More talk of Iosis styled Falcon

[adrenaline]

Scott Strong returns to add muscle definition to Ford’s future performance cars
By NEIL McDONALD 23 March 2006


FOR Ford Australia’s new design director, Scott Strong, Australia represents unfinished business.

As the designer responsible for the successful BA Falcon, he is back to do it all again.

Part of Mr Strong’s new brief is to finalise work on the 2007 Falcon – codenamed Orion – as well as wave his styling wand over the XR and FPV performance Falcons.

In his previous job, Mr Strong was the chief designer for Ford Australia from 1999 to 2001 and oversaw the revamp of the AU Falcon into the successful BA, as well as the start of the Territory 4WD project.

Like the BA, the next-generation Falcon is expected to follow the proven path of being rear-drive, with in-line six-cylinder engines.

Echoing Ford’s global design chief J Mays, Mr Strong also confirmed it would have elements of the Iosis concept car unveiled at last year’s Frankfurt motor show. "I think there’s a bit of that in there, without saying too much. The car looks pretty exciting," he said.

Mr Strong also eluded to the possibility that if budgets allow, Ford would re-invigorate special one-off performance show cars for the key Australian (Sydney) and Melbourne International Motor Shows, as evidenced by his R5 (2000) and R7 (2002) show cars.

In his new role, Mr Strong, 54, will have far wider responsibilities for the brand in Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region than before.

"I was excited by the opportunity in India and Asian regions and other things that are in the planning stages as an adjunct to the work that is done here,” he said.

The broader Ford Australia footprint in the region lured the designer from his North American position where he has been director of design for SUVs and people-movers, as well as the head of design on Ford’s high-performance SVT products in the US.

He said Australia effectively represented unfinished business and the new job was a step up for his career.

"That was primarily the thing that got me very excited. It’s an exciting growth region, which Australia as a continent is so nicely positioned to participate in," he said. "It was a personal choice to return.

Left: Ford Shelby GT500.

“From my perspective this is a much bigger job and therefore interesting and challenging, combined with the fact that I had just immensely enjoyed the automotive culture here.

"The thought of being able to come back where muscle cars still live and breath and there’s a real face off between Ford and that other company... it’s a unique thing in the world."

Although he has not been given a specific brief, he admitted that there was an expectation that "you continue to lift the bar".

A self-confessed muscle-car lover, the issue of Ford’s high-performance vehicles is close to Mr Strong’s heart, and another reason why he wanted to return Down Under.

As the key driver for the BA XR series cars, he was heartened that the sports models had become almost mainstream Fords. He said it was invigorating to see XRs "everywhere", and he was looking forward to influencing the next-generation XR and Ford Performance Vehicle (FPV) high-performance cars.

"We start with the base car, the core car, and as we firm up sheetmetal on that we march on into the performance vehicles. So I’ll have some opportunity and influence on the performance cars. "That will be fun."

Mr Strong’s predecessor Simon Butterworth has already penned much of the work for the next-generation Falcon.

"I’d like to say I’m going to really put my thumbprint on it but actually it’s looking really good," said Mr Strong.

"Aside from maybe offering some advice about a little tweak here and there I think we’re looking pretty good.

"We’re still working on it and will be for a little while as we work our way through the series and performance cars. It will be a winner."

In some ways, Mr Strong’s return vindicates his work on the BA Falcon, which he largely designed and Butterworth finished, as well as his initial work on the Territory.

"If I could turn back the clock there were times when I felt like the surrogate mother (with BA) who gave up their baby but didn’t get to come to the christening," he said.

"We try to be grown up about it and realise that it’s just important that we have great cars out there for people. And that’s the way I’ll build on the work that Simon’s done here.

"I think he’s done a great job."

Beyond the next-generation Falcon and Territory, Strong is cognisant of the need for Australian-produced product and the continuing role of Ford Australia’s design studio.

"I do think Australia has a great chance of sustaining its role as is, and even growing because it’s such a value right now and globally as an engineering product development group," he said.

"I can tell you that having been over in the US, it was not uncommon for them to use the phrase ‘well in Australia we could get this done for...’

"Quite often they would roll out some of the products we do here as examples of how you get a lot for your money.

"I do think Australia is in a very good situation. And again, it’s one of the personal reasons why I’m very excited about being back.

"There is something about a smaller product development group in terms of getting things done efficiently and quickly.

"Sometimes too large of a scale can slow you down. Australia seems to be the right size for delivering a lot for the money that’s invested."

Now he is back, the arrival of the VE Commodore, Toyota Aurion and Mitsubishi 380 – and the continuing surge of new 4WD wagons – are not far from Strong’s thoughts.

He said the Australian market would face the same challenges that every manufacturer was facing elsewhere – the pressure of more players entering the market.

"More than ever, it will be on our shoulders to keep our products heads and shoulders above all the other players that are going to come in and try to take a piece of the pie – and they will," he said.

"When you offer customers more choice, then some of them are going to prefer the other one over yours, all things being equal.

"Our challenge is to keep the positive news rolling and keep the brand equity increasing so people stay true to the brand they’ve grown to love."

OK there needs to be a list made for things confirmed...(or pretty much confirmed) about the Orion Falcon....And to this list can go Iosis styling influences

Finally someone else has confirmed what Mays said last year...so now we can definately expect influences from the Iosis. Hmmm...the Iosis is well...different!!...not what I would view as a typical family car...
Therefore Falcon + Orion = AWSOME

[Monty_Burns]

sounds exciting!

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by ADRENALINE

OK there needs to be a list made for things confirmed...(or pretty much confirmed) about the Orion Falcon....And to this list can go Iosis styling influences

Finally someone else has confirmed what Mays said last year...so now we can definately expect influences from the Iosis. Hmmm...the Iosis is well...different!!...not what I would view as a typical family car...
Therefore Falcon + Orion = AWSOME

See now that is all wrong. We know this about the car.
A. Jack Shit
B. SFA.
C. No pic's.
Which = Not much information at all. But you are already happy and excited about it? Thinking it's awesome?.

"The thought of being able to come back where muscle cars still live and breath and there’s a real face off between Ford and that other company... it’s a unique thing in the world."

Sounds like a FanBoy Would big Tom say that?

We have seen every Ford Model way before it's ready, So it won't take long for some pictures to surface when it's being tested.

[fpv_gtho]

Confirmed already?

Basically the Territory's suspension will slip in, possible AWD and LHD, revised control blade IRS and basically the I6 will keep on.

Dont get confused though between the styling will be BASED off the Iosis and it will have ELEMENTS from the Iosis. Im expecting the Orion to look nothing like the Iosis given its really an RX-8 underneath when you look hard enough, like behind the front wheels

[SlickHolden]

Might share the front end of it?? I liked that look.

[Mr. Jinx]

I doubt that Ford Oz will stray too far from the general sedan design thats worked so well so far.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Ford Aus Learned it's lesson on Controversial design with the AU. I think it's spurred them into conservatism, but with a hint of muscular agression.

The sort of car both a young boy and a grandad can appreciate, which can be no bad thing.

Basically all they have to do is not screw up and they'll have it all over the VE stylingwise.

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows

Basically all they have to do is not screw up and they'll have it all over the VE stylingwise.

I'm sure they have said that before many many times

[fpv_gtho]

The AU's mistake was "assuming" a global look would be accepted here without doing the required market research. Had the research been done, the "New Edge" scheme would never have been seen on the AU.

Ford have long gone back and revised their market research networks and as far back as 2 years ago, people have been secretly shown Orion developments. One such case was a private viewing at Luna Park in Sydney a while back, where a distinct "Sports/European" flavour was described.

[SlickHolden]

The Iosis is not far from the AU. It is what the AU could have been today just about.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

I worry about such a stylised vehicle becoming the architecture of 10 years worth of Falcons - The BA was heavily revised from AU, but still suffers the gumby looking doors.

best to keep it bland an updateable, thus the key of the Commodores success

[adrenaline]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

See now that is all wrong. We know this about the car.
A. Jack Shit
B. SFA.
C. No pic's.
Which = Not much information at all. But you are already happy and excited about it? Thinking it's awesome?.

Before i start, i made a mistake in my first post. I said falcon + orion. I meant to say falcon + iosis. I would have thought that you would have picked that up as the orion is the bloody falcon.

And no it is not all wrong. TWO design bosses have said it. That says something. And no, they havent put it in a legal document and signed it off. It doesnt mean that there isnt truth in it. And BTW when i say 'confirmed' i mean confirmed by someone within ford. Not as in actually confirmed by the company . You dont need pictures to get excited about an upcoming model. And i did not say it would be styled like an iosis. I said "INFLUENCES". Jesus Christ...

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by ADRENALINE

Before i start, i made a mistake in my first post. I said falcon + orion. I meant to say falcon + iosis. I would have thought that you would have picked that up as the orion is the bloody falcon.

And no it is not all wrong. TWO design bosses have said it. That says something. And no, they havent put it in a legal document and signed it off. It doesnt mean that there isnt truth in it. And BTW when i say 'confirmed' i mean confirmed by someone within ford. Not as in actually confirmed by the company . You dont need pictures to get excited about an upcoming model. And i did not say it would be styled like an iosis. I said "INFLUENCES". Jesus Christ...

I know the Falcon is the Orion, And i wasn't talking about the Confirmed or not Confirmed,
It was that you called a car Awesome when we know jack shit about it at all.
You have stuck the boots a fare few times into the VE, It's a disappointment to you, But all we have seen is some test cars running around with camo and stuff we really can't get a idea on it 100% yet, As for all we know what we see is not the finished product.
But for a car you or me have not seen yet, Just mainly speculation on it. you called Awesome??? That is what is Wrong

[adrenaline]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

I know the Falcon is the Orion, And i wasn't talking about the Confirmed or not Confirmed,
It was that you called a car Awesome when we know jack shit about it at all.
You have stuck the boots a fare few times into the VE, It's a disappointment to you, But all we have seen is some test cars running around with camo and stuff we really can't get a idea on it 100% yet, As for all we know what we see is not the finished product.
But for a car you or me have not seen yet, Just mainly speculation on it. you called Awesome??? That is what is Wrong

You still misunderstand me.

I said: Falcon + Iosis = AWSOME

NOT: Falcon (Orion) = AWSOME

We have successfully reached Yr 2 level of understanding

[fpv_gtho]

"ding ding"

"In the red corner......."