2008 Orion Falcon - First Pictures

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Your logic does make sense - Futura's kind of a pointless model at this stage with Fairmont AND Fairmont Ghia.

It'll be interesting to see how it pans out. Is the Embargo lifted yet?

[fpv_gtho]

Futura's got no market right now. It was supposed to attract family buyers, but with the terrible resale within the large market theyre either downsizing or sticking to the used market. XT still attracts fleets despite their love of the XR6, so those with the money to flaunt on a new car seem to spend the extra few grand on either the sports models, gets a Fairmont or waits a few months for a runout special.

[Blue Supra]

Thats crazy. I cant imagine what youd put in SWB LTD (equivalent) over a Fairmont... perhaps the G6 have more grunt and some more or nicer gear inside?

[fpv_gtho]

Another leaked picture. Looks to be a photo taken of a brochure. Courtesy of Paxton from FAF.com

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows

I understand the Falcon has a generally more conservative outlook to begin with, but my query is whether or not these new Kinetic design details will really fit with the rest of the vehicle. having such a flashy (and huge) grille on the front of a car designed mostly for the 50+ crowd may not be the best move.

The Black car could very well be an FPV, but I'd put money on it being something Luxurious.

I'd hate to see a turbo go to waste on a fitty year old man.

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

The BA Ghia was changed from its grandpa car image and recieved some sports touches (and forcing Holdens hand with VY2 remember) and the Ghia probably recieved the most attention with the BF2 upgrade.

Everyone forgets the International series, Holden has been making these since VP 91, It's a SS with Calais options, And over the years they started to change the engine options, Even my car has FE2 must be a dealer option?.
But it seems they stopped making it and made it standard, Then with VE they bring it back.

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

It was alot more than they'd expected though, which was the critical element.

There is of course the chance the G6 wont replace Ghia (The G seems to denote Ghia anyway), but to sit above it as the Fairlane Ghia and G8 sat. With no more Fairlane, theres no more top-line model and Ford have indicated since initial talk of dropping the LWB that they'd release a high-spec SWB to replace it.

I understand this way of thinking, It's a little American in some ways, They didn't wont the Monaro name they wanted GTO for short attension spans.. And if the word can get around G6 and G8 make sence to me perfectly short version of Ghia6 Ghia8.. Smaller Badge looks more tidy.

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

Well, if the marketing is there to support it (highly unlikely for Ford) then it shouldnt have too much trouble. G8 never had a chance considering the BA LWB's barely had any specification advantage over Fairmont, the engines were underpowered compared to Holdens V8's and visually the car was a bit of a goose with how little treatment it recieved compared to SWB. If the G6 really is an upper spec Ghia, it will need some serious equipment though. Perhaps unfortunately, in a similar situation to how Holden dropped SS and Calais down the model chain, i could sooner see G6 become what Ghia is now, with Ghia dropped down in spec and Futura likely being canibalised, keeping the model lineup at 4 spec levels. Or they really are dropping Ghia.

Being in the VE Calais i have to think it's on par with the last Calais, It has everything that the VZ had which came with ESP 17" rims leather sports suspension etc. In some ways the berlina has dropped back a touch to be more like my car was to the Calais, A poor mans calais.

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

Another leaked picture. Looks to be a photo taken of a brochure. Courtesy of Paxton from FAF.com

Please just be a chop


Has anyone got a site we can view the Orion when it comes out?? Some type of countdown??.

[Blitz_]

All pictures are now up across several sites.

I am not so much excited as I was when I saw the VE. I am a Ford person no doubt, but this doesn't do much for me. The large front and rear overhangs look dates, as does the single muffler for the XR8 - it wouldn't hurt would it to follow Holdens lead for a dual or quad set up? As does the rear diffuser design in general.

The XR6T STILL doesn't have enough differentiation from the base models, let alone the XR8. Its the same case scenario but with a new model.

Furthermore, not that impressed by the FPV models. The two small exhuast tips on the back of the super pursuit and its rather, to be frank, shit badging splashed across the back, leave little to be desired with me. The point I am making is that the visual impact of both the Falcon and FPV models leaves alot to be desired. *sigh* at least HSV went for it and made an absolute horn R8 and GTS.


It will probably grow on me as months go by, I'm just let down by the bits and pieces here and there that could have been done to visually give this car some much needed on road presence.

[fpv_gtho]

Model designation FG (FuGly....good one Ford). Model range trimmed. XT, XR6, XR6T and XR8 remain. Futura and Fairmont dumped. G6, G6E and G6E Turbo replace Fairmont lineup. G is a tie-in to Ghia nomeclature, 6 and Turbo relate to the engines whilst E refers to its fake Euro direction.

Power increases to 195kw, torque is 391nm IIRC. Both increase to 198kw and 409nm on 95 octane. No official figures for 98 octane, but claims of over 200kw. Old F6 engine becomes Fords new turbo engine, with slightly less torque. XR8 gets old GT engine with identical 290/520 figures.

New Ford US sourced 5 speed auto replaces outdated 4 speed unit on all petrol sedans, still retained for some utes and Egas models. 6 speed ZF auto remains, new Tremec 6 speed manual replaces T-56. Manual turbo's come with a pseudo launch control that allows a new (smaller?) quicker spooling turbo to reach full boost before launching.

New virtual pivot front suspension and foward mounted steering rack adapted from Territory with new monotube shock absorbers. Ford claim weight savings with the new suspension through use of high tensile steel and alluminium. Theyre also claiming weight savings with a new composite engine plenum chamber, although havent released vehicle weight figures yet so not known whether its lighter or heavier. Modified Control Blade IRS tuned for the new front end, and accompanied with wider track and longer wheelbase, giving a bigger footprint on the road.

XT comes standard with ESP and 4 airbags, XR and G series standard with 6. Ford claims new Falcon will be safest Australian car made yet, with high expectations it'll be the first car to score a 5 star ANCAP rating. Falcon ute and wagon dont recieve the same safety attention, wagon remains infact in the form of BF Mk3.

Exterior and interior more evolutionary than revolutionary. Ford are making a big mistake releasing so many pictures of the car in that blue colour, too many people wont even realise it as a new car if its painted in a BF colour.

[fpv_gtho]

Fg Xr8

[fpv_gtho]

FG G6E Turbo

[fpv_gtho]

Fg Xr6

[fpv_gtho]

FG Falcon ute

[fpv_gtho]

FG Falcon XT

[fpv_gtho]

Fg G6

[fpv_gtho]

FG XR6 Turbo

[fpv_gtho]

Fg G6e