel option that generates fewer greenhouse gasses, while at the same time giving them better fuel economy performance than comparable petrol-driven engines. Clean diesel variants of a new 2.7-litre V6 engine will reduce CO2 by up to 25 per cent from six cylinder petrol engines.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

[ieatsports_cars]

i think this is all bad a 4 cyl falcon phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht !

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by ieatsports_cars

i think this is all bad a 4 cyl falcon phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht !

I4T.

I think it will be interesting, but I've had since November last year to contemplate this.

[King Nothing]

An official announcement is expected at 1pm.

Argh! After lunch then.

[WOTDAH]

Originally Posted by Paxton

I4T.

I think it will be interesting, but I've had since November last year to contemplate this.

I'm with you Paxton took me a while to accept it but now I think it's going to be a winner.

[mik]

well have to wait and see what they do to falcon (hoping Flappist is WRONG) by the looks, the one thing thats probably been holding the terri back is fuel consumption this should be a plus for many potential customers.

[Road_Warrior]

I smell a rat.

[HSE2]

It is understood that the high cost of producing the Focus in Australia, compared with lower-cost economies overseas, was a major barrier.


If this is true of one

[Luke Plaizier]

Will the I4 Falcon get a new name and compete in a different market category?

I'm not sure how the industry can support having the 'Camry' and the 'Aurion' in different market segments when they are dimensionally equivalent, but if Ford don't do the same they'd be crazy.

But even more importantly, what does this mean for the 4Cyl Mondeo? Will Ford Oz stop the imports?


Lukeyson

[Dave_au]

Well it's certainly unexpected and would have caught Holden off-guard but essentially Ford plans to build a Camry, and when you look at the YTD sales performance of the Camry/Aurion twins it leaves a lot more to be desired.

[whales]

Just read in the Herald Sun, Holden already have diesel Commodores being tested at Lang Lang (Proving Ground) already also have a coupe and a convertable.
They might have just beat Ford again by a few hours

[JPFS1]

This must have been axed very recently. Last week or 2. It has been still under consideration and researched up until then.

If this is true, then it's not surprising as costs for the program were escalating rapidly.

[mcnamg]

Does a 4 cylinder falcon mean bye bye Mondeo again?

[4Vman]

FWD I4 Falcon anyone???

** runs and hides***