Ford Falcon Wagon Dead

[ZAP]

After years of speculation Ford has finally announced the last Falcon wagon will be built in June.

Ford has finally killed off its ageing Falcon wagon, just months shy of its 50th birthday.

The move is an ominous sign for the rest of the Falcon range, which has struggled to attract buyers in recent years as people have moved to smaller, more efficient cars.

Amid an imminent move for the Falcon to become a global car as part of the One Ford policy to produce near identical cars around the world, Ford Australia president Marin Burela said the Falcon wagon would be “retired” towards the end of 2010.

“After a lot of detailed review … we’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time to retire the Falcon wagon,” he said.

“It’s done an outstanding job for us over the years and has certainly delivered to customer expectation.”

The Falcon wagon missed out on the substantial FG Falcon update that included fresh engines and styling, instead relying on a minor tweak of the old BA/BF Falcon wagon formula.

It has continued with an archaic leaf-spring rear suspension that’s associated with work utes and commercial vehicles.

Ford says it has spoken to fleet buyers who continue to use the load lugger as a tool of trade vehicle and begun pitching the mid-sized Mondeo wagon as an alternative.

The Mondeo wagon is available with a more fuel efficient diesel engine, which will be added to the local line-up in the third quarter of this year.

“Not only does it bring great styling, European styling, great package … it also brings with it an unprecedented level of fuel efficiency that currently doesn’t exist in the marketplace with the introduction of the diesel,” he said.

The Ford boss said the Falcon had served Australian businesses and families well over many decades but it was time to move on.

“We’re very, very comfortable with the decision,” he said. “It was a great car then … it still is a great car now, but we’re now moving forward.”

Burela confirmed the much awaited – and delayed – turbo-diesel version of the Territory would go on sale in 2011.

Ford is also working on a turbocharged, four-cylinder engine for the Falcon sedan, which is expected to bring fuel economy gains of at least 20 per cent.

As the new-vehicle market continues to gather pace, Burela says the demise of the wagon will free up space on its Broadmeadows production line (which has been working on overtime) for other variants.

“My expectation - even without wagon as part of our mix in 2010 - is that our build volume will increase between 10 and 15 per cent.”

The Mondeo wagon went on sale in Australia last July and has so far failed to make a dent in the popularity of Holden’s rival Late model camira Sportwagon, which has proved a sales success.

[IBOO57]

I honestly didnt even know they still made them?

I thought the Territory was meant to fill that role.

Cant say ill miss them.

[RHR]

Its a shame. I would have liked ford to do an FG wagon with IRS

[Rootster]

something like this rhr..

[tab]

Only used by taxis and photocopier technicians these days. But still, sad to see a family member leave us

[South]

If they did a wagon that looked like the above Blue XR? then they would sell like hot cakes, look at the Late model camira SS and Bogan special Wagon, they are everywhere, and starting to see a heap of the HSV variant!

Stupid Ford!

[XtRmn8]

What does this mean for the Falcon ute? I though the wagon and ute are built on the same platform?

[tpinto]

Does not mean anything for the ute, the station wagon platform is that of the old Fairlane/ LTD and they are gone too.

[mercuryturbo]

It makes you wonder why Expensive Daewoo can turn a station wagon into a huge success & Ford cant. Yes, it can be argued that the Territory has filled the roll, but jeezus it aint a proper wagon!

Make it look like rootsters photo, chuck in the T6 or 8 & go head to head with Expensive Daewoo at there own game. FMD I'd buy one.

Just another indication that Ford Aus is going down the tubes & fast with no one else to blame but themselves & their own marketing dept. WANKERS!!

[Gloo]

Turbo wagon... Nuff said..?