Oversteer ordinarily occurs only with heavy footed, low geared provocation.ĭuring AUII development, engineers found they did not need to change the suspension and steering geometry. The handling is improved also, with more responsive turn-in and less pushy understeer as a rule, and more balanced handling attitudes overall. The preview drive over several hundred kilometres of widely varying roads revealed that the Falcon's ride bump absorbency is even better than before, especially over small bumps and stuttery ripples. The XR8, however, goes up a size with 235/45ZR17s.Īll models' ride and handling benefit tangibly from suspension changes implemented under the direction of Alex de Vlugt, from Ford Europe's renowned Parry-Jones school of chassis dynamics. Shod with Dunlop or Goodyear tyres as original equipment, most models have P215/60 rubber where the S model has P215/55 and the XR6 boasts 225/SOs. Reductions of one to two dBA were observed in flat chat acceleration from rest to 100 km/h, also at steady 60 and 110 km/h.īesides reducing noise, the new bulkhead quenches the six's traditional whiney tone.Īmong several other claimed Australian firsts, the AUII is the only local family car with 16in wheels across the range steels on the Forte, alloys on everything else. At idle, the meter registered two to three dBA improvement for AUII, equivalent to an almost halving of the sound pressure.
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To prove it, we audited the noise levels of past and present Fairmont Ghias and Futuras. Stamped in modified dies, the sandwich material is only a whisker thicker than the previous stuff but makes a remarkable barrier to noise and vibration. Enhancements always cost, of course, like about $1800 extra on the Forte, though Ford says that's still cheaper than Commodore Executive when passenger airbag and air-con are taken into account.Īmong AUII's subtle but intensive engineering advancements, one of the most influential is the laminated firewall, a first among Australian cars and in every sense a big investment in extra refinement.īasically, Falcon's new firewall isn't the usual single-skin pressed panel, but instead a steel-foam-steel laminate. The most visible evidence of Falcon's new thrust is seen in its refreshed appearance and upgraded features.
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The Ford AUII Falcon signifies a shift in design direction and perhaps a company change of heart, or at least a belated coronary by-pass. Such matters had been brewing for some time but the AU brought things to a head by making even affirmed Ford fans pause in their tracks. Henry lagged far behind Holden, for example, in nurturing owners' loyalty, let alone tapping the deep well of goodwill on offer from the devout Ford owners faction. What came after the sale was very secondary. There's long been a perception that Ford really cared only about pushing product and reaping profit. Stung by the AU's patchy sales performance, Ford pulled the facelift timetable as far forward as practicable, while also taking a long hard look at the way the company relates to Ford buyers and supporters.