Category: Ford

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FORD EVEREST CLAIMS HIGH GROUND IN 4WD LANDSCAPE

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Everest is big. Okay, that’s stating the obvious about the world’s highest mountain. Now let’s talk about the new eponymous four-wheel drive wagon from Ford. The Ford Everest is big too. In fact it seems that everything about it – radiator grille, rear end, guards and wheels, even badging – has been designed to make the SUV appear as big as possible. At close to five metres long, more than two metres wide and almost two metres tall, the Everest sports an impressive presence on and off road. It also… Read more

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FORD FOCUS 2002 – 2015

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2015 Ford Focus Titanium

Ford Focus is a small-medium European model that is huge in its home market, but has lagged in sales in Australia. Possibly because Ford saw itself as the ‘Falcon car company’ and has never put the marketing and sales work into the Focus that it thoroughly deserves. Hopefully that mindset is laid to rest when Falcon manufacturing stops. The Focus didn’t reach us downunder till September 2002, several years after its European launch. It appealed to keen drivers immediately as it’s very European in the way it rides and handles…. Read more

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FORD FALCON SPRINT: SIMPLY BRILLIANT

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Ford Australia’s latest engineering and styling project, that of the Falcon XR6 and XR8 Sprint will go down in the minds of all concerned as one of their all time favourites. The car industry is full of enthusiasts, and their eyes light up in delight when asked to significantly improve performance and add new shapes.. Let’s start at the hearts of the latest hot Australian Fords: Falcon XR8 Sprint is powered by an uprated version of Ford’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that develops 400 kW and 650 Nm when on overboost;… Read more

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FORD TERRITORY 2004 – 2015

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2011 Ford Territory

By EWAN KENNEDY CAPTION: A. B. C. 2011 Ford Territory BODY COPY Ford Territory is arguably the best vehicle ever designed by Ford Australia. Indeed some even say it may be the best automotive design in Australia bar none. Territory is based on the Ford Falcon and shares some of its mechanical components, particularly in the powertrain, but many parts are unique to the big wagon. An SUV with the option of two or four-wheel drive Territory was launched in May 2004, with a major makeover in May 2011 and… Read more

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MUSTANG MUSTERS ALL-ROUND APPROVAL

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It’s been a while since the new right-hand drive Mustang broke cover in Australia but Ford finally mustered a mob of the iconic sports cars for the first local media drive. The Mustang was first let loose half a century ago and in four years reached classic status with the 1968 Fastback’s unforgettable starring role with actor Steve McQueen, carving up the streets of San Francisco in the movie Bullitt. The latest iteration comes in two versions, coupe and convertible, powered by either a 5.0-litre V8 or four-cylinder 2.3-litre EcoBoost… Read more

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FORD FOCUS ST: GENUINE HOT HATCH

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It’s way too early to call time on the ‘hard stuff’ from Ford. The Blue Oval ‘home brew’ – making cars in Australia – may be about to go down the gurgler but there is still plenty of spirit there. For example, the new Mustang is selling its socks off here; the Falcon is duking it out with arch rival Holden in the V8 Supercar championships – and the new Focus ST is taking it up to the hot hatches of Europe. The LZ series Focus ST, is the latest… Read more

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FALCON SPRINT SPRINTING IN NEXT YEAR

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After months of waiting and gossip Ford fans have the good news they’ve been waiting for. Ford Australia has confirmed it will release a limited-edition Falcon XR Series sedan sometime in 2016. Continuing the waiting game is obviously part of Ford’s marketing plan. May we suggest that if you are halfway serious about buying the latest limited-edition a call to your local dealer should be made sooner than later. “There has been a lot of speculation around what our plans are for Falcon in 2016 and today we’re happy to… Read more

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FORD MUSTANG: FIRST DRIVE

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“First drive, Ford Mustang.” I’ve been waiting to write those words since attending the major transglobal television reveal of the Mustang in Sydney exactly two years ago. The good news is that I finally took the first drive today, the bad news is that the total distance covered was 10 kilometres and a minder from Ford Australia was keeping a close eye on me from the passenger seat. Ah well, Ford has promised me a proper drive as part of the media launch of the Mustang midway through January next… Read more

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FORD FIESTA 2004 – 2015

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2007 Ford Fiesta XR4

Ford Fiesta is the smallest car in the extensive range of Fords made in, or imported to, Australia. Ford Australia aims its cars at drivers who are looking for more than mere transport, so brings in many cars from designed for and built in Europe. This makes them slightly more expensive, but many keen buyers seem happy to find the extra cash. To this day some confuse the Fiesta with the model it superseded, the Ford Festiva, but they are completely different cars. Festiva was built in South Korean by… Read more

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FORD RESEARCH CENTRE IS BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER

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High-speed endurance testing in 1965 of the new XP Ford Falcon proved its suitability for tough Australian roads

Ford Australia may be pulling out of local manufacturing in 2016, but continues to expand in the design, engineering and testing fields. In fact there are more engineers employed than every before and the company is searching for more as I write this. Indeed, after the other two car makers, Holden and Toyota, close their factories in 2017 Ford Australia says it will be largest automotive employer on Australia. Some two billion dollars has been invested by Ford Australia in research and development (R&D) in the past six years, with… Read more