Sharp move for Ford

Ford's upgraded version of the AU Falcon provides a happy ending to a sad tail, reports ALASTAIR SLOANE.


Ford New Zealand unveiled its upgraded AU Falcon to motoring writers early in April - but it wouldn't reveal the prices.

It needed more time to do its sums. The dollar was turning turtle and the carmaker's executives wanted the exchange rate to stabilise before sharpening their pencils.

It has and they have. The price of the 25-model AUII Falcon range has increased an average of 1.2 per cent.

"The new pricing structure not only aligns us with our major competitors but will also have a positive impact on residual values throughout the life of the vehicle," said Ford NZ's managing director, Nigel Harris.

The facelifted Falcon starts at $40,500 for the base-model Forte on to $59,800 for the 5.0-litre 200kW XR8 and $64,800 for the top-line Fairmont Ghia. The LPG (liquid petroleum gas) model costs $42,000. The ute is priced between $30,495 and $44,995.

Ford has a new list of Falcon options, from $1500 worth of leather trim to a $1200 sound system and a $3200 body kit.

A single-slot CD is standard across the range.

The Falcon range has been given a new lease on life with the AUII. Noise, vibration and harshness levels have been improved, safety features have been upgraded, the vehicle is stronger, it has better brakes - and, with its new grille, bonnet and rear end, looks sharper inside and out than the 1998 original AU.

It had to. It sold well in New Zealand over the past 20-odd months but sales in its main market, Australia, were poor.

"We were happy with it, but the public weren't," said Ford Australia president Geoff Polites.

"We did 32 research groups on the product, but not one on the customer."

Even Ford's international head of design, J Mays, who designed Volkswagen's New Beetle, said the AU had a "sad tail."

Ford Australia had intended to launch the upgraded AU towards the end of 2000, but poor sales and continued criticism of the old model forced it to bring the car forward by about five months.

Harris said the upgraded model built upon the "key strengths of Falcon that made it the number-one selling passenger car in New Zealand last year."

Ford is banking on the AUII selling on the success of the outgoing AU.

"Since the release of the AU Falcon we have spent a great deal of time and effort getting closer to the customer and a number of these firsts [AUII upgrade] are a direct result of their input," Harris said.

The only AUII model not yet available is the dedicated LPG-powered Forte. It arrives next month and Harris said it would bring convenient LPG motoring to New Zealand customers for the first time.

The LPG unit has been developed by Ford and its performance partner Tickford. The entire standard petrol fuel system is removed before new components and tanks are installed - 92 litres in the sedan and 115 in the wagon.

"We believe the dedicated LPG vehicle is a real breakthrough in affordable, environmentally friendly motoring," Harris said.

"With growing awareness of environmental issues and spiralling fuel costs, we believe we are on to a winner.

"The costs of ownership of LPG motoring are considerably lower than with petrol vehicles.

"The performance from LPG is almost identical to petrol-powered vehicles, range is comparable and in the case of the station wagon it's better.

"Fuel gauges have distance to empty features and storage flexibility is no longer compromised.

"The savings for business and private motorists alike are considerable. And LPG owners also have the satisfaction of knowing they are doing their bit to help the environment."