Just when we thought the bird was grounded... Falcon trademark filed in Mexico

[kikie]

I used to think that before moving here. Then you know, I see having the upper gears closer to me when shifting, makes sense.

No it doesn't.

 

[05XR8]

 

[05XR8]

This is it folks.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/380234/2016-ford-falcon-spy-photos-310kw-xr6-turbo-almost-here/

 

[05XR8]

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/09/12/ford-factory-to-close-on-eve-of-bathurst-1000/

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/09/12/ford-factory-to-close-on-eve-of-bathurst-1000/

I'm not Australian or a Kiwi, but that just seems like a slap in the face. I mean automotive followers have known this was coming but like this...eh

 

[05XR8]

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/special-edition-ford-falcon-confirmed-20151222-gltaoh.html

The special Falcons will be available with both the turbocharged six-cylinder and the supercharged V8 engines.

The Falcon XR Sprint series will pair an automatic transmission with the inline six-powered XR6 while the V8-powered XR8 will be teamed with the choice of either an auto or manual transmission.

While full specifications will be revealed closer to it launch date Ford has confirmed that the new Sprints will have increased power over the regular XR6 and XR8.

The new Sprints will also benefit from an upgraded brake package, new wheels, Sprint embroidery on the interior, Sprint badging and unique build plaque on the engine.

The Sprint badge is a throwback to heritage of the Falcon, including the 1993 ED XR8 that had a Tickford enhanced V8, special suspension and interior enhancements. Only 300 examples were built.

"The Falcon XR Sprint is aligned to the understated look of our notable historic performance Falcons; they will be styled with design and dynamic influences that are distinctly different in feel, presence and execution," says Ford president and CEO Graeme Whickman.

With Ford due to cease local production in 2016 examples of the last XR8 Falcons have been in high demand, as fans of the performance car snap up the locally built V8-powered Fords.

"The XR Sprint will be a limited-edition series and one we think will be highly regarded by our Falcon fans. Ultimately too, like many of our performance Fords, we expect it to be a highly collectible car," Whickman said.

 

[Spacegoat]

Details of the limited edition Falcon Sprint models announced.

 

[05XR8]

Makes me wonder if PRA will run "Falcon Sprint" words over the rear bumper bar.

 

[Spacegoat]

Makes me wonder if PRA will run "Falcon Sprint" words over the rear bumper bar.

Could they probably end up doing a special livery for Bathurst or something? That'd be pretty sweet.

 

[05XR8]

All 6 cars should run a special tribute at Bathurst or Sydney.

 

[CarreraGT]

Details of the limited edition Falcon Sprint models announced.

Classic Ford. A couple of stickers and a mild engine tweak. Almost as big a disappointment as the GT-F.

The rumoured HSV GTS-R on the other hand...

 

[05XR8]

Going to be a pain loading those on a tow truck.

 

[magic_town]

That GTS-R looks ridiculous. What are they thinking with that wing?

 

[Wiegert]

That GTS-R looks ridiculous. What are they thinking with that wing?

Those pedestals aren't nearly yellow enough to make that an obvious homage to the original on its 20th anniversary.

 

[magic_town]

Those pedestals aren't nearly yellow enough to make that an obvious homage to the original on its 20th anniversary.

I remember thinking that was cool when it came out, probably due to the fact I was 6 years old.

 

[05XR8]

The USA would have eaten these up. Nom nom nom.

 

[Cale]

No. It would have gotten even more criticism than the SS for being even MORE bland and probably having an Ecoboost V6.

 

[Grandea GTR]

No. It would have gotten even more criticism than the SS for being even MORE bland and probably having an Ecoboost V6.

"Looks like a Fusion bro"

 

[Cale]

"Looks like a Fusion bro"

Maybe I was wrong. It's have to get noticed in the first place to receive the criticism.

 

[05XR8]

so, 542hp for 15seconds overboost wouldn't get you noticed?

Or rather, how about the term "sleeper"?

 

[Grandea GTR]

so, 542hp for 15seconds overboost wouldn't get you noticed?

Or rather, how about the term "sleeper"?

Most people over here look at it from a standstill point of view than it moving on the road first.

Look at how people reacted with the SS.

 

[SVX]

Sleepers are only appealing to buyers when they've been off the market for 15 years and are dirt cheap because no one wanted them when they first came out.

 

[Grandea GTR]

Sleepers are only appealing to buyers when they've been off the market for 15 years and are dirt cheap because no one wanted them when they first came out.

Yup, upwards of $30k is absolutely no sleeper.

 

[05XR8]

"Looks like a Fusion bro"

So, no one would want a car that looks like a Fusion. No matter the price of admission. If it goes like a Shelby yet, looks like a Fusion, seems like a sleeper to me.

 

[Grandea GTR]

So, no one would want a car that looks like a Fusion. No matter the price of admission. If it goes like a Shelby yet, looks like a Fusion, seems like a sleeper to me.

 

[05XR8]

I know what a sleeper is. Back in '99, I had an '88 Jetta GLI with a stock VR6 conversion(and I kept the 16V GLI badges) and Techtonic Tuning exhaust. Trust me, BMW 535is's on the New England Thruway couldn't walk me. Neither could 1.7L Integras.


Look at the pics from the OP. The XR8 looks plain Jane. Compare it to any of the FPV models before it. It is indeed a sleeper.

The FG X XR8 looks like a G6E because it's sans the GT wing and graphics.

 

[05XR8]

Falcon Sprint
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/7C869CB5FFAD14ADCA257F7800789371

 

[05XR8]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/1927F98474BBBBF6CA257FAF00246D08

FORD Australia has donated the first of its limited-edition Falcon XR8 Sprints to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) to help fund research into finding a permanent cure for type 1 diabetes.

The JDRF is using the money to fund its Artificial Pancreas Project, which looks into how to automate insulin pumps and deliver improved therapies to ultimately find a “technological cure” to type 1 diabetes.

The auction runs from May 7 to the end of the month and the organisers are hoping that, given the limited run of only 750 models, the white, six-speed manual XR8 Sprint should fetch a handy sum.

The Sprint is the last performance-based Falcon that Ford is producing, and punters wasted no time in snapping up the swansong models, with all 500 XR6 Turbo and XR8 models selling out completely.

Ford has sent the Falcon out with a bang, with the XR6 Turbo packing 325kW/576Nm under the hood, while the XR8 steps it up to 345kW/575Nm.

Both models have an overboost function that temporarily raises peak power to 370kW in the XR6 and 400kW in the XR8.

Along with the XR8, Ford has also donated $60,000 towards the project, which involves research institutes and hospitals in Perth, Melbourne, Newcastle, Adelaide and Sydney.

This is on top of the $13,000 that Ford employees chose to take out of their wages in 2015 to donate to the cause, bringing Ford's total contribution to JDRF over the past 15 years to $500,000.

The project is being run out of Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth and is led by Professor Tim Jones.

Ford Australia president and CEO Graeme Whickman said the donation would help the innovative work done by the people at JDRF.

“Our support of Professor Jones’ team’s innovative diabetes research underpins our commitment to serve our communities as we become Australia’s largest automotive employer,” he said.

“This iconic car will contribute in a small way to another Australian innovation under development by JDRF to help save young lives.”

Before it wound up in 2014, Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) auctioned off the final two 351 GT Fs for a combined $393,700 in a bid to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Anyone looking to bid on the first XR8 can do so by following this link

 

[05XR8]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/696805D086AF81C4CA257FF1001F5C43

FORD’S final day of Australian car manufacturing is less than three months away and the car-maker is preparing for the milestone date of October 7, but as the last Blue Oval badge rolls off the Broadmeadows line, the company says its focus will be exclusively on the impacted people.

While Ford is planning to keep key stakeholders in the loop prior to and after the closure of both Geelong engine and Broadmeadows assembly facilities, only the people directly impacted will be front and centre for Ford.

Speaking at the launch of the Focus RS, Ford Australia and CEO Graeme Whickman said the company was planning to mark the day sensitively with a number of intimate staff events, only for those who would not be coming back the following Monday.

“We’ve got a series of private events and they are only with the directly affected employees and we are going to have those events over the two sites,” he said. “It won’t involve dealers or other employees. We are going to honour them like we said we were going to.”

Mr Whickman acknowledged the interest and importance of media coverage of the day but explained that his and the company’s first priority was looking after approximately 1500 staff that would be out of a job.

“There are a lot of different stake holders and some of those stake holders, including the media, and employees that aren’t affected, will be handled separate to those private events.

“The reason is very simple: we’ve said from the outset that there are people directly affected and we are going to do this with dignity and respect. They are not going to be sitting there as objects for people to take photos of.”

About a month before production ends, Ford will wind up its long standing factory tours as a further mark of respect for its employees.

“Similarly we are going to stop plant tours,” said Mr Whickman. “From about September onwards we’re just not going to do them anymore.

“Put yourself in their shoes. You’re trying to work and you’ve got people around you with some sort of curiosity that isn’t necessarily healthy and that’ s not fair. We’re not putting our employees in a glass bowl.

“When it comes to the press, we are putting you in the same boat. We are not going to have you in on the last day. We have a bigger priority, frankly, managing the men and women affected on the day.”

As with any final model, the last Falcon and Territory to be screwed together in Melbourne’s north will be of special significance to both Ford and its fans alike, but Ford Australia communications and public affairs director Wes Sherwood said celebrating the last models would be separated from the more sombre day.

“There will be a lot of people who want to say goodbye to Falcon, Falcon Ute and Territory and so that will be part of it,” he said. “The vehicles will not go into hiding. The final models will be accessible for people over time.

“We think that is a big part of it but the biggest part is the people and how we look after their futures.”

Since the announcement in 2013 that the car-maker would pull up stumps, some reports have speculated that Ford would turn out the lights earlier than the original end date, but Mr Whickman said the reputation of the company depended on the way it manages the critical production shutdown.

“Regardless of the drop in the volumes we said we were going to go for a period of time and we set ourselves out to do that. We knew there were some pros and cons to that but we certainly want to do it in the proper way and we will honour those commitments.”

Last week, fellow local car-maker Holden made the late announcement that it would pull the plug on Cruze production on the same day that Ford ceases all manufacturing.

The move appears to be an effort to distract the attention of the media and public eye from the first stages of its own path to closing down local manufacturing next year, but Mr Whickman would not reveal his opinions on the matter.

 

[Hearse]

That's going to be Saturday, Bathurst weekend. I take it every kind of Falcon will line the circuit that day.