As the Holden-built Pontiac GTO edges closer to US dealers, Ford insiders have told The Car Connection (TCC) website they are actively considering import options for the Australian-made Ford Falcon.
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But, for the official line, Ford North American product development boss Phil Martens told TCC such a project is “a twinkle in everyone’s eye (but) not in the cycle plans at this time.”
However, the website said Ford is sure to closely watch the results of the GTO revival before making any decisions on the rear-drive range that is powered by a home-grown straight six or a North American-made V8.
In recent months, a number of media have suggested that, rather than spin new cars off the Mazda6 platform, as Ford is doing for the Futura, it should utlise the rear-drive Falcon platform. The long-wheelbase version, used in Australia for wagons and luxury Fairlane versions, would be the ideal base for a successor to the current US Crown Victoria beloved of police departments and Florida retirees.
As far as just-auto is aware, Ford Australia has never built a left-hand drive Falcon, unlike arch-rival GM Holden, which shipped cars to Hawaii in the 1960s and first sent the Commodore, re-badged as a Chevrolet Lumina, to replace a North American line in the Middle East a few years back.
But Henry’s Ocker outpost, unlike Holden, has previously built cars for the States – in the form of the Mazda 323-based Mercury Capri convertible, launched in 1989.
