Fit for a Falcon

In the face of criticism that its styling is too evolutionary, the most striking feature of the new Falcon is its well-executed and 'fresh' interior. The sedan now offers class-leading space and the cabin is more comfortable and stylish, with designers aiming to achieve a higher quality 'feel' for interior finish, seating and appointment.

We spoke to Ford Australia Colour and Trim Manager, Debbie Pascoe at the reveal of the FG, who says she's very proud of the work the team did to 'lift' the big Aussie sedan.

Formerly running an interior design firm in Sydney, Pascoe joined Ford's style team four years ago, charged with the job of making decisions on colours and materials for the new Falcon.

The brief was to make the new model look and feel more upmarket; to inspire a change in buyers' perceptions of the sedan's quality after research told designers customers wanted "more sporty characteristics and more luxury from their Falcon".

The group in charge of the Falcon's new look was in place right from the outset. Numbering just five, the colour and trim team arrived "after only a few months in", initially to "try to get an understanding of our customers; who we're designing it for," said Pascoe.

Pascoe explained the earlier stylists can add potential materials and palettes to a wishlist, the better the end result.

"Technology just keeps moving," Pascoe said. "If you wait too long, you're working with what you've got. It literally takes three solid years to develop a fabric. You can develop something that you think is beautiful, that suddenly fails.

"We work on advance materials very early, because if you get those right you can properly implement the design. The more in-advance you can work, the better the outcome will be because you have opportunity to get those advance materials."

The look of modernity throughout the new Falcon includes the trim on places such as the gearshift lever. Pascoe explained that on some models the material was designed to have a carbon-fibre look, but it was made very subtle to remain up-to-the-minute.

Pascoe explained the G6E's silver-coloured trims for the HVAC and centre consoles were toned down so that they would not be considered "garish".

"The finish is actually yellow-tinted without being gold, with silver buttons. It's all about softening and subtleties," says Pascoe. "The idea is to play with warm and cool finishes."

The Falcon's more spacious interior has benefitted from a lighter-toned palette for the trim adding a sense of openness and comfort, and some ceremony in the leather-clad models… even if it was a "design accident".

"I wanted to go a bit lighter [than what's available interior-wise]," said Pascoe. "The leather is actually several values [tones] lighter than the carpet and plastics. And I wanted to go at least that light, but they wouldn't let me.

"So I asked 'what if we darken the carpet, or some of the plastics', and basically I left the light [toned] seat in. I told them it was a design accident when they told me it looked good!"

The constant exchange of fashion affects the auto industry too. A material or colour scheme popular last year may not make the grade six or 12 months later, and Ford's team made sure the Falcon's trim was in a style to suit the times.

"You won't see any velours in this vehicle. Suedes, maybe flocked soft fabrics, but no velour. And suede for automotive purposes, not like a jacket. It's more like you'd find on a lounge, or café."

According to Pascoe, using flocked fabric [for G6E's seat inserts] is unusual in automotive. The material underwent gruelling tests to be passed, including sandpaper being ground into its weave to prove durability.

Befitting its family sedan role, the materials for areas such as the lower interior door trim were chosen for robustness, such as plastic, vinyl or durable leather. In comparison some rivals use suede for up-spec models.

"We looked at the competition and we looked at high-series European models, and at the end of the day we decided this is a family car."

So what was the new Falcon's biggest style influence?

"It's about lifestyle," asserts Pascoe.

"Materials can feel familiar, not necessarily automotive. Some of the [leather] grains you'd find on a handbag, or a piece of good luggage.

"The choices for stitching and fabric for the XR, for example, are picked-up from ideas we got from backpacks and running gear and so on... Lifestyle items," she said.