Ford will not make a decision on its next-generation Falcon until 2011, although it will continue with its current rear-drive sedan until 2015, says Ford Australia president Marin Burela.
Burela told website GoAuto it was too early to lock in any direction for the large car.
"We are very fortunate
- we don't have to make that call yet," he said. "The natural time for the Falcon replacement would occur at the end of 2014, early 2015."
Ford Australia will not need to make any decisions until after the new four-cylinder EcoBoost engine is introduced in the Falcon in 2011.
"We would then typically be in a position when we would need to make a decision on powertrains, platform and technologies by the end of 2011," Burela said.
"So between now and then, we have a lot of time to work with our global product development team and also the local team here to ensure that we do the right thing."
Ford's global president Alan Mulally said last year that the next Falcon would share a platform with other large front-drive, rear-drive or all-wheel-drive Ford models in the US.
The Falcon will be the first rear-drive car to be fitted with the turbo four-cylinder engine, which will be imported.
The current Falcon platform can be traced to the BA Falcon of 2002, but was upgraded with new double-wishbone front suspension for the FG model launched last year.
Burela said it was more than good enough to last until 2015.
"All of our insights in terms of the vehicle's acceptance and the plans that we have for it as we progress through this cycle give us absolute confidence that the freshness of the car, the acceptability of the car, the technology levels of the car and now with the additional powertrain actions that we are putting in there will give it the absolute life that it needs to take it through until the end of that cycle," he said.
"That rear-wheel drive platform is a very, very good platform. There is no compelling reason to go out there to make any decisions or changes."
