Ford has quickly hosed-down the latest speculation that tried to spell the end of the local Falcon.
The 'One Ford' program announced by Ford's American chief, Alan Mulally at the Detroit Auto show aims to simplify the company's global model lineup - less different nameplates and platforms sold in more countries means lower development and production costs.
Ford says, rather than beginning the end of the Falcon, this means future Falcons will be integrated into the global scheme.
The logical replacement for the Falcon as Ford's large car in Australia would be the front-wheel-drive Taurus. 'Not so' says Ford - the hot-selling, iconic Mustang coupe is rear-wheel-drive, so the company will continue to develop rear-wheel-drive platforms and the next Falcon could share that platform with the Mustang.
According to Ford Australia, with the current FG generation Falcon
scheduled to run - with several upgrades and facelifts in the pipeline - for another four years and the Territory SUV slated for production until 2016, the company's future is already being mapped out and is bright.
A key plank in that future is the current $230 million investment in new powertrain technologies for the Falcon - including a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
Rather than the first chapter in a eulogy for the Falcon, Ford's 'One Ford' program could deliver Australian buyers a new global perspective on design and a platform shared with the Mustang - that would seem to be good news for the Falcon.
