Spotted

[Whoosha]

Found these testers on the water front last week . 20s on the Taurus were huge



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[Melz]

Mmm nice

I spotted a Whoosha in the 4th pic! lol

[R-Design]

Interesting pictures, I wonder what they're doing here (it's a bit late for the Eco Challenge)?

Hybrid Fusion & EcoBoost SHO the plot thickens!

[fordOwner]

loks like a chevy cross a Camry.

[csv8]

Taurus SHO EcoBoost next Falcon ??? Any FF spies at Geelong or Broadmeadows any ideas ????

[Spanrz]

I like the disguise (cap with sunnies wearing a fluro top) and the lazily meandering near some new cars.

You'll do good for a P.I. lol!

[csv8]

Originally Posted by Melz

Mmm nice

I spotted a Whoosha in the 4th pic! lol

He gets around !!!!!

[block58]

Wouldnt mind having them here (as long as they dont replace Falcon)

Front end looks nice on both of them, the rear, not so much.

[Whoosha]

Originally Posted by csv8

He gets around !!!!!

Who was that masked man : :

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by block58

Wouldnt mind having them here (as long as they dont replace Falcon)

I don't think either one is manufactured as right-hand drive at this stage. Hopefully they're looking to incorporate some of the US technology in the Falcon (20 inch rims might be a nice start).

[Riksta]

What's the number keypad above the doorhandle, some sort of PIN code locking system?

That's my first thought but it also has a keyhole?

[SM1DY]

Originally Posted by Riksta

That's my first thought but it also has a keyhole?

My thoughts exactly, maybe they'll consider fingerprint indentification as an optional extra?

[TUF_302]

Those are both very nice cars i think, look alot better than Camry/Aurion and the VE i think, sell a few of those in limited numbers over here and i think they would sell welll!

[Iggypoppin']

anyone else notice the subtle similarities in the styling cues of the rear taillights on the fusion hybrid to our new FG? i think the cars woosha saw look great. be good to see them on our roads

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by csv8

Taurus SHO EcoBoost next Falcon ??? Any FF spies at Geelong or Broadmeadows any ideas ????

Not a chance.

[csv8]

It wouldn't suprise me!! If the TAURUS was the next Falcon. Ford does some strange things at times!!!

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by csv8

It wouldn't suprise me!! If the TAURUS was the next Falcon. Ford does some strange things at times!!!

Not Gunna Happen. RWD is still in favor somewhere in the Ford world.

Falcon is still slated as an RWD car, with no relation to Taurus.

[V3RSAC3]

Originally Posted by Riksta

What's the number keypad above the doorhandle, some sort of PIN code locking system?

That's my first thought but it also has a keyhole?

Yeah it's a combo system Rik. Was around in the 90's model Nissan Blue Bird.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by V3RSAC3

Yeah it's a combo system Rik. Was around in the 90's model Nissan Blue Bird.

Bluebird or Maxima???

They do look interesting however, thanks for posting.

[V3RSAC3]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Bluebird or Maxima???

They do look interesting however, thanks for posting.

Not sure?. Maybe Maxima! Just remember seeing them when I was growing up come through my parents car yard.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by csv8

Taurus SHO EcoBoost next Falcon ??? Any FF spies at Geelong or Broadmeadows any ideas ????

PEO always evaluates other Ford vehicles and also competitors vehicles. Nothing new. I've seen numerous Lincolns, Cadillacs, Mustangs etc being tested from time to time.

Ford had HFV6 Cadillacs at least a year before Holden had the engine in the VZ, evaluating it to see how it went compared to the I6. As they say, know your enemy.

[GSfalcon500]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

PEO always evaluates other Ford vehicles and also competitors vehicles. Nothing new. I've seen numerous Lincolns, Cadillacs, Mustangs etc being tested from time to time.

Ford had HFV6 Cadillacs at least a year before Holden had the engine in the VZ, evaluating it to see how it went compared to the I6. As they say, know your enemy.

So what do they do once they finish testing them,send them back or scap them?

[Bossxr8]

Most likely send them back to the US, where they either continue using them for whatever it is they need them for or they on sell them to the public.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Ford had HFV6 Cadillacs at least a year before Holden had the engine in the VZ, evaluating it to see how it went compared to the I6. As they say, know your enemy.

You can imagine Ford Aus getting worried when Holden said they were going to replace the Ecotech with the Alloytech. Then they got an alloytech in to evaluate and just laughed.

[csv8]

FORD’S European design director has thrown cold water on the possibility of the new Taurus replacing the Falcon.

Speaking at last week’s Shanghai motor show, Martin Smith said that while he believed the overall design of the Taurus large sedan would hypothetically be well accepted in Australia, it could never constitute a direct replacement.

“I’m not a marketing person but I think that car (the Taurus) has been very successful in the US. It has a lot of the strong design attributes that I think in my visits to Australia the Australian customer appreciates.

“But it’s a front-wheel-drive car. It’s not a replacement for a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.”

Mr Smith tempered his statement by cautioning that as Ford of Europe’s chief designer he was responsible “only” for applying sheetmetal to chassis architectures, but his comments could reflect the general view of Australia’s Falcon within senior Ford management globally.

As we reported last week, Ford Australia president Marin Burela said the future of the next-generation Falcon, due to emerge around 2013, will be decided – but not necessarily made public – next year.

Mr Burela all but ruled out the next Falcon again being an Australian-designed model just for Australia, which appears to leave Ford Australia with the option of basing the next Falcon on either a new global rear-wheel-drive platform, the development of which is currently on hold, or on the front/all-wheel-drive Taurus platform.


Alternatively, Ford Australia could simply import the Taurus and rebadge it as the new Falcon, but Mr Smith’s comments appear to rule out at least the latter Taurus option.

Asked what the future held for Ford Australia’s Falcon, Mr Smith said: “Where the future of the Falcon is in the current environment I wouldn’t want to speculate.”

Mr Smith said the FG Falcon was another example of how the company’s kinetic design language was attempting to visually link Ford models around the globe, in line with Ford Motor Company president Alan Mulally’s ‘One Ford’ design directive.

“The modifications to the (FG) Falcon recently were done to try and make the car less isolated in its environment, let’s say,” he said.

“We’ve been encouraged by Alan Mulally to create One Ford and he stated that he’d like to recognise a new Ford in any country that he stepped off an aeroplane (from) rather than … and creating a global family with a global look and that was done by the design team in Australia to fulfil that wish, to try and link the Falcon a little bit more closely.

“Because up until that declaration was made the Falcon was basically an independent entity. It was designed specifically and very successfully for the Australian market, and we as a design team we all agreed with Scott Strong in Australia that it would be a good initiative to try and mate that car a little bit more closely to other products around the globe,” he said.

Mr Smith said Ford had enough global models to continue to meet the needs of Australian vehicle consumers.

“When it (Falcon) was in its prime they used to call it (Ford) the Falcon Company of Australia, but as you see more and more vehicles being imported into Australia - I believe the Mondeo is a success and I think the Fiesta is just being introduced to the market.

“I think obviously Australian customers are going to come under the same sort of pressure as American customers are in terms of gas prices.

“Just as in North America we see a certain amount of downsizing, to the point where people will be wanting to buy a small car where five years ago no one ever would do, and I think that same trend will become evident in Australia. (But) I think we have enough products around the world to satisfy a Ford customer in Australia,” he said.

[LTDterri]

Originally Posted by Paxton

Not Gunna Happen. RWD is still in favor somewhere in the Ford world.

Falcon is still slated as an RWD car, with no relation to Taurus.

We thought the 4 cyld Falcon was not going to happen either !