Ford is toying with revealing next year’s all-important facelifted Falcon early, and has also hinted the long-standing nameplate could stick around beyond 2017.

While Holden was forced to rip the covers off the VF Commodore four months before its high-tech new models hit the showrooms because of the Chevy SS reveal at Daytona Speedway this week, Ford is looking to stimulate interest in its fledgling large car with a drip-feed reveal program that could start as early as September - up to six months before production commences.

“We haven’t announced when we will start production of the 2014 Falcon yet, and we haven’t locked in when we will start talking about it publicly also,” Ford President Bob Graziano told Drive during a ceremony to celebrate FPV production commencing at its Broadmeadows plant.

“But there is an opportunity to begin that process this year. We have a very busy year ahead of us with a raft of exciting new products and we certainly think they all deserve some fresh air around them.

“We’re looking at our options.”

The Falcon is fighting for fresh air against a range of new models that are likely to provide Ford with more sales than the local hero, including the all-new Kuga and Ecosport SUVs and the revised Fiesta range that includes new top-and-tail models: the ultra fuel efficient 1.0-litre Ecoboost and the sporty ST with its 1.6-litre turbo.

But the Falcon is still an important vehicle for Ford. And after Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux confirmed last week that the Commodore nameplate would live on after the current model is replaced by a global platform, Graziano also didn’t rule out the possibility Ford could continue with the Falcon badge beyond 2017 when it is expected the locally-produced large sedan will be replaced by a global car.

While Ford's "One Ford" mantra is designed to produce a range of vehicles that are sold under the same nameplate in all markets - such as the Fiesta and Focus - there is a precedent set with Ford’s mid-sized front-wheel drive car, which is sold as the Fusion in the US and the Mondeo in Europe and other markets, that could open the door for a similar car to be badged as a Falcon here in Australia.

“We have to see where we go with our strategy moving forward,” Graziano said.

“There is a lot of speculation regarding what we’re doing beyond the 2014 Falcon refresh. And at the moment, everything is an option for us.”

source: smh.com.au

I do hope that Ford remembers that the Australian people have been making them money for a long time and that they need to be considered when Ford makes it decisions to stop producing cars here.

Let's hope that the New Model has less problems than previous ones and that Ford advertises them.

A BIG +1 there... I'm having a hard time remembering the last time I saw an ad for Falcon.

Lets hope it looks a bit better than the last few.....sorry FG owners, but they're not exactly an exciting looking car....and gee, it'll probably have a 4 cyl turbo......yay......

Sorry, new Fords don't exactly fill my heart with joy. Please, Ford, prove me wrong!

Hope so! I just bought one..

shutup & build cars ford....

So so keen to see the new facelift.


+1
Ford did stuff all the last few years, other than ring in Moffat for a short and underwhelming ad campaign.
Im so sick and tired of seeing Commodores everywhere...

Your not the only one sick of all the new dunnydoors getting around. Ford, it's time to market your Falcon range, it's also time to let AUS know you are not going to kill the rwd off. If you do that, any new car you call a "Falcon" that ends up fwd will be a failure.

Time to man up FORD AUS, tell the US the new mustang platform will be the same one that RWD Falcon is built upon! That way there is justification to keep the RWD chassis going.

Cheers

ToranaGuy

Well said.
An Australian manufactured car based more on the Mustang would be cool!

Hit the nail on the head!