Track to the future

Holden and Ford are crossing the boundaries between traditional cars and sport utility vehicles with their latest concepts. Motoring editor ALASTAIR SLAONE reports.

Four-wheel drive vehicles from Holden and Ford point to the design direction the two Australian rivals will take in the future.

The Holden Cross8 and Ford R7 were described at the Melbourne motor show as concepts.

But word on the street has it that they are near-production examples of projects begun three years ago.

The Cross8 is expected to go on sale in Australia and New Zealand early next year. The R7 should arrive early in 2004.

The Cross8 is a four-door ute sitting on the long-wheelbase chassis of the Commodore wagon, ute and Statesman. It is easily identifiable as a derivative of the best-selling Commodore.

The Ford R7 is a high-riding station wagon based on the chassis and mechanical components of the Falcon. It disguises its humble Australian origins with a mix and match of exterior design cues from Ford's global portfolio.

The grille and headlights, for example, contain cues from the American-built Explorer.

"R7 is the first vehicle to give an indication of future automotive design in this country," said Ford Australia president Geoff Polites.

"It is different to anything we have traditionally seen in the marketplace.

"It's an exciting concept that was developed by Ford Australia's design team as an answer to what our consumers are looking for.

"The needs of consumers are constantly changing. We want different things from our lives and we also want different things from the vehicles we drive.

"As a concept, R7 provides the potential answers for those who are looking for something more from their vehicle.

"It crosses the current boundaries and definitions between traditional cars and sport utility vehicles.

"It's not the final answer but it's an indication of where the final answer will come out."

The R7 comes from the Raptor project, codenamed E265, and is an evolution of the R5 off-road ute unveiled two years ago.

The moniker R7 denotes seating capacity. The vehicle is designed to offer the space and flexibility of a people-mover, the on-road dynamics of a sedan, and the traction of four-wheel-drive.

It rides on independent suspension all-round and has increased ground clearance, an indication of Ford's intention to market the R7 as a vehicle with off-road credentials.

Alloy bash plates protecting components at the front and rear of the R7 point to how serious Ford is in this respect, although the production model will probably come without the show car's dual exhausts and 20-inch wheels.

Talk at the Melbourne show suggested the R7 was much closer to being production-ready than Ford would admit.

Why? Because Ford is keeping many of the car's details to itself.

It wouldn't discuss the engine line-up, for example. It is popularly accepted that the R7 will come with a choice of a turbocharged in-line 4-litre six-cylinder or new-generation 5.4-litre V8.

The gearbox was off-limits, too. Perhaps because part of the earlier Raptor programme included development of a stepless Continuously Variable Transmission. Has Ford adopted this unit?

The interior was also out of bounds. That's why the windows in the show car were heavily tinted.

Word is the R7 interior points to how the inside of the facelifted Falcon will look when it gets here later this year.

Ford didn't want show-goers getting a peek at what it had done to the Falcon AU.

Ford Australia's chief designer Simon Butterworth says the R7 reflects modern demands because it is "lifestyle oriented for maximum flexibility.

"The excellent interior accommodation, which is hinted at with this concept, is matched only by the superior driving dynamics depicted by the car's assertive appearance.

"This is a vehicle with an aggressive stance. Its very presence literally screams authority, agility and confidence with everything about it - from its massive 20-inch wheels and tyres to its blood orange colour - demanding attention."

Holden admits its Cross8 is more a working prototype of the company's four-wheel-drive model than a concept. It will be powered by V8 engines coupled to manual or automatic gearboxes.

Said Holden chairman and managing director Peter Hanenberger: "As the name implies, this is a crossover car - a four-door, all-wheel-drive which can accommodate five people in sedan comfort, carry a light duty load and deliver trademark V8 performance.

"It previews a new model range that Holden will be releasing early next year ... the all-wheel-drive factor is a forerunner of more good things to come." These "good things" are expected to include a four-wheel-drive Commodore sedan.

Meantime, Holden executives, buoyed by reaction over the past few months to the Monaro coupe, were drawn to a two-door Ford Falcon called the Arrow Ford.

But the car has nothing to do with Ford Australia and it won't challenge the Monaro.

It has been been built by Australian after-market distributor Autotek and coachwork company Hillier Conversions, the same company which crafted the bodywork for the one-off Falcon 300 coupe shown at Melbourne last year.

It is powered by a 6.4-litre V8 producing 370kW and 600Nm of torque - 70kW more powerful than Holden Special Vehicles' GTS Coupe - and mated to a six-speed gearbox out of America's Ford Mustang.

The Arrow Ford will be exclusive - only 25 will be built each year - and expensive. Try NZ$125,000 to NZ$175,000, depending on specification.