Ford Restructures Pricing

[f-wolf]

New pricing and specification details for Falcon, Territory, Ranger and Focus could be a gambit, or could be a gamble

As a response to Holden's extra value VE Late model camira Lumina and the new Toyota Kluger, Ford is taking the razor to pricing and upping specifications of some of the company's most popular cars.

Surprise, surprise; all automatic Falcons are now fitted as standard with Dynamic Stability Control ('DSC', an electronic stability program). All XR6 and XR8 models are fitted with DSC too.

Previously, DSC was standard for all turbo and V8 XR models, but not the naturally aspirated XR6. This change, in common with most of the others announced, takes effect from July 1.

DSC is also fitted as standard to all Territory models, bringing a standard ESP system to market in their volume selling SUV a month before the Kluger's local launch.

XR6 Falcon with the optional ZF six-speed auto is now offered with standard 'Interior Command Centre' (ICC) with dual-zone climate control and a premium six-stack CD audio system. This change also applies to all XR6 Turbo and XR8 models.

18-inch alloy wheels are now adopted as a standard feature for the XR6 with ZF box and both manual and auto XR6 Turbo models. These wheels were already fitted to the XR8 models prior to July 1.

"Recommended retail pricing on the Falcon XR range has been reduced by up to 4.3 per cent," Ford Australia President Tom Gorman said.

"However, if you incorporate the value of the premium features and safety equipment that has been added across the Falcon XR range, the overall value equation has improved by as much as 14.6 per cent."

As a guide, the base manual XR6 has been reduced from $39,710 to $37,990. With the standard DSC now fitted, that vehicle's effective discount is worth approximately 6.5 per cent.

For those XR models that have undergone the greater change, the prima facie price discount ranges from 2.1 per cent for the XR8 auto to 3.0 per cent for the XR6 with ZF. Adjusted for the extra features added to the vehicle's standard specification, the difference in price is effectively 7.2 per cent for the XR8 auto and 14.6 per cent for the XR6 with ZF.

In the case of the Territory, the DSC was not previously available as a standard feature of the RWD TX and TS models. Adding to the Territory package, additional convenience features will make their way into the line-up from September 1.

The Territory Ghia will regain a memory function for the six-way adjustable powered driver's seat. An electro-chromatic (auto dipping) rear vision mirror will be introduced for the Ghia at the same time.

Price reductions for the Territory range from 3.8 to 5.8 per cent. The entry level Territory TX with RWD now commences from $37,990. With the inclusion of DSC, the adjustment represents a 5.9 per cent improvement on the previous price.

"With the Compact and Medium SUV segments now more hotly contested than ever before, these changes will see Territory continue to be the first choice amongst SUV buyers and maintain its leadership position", Mr Gorman said.

Ford's Ranger light commercial vehicle range, which is a twin to the Mazda BT-50, has been singled out for new pricing and the inclusion of standard air conditioning for the base XL model cab chassis.

"Customers can now take advantage of fantastic value deals right across the Ranger line-up with price reductions of up to 13.4 per cent on 4x2 models and up to 7.7 per cent on 4x4 models," Mr Gorman said.

With the upgraded Focus due shortly, Ford advises that the new car will sell at $19,990 for the CL manual sedan and hatch -- a reduction of $1000 from the current model's $20,990. The option of side impact airbags, curtain airbags, DSC and traction control will also be offered as a safety pack.

More details of the new Focus range will be released later this week.

[XtRmn8]

Not bad at all, lets just hope Orion gets same specs and prices stay the same.

The XR6T is event better value now

Would have been nice if the XR6T utes also got the same treatment.

Edited 02/07/07 04:57 AM by XtRmn8

[XRBloke]

It's Christmas in July on Popular Ford Models

Ford Australia today announced a host of key enhancements across its popular Falcon, Territory, Ranger and Focus model lines, including more safety equipment, additional features and revised pricing. Effective from July 1, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is now fitted as standard equipment on all automatic petrol and XR Falcon sedans, and across the entire Territory range, further improving the already strong safety credentials of Ford's family car and top-selling SUV models.

DSC has been added to the standard specification of all automatic transmission-equipped petrol Falcon XT, Futura and Fairmont sedan models, along with all normally aspirated XR6 variants – six-speed manual, four-speed automatic and six-speed automatic.

Falcon XR6 Turbo and XR8 models, as well as Fairmont Ghia, are already fitted with DSC as standard equipment.

Also part of the greater standardisation of key features, a number of high-series items, previously available as an option, are now fitted as standard on selected Falcon XR models.

The premium Interior Command Centre (ICC) – featuring automatic climate control air conditioning with dual zone temperature control and premium audio system with large colour screen, six-disc in-dash CD player, 150-watt amplifier and 150-watt sub-woofer – is now standard on XR6 with the optional six-speed automatic transmission, and all XR6 Turbo and XR8 models.

In addition, 18-inch alloy wheels are also included in the feature-packed upgrade on XR6 six-speed automatic, and both manual and automatic XR6 Turbo models (18-inch alloy wheels are already standard on XR8).

"With the release of BF Falcon MkII in October last year, we took the deliberate strategic action of repositioning some of our most popular Falcon models, in order to deliver an even more customer-focused price and specification set for our vehicles," Ford Australia President Tom Gorman said.

"We have now taken these actions a step further, building on the overall competitiveness of the Falcon brand with the most comprehensively equipped Falcon range we have ever released.

"These latest Falcon offerings deliver sensational value to customers and further increase the attractiveness of the entire Falcon range."

In addition to the greater levels of standard equipment and safety features, changes have also been made to the recommended retail pricing on Falcon, further improving the overall value proposition on a number of individual models.

"Recommended retail pricing on the Falcon XR range has been reduced by up to 4.3 per cent," Mr Gorman said.

"However, if you incorporate the value of the premium features and safety equipment that has been added across the Falcon XR range, the overall value equation has improved by as much as 14.6 per cent.

"In conjunction with the host of improvements and pricing actions we introduced on BF Falcon MkII, the current Falcon range is now a standout in terms of value for money."

See pricing pages for full BF Falcon MkII pricing information

Territory

The Territory model range has also been improved as a result of increased safety equipment, additional interior features and revised pricing on most models, cementing its position at the top of the SUV sector.

With the advent of DSC on Territory TX RWD and TS RWD models, the complete Territory line-up is now equipped with the latest in chassis control systems, adding to the already high levels of active safety built into each Territory.

Territory Ghia RWD and AWD models, along with the Territory Ghia Turbo, will all gain extra comfort features from September 1.

A memory function will return to the six-way power driver's seat as standard equipment on all three Ghia models, along with an electrochromatic interior rear vision mirror.

Recommended retail pricing on all normally aspirated Territory models has changed, with most models benefiting from a reduction of between 3.8 per cent and 5.8 per cent.

"Territory has been a clear leader in the Medium SUV segment since it was launched, playing a major role in the boom that has seen sales of SUVs increase dramatically over the past few years," Mr Gorman said.

"With the Compact and Medium SUV segments now more hotly contested than ever before, these changes will see Territory continue to be the first choice amongst SUV buyers and maintain its leadership position."

See pricing pages for full SY Territory pricing information

Ranger

Mr Gorman also announced new pricing for the PJ Ranger line-up, along with the addition of air conditioning as a no cost option on the entry-level, manual transmission XL Single Cab cab/chassis models.

"Ranger has proved extremely popular since it was officially launched in late 2006, especially following the arrival of the five-speed automatic transmission variants earlier this year," Mr Gorman said.

"Customers can now take advantage of fantastic value deals right across the Ranger line-up with price reductions of up to 13.4 per cent on 4x2 models and up to 7.7 per cent on 4x4 models."

See pricing pages for full PJ Ranger pricing information

Focus

Pricing for the new Focus range will start from $19,990 for the entry-level manual CL hatchback and sedan, including dual front airbags and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) as standard equipment.

Side airbags, curtain airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control (TC) will also be available on CL models as part of an optional safety pack.

Full pricing and specification for the entire 2007 Focus range, including the all-new turbo-diesel Focus TDCi, will be released later this week.

[turbotrana]

its hardly worth buying a second hand car nowadays. Property has skyrocketed while cars are effectively getting cheaper and better

[SCRIBR]

jease!

I think my cars worth about 25k now!

that's good deals

[ZAP]

They are getting worried people will not buy BF's and wait for Orion.

All I can say Mr Gorman, is well done, but where is my F...ing "electrochromatic interior rear vision mirror" you decided to delete from my Turbo Territory without telling me ?

[Dillz]

its hardly worth buying a second hand car nowadays. Property has skyrocketed while cars are effectively getting cheaper and better

Serious? My XR6T Dropped 19k in 3 years with all the extra's and only 70k on the clock. Property has skyrocketed only in the inner suburbs but strong and steady in the outers. Think in a few years the awsome XR6T you buy now will be half price when you sell, and if it's been treated well in my opinion would be a bargain.

[Beaker]

Bugger - if I'd waited a month I'd have got the colour screen and dual climate control for free

[XRBloke]

They are getting worried people will not buy BF's and wait for Orion.

All I can say Mr Gorman, is well done, but where is my F...ing "electrochromatic interior rear vision mirror" you decided to delete from my Turbo Territory without telling me ?

Turbo Ghias never had it from day one, it was a complete f*ck up on fords part.. the whole situation with the memory seats and the elctronchromatic mirror.

Its a stupid plan that's a save my arse for a few months and will make the XR series comparable to VE SV6 / SS / Bogan special .

[SCRIBR]

so u might as well give it hell while your money is going down the drain