Ford kills off Falcon wagon

Ford's Falcon is on the chopping block, and the wagon variant is already gone.

Ford has announced that its Falcon wagon is no more.

The Aussie-built stationwagon has been available for nearly 50 years, and was once a popular family or fleet vehicle.

High fuel prices and consumer demand for smaller vehicles have hit the large Aussie cars hard, and are likely driving factors in the move.

Ford New Zealand says it will now concentrate on the Mondeo wagon, which is available in a petrol and a diesel version.

"We've certainly seen an increasing shift in consumer preferences for the Mondeo wagon," said Ford managing director Trevor Auger.

"The shift has been driven by a growing customer expectation for improved safety features, new technologies, contemporary styling and the option for alternative fuels"

Ford chief executive Alan Mullaly recently hinted at the demise of the Falcon brand in its entirety, as the company moves to a global platform.

He horrified Ford fans when he said a replacement would likely be based on the front-wheel drive Taurus.

A version of the Taurus was sold in New Zealand and Australia in the 1990s, but it wasn't particularly successful, mainly due to its awkward looks.

"The all-new Falcon doesn't have to come into play until the end of 2014, early 2015, and we don't have to make a decision until 2011 on what that vehicle will be, in terms of styling, technologies " said Mullaly.

This could have massive ramifications for the V8 Supercars series, which pits Holden and Ford's very similar large cars against each other.

There could be light at the end of the motorsport tunnel though, with Mullaly alluding to Ford Australia working on the rear-drive Mustang's platform development.