AIMS: Falcon poised for a gust from gas

The rumour circulating the Ford stand at Jeff's Shed spelled good news for the local manufacturer. For its first month on sale, the new SZ Territory has sold — reportedly — around 1600 units, which is a monthly figure rarely seen since the halcyon days of 2004.

Falcon sales are still awaiting a boost from the large car's advanced new LPG delivery system however. Ford has previously declared that the lack of any kind of alternative fuel system in the Falcon range was hurting sales.

"We had a good month this month [June]," answered Bob Graziano, Ford Australia's president, when that point was made after his presentation at AIMS this morning.

"I think if you look at where the [large car] segment has gone over the last 10 years... and the fact that we haven't had the LPI, so we're keenly looking forward to having that vehicle back in the portfolio. We also do not have a wagon in the Falcon anymore... we've got the Mondeo wagon.

"So we're continuing to look at where we go with Falcon; we think we've got the right powertrain combination to keep people in the large car segment, because we give them fuel-efficient powertrains: LPI as well as the EcoBoost in the new year."

The Ford president wouldn't discuss a sales split for the new LPG system, versus total Falcon sales.

"We generally don't provide sales projections," Graziano answered. "[LPG] is a pretty significant part of our volumes, both in the sedan as well as the ute — and so we're just keenly interested in getting that vehicle back into the portfolio. The technology that the engineering team has been able to put into the LPI truly is state of the art; it's a world-first for Ford."

Graziano said that it was "unclear" whether Falcon sales were in the doldrums due to prospective buyers waiting for the new variants to arrive.

"It's difficult to tell whether people are holding off from purchases, but we think that there is a large pent-up demand for the LPI because there are customers out there who truly value the LPI and so we're anxious to get out there and continue to talk to them about the new technology."

The EcoLPI Falcons will begin hitting local roads (at the hands of the press later this month).