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Ford expects the new-look Falcon FG series to inject new interest in the large car market in Australia and New Zealand, despite sales figures showing buyers are moving away from big family sedans.
Sales of large cars across the Tasman last month were down more than 20 per cent. Sales in New Zealand are down 37 per cent in four years. The big-bodied sedans will continue to face challenges as the sales shift continues.
But Ford Australia president Bill Osborne reckons the eighth-generation Falcon series will go a long way towards overcoming buyer resistance.
"The FG Falcon range represents another step forward for automotive vehicle design in Australia," said Osborne. "It is an exceptional large car package that delivers outstanding performance, fuel efficiency, refinement and safety to meet the needs of a wide variety of customers.
"For the first time in Falcon's history, the new model will come to market with three distinct faces on the vehicle, offering private and fleet customers, and sports and luxury customers, a new Falcon to suit their lifestyle."
The 2008 FG Falcon range replaces the BA line-up and is made up of three families: the XT, G Series (G6, G6E, G6E Turbo) and XR (XR6, XR6 Turbo, XR8). The G Series is the luxury/sports offering. Ute and Ford performance vehicles line-ups are also on the way.
All petrol Falcon sedans will come standard with an advanced safety package, incorporating driver and front passenger airbags, front side head/thorax airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control (TC), and Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA).
Side curtain airbags, with front side thorax airbags, are standard on premium sedan models but also as an option across the rest of the sedan range. A new reverse camera system is standard on G6E and G6E Turbo models, and optional on the overt sports XR range, while a reverse sensing system is standard on all G Series models and as an option across the rest of the sedan range.
All FG Falcon Utes will have ABS with EBD as standard, while Traction Control is standard on XR Utes and optional on the remainder of the Falcon Ute line-up.
The new FG series prefix also serves to acknowledge the heritage of the long-running Fairmont and Ghia nameplates, also celebrated with the G6, G6E and G6E Turbo models.
The entry-level XT comes with the choice of either a 4-litre straight-six petrol engine producing 195kW of power and 391Nm of torque and matched to a five-speed automatic transmission with Sequential Sports Shift (SSS), or an optional 156kW E-Gas dedicated LPG engine with a four-speed SSS auto.
The ZF six-speed automatic transmission is available as an option on the petrol engine.
The entry-level G Series model, the G6, adds to the XT's features a different front bumper and grille, front fog lamps and 17-inch alloy wheels, along with luxury interior appointments, including suede seat bolsters and a rear centre armrest.
The G6 also incorporates sports suspension and a reverse sensing system.
The G6E builds upon the G6, adding a six-speed automatic transmission, indicators integrated into the side mirrors, a front fender badge, 17-inch alloy wheels and a unique G6E front grille.
The 4-litre engine in the G6E Turbo produces 270kW and 533Nm and is matched to the six-speed automatic transmission.
The XR range incorporates a host of features over and above the Falcon XT, including a new Tremec six-speed manual transmission as standard with the option of either the five-speed automatic or the six-speed automatic transmissions and sports suspension.
The XR6 Turbo builds on the equipment levels of the XR6 with a range of performance and comfort-oriented features, including a 270 kW/533 Nm I6 Turbo engine, limited slip differential, upgraded front brakes and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The XR8 and its 5.4-litre Boss 290kW V8 engine shares major equipment specifications with the XR6 Turbo and is differentiated by its engine and bonnet power bulge and a new exhaust system.
The FG Ute will go on sale after the mainstream sedan range, available in either cab chassis or styleside box bodystyles with a choice of engines and transmissions, including the E-Gas LPG unit.
