Ford · 1998–2002

Ford AU Falcon

The Ford Falcon (AU) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1998 to 2002. It was also available as the Ford Fairmont, the luxury variant, and as the Ford TE50 / Ford TS50, the sports variants. It succeeded the EL series, and was the first iteration of the sixth generation Ford Falcon. The long-wheelbase Ford Fairlane and LTD released in 1999. It was built on the EA169 platform, developed for the AU Falcon.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Ford EL Falcon · Successor: Ford BA Falcon

All Ford AU Falcon data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Development

The AU was conceived under "Project Eagle" that began in February 1993, and gained the official codename "EA169" in 1994. The program cost A$700 million before product launch Ford Australia gave consideration to a revamped fifth generation Falcon and a imported replacement such as the American front-wheel drive Taurus, rear-wheel drive Crown Victoria, European rear-wheel drive Scorpio, and reportedly the Japanese rear-wheel drive Mazda 929 (then part of the Ford conglomerate). Ford chose to do a substantial redesign of the indigenous platform, due to concerns about the Australian market preference for high towing capacity, large interior size and local employment. factors: the fact that the import models had limited body style options (sedan only or sedan and wagon) and no capability to use a V8 engine. The AU Falcon utilised Ford's New Edge design language, with the aim of the design to attract a younger generation of buyers with avant-garde looks, however, in Australia it polarized public opinion to the benefit of the more organically designed rival, the Holden Commodore (VT). The AU series had a very efficient drag coefficient of Cd=0.295 for the sedan (an 11% improvement over the preceding EL series) and 0.34 for the wagon. Key changes from the fifth generation Falcon included a 35 kg (77 lb) reduction in weight for the base car, 17.5 per cent stiffer bodyshell, and an eight per cent improvement in fuel consumption. The "Falcon" and "Futura" badges used the original 1950s font. Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) became available as standard on some models and optional on others, with a double wishbone design on an isolated subframe). IRS was an option on the base Forte, Fairmont and 'S' models, and standard on Fairmont Ghia, XR6 VCT and XR8 models.

Safety

== Powertrains == The updated 6-cylinder engines incorporated advanced features such as VCT on some models and a temperature sensor in the cylinder head, which detected coolant loss and allowed the car to "limp home" safely by cutting cylinders. The engine range comprised: the base Intech model producing 157 kW (211 hp), with a revised cylinder head featuring smaller valve stems, larger exhaust valves, and different rocker ratio, as well as a revised piston and longer conrod and a cast aluminium cross-bolted oil sump (with the same power output as the EL series); an "HP" version reserved to the XR6 producing 164 kW (220 hp) (thanks to: unique cylinder head; reshaped inlet port; redesigned exhaust port; 'open' combustion chamber shape to restrict pre-detonation from hot spot areas; unique camshaft; higher fuel pressure; recalibrated EEC V engine management system); the VCT version producing 172 kW (231 hp) for the XR6 VCT; a "Windsor" V8 producing 185 kW (248 hp) (also carried over from the EL series but without major upgrades). Transmissions were improved for better shift feel and the auto was recalibrated to better suit the upgraded engines. The six and eight cylinder models had a 4-speed BTR M93LE and M97LE automatic transmission, respectively. The automatic XR series models had an "adaptive shift" with five shifting strategies depending on driving conditions. The manual transmission, where available, was a 5-speed T5 model.

Model changes

=== Series I (AU) === The first series of the AU Falcon was launched in September 1998 and remained on sale until a major upgrade in April 2000. It was marketed under the new slogan "I've come a long way, baby.". The standard AU range included: Falcon Forté, 4.0 L, "Intech" I6, Sedan/Wagon, 157 kW (211 hp), 357 N⋅m (263 lb⋅ft) Falcon Forté, 5.0 L, "Windsor" V8, Sedan, 175 kW (235 hp), 395 N⋅m (291 lb⋅ft) Falcon Futura, 4.0 L, "Intech" I6, Sedan/Wagon, 157 kW (211 hp), 357 N⋅m (263 lb⋅ft) Falcon S, 4.0 L, "Intech" I6, Sedan, 157 kW (211 hp), 357 N⋅m (263 lb⋅ft) Falcon XR6, 4.0 L, "HP Intech" I6, Sedan, 164 kW (220 hp), 366 N⋅m (270 lb⋅ft) Falcon XR6 VCT, 4.0 L, "Intech VCT" I6, Sedan, 172 kW (231 hp), 374 N⋅m (276 lb⋅ft) Falcon XR8, 5.0 L, "Windsor" V8, Sedan, 185 kW (248 hp), 412 N⋅m (304 lb⋅ft) Fairmont, 4.0 L, "Intech" I6, Sedan/Wagon, 157 kW (211 hp), 357 N⋅m (263 lb⋅ft) Fairmont Ghia, 4.0 L, "Intech VCT" I6, Sedan, 168 kW (225 hp), 370 N⋅m (270 lb⋅ft) Fairmont Ghia, 5.0 L, "Windsor" V8, Sedan, 175 kW (235 hp), 395 N⋅m (291 lb⋅ft) Tickford Vehicle Engineering, was responsible for the XR models that carried the "Tickford" wings badge. From July 1999, the newly formed Ford Tickford Experience (FTE) launched the following higher-specification and performance T series (T1) models: TE50, 5.0 L, "Synergy 5000" V8, Sedan, 200 kW (270 hp), 420 N⋅m (310 lb⋅ft) TS50, 5.0 L, "Synergy 5000" V8, Sedan, 220 kW (300 hp), 435 N⋅m (321 lb⋅ft), automatic only. The new Forté model was the replacement of the old GLi designation. It was designed and marketed to attract to fleet buyers as well as younger, more inexperienced drivers. When new, the car was competitively priced at A$30,690 with automatic transmission and air conditioning (at the time an option on the other Australian-made

Derivatives

=== FTE T series === Due to inadequate sales of Ford performance sedans and Holden's success with its 5.7-litre GM V8 in its Commodore range, Ford were forced to up the ante with the XR8 and the other Falcon-derived higher performance sedans that could give buyers a comparable between the two brands and aid the sales. Accordingly, Ford Tickford Experience (FTE) was established as a joint venture between Ford Australia and Tickford Vehicle Engineering (TVE). As listed above, the resulting T series range comprised the short wheelbase TE50 and TS50 plus the long-wheelbase TL50 (based on the Fairlane). In addition to higher mechanical specifications and performance, this range also benefitted from a "FTE Premium Assist" service with enhanced ownership benefits. Between 1999 and 2002, there were three T series (based on the respective Falcon series): T1 (AU), T2 (AU II) and T3 (AU III). Their powerplant was a modified "Windsor" V8 renamed "Synergy 5000" that were hand-built and featured an engraved plaque bearing the name of its builder. Over the AU II and AU III period, the production of the "Windsor" was phased out, with remaining units shipped to FTE becoming the most powerful naturally aspirated electronically fuel injected (EFI) "Windsor" engines in the world used to make the Ford Falcon XR8 sedan, and the Pursuit 250 utility. These last batch of engines were named the 'Windsor Stroker'. FTE increased the displacement of the Stroker to 5.6-litres. The TE50 was available with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The TS50 and TL50, which were not available in manual, only had the automatic transmission with "Electronic Sport Shift" (ESS). This feature was an Australian-production first in that, it was the first locally made car to have steering-wheel mount

Motorsports

Despite its highly anticipated competitiveness that was hoped the AU would bring to Ford in the V8 Supercars Championship and the return of a works Ford team in its debut season of 1999, the aerodynamically challenged AU had very limited success, winning only 8 out of 52 rounds in its 4 years of competition. During those 52 championship rounds the AU Falcon also scored 22 pole positions, or a much healthier 42 percent of all poles which included three at the high-speed Mount Panorama circuit at Bathurst. The AU also claimed 46 fastest race laps of the 125 races held during that time, or 36 percent. The AU overall won 23 out of the 125 races in total which is roughly 19 percent total races won. The AU would be the only Falcon in the modern V8 Supercar era to not win a championship or a Bathurst 1000. Its most famous wins would be in the 2001 Queensland 500 by Paul Radisich and Steven Johnson in their No. 17 Shell Helix DJR Falcon. And again in 2002 with David Besnard and Simon Wills in their No. 9 Caltex Havoline SBR Falcon. The lack of success by Ford during the late 1990s and early 2000s prompted V8 Supercars to introduce a new platform known as "Project Blueprint" that would make the competition more evenly matched. Privateer racer Trevor Haines raced a TE50 to 13th place in the 2002 Australian GT Production Car Championship, and later the team finished 9th outright and a Class 5 win in the 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour. Warren Luff took back to back victories in 2002 and 2003 V8 Brute Ute's series racing an AU Falcon XR8 ute. The AU falcon has also been raced in the Australian saloon car series and has been very successful.

Issues and Criticism

Despite competitive pricing and high standard equipment relative to its rivals, especially for the new entry-level Forté, sales of the AU did not match those of the previous model, the EL Falcon. This was mostly due to a lack of enthusiasm from contemporary customers who found the "New Edge" styling too dramatic compared to preceding models. The AU's main competitor, the VT Commodore, outsold the Falcon by roughly 25,000 units in 1998. Critics pointed out the extensive use of oval shapes and cheap-looking plastics, giving the dashboard a lack of perceived quality and labelling the vehicle a "laughing stock". There were also practical criticisms of the AU's shape due to the limited headroom in the front and rear, making it difficult for owners to enter and exit the vehicle. The vehicle was characterised by some reviewers as having relatively poor suspension compliance and inadequate cabin sound insulation. Two years after the AU had ceased production, Ford issued a recall for over 230,000 of them due to a potential steering fault, which was estimated to run into millions of dollars in labour costs.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Ford Falcon (AU)
aka: Ford Fairmont (AU), FTE TE50, FTE TS50
Manufacturer: Ford Australia
Production: September 1998 – September 2002
Assembly: Australia: Melbourne, Victoria (Broadmeadows)
Class: Full-size car
Designer: Graham Wadsworth
Body style: 2-door cab chassis, 2-door coupe utility, 4-door sedan, 5-door station wagon
Platform: EA169
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Related: Ford Fairlane (AU), Ford LTD (AU)
Engine: 4.0 L Intech I6 (petrol), 4.0 L Intech E-Gas I6 (LPG), 4.0 L Intech HP I6 (petrol), 4.0 L Intech VCT I6 (petrol), 5.0 L Windsor V8 (petrol), 5.0 L Synergy 5000 V8 (petrol), 5.6 L Windsor V8 (petrol)
Transmission: 4-speed M93LE automatic (I6), 4-speed M97LE automatic (V8), 5-speed Tremec T-5 manual
Wheelbase: 2793 –
Length: 4907 –
Width: 1870 –
Height: 1437 mm
Kerb weight: 1437 –
Predecessor: Ford Falcon (EL)
Successor: Ford Falcon (BA)
sp: uk