AFF at the Ford Australia Go Further event

[Peuty]

As most of you are probably by now aware, Ford Aus. launched it's vision for the future of the Ford brand in Australia in Sydney today, giving the public a view of what is in store in the years to come.

Australian Ford Forums were lucky enough to have been invited to this exclusive event, with GT, AU1XLS, Raptor and myself chosen to be our community representatives.

The day started out with us meeting at the Hotel Shangri-la in the Sydney CBD, to then be shuttled out to a "secret" location, which turned out to be Studio One at Fox Studios in Moore Park. This was the site of the presentation that was being streamed all over Australia and across the Tasman to New Zealand as well.

With presentations from Bob Graziano, President and CEO of Ford Aus., David Schoch, VP of Ford Asia Pacific, Allan Mullaly, President and CEO of Ford Global, Mark Fields, Chief Operating Officer, Ford Global and Jim Farley, Executive VP of Ford Global Marketing and Sales, we were all given a good indication of what is to be in store for our beloved Blue Oval in the coming years.

There was a big focus on looking forward, with much emphasis on what Ford customers have to look forward to in the future and not what will be missing come post 2016.

Some of the highlights of the presentation were -

· A glimpse of the 2014 Falcon
· Confirmation the Mustang will return to Australia
· The global reveal of the Ranger-based Everest seven seat SUV
· Australian reveal of the new Transit van
· Details of new-generation Mondeo roll-out
· Refresh entire vehicle line-up sold here by 2017
· Have 11 global vehicles on-sale here by 2017
· Add an array of new technologies and safety innovations
· A comprehensive new customer ownership and after-sales plan

After the presentation was wrapped up, we were all given the opportunity to get up close and personal with the featured cars, with the (in my opinion) pleasant inclusion of the 3cyl Ecoboost powered Formula Ford "road" car.

If nothing else, the day was a clear snapshot of what to expect from the brand moving forward and I for one, am excited.

P.S. How good does the Mondeo look!?

Here are some pics from the day. Enjoy!

Ford Exec team and the Everest concept.









Ecoboost racer. Pretty cool!



Mondeo



AU1XLS, GT, myself and Raptor -

[Polyal]

Nice.

So is the EB Racer available to buy or is it setup as a Formula Ford alternative/replacement?

The Mondeo is a stunner, just needs more grunt, and the Falcon looks to be based on that theme so its going to murder the VF in the styling department!

[Peuty]

Certainly not a purchasable model (yet), more of an exercise as to what the 3cyl EB engine is capable of. The road legal add on's (fenders, lights etc) was more of a "because we can" thing. Legal in the UK, doubt it would be here.

[HELLOYOU]

New Falcon looks like a Ford Fusion?

[Polyal]

I was thinking more along the lines of track toy, or Ford getting into grass roots motorsport in the absence of V8SC's.

Thanks for the pics.

[b2tf]

Mondeo looks good. Peuty - not so good.

[Peuty]

Aw man, I trimmed my beard just for you and this is the thanks I get!

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Aw man, I trimmed my beard just for you and this is the thanks I get!

Would have been more gratitude if you had have photobombed Graziano.

[Raptor]

Nicely documented Daniel

It was great meeting yourself, Gary and Gaela today and I consider myself very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to attend today's event as a representative of the forum. Unfortunately Russell wasn't able to make but I trust GT will fill him in on what he missed, though he appears to have posted the media releases up ahead of us.

No we didn't get to see the final Falcon in the flesh nor any update of the Territory. Today was about looking ahead to the new Fords and for me the highlight was the first public unveiling of the Everest. While they kept calling it the Everest concept in looked ready to go, perhaps the base models will be toned down a bit though. Unfortunately it was not available to look over after the presentation but all the others were.

Thanks again for the opportunity AFF - the only forum represented AFAIK which raised a bit of interest.

Cheers, Rob

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Thanks again for the opportunity AFF - the only forum represented AFAIK which raised a bit of interest.

Cheers, Rob

Sorry but there were other forums present.

[Perko]

Nice pics mate and good to catch up today. The line up was great and with the Falcon for the next couple of years looks even better. The Mondeo and Everest were definitely the highlights.

[Mechan1k]

Looking forward to what is coming up really.
Really looking forward to see the new Mondeo out as well.

[gcg2503]

Nice write up.

Love the front end styling on these Fords.

[SPNAGE]

Yeah, i watched it via Facebook and I've got to say even though there are some sad times coming with the end of falcon in the next few years, there is alot to be excited about. The mondeo looks absolutely marvelous, the everest looks mean as, from what we saw of falcon it's going to go out with a bang. Mustang will be here officially, not some botched hurry job like they did in the early 2000's. Lots of new tech and engines to look forward to. Although falcon is sadly leaving us, there is still allot to be excited about. And to quote a famous big fella that sadly is no longer with us. "I'M EXCITED"

[richo77]

All paid for by Ford?

Nice to see some recognition of the online community.

[Perko]

Yep Ford paid for everything. For those traveling plane tickets were provided, as well as transport to and from the venue.

[DJM83]

Awesome shots Dan. I agree the mondeo is a very fine looking car indeed.

[82XD393.3v]

from what i saw of the falcon they are going to send the fusion after they stop the falcon, ford have been dropping hints and slowly tring to change how you view what a car from ford should look like they tried it with the AU but it was to much to soon, i applaud ford for doing this with a open book this time unlike the red side changing there commodore to look more like a daewooo wont they get a shock when there told the day the last commodore drives off the production line in 2016

[Focused]

Originally Posted by 82XD393.3v

from what i saw of the falcon they are going to send the fusion after they stop the falcon, ford have been dropping hints and slowly tring to change how you view what a car from ford should look like they tried it with the AU but it was to much to soon, i applaud ford for doing this with a open book this time unlike the red side changing there commodore to look more like a daewooo wont they get a shock when there told the day the last commodore drives off the production line in 2016

??
The Mondeo (which is the Fusion) goes on sale here next year. Officially, it's not replacing the Falcon, but having seen the Mondeo in the flesh (my legs are in one of the photos here), it's very close to Falcon size.

Might I add, the new Mondeo looks fantastic and if the FH looks remotely like it, I'll be buying one come 2016.

[Scudn64]

I was there yesterday as well.
The mondeo was deffenetly a looker can't wait to see them on the roads.

[jpd80]

Yes, I was thre too and agree, the new Mondeos are good in the flesh.
So much of the detail seems to be lost in photographs.

Two of my mediocre shots from yesterday, I noticed the lovely detail on
the Mondeo's nose and rear/ hatchback..

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Yes, I was thre too and agree, the new Mondeos are good in the flesh.
So much of the detail seems to be lost in photographs.

Two of my mediocre shots from yesterday, I noticed the lovely detail on
the Mondeo's nose and rear/ hatchback..


image

image

Love the Titanium Wagon, I'll have a diesel one thanks !

[GASWAGON]

Surely the EB Formula Ford will make into the racing scene taking over 4 cylinders.... They really should be advertising it better before the Fiesta comes out......Time will tell.

[dimka100]

The front looks awesome … the back looks mehhh …

[Rodge]

Thanks for the write-up and shots guys. New Mondeo does look great BUT no matter which way you slice and dice it, there ain't no way this vehicle will kick **** like an FPV does...nothing even remotely like it

Not everyone wants a "little bit too environmentally PC and dare I say it girly" Mondeo or a 2 door Mustang, and Ford think the market for a big boofy four door large sedan with a really proper engine is dead. Makes me sad they are soon to abandon this segment that I've grown to love. The future from where I sit and my perspective and motoring desires regarding Ford is bleak.

[Chay87]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Thanks for the write-up and shots guys. New Mondeo does look great BUT no matter which way you slice and dice it, there ain't no way this vehicle will kick **** like an FPV does...nothing even remotely like it

Not everyone wants a "little bit too environmentally PC and dare I say it girly" Mondeo or a 2 door Mustang, and Ford think the market for a big boofy four door large sedan with a really proper engine is dead. Makes me sad they are soon to abandon this segment that I've grown to love. The future from where I sit and my perspective and motoring desires regarding Ford is bleak.

I'm with you Rodge, every car maker needs a car that can fit 5 people in it, with 4 doors and the shopping in the boot and still launch everyone into the seats when the pedal is full throttle. I only watched to see the falcon and they only talked about it for barely a minute then moved on. No everyone cares about fuel usage and smaller engines they will never replace the sound, fun and enjoyment V8s bring.

[jpd80]

I sat next to a major fleet buyer on the bus going to the event, he tells me that he ordered
125 Rangers to lease to the mines, the mines now refusing Hilux because of safety regulations.
Ford could only deliver five, auto transmissions are in such tight supply it's killing Ranger big time...

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by Chay87

I'm with you Rodge, every car maker needs a car that can fit 5 people in it, with 4 doors and the shopping in the boot and still launch everyone into the seats when the pedal is full throttle. I only watched to see the falcon and they only talked about it for barely a minute then moved on. No everyone cares about fuel usage and smaller engines they will never replace the sound, fun and enjoyment V8s bring.

They fly the top brass out and tell everyone how great the new American made product will be and spend less than a minute on the 2014 updated Falcon and to rub salt into the wound don't even show existing FPV customers the respect of confirming one way or the other whether there will be a new FPV model next year. Nice for the people that had free flights and the free show and hospitality from Ford, but this sucks for existing FPV customers.

[BDA074]

Thanks for the write up. Watched live as well, was very impressed.
Everest looks great and am assuming the Edge will replace the Territory.
Mondeo looks awesome, shame it won't be re-named Fusion...
Would have like more info on Falcon and particularly GT but guess I will have to wait. Teasers look good though.

[outback_ute]

Thanks for the report Dan & Rob, sounds like an interesting day. Any idea how many people were there in total?