Ford BF Falcon MkII: Improved Efficiency, Safety, Style

By Feann Torr - 6/Oct/2006

Melbourne, Australia — As the price of petrol dips, sales of large cars will increase, because fuel prices are one of the key drivers of new car market growth. Another market driver is the release of new models. 

With the VE Commodore launch in late August, the impending Toyota Aurion V6 coming in November and now Ford's updated MkII BF Falcon hitting the streets, we can expect large car sales to mount a quasi-comeback over the next few months.

The proof is in the pudding: for the month of September 2006 - the first full month of retail sales for the new VE Commodore - sales were up 8.5 per cent compared to this time last year (Sept. '05). 

Ford is hoping that the same will come to pass for its new Falcon model, the BF MkII, when it goes on sale later in the month (October 2006) from $34,990 (for the full list of BF MkII Falcon pricing, click here or scroll to the bottom of the page).

In comparison, Holden's VE Commodore range starts at about five hundred bucks less ($34,490) but if you want air-conditioning like is standard on all Falcons, it'll cost you $36,490 for the Holden, and in a country like Australia one can ill afford to be without it. That said, the loyalty of Holden buyers is expected to negate this issue, who will be willing to fork out an $1,500 over the new BF MkII Falcon to stick with the lion brand.

Ford will also be kick-starting its BF MkII sales campaign with a number of special offers that purport to wipe roughly $3,600 from the price of its Euro Sports package, which can be bundled on top of most entry- to mid-level models.

Ford's new 6-cylinder Falcon models are also more frugal vehicles than either Toyota's new 4-cylinder Camry or the 6-cylinder VE Commodore models when equipped with the 6-speed auto gearbox:

• Ford: BF MkII Falcon 6-speed auto: 10.2L/100km

• Holden: VE Commodore 5-speed auto: 10.9L/100km

• Toyota: Camry 5-speed auto: 9.9L/100km

Together with the new exterior styling cues, updated interior trims, and solid standard features, it's clear that Ford wants to kick goals with its new MkII Falcon. And Ford Australia's President, Tom Gorman, agrees:

"BF Falcon MkII builds on the strong engineering foundations laid by the BF Falcon and SY Territory programs, while also delivering a host of fresh exterior and interior styling elements that further refine the Falcon's contemporary design.

"We have taken the deliberate strategic action of repositioning some of our most popular vehicles..." added Gorman, a move which will be necessary to for it stay competitive, as Holden had slashed prices with its sports and luxury VE Commodore models. 

"The large car market is more competitive now than at any time in recent memory," explained Gorman. "These pricing actions will allow Ford to maintain our strong share of this segment, which has been the genesis of our success over many decades, while also increasing the attractiveness of the Falcon range to other customers.

"Recommended retail pricing of our premium Falcon XR models has been reduced by up to 12.4 per cent, while Fairmont Ghia has benefited from a reduction of 12.1 per cent compared to the previous model," Mr Gorman said.

Ford Australia today released the new pricing on the BF MkII Falcon range, and it turns out there's no change to the Falcon XR6 and Fairmont models, while the entry-level Falcon XT and mid-level Futura models have risen by 0.3 per cent.

I mentioned the addition of the Euro Sports Package for the new BF earlier in the piece, and this will initially stimulate sales of the new Falcon as Ford will be offering the $3,900 package for $250 for a limited time. It can be added to XT, Futura and Fairmont sedan models and adds the 6-speed automatic transmission, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), sports control blade independent rear suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels and tyres.

Ford will also offer new model XR6 buyers a special deal that adds the 6-speed automatic transmission and DSC. Ford says this package normally sells for $2,350, but will also be offered at $250 between November and December 2006.

With sweeteners such as these, the new BF MkII Falcon is likely to improve large car sales even further: "With the recent influx of new models sparking renewed interest in the large car segment, the new BF Falcon MkII offers customers an exceptional family car package that delivers outstanding fuel economy, performance, refinement and safety," Mr Gorman said.

And though it may not look quite as flashy as Holden's new VE Commodore, Ford's new MkII Falcon will tempt large car buyers with gains in fuel economy, as Ford Australia's main man, Tom Gorman, opined: "I don't think they've [Holden] listened to the customers as well as we have when it comes to fuel economy."

It's not just media hyperbole either. Ford's 4.0-litre inline 6-cylinder engine, the volume seller for Ford - and despite being larger and developing more torque than Holden's current 3.6-litre V6 - drinks less fuel than Holden's V6 Commodore. Ford will also offer it's 6-speed automatic transmission on all sedan models - including the entry level XT as an option - which further reduces fuel consumption.

Ford is basing its new BF MkII Falcon push on fuel economy reductions rather than an all-out new model like Holden, though the visual differences aren't as dramatic as those seen in Holden's all-new Commodore. Ford will offer a range of new colours for the MkII BF models, including the intriguingly named Octane (a luridly bright orange), and a new Chromaflair colour for the XR range, and it has given the Falcon range of utes new front and rear styling to boot.

The new styling appears to improve the BF look with angled headlight clusters and sportier front fascias (but not on XR models), and the pick of the bunch is the Fairmont Ghia, which is now a much more sporty proposition than before and will create real a rivalry with the Holden's VE Calais.

Like the performance oriented XR models, the Fairmont Ghia also receives an exposed chrome exhaust, matching rear apron, contoured side skirts and bold Ghia badging. All models except for the sports XR models (XR6, XR6 turbo, XR8) get the new look, and when quizzed on when the XR models would come in for a face-lift, Ford was non-committal, saying that XR owners were more than happy with the current sporty look.

As well as the sportier front ends, all models - including XRs - get new instrument clusters including speedometers and tachometers, and some models will benefit from new trim levels and seat upholstering. XR models get a new "Chicane" metallic weave seat trim, and some customisation can be had (like VE's SS and SS V models), such as different stitching and embroidery colours.

As well as improved economy in the new Falcon models with the 4-speed automatic gearbox, Ford will now offer the German made 6-speed auto in all sedan models, including the entry level ST. For most models it is a $1250 cost option, and improves fuel consumption further over the 4-speed auto, but Ford kept tight lipped over how much the 6-speed auto would be in entry level XT models.

"The introduction of the new BF Falcon MkII is the next step in the evolution of the iconic Falcon brand," said Mr Gorman.

Taking a swipe at the entry level VE Commodore's 4-speed auto only option in Omega and Berlina models, Ford Australia's president added, "In the last two years we've delivered a seven per cent improvement in fuel efficiency on the Falcon XT. The availability of the 6-speed automatic transmission on [entry-level] Falcon XT with the BF MkII program has taken the level of improvement even further, to more than 11 per cent."

Equipped with the 6-speed automatic transmission, the XT Falcon is expected to match the 2.4-litre 4-cylinder Camry on the road and best the Commodore.

Ford has also made changes to the Falcon's options list by offering DSC, or dynamic stability control, across its entire range of sedans. This is seen to be a move in direct response to Holden's ESP, or electronic stability program, offered across its VE Commodore range. Previously, DSC was only offered on sports and luxury model Falcons. DSC is not an option on it's own, and as mentioned above buyers will have to fork out for an optional Euro Sports Package, which includes DSC, the 6-speed transmission, sports rear suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels and tyres.

Ford said that it wasn't looking at diesel power for its Falcon in the short or even mid-term, and would concentrate on its LPG model instead. Ford Australian's president, Tom Gorman, also mentioned that there will be "...more surprises with Focus," which we took to be a sign that it will be bringing the Focus convertible here later in the year, which wouldn't harm the small car's already solid reputation.

So there it is. Ford is taking a stand on fuel efficiency with the new Falcon, and Holden is tempting buyers with comprehensively re-engineered VE Commodore model. As always, it should be a most excellent stoush, and with Toyota trying to muscle in with its V6 Aurion, we could see some blue language being exchanged between the three camps...

Ford BF Falcon MkII Pricing:

Sedans & Wagons
Falcon XT sedan (manual)     $34,990
Falcon XT sedan (auto)     $35,990
Falcon XT wagon     $37,720
Futura sedan     $39,290
Futura wagon     $41,375
Fairmont sedan     $43,195
Fairmont Ghia sedan (I6)     $46,490
Falcon XR6 sedan     $39,710
Falcon XR6 Turbo sedan (manual)     $43,990
Falcon XR6 Turbo sedan (auto)     $45,490
Falcon XR8 sedan (manual)     $44,990
Falcon XR8 sedan (auto)     $46,490

Utes
Falcon XL Ute C/C (manual)     $27,450
Falcon XL Ute SSB (manual)     $27,875
Falcon XLS Ute C/C (manual)     $29,145
Falcon XLS Ute SSB (manual)     $29,795
Falcon RTV Ute C/C (manual)     $31,950
Falcon RTV Ute SSB (manual)     $32,900
Falcon XR6 Ute C/C (manual)     $33,990
Falcon XR6 Ute SSB (manual)     $34,620
Falcon XR6 Turbo Ute (manual)     $40,445
Falcon XR8 Ute (manual)     $41,595

Options Example - Falcon XT sedan with 5-speed manual - $34,990

• 4-speed automatic     $1,000

• 6-speed automatic     $1,500

• E-Gas 4.0-litre DLPG     $1,400

• Barra 230 V8 (includes 6-speed auto)     $6,000

• Euro Sports Package     $3,900

• Prestige paint     $400

• Power windows (rear)     $470

• Prestige audio system     $700

• Power adjustable pedals     $250

• Reverse sensing system     $500

• Side airbags     $600

• Sunroof     $2,400

• DVD satellite navigation system     $3,800

• Limited slip differential     $400

• 1600 kg towpack     $495

• 4 pack of 17-inch alloy wheels     $1,500

• Bluetooth mobile phone kit     $495