Falcon nameplate secure
Ford Australia has emphatically killed rumours that the arrival of Orion would see the withdrawal of the Falcon badgeThe rumours, which have been gaining weight recently, suggested the new Ford large car, due to be released early next year, would dump the Falcon name and replace it with a series of alpha-numeric model numbers. Ford spokesman Ed Finn told the Carsales Network that the Falcon nameplate would definitely be continuing.
The Falcon badge is the longest running single model nameplate in Australia without a break, a feat challenged only by the Fairlane and Toyota's Corolla. It is also the longest unbroken Ford passenger car badge in Ford's global range. Only Thunderbird and Mustang come close.
With Ford about discontinue the Fairlane, a flood of trademark registrations of alpha-numeric model designations by Ford Australia (that appeared to be tied to a vehicle of Falcon's engine size), are believed to have prompted the rumours.
A precedent was also set when in 2003 Prodrive marketers insisted on scrapping the Falcon badge and re-launched the Falcon GT as the FPV GT. It made little difference to owners and the media who have continued to refer to Ford's performance model as the Falcon GT.
At the time, the Prodrive move was motivated by the view that the FPV GT had become something more than what the Falcon badge currently represented, a still valid concern that was driving recent rumours.
Although the Falcon badge has been around since 1960, it has mainly become associated with the bare bones Falcon XT fleet and taxi special, commercials and the XR.
Holden set a partial precedent in 2006 by giving most of the VE Commodore trim levels a separate identity such as the sporty SV6, SS and SS V models.
The base level Executive was renamed Omega, a badge from the Commodore's European equivalent, while the Acclaim level was dropped. The new utes don't carry any Commodore identification. Although Holden still refers to the overall range as the VE Commodore, the ute is simply the VE Ute.
It is possible that recent rumours suggesting Ford was about to drop the Falcon badge have also been driven by the likelihood that Ford needed to move to protect the Falcon badge from any further downgrading.
Loyal Ford owners' groups have been concerned for some time that Ford Australia was allowing the Falcon badge to languish as a fleet and commercial model so it could be retired like the Fairlane. Some have even sent submissions to Ford Australia requesting that hallowed Falcon model variations like GS, Sprint, Cobra, 500, Superbird and symbols including the Super Roo decal be revived.
With incoming Ford management in Detroit questioning why Ford has allowed many of its iconic model names to wither, the tide may have turned.
It is significant that only this year Toyota Australia under considerable international pressure, refused to drop the Corolla nameplate and bring its local small car best-seller in line with its new international name, Auris.
Ford Australia's small cars are only just recovering what was once a dominating presence with nameplates like Festiva and Laser.
Mitsubishi has struggled to regain traction after swapping its Magna badge for the 380. And Nissan was forced to mount an extensive campaign to tell buyers that Tiida was the new Pulsar after the switch brought sales to a standstill.
As Ford establishes the Fiesta, Focus, Territory and Ranger badges, relaunches the Mondeo and now appears to be committed to revitalising the Falcon brand, the Ford Australia range could prove to be the most stable it has been for over a decade.
Falcon means a great deal to Australians too...
- First Australian family car with modern headlight in grille styling (1960 XK)
- First Australian family car to offer a choice of engines with automatic and manual (1960-61 XK)
- First Australian fake woodie-panelled wagon (1962 XL Squire)
- First Australian pillarless hardtop (1964-66 XM-XP)
- First Australian six-cylinder family car with standard disc brakes (1965 XP Fairmont)
- First Australian family car range with V8 option and long 111-inch wheelbase (1966 XR)
- First Australian family car with standard V8, four-speed manual, front disc brakes and radial ply tyres (1967 XR Falcon GT)
- First and only Australian family car to win team prize London-Sydney Marathon (1968 XT Falcon GT)
- First Australian four-door family car to introduce standard 5.8-litre engine, Super Roo decals, long range fuel tank, ventilated front disc brakes, 70-series radial tyres and sports wheels (1969 XW Falcon GT)
- First Australian performance model with 'shaker' bonnet scoop (1970-72 XY Falcon GT)
- Most desirable and valuable Australian race homologation special ever (1971 XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III)
- Only full-size Australian passenger model to continue racing from 1971-84 until the late 1980s arrival of the VN Commodore (XY-XE)
- First full-size Australian car with ventilated front discs standard across the range (1973 XB)
- First Australian family car with four-wheel disc brakes (1973 XB GT)
- First Australian passenger model to introduce Australian-engineered six-cylinder cross-flow head (1976 XC) Note: Leyland P76 was the first with British-designed overhead cam cross-flow six-cylinder engine in 1973. Holden followed with Japanese Nissan overhead cam six in 1986
- Only large Australian family car to survive until world's best practice weight reduction and engine efficiency program forces Holden to follow in 1988 (1979 XD Falcon)
- First Australian family car with Watts Link rear suspension (1982 XE)
- First Australian six with multi-point fuel-injection (1983 XE)
- Only Australian ute to stay in production with unbroken model line after Holden withdraws WB series in 1985 (XK-BF)
- First Australian engineered and produced overhead cam six-cylinder engine (1988 EA Falcon) Note: Leyland P76 was the first with British-designed overhead cam cross-flow six-cylinder engine in 1973. Holden followed with Japanese Nissan overhead cam six in 1986
- First Australian large family car with fold down back seat (1988 EA Falcon)
- First four-speed automatic transmission made in Australia (1989 EAII)
- First Australian family car with ABS option (1992 EB)
- First Australian family car with standard driver's side airbag (1995 EF)
- First Australian family car with double-wishbone independent rear suspension option (1998 AU)
- First Australian ute with extra cab space and removable load bed (1999 AU)
- First Australian family sedan with variable camshaft timing, sequential manual shift auto, multi-link independent rear suspension and inboard fuel tank in all models (2002 BA)
- First quad-cam multi-valve V8 assembled in Australia and offered in local model (2002 BA XR8)
- First Australian family sedan with six-speed auto available across the range (2005 BF)
Note: The fact that Holden was forced to counter with just as many firsts, highlight how important the Falcon nameplate has become to Australian drivers.
To comment on this article click here
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
