Falcon AU - Mercedes CL. shell similarities

[CAT600]

Originally Posted by phillyc

Spot on! Only it should've been the 4.6L 240kW V8 in the AU instead of the 175/185/200/220kW 5.0L windsors.

Heck the T series could've been 4.6L S/C 300kW/600Nm in 2000! With that rear end, it would've annihilated the GTS300/Clubsport255 models!

As far as AU was concerned, it was never going to cop the 4.6L as a SC version. For a start, there was no production engine built until mid-2002. (What should have happened though is for Ford Aus to have used the Terminator engine in the BA's until 2005 - when production stopped, then picked up the GT500 engine when it became available). The AU engine bay is too tight for a DOHC modular : and Ford would never have let AEC build the 300+ either in low production or en masse. I spoke with Jay Upton at the time and you could see that he was never really confident.

Oh yeah, I like the CLS myself, looks classy.

Daniel

[Wally]

Originally Posted by jphanna

I recon there must have been a thread about his when the current Merc CL came out, but I will take a chance, and ask the AU owners what they thought about the copy cat Merc design. Why is it that the AU was not well received back then, but the current CL MERC body shape which has an uncanny resemblance from behind, to the AU, (from a distance) is 'cool'.

I often wonder if a ‘tidied’ up AU shell with MERC running gear and MERC badges was shown to the motoring public in 1998, whether they would have bagged it as much as the Falcon AU was back then. Is it just the MERC badge, or was the AU ahead of its time and that’s why it was rejected?

Neither of them are handsome to look at, nor is the current BMW offering. I suspect they designed for increased market share in China.

[burnz]

check's the weather this is the pub or classic, due to the high amout back slapping and high five's

yes the AU is beautiful ................haha

[TRUBLU4DS]

I think i remember before the AU was released that there was a spy photo in one of the magazines saying, is this the next Mercedes?

[jphanna]

Originally Posted by burnz

check's the weather this is the pub or classic, due to the high amout back slapping and high five's

yes the AU is beautiful ................haha

no one claimed the AU was beautiful except you. all i claimed was the worlds most famous and oldest car company has a current model as its flagship...that looks awfully like an AU. the word beutiful was never mentioned.

also wasnt the LS1 the motor that in the early 2000's spend most of its time in pieces in many holden dealerships accross australia for warraty claims about using litres of oil every month?

[AWD Chaser]

I bought up the topic of the AU design influence a while ago in another thread - some peoples suggestions steam from magna's to lancers to Benz CLS.. etc...


http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=41798

[Iggypoppin']

ouch LS1. True though, it did burn oil alot

[pezza_XR6]

both still look like a cockroach to me

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by pezza_XR6

both still look like a cockroach to me

We might think similar thoughts about you but we dont post them

[Walt Kowalski]

Originally Posted by 51RTE

We might think similar thoughts about you but we dont post them

ROFLMAO

[last fairlane]

Nothing wrong with a series one AU I have a Fairmont it looks good on the front but the Merc looking rear end was a bit too round for me so I had to put on a spoiler but I do like the chrome boot garnish and its a magic car to drive so I put my money where my mouth is and bought one by the way the Mrs has a BA Ghia and I prefer the AU to drive besides mine runs on LPG by Tickford best car Ive had and the longest owner ship for me going on for six years now
Thanks John

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by last fairlane

Nothing wrong with a series one AU I have a Fairmont it looks good on the front but the Merc looking rear end was a bit too round for me so I had to put on a spoiler but I do like the chrome boot garnish and its a magic car to drive so I put my money where my mouth is and bought one by the way the Mrs has a BA Ghia and I prefer the AU to drive besides mine runs on LPG by Tickford best car Ive had and the longest owner ship for me going on for six years now
Thanks John

punctuation is a good thing

[mik]

i must confess as an au owner the looks never really sold me, it was mostly the cars dynamics, i loved the way it drove and was very impressed with how the falcon 6 performed and handled compared to the oldies, that said in my eyes the base models just looked a bit bland imo, they needed something , most like the te50 etc and xr`s , that said its surprising how many looks a clean au still gets, i have often wondered how a benz owner with the similar looking model feels pulling up next to an au

[burnz]

Originally Posted by jphanna

no one claimed the AU was beautiful except you. all i claimed was the worlds most famous and oldest car company has a current model as its flagship...that looks awfully like an AU. the word beutiful was never mentioned.

also wasnt the LS1 the motor that in the early 2000's spend most of its time in pieces in many holden dealerships accross australia for warraty claims about using litres of oil every month?

ppl in EA's shouldent thow stone's.

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by Russell

That's ok. We find you ugly and the majority of your posts cheap and pointless, much like a Korean car.

Thats pretty poor form Russell, members bashing from a mod?

At the time of the BA launch, one of the mags did an article on the AU. They had designers comment on it and the general consensus was it was way ahead of its time in many of it's concepts.

If i'm not mistaken, the AU's engine bay was too narrow for the DOHC 4.6 donk. I'm sure Ford USA would have been more than happy to drop the mod motor into the AU.

I agree with others in saying that the AU in it's later SIII guise had stood the test of time better than the VT and the last T series was a fantastic looking piece of equipment.

Out of interest, the AU isn't the first Falcon to be compared to a Merc, the XD was the other.

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Kieron

Thats pretty poor form Russell, members bashing from a mod?

At the time of the BA launch, one of the mags did an article on the AU. They had designers comment on it and the general consensus was it was way ahead of its time in many of it's concepts.

If i'm not mistaken, the AU's engine bay was too narrow for the DOHC 4.6 donk. I'm sure Ford USA would have been more than happy to drop the mod motor into the AU.

I agree with others in saying that the AU in it's later SIII guise had stood the test of time better than the VT and the last T series was a fantastic looking piece of equipment.

Out of interest, the AU isn't the first Falcon to be compared to a Merc, the XD was the other.

what model merc was that??

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by Russell

That's ok. We find you ugly and the majority of your posts cheap and pointless, much like a Korean car.

Ohhhhhh snap!

I tip my hat to you good sir!

[jphanna]

Originally Posted by burnz

ppl in EA's shouldent thow stone's.

CREDIT given for this comeback!!

i only have the EA because my dad died in July last year so i took over the reins after teh siblings decided against it. My nomal car is a VE. I was going to buy a gas BF (petrol was 1.60 at the time and buying a petrol car seemed like bad option)
but my sons Kneeboard didnt fit in the raised boot of the LPG falc...

i have tinted the windows, changed the waterpump and the EA is travelling quite nicely thanks as my tow hack for my jet ski. only done 134500kms!

[Chopped]

The only similarity I can see is the rear lights and curve of the boot. Lots of cars share similar design cues. I admit they are pretty close though.

The AU got better looks wise with each series and yes the last T still looks (and sounds) very tough (esp in black)

In saying that the standard AU has some bad bits like the way the bottom sills taper too far inwards but all cars have their failures I suppose.

The CLS is an instant classic. It has a sought of amercian muscle car look to it yet still looks very modern. The lowered roofline is what makes it special (Like the 300C).

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by burnz

ppl in EA's shouldent thow stone's.

nothing (much) wrong with EA's.

[Cookie-XR8]

Originally Posted by Nikked

I would love to get a Au and do a full custom job to it, shaved filled etc. Its a nice shape.

im building one lol every thing shaved apart from door handles,


they do look alike, but the au is better

[86XFFairmont]

Originally Posted by blackwood

I believe the European motoring media thought it was the Audi 80/100 replacement.
It was shown without badges and no-one was told who's design it was.

I heard somewhere (I think I may have read it here) that a MB designer once said
(when asked about the similarity between the CLS and the AU) that the problem with AU was that it's design was to far ahead of it's time.
I believe it was also noted that the AU served as part of the inspiration for the CLS design.

So we're all on the same page...

Au rear


Merc CLS rear

id prefer the au neday as the mercs are a to tow wen they shut down least wth the au the key opens the doors n boot, theres no electronic steering lock and theres no shift lock on the transmission.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by burnz

ppl in EA's shouldent thow stone's.

Back on topic thanks

[Walt Kowalski]

Originally Posted by 86XFFairmont

.....id prefer the au neday as the mercs are a to tow wen they shut down ......

Welcome to Australia. Glad to see you have already bought an Aussie car. If you decide to go for citizenship and need any help please PM me.

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by burnz

what model merc was that??

The 78 450 I think. I should have been more accurate and said the rear end of the XD -
http://www.airride.co.uk/wp-images/M...s/DSCF0001.jpg

Cover from the C pillar forward and you you will see

[drew`SEVNT5]

Originally Posted by myts

And I wish people would stop comparing my car to a busted a$$ CLS. It cheapens it.









Joking folks, joking.

Im gunna slap you so hard on monday :P


I must say that your TS50 did look real nice at work on friday...

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Kieron

The 78 450 I think. I should have been more accurate and said the rear end of the XD -
http://www.airride.co.uk/wp-images/M...s/DSCF0001.jpg

Cover from the C pillar forward and you you will see

i can see what you mean, and they are right with the AU. (other post's)

so is merc's designer's from ford, or are they just cheap copycat's??