Ford noncommittal

As the Orion launch slowly inches forward, stories about the plans of Ford Australia have become increasingly eye-popping. Depending on who you believe, the inline six-cylinder engine is reputed to be going to God and Focus is allegedly a dead-set certainty to be assembled from CKD packs on the production line at Campbellfield in Melbourne's north!

So what's really happening?

The engine debate first. News 'broke' earlier this week that the venerable and well-regarded Falcon six will be replaced by a smaller capacity V6 that will comply with upcoming global emissions legislation. The reports have raised concerns among the public ranging from "how does that affect the engine line workers at Ford's Geelong plant?" to "will that kill off the XR6 Turbo Falcon?"

Talk to Ford though, and nothing's on the table yet. Sinead McAlary, Ford's Manager Public Affairs, denies that anything is set in concrete.

"We're looking at a range of alternatives...not just engines..." she said.

"Our position hasn't changed…" she continued, explaining that the company was studying many different ideas that would help Ford to survive and thrive for the next "10 to 15 years."

On the subject of the third product on the Campbellfield line (Falcon and Territory being the 'other' two), she asked rhetorically: "How do we get the Broadmeadows facility working at 100 per cent of capacity?"

But just in case you take that as an implicit affirmation that there will be a third line produced at the Ford factory, Ms McAlary was quick to point out that "one option doesn't necessarily cancel out the other."

We take this to mean that a third product line could be a stop-gap solution if the Orion project Falcon doesn't sell in the necessary numbers expected.

The operative words there are 'could' and 'if'.

Anybody got a crystal ball?

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