Ford limbers up to take on VE

Mitsubishi last year launched its all-new 380, while Holden and Toyota are about to plough into the large-car stoush with the VE Commodore and Aurion respectively.

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to deduce that this leaves Ford with the toughest challenge, as it must wage battle with what will soon be the oldest contender in the segment.

The current BF Falcon is an update of the BA, which itself was derived from the 1998 AU. Its all-new replacement -- known internally as Orion -- is not expected until 2008, which means the existing package (or at least the guts of it) must soldier on for another two years.

Be that as it may, the blue oval is presenting a confident front.

"We're not apprehensive in the slightest [at the VE's imminent launch]," says Ford spokesperson Sinead McAlary. "We have the best engineered vehicle in the large-car category, particularly after the upgrades that came with the BF."

These sentiments are echoed -- at least to some degree -- by the CEO of fleet risk management company SurePlan Australia, Tony Robinson.

Says Robinson: "Ford has the best Falcon it's ever had [in BF form], and fleets think so too, based on the car's dynamics and operating costs," he says.

McAlary believes the marketing activity that will coincide with the launch of the VE may actually help Ford by generating renewed public interest in the large-car segment.

However, this doesn't mean Ford plans to sit on its hands while the VE Commodore (for CarPoint's exclusive scoop images of the new VE click

"We got a lot of attention when we launched the BF, and we've got some activities planned that will help keep things fresh and exciting," says McAlary.

The BF was an "engineering upgrade" (rather than a visual one), according to McAlary, "as our customers told us the Falcon still looked fresh at the time."

So can we expect the next Falcon update -- which may arrive towards the end of this year or in early 2007 -- will bring some clearly discernible visual changes? Don't bet against it…

 Resale values are also a key consideration, and McAlary says Ford will be doing what it can to ensure Falcon residuals don't suffer.

"Mitsubishi made a drastic price move with the 380 recently (

"It will be crucial for Ford to try and boost resale value and keep marketing campaigns below the radar," says Robinson. "The more money it throws up front [in order to woo buyers], the more it will impact on resale values.

"Ford will need to target fleet customers individually to keep marketing activity away from the public eye."

Further down the track, it's believed the all-new 2008 Falcon's styling will draw inspiration from Ford Europe's Iosis concept (pictured), which debuted at last September's Frankfurt motor show.

It's believed the next-gen Falcon will use an evolution of the 4.0-litre 'Barra' inline six that powers the current car, and its physical dimensions are expected to be much the same as they are now. Suspension refinements may include the adoption of the Territory's 'virtual pivot' front suspension in lieu of the existing double A-arms.

The car will be designed to be compatible with left- and right-hand-drive formats to boost its credentials as an export proposition.

Holden and Toyota have been exporting left-hand-drive cars to the Middle East and Asia (among other markets) for several years, but Ford has yet to go down this route. It could be critical, especially as the local large-car segment isn't generating anywhere near the volumes it did four or five years ago.