In one of the largest, most extravagant automotive presentations seen outside of a major motor show Ford Australia has shown that it intends to emerge from its post-Falcon depression with a powerful display of its corporate might and a preview of a number of upcoming new models and technology.
Reportedly at a cost of $4 million Ford brought around 800 dealers, media and other interested parties from around Australia and New Zealand to Sydney’s Fox Studios for a series of presentations hosted by local CEO Bob Graziano and headlined by Ford’s global president and chief executive, Alan Mulally.
Mr Mulally, who took over the top job at Ford in 2006, is very much the hero figure of the US auto industry having turned around the fortunes of the struggling car maker returning it to profit and making Ford the only major car maker to avoid a bailout by the US government.
His presence in Australia indicates the importance of our market to Ford and the company’s determination to reverse its disappointing recent sales figures. To that end the company has committed to have a full range of cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles on sale by 2017 as well as maintaining its Australian design and engineering centre.
The new vehicles on display were:
FIESTA ST
Ford’s entry into the hot hatch arena, the Fiesta ST, will be at the forefront when the latest generation of the Fiesta is launched in Australia shortly. With 134 kW of power and 240 Nm of torque from its 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine it’s the most powerful production Fiesta yet and with a price tag of $25,990 (plus on-road costs) it’s likely to have its competitors looking over their shoulders.
EVEREST CONCEPT
Although it shares some of the styling of the doomed Territory the Ford Everest will be more 4WD than SUV aimed at tackling the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol. A product of Ford’s Australian design team that created the Ranger ute the big seven-seat wagon will share some of its underpinnings but have its own distinctive character.
MUSTANG
One announcement that will have Ford muscle car enthusiasts salivating is the confirmation of the return to Australia of the iconic Mustang two-door coupe. It will be first time since the late 1970s – apart from a brief, but unsuccessful, period in the early 2000s when an over-priced Tickford-converted Mustang Cobra sold here – that the legendary pony car will be available here. Potential buyers will need to be patient as it’s unlikely to arrive much before 2016.
ECOSPORT
Compact SUVs are very much the flavour of the month and are likely to remain so for some time. Based on the same platform as the Fiesta the Ford EcoSport will be powered by the choice of 1.0-litre EcoBoost or 1.5-litre petrol engines. It will go on sale in December 2013.
MONDEO
Destined to eventually replace Falcon as Ford’s largest Australian passenger car the all-new Mondeo will arrive here in the second half of 2014, delayed due to production problems. It will be sold as either a hatchback or wagon and will have three engine options: 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.
TRANSIT
Ford’s evergreen Transit light commercial van will get a bit more style and safety equipment when it arrives here early next year. Two variants will be offered. The long wheelbase Transit Cargo will come with a choice of roof heights, cab sizes and as a 12-seat mini-bus. The short wheelbase Transit Custom gets a softer look partly through the adoption of a similar grille to that used in Ford’s passenger cars. Power for both models will come from a 2.2-litre Duratorq turbo-diesel engine. The Custom will arrive here late this year and the Cargo early in 2014.
As well as the new models Ford also unveiled some new technology:
SYNC
Already fitted in Ford Focus and Kuga the SYNC in-car communications and entertainment system that allows voice activation of Bluetooth telephone calls, music selection, emergency call when an airbag has been deployed and various other functions.
APPLINK
As the name suggests AppLink provides access, including voice activation, to selected Smartphone apps such as Pandora personalised music, TuneIn radio and Kaliki audio news service. Other apps will be added progressively.
MYKEY
A new technology that parents will love and young drivers will tolerate at best, MyKey allows keys to be programmed to limit a number of components within the car including speed warning chimes that sound at set points above 70 km/h; the setting of a maximum speed; limits on audio volume; seatbelt warnings that do not time out and which can be set to disable the audio system; and stops safety features such as stability control from being deactivated. MyKey will make its debut in the new Fiesta ST hatch.
