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The worlds major automakers have done their extreme durability testing in the outback of the Northern Territory of Australia. For GM particularly, it gave them the ability to run hot weather and duribility tests year round (Death Valley in the summer, down under in the winter). All of that's going to come to a crashing halt when the Northern Territories adopt their 1st rural speed limits January 1st.

Speeds will be limited to 130 km (81 mph) on the main roads & a default speed (off the main roads) of 110 (68 mph).

Porsche is pulling out of Oz, moving it's hot weather testing to South Africa. Holden (and GM-NA) is going to use their Lang Lang track for the time being. Ford's Performance Vehicle division has been testing cars out their for some time, and is scheduled to stop as well. During high season, as many as 24 car companies are testing in the state, and figures put the lost revenue generated at 9 million. A big deal in a "state" roughly the size of Texas whose entire population is probally outnumbered 2 to 1 by Harrisburg Pennsylvania.

Speaking of Ford, you're going to love this one.

As mentioned in another thread, the 2008 Ford Falcon was initially proposed to also be made in Left-Hand-Drive, to facilitate Ford of Australia's sales to the Middle East & became a casualty of Ford's so-called "Way Forward". Couple of developments since then.

First, though it's obvious Ford North America killed the LHD Falcon to protect Crown Vic sales in the Middle East, Ford was also concerned about the union (in this case, the CAW) viewing it as moving jobs offshore.

Now here's where things get intresting.

Ford's large Falcon based car, the Fairlane & LTD, is being gutted alive by not only Holden, but Chrysler! The twins are currently selling an average of about 1100 per month...... yes, about 93 cars per month!! (down from the 359 per month they posted back in January!)

By comparison, due to sales in other markets, the 1100 cars Ford is selling competes with the roughly 12,000+ Statesman-Caprices Holden expects to sell worldwide, and the 160,000 or more 300s Chrysler sells globally (it's also sold in Europe).

Ford has managed to get government involvement in which 1.8 billion will be invested by the Victorian and Australian governments over the next 10 years. Part of that investment was with the stipulation that Ford Australia expands their export opportunities, almost forcing Ford to create some type of Falcon derivitive to export which means, like it or not, they are going to have to approve a LHD Falcon sooner or later.

Intrestingly, the priority is on a small light duty truck program after Orion is done. One that will 1st spawn a pickup.

 

Ute be crazy not to believe a story like that. Next thing ute know, they will be selling ute something with a car-like cabin and a truck-like bed on it here in the USA... wouldn't ute say?

Personally, I think the barra platform and the Falcon would sell like hotcakes in the US. I don't see why Ford doesn't want to bring it over regardless of political obligations. I'd jump in an XR8 for family/work duties in a minute... 5.4LBoss260, 6-spd manual, awesome interior... what's not to love about it, and why the flock doesn't Ford want to bring it to the US?!?!

 

they have some dipsh*ts working at Ford NA. Why in God's name would they think the Crown Vic is a better car than the Falcon? The Falcon's got styling, powerful engines....the Crown Vic has an asthmatic V8 and a look that hasn't changed much since the 80's.

 

Sombody needs an edit

 

Go Harrisburg!

 

yup.

 

I read that sentence 5 times and I still dont understand it.

 

It's supposed to say 1100 cars per YEAR which is ~93 cars per month. Get it now?

 

Huzzah!, but Seriously **** 581.

 

Crown Vic or Falcon. Let's see, an old pad mobile or a sharp looking fast four door. What a bloody joke

 

Isn't the Falcon near the same type of car size wise we are talking about possibly going to Pontiac for a slew of models? or is it bigger?

Basically, I am going to assume Ford will approve it, bring it here, and beat GM to the market again.... just kidding guys.

 

Ford's averaging 93 Fairmont-LTDs per month this year. Total at that rate is 1126. Rounds to 1100. Sorry for the confusion.

 

PP, I was over at the Ford dealer going over an XR8 with a very knowledgeable sales man.

Although everything about the Falcon XR8 is simply awesome, the thing that stands out most in my mind about that car.......That's a HUGE frigging engine!!! That thing looks bigger than the quad cam 4.6!

This is a different story altogether, but although the Falcon's the older of the 2, and the XR8 isn't as advanced as the new SS, the XR8 strikes me as more of a 60s-era muscle car, while the Commodore SS is more of a BMW-like Euro-ride.

 

Guy, the missing edit was 1100 per year, not that you were rounding.

 

Engine - I know... ain't it cool!!!

As far as modern rides... I'm stuck in Wigan England right now, riding in a new 2007 Ford Focus with a TDCi torbo diesel and a manual (had 407miles on it when I got it). There is a lot of plastic inside this car to be sure - but nothing about it resembles a Focus from the States - it's TWICE the car. Peppy is an understatement... this thing flies. Smooth... quiet... no rattles or bumps... lines are good, seams are good... I'm just totally pizzed that Ford can offer such a car here for a very competitive price, yet they let the largest car market on earth make do with a 5-y/o design?!?!

So with regards to your "Euro-ride" comment, I'm jumping in RH-drive BMWs, Pugeots, Renaults, Vauxhalls, Fords, Opel, Smarts, Mercedes, and everything else you can think of while banging around in Wigan, Bolton, Manchester, and (hopefully) a trip to Liverpool. I'm telling you, we are heading for some tiny-*** cars in America in the next few years!!! It makes my desire for something like the XR8 even MORE pronounced while I am here. Seeing the Mondeo, Fusion, and such just tickle the senses... a true 4-dr V8 is a fantastic luxury here now - far moreso than in Germany, Italy, or the US where we still "drive".

Your words ring true!

(PS - you saying you wouldn't want an XR8 in your driveway because it strikes you as a 60's musclecar? )