CLICK HERE TO SEE WHEELS’ EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF THE NEW FALCON IN ACTION.
The identity of the car is as obvious as the location. Caught in this exclusive video, probably during dust-seal testing behind the high-speed bowl at Ford’s You Yangs Proving Ground is … the much-anticipated, hugely-important new Falcon, code-named Orion.
Sent to Wheels by a faithful reader, the video clearly shows two fairly lightly-disguised Orions. The blue car may even be a V8…
Apart from the side cladding, fake C-pillars and front and rear “bras”, we believe these are the clearest video images yet seen of the new Falcon, due to be unveiled at next year’s Melbourne motor show.
And, we don’t mind saying that the obviously shorter overhangs and dynamic profile look good to us.
This is a car Ford Australia needs badly. Despite a kick in the large car market last month, Falcon sales continued to slide, while sales of its rival Holden Commodore and Toyota Aurion strengthened. In fact, Falcon sales were down last month by a whopping 24.3 percent compared to last May.
Yes, Ford needs the new Falcon badly.
The new Falcon may even become more significant for Ford Australia, with recent strong speculation that the Australian-designed platform on which its built is being considered as the basis for Ford’s next generation of rear-wheel-drive cars for the vast US and Canadian markets.
Click
here to read more about the 2008 Falcon. Also, see
Wheels’ July issue (on sale, June 27) for even more specific details of the car.
We've started the chase and need your help, please contact us to send your spy photos or videos of the new Falcon. If we like 'em, we'll pay for 'em. Send to: wheels@acpmagazines.com.au