Sporty Falcon shows claws

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Ford has modified the trademark quad headlight design in the new XR Falcon and has gone back to a single unit system, a first since performance specialist Tickford built the original XR a decade ago.

The first pictures of the heavily facelifted XR6 sports sedan - dare we say there's a dollop of Holden Commodore S about it - and the new workhorse ute are the latest in a line of Falcon BA images which have been rolled out to the media over the past couple of months.

Details of the interior, safety features and engines will be revealed before the BA models are launched in New Zealand, probably in October.

Ford has already released some information about the BA's seating, suspension, adjustable brake pedal and electronic technology.

The XR and ute are key models for Ford in Australia and New Zealand.

"The XR nameplate has a proud history and a significant place in the Falcon line up," said Ian Swann, Falcon brand manager for Ford New Zealand. "With BA came the chance to further enhance the strengths of XR, while evolving it in a more modern, contemporary context.

"The car has aggression, road presence and an awesome stance, while the headlight design has evolved to become a more sophisticated iteration of the powerful XR quad-light signature."

Swann said the current XR range accounts for about 44 per cent of Falcon AU sales in New Zealand so far this year.

"Last year, more than 1000 XR Falcons were sold here - that was a quarter of all Falcon sales."

The dual lights on each side of the new XR6 are integrated with front bumper cutouts for a sharper look.

Circular foglights in the front skirts are another first for Falcon.

But Ford was so wary of changing the headlight design that it came up with three variations and asked prospective buyers to pick the one they liked best.

The XR6 will ride on 17-inch wheels and likely come with a choice of two engines - the reworked and naturally aspirated twin-cam 4-litre straight-six with about 190kW, or a turbocharged and intercooled version of the same engine producing about 215kW.

XR8 models will look even more aggressive than the XR6 and will use Ford's new 5.4-litre V8, producing about 240kW.

The XR8 will also ride on 18-inch wheels. Both XR models will have a new independent rear suspension.

The BA ute will be launched at the same time as the sedan range.

In past years the ute has come on to the market much later, but the current AU model has been a consistent seller and Ford wants to keep the momentum going.

"It is traditional for the Falcon ute to follow a few months after the sedan, but we decided to accelerate the project," said Ford New Zealand light truck brand manager, Jane Winterman.

"New interiors, new colours and a host of soon to be announced engineering changes will continue to keep the Falcon Ute high in the sales charts," said Winterman.

The new ute will pick up most of the BA interior and exterior upgrades but will continue with the rear leaf-spring suspension.

The BA project cost Ford Australia about $580 million, the most expensive midlife Falcon facelift ever.