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.
Development The AU was conceived under "Project Eagle" that began in February 1993, and gained the official codename "EA169" in 1994. The program cost 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 5 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 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 , 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 (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 for the XR6 VCT; a "Windsor" V8 producing (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, , Falcon Forté, 5.0 L, "Windsor" V8, Sedan, , Falcon Futura, 4.0 L, "Intech" I6, Sedan/Wagon, , Falcon S, 4.0 L, "Intech" I6, Sedan, , Falcon XR6, 4.0 L, "HP Intech" I6, Sedan, , Falcon XR6 VCT, 4.0 L, "Intech VCT" I6, Sedan, , Falcon XR8, 5.0 L, "Windsor" V8, Sedan, , Fairmont, 4.0 L, "Intech" I6, Sedan/Wagon, , Fairmont Ghia, 4.0 L, "Intech VCT" I6, Sedan, , Fairmont Ghia, 5.0 L, "Windsor" V8, Sedan, ,
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, , TS50, 5.0 L, "Synergy 5000" V8, Sedan, , , 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 with automatic transmission and air conditioning (at the time an option on the other Australian-made rivals) fitted as standard.
The more 'up-spec' model was called the Futura, which was marketed as a family-oriented safety package in the same vogue as the rival Holden Commodore Acclaim. The Futura differed from the Forté in having a body coloured grille, standard ABS, cruise control, alloy wheels and a digital clock fitted in the centre console (series I only).The new Falcon, Fairmont and XR (AU sales brochure FCL 7384), November 1998, pages 13–14 The price of the car when new was .
The Ford Falcon S (for Sporty) sedan was also based on the Forté but designed as an entry-level sports edition. It achieved this through additional features such as body-coloured grille, alloy wheels, S decals on the rear quarters and bootlid, and a high-level spoiler. The colour choices were limited to Venom (Red), Liquid Silver, White, Galaxy (Metallic Blue) and Silhouette (Black). Ford eventually offered a "ESP" option pack that added an LSD equipped IRS and ABS to the S-pack.
The XR series was the high performance end of the range. It originally comprised the XR6 HP, XR6 VCT, and XR8 models all sharing a unique quad-lamp front bumper bar and non-high end bonnet. All series I XR's could have the option of a full Tickford bodykit and unique bi-plane rear spoiler.
The Fairmont was the entry level luxury model of the AU range to face-off its main rival, the Holden Berlina. It had all of the fittings of the Futura but included extras such as a honeycomb grille, an 80-second headlamp off delay, wood grain-look dash inserts, unique 15-inch wheels, dual horns, Fairmont badging on the boot lid and an analogue clock. The Fairmont was offered in sedan and station wagon bodystyles. Above the Fairmont was the Fairmont Ghia, which was the highest non-performance specification model in the range and sedan only. It had additional features that included unique 16-inch wheels, toggleable traction control, 4-channel ABS, 250-watt audio system with separate amplifier, 11 speakers, and more wood grain-look dash inserts. Fairmont & Fairmont Ghia models were not badged as Falcons.
In terms of safety equipment, the Futura, XR and Fairmont models all had ABS brakes in addition to a driver's airbag, which was the only main safety feature on the Falcon S and Forté. The brakes featured 287x24 mm vented front discs and 287x10.5 mm solid rear discs.
External model differentiation was achieved via the use of different grilles and bonnets (low bonnet and vertical "salad slicer" grille on Forté, horizontal single bar on Futura, integrated quad-lamp bumper bar and grille on the XR sports range; high bonnet and large grille on Fairmont range) and more basic fittings such as different alloy wheel designs, rear light clusters (clear turn signals on Fairmont), body colour-coordination and chrome fittings. The wagons featured a new rear-end relative to the previous generation Falcons. Inside, the Fairmont and XR model featured full instrumentation (oil and battery meters) and the Fairmont twins also adopted a different dashboard. As opposed to the standard Falcon featuring a large oval pod incorporating air conditioning and stereo, the luxury twin featured a 2-level shared with the long-wheelbase AU Fairlane/LTD, with a separate upper level featuring a woodgrain-like trim across to the passenger side that incorporated an analogue clock, trip computer and climate control.
Only the Falcon XR6 VCT and Fairmont Ghia featured "Intech" engines produced by Tickford Vehicle Engineering with variable valve timing. The VCT was developed by Tickford in conjunction with Unisia Jecs who also supplied Jaguar for its V8 engines."Tickford The Joy of Driving" by Gavin Farmer IRS was fitted as standard on the Falcon XR6 VCT, XR8 and Fairmont Ghia, and optional on most other sedan models; the XR models being the only ones that could also be fitted with a limited-slip differential.
In May 1999, the AU range received a minor update, introducing a bigger brake booster, front power windows for the Forté and XR6 and lowering the rear suspension of non-XR variants by 24 mm. To heighten its interior quality, the Forté was offered with 'medium graphite' interior trim (slightly darker than originally) and the patterned seat material was changed from the bolsters to the seat centres. Buyers were also able to order the darker 'warm charcoal' colour scheme of other Falcon variants.
The only limited edition launched with this initial series, was the Falcon Classic of June 1999 marketed till October 1999 to boost sales. It inherited an eggcrate grille from the non-XR Utility range, dual airbags, ABS brakes, cruise control, upgraded sound system, a "warm charcoal" interior, power aerial, special trim, 15-inch alloys, low profile rear spoiler, bumper inserts and paint. Its recommended retail price was .
Utility The range of AU Falcon Utility vehicles was launched in June 1999. It offered Falcon XL, XLS, XR6 and XR8 style side utility models, a cab-chassis model and a cab-chassis with factory fitted drop-side tray.Ford AU Ute, New Car Buyer No 15, 2000, pages 30–33 The latter was the first tray utility vehicle that Ford Australia had produced for several years.
The body of the AU Falcon utility differed in design from the competing Holden Utility in that the cargo tray was separate from the cab, whereas the tray was an integral part of the body shell in the Holden. As a result, this allowed the rear to accept different after market body types, including tray decks, service bodies, and camper van shells. Unlike the sedan, the AU Falcon utility vehicles were very popular amongst tradespeople and individuals alike.
Series II (AU II) Many of these issues were addressed with the AU Series II (April 2000). They included: the "high series" raised bonnet from the Fairmont models a more conventional and common front grille for the volume Forté and Futura range increase depth and width for the rear bumper a laminated firewall, increased under-carpet asphalting and rubberised engine mounts to reduce NVH upgraded braking system (as detailed below) 16" wheels (in lieu of the previous 15 due to the larger twin-piston calipers) lowered ground clearance with new shock absorbers and ball-joints higher quality interior plastics (e.g. less oval central dashboard pod with silver highlights) standard cloth (in lieu of vinyl finishes) and darker "warm charcoal" interiors upraded sound systems upgraded SmartShield security system with a transponder located in the key (in lieu of the previous SmartLock that could not prevent thefts with copied keys) standard front airbag across the range. White turn signal lenses to replace the amber on the series I