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NEWS
FG Falcon drops almost $3000 into Aussie pockets
The new FG Falcon has triggered a large car price war with over $2500 already slashed from the base VE CommodoreIf Australians ever need an indicator of how important a competitive local car industry is to their hip pockets, look no further than events of the last month.
Anticipating a serious threat from Ford's new FG Falcon, Holden recently added over $5000 worth of vital safety and comfort features to its base VE Omega with a price increase of only $2300. All remnants of Holden's cynical 2006 fleet-focused $34,490 Omega without aircon, side and curtain airbags have gone. In its place is a fully-equipped $36,790 safe and slick Omega family car that you would want to buy.
Expect the battle to escalate as both companies fine-tune all models to fill any gaps while forcing Toyota to open up its armory for the Aurion.
Already the local Ford versus Holden landscape is looking radically different from what it did just a month ago. So here's a quick wrap up of where the models stand across the Falcon and Commodore ranges...
BASE MODELS
FG Falcon XT $36,490
Ford's base model now encroaches on past Holden and Ford luxury models in most features with its powerful but more frugal 195kW/391Nm six-cylinder engine, standard five-speed auto, climate control, stability control, ABS, EBD, EBA, four airbags, 60:40 split folding rear seat, four electric windows, larger 5.8-inch display screen, trip computer, four-way electric driver's seat, set-point cruise control and upgraded suspension. However, it sticks with the previous model's grim black plastic grille and dated plastic wheel covers that were first seen several years ago.Holden VE Commodore Omega $36,790
Not to be outdone, Holden now offers more stylish 16-inch alloy wheels, six airbags, new grille, body-colour door handles and mirrors to establish a clear lead in appearance and safety equipment over Ford's stripper XT. Yet Omega's now standard but basic aircon (versus XT's climate control), below par 180kW/330Nm engine, ageing four-speed auto with no sequential shift and economy fall further behind, despite an all-inclusive price that is at least $2700 better than it was in 2006.MIDRANGE
Ford FG G6 $39,990
Ford ups the ante with extra front and side styling differentiation at this level, 17-inch alloys, Luxury Sports (Ford's term) suspension, sportier steering rack, front foglights, reverse sensors, premium rear seats, leather steering wheel, full luxury faux-suede/cloth trim and passenger lumbar adjustment while maintaining a clear lead in engine and transmission. However, still no curtain airbags or dual-zone climate control.Holden VE Berlina $40,290
Holden sticks with the cheaper Omega engine, basic four-speed transmission and softer Omega ride/handling package for the Berlina, but delivers full dual-zone climate control, six airbags, six-disc CD player and larger 6-inch display screen over G6, while matching most other G6 features.LUXURY
Ford FG G6E $46,990
Ford's upgraded six and benchmark ZF six-speed auto, leather seat trim and reversing camera (a first for a local luxury sedan) kicks in with only a $500 increase over the previous run-out Fairmont Ghia. G6E is aimed at V6 versions of the Calais ($45,790) and Calais V ($54,290) hence the in-between specification and pricing. Six airbags, eight-way electric driver's seat, sports steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, 7-inch high-resolution colour display screen, eight-speaker premium sound, electrochromatic rear vision mirror and Bluetooth fill out the equipment list and place it ahead of the Calais in several areas. Extra exterior features include mirror-mounted indicators and extra chrome highlights.Holden VE Calais $45,790
Holden adds its High Output engine (195kW/340Nm vs Ford's standard 195kW/391Nm) but only with a five-speed auto, projector headlights, six-way electric driver's seat and 6.5-inch screen display which now struggle to level with G6E, while Calais matches G6E's airbags, dual-zone climate control and most appearance upgrades. Cloth trim continues at Calais level.Holden VE Calais V $54,290
Not a direct rival to the G6E in equipment, nor G6E Turbo in performance. Calais V's main purpose is to offer 18-inch alloy wheels, extra exterior highlights, leather trim, zone-based front and rear parking assist, memory settings for driver's seat and exterior mirrors, rain sensing wipers, eight-way electric driver and passenger's seat and rear overhead DVD for those Calais V buyers who don't want a V8.Ford FG G6E Turbo $54,990
Ford's flagship weapon adds heavily revised 270kW/533Nm turbocharged six (which just happens to match or beat Holden's 6.0-litre V8) to its luxury range. Specification includes standard six-speed auto, Luxury Performance suspension, upper level brakes, rear spoiler, 18-inch alloys and extra exterior detailing over G6E -- and all for only $700 more than the relatively soft V6 Calais V. Despite the impressive kit and awesome turbo launch, the G6E Turbo has a very different feel to Holden's linear and effortless V8 power delivery. Ford has chosen not to deliver a G8E luxury sports rival with the XR8 powertrain, leaving that role to the FPV GT-E.Holden VE Calais V $59,290
Holden's top luxury performance model features sublime 270kW/530Nm 6.0-litre V8 and six-speed auto with extra exterior detailing over Calais, zone-based front and rear parking assist, leather trim, 18-inch alloys and Cadillac-reminiscent V badging. Memory settings for driver's seat and exterior mirrors, rain sensing wipers, eight-way electric passenger's seat as well as driver's seat and rear overhead DVD are main advances over G6E, but G6E's wildcard reversing camera is unmatched at any level.SPORTS
Ford FG Falcon XR6 $39,990
Ford's superior new six-speed manual makes a big impression at this entry sporty level with a choice of excellent five or six-speed autos. Stock six with 195kW/391Nm is lustier and more frugal than before, while new sports steering rack, XR Sports suspension, unique XR tail lights and XR headlight treatment lift base sporty Falcon motoring to another level. XT's lack of curtain airbags still applies, although front sports seats kick in at XR6 level. Main criticism is conservative and too familiar front styling which looks like the old car's.Holden VE SV6 $40,290
Striking VE SV6 sports look and dual exhaust still hold their own. Now with curtain airbags, but harsher 195kW/340Nm V6 and its inferior six-speed manual fall behind Ford offering. Rear Park Assist and curtain airbags are welcome over XR6 at this level but base front seats needed upgrading even when released in 2006 -- more so now.Ford FG Falcon XR6 Turbo $45,490
Ford's 'same price' hot XR models offer amazing extra value over outgoing range with heavily revised 270kW/533Nm turbocharged six (close enough to previous F6 Typhoon) and superb new TR6060 six-speed manual plus beefy 290mm clutch or six-speed auto. New 18-inch alloys with lock nuts are the most striking of the current crop while big new brakes, extra agility and sheer grunt could make the FG XR6 Turbo a new performance benchmark.Ford FG Falcon XR8 $45,490
Effectively the previous FPV GT with a new and much better six-speed manual and clutch, much improved agility and steering for almost $20,000 less. Not quite as agile or as easy-going as torquey SS, but certainly as much fun when you access the full 290kW/520Nm and open up its semi-active exhaust with its new found handling balance and steering accuracy. Bonnet bulge lifts old style front. Although fuel economy is improved, fuel bills can be high.Holden VE Commodore SS $45,290
Any new Ford has to be extra good to upset SS benchmark performance, value and looks status but both new Ford engines outgun its 270kW/530Nm in at least one area that only a head-to-head showdown will resolve. Both SS transmissions are now behind Ford's six-speed manual and auto. Curtain airbags, six disc CD player, rear park assist and quad exhausts are useful advances over XR.Ford XR Luxury Pack $5000/$5400 (depending on model)
Ford offers a similar package to Commodore SS-V on all its XR drivetrain combinations but neglects to give it a name and external identification which tips it into a resale black hole. If you are prepared to tear up $5000 or more, the XR Luxury Pack transforms the XR cabin into something really special with full leather trim, dual-zone climate control, Premium audio system, sports steering wheel, top-shelf cabin highlights and 19-inch alloys. Even though the Luxury Pack generates a $50,490 final figure for Ford's no name XR6 Turbo/XR8 luxury models, buyers still need to tick another option box to match the Commodore's across-the-range curtain airbags.Holden VE Commodore SS V $52,790
This is where Holden runs away from Ford every time when it adds Cadillac-inspired V badging and extra detailing to reward its top-shelf SS buyers -- arguably worth an extra $5000 at resale time on its own. Apart from the SS V's projector headlights, quad exhausts, sports gauges and colour-coded instruments, there is not much else between Ford's anonymous XR Luxury Pack and SS V, however.Share this article
Written byJoe Kenwright
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