Ford ambushes rivals at motor show

[MAD]

http://www.carsguide.com.au/news-and...rivals_at_show

Ford has hijacked the Motor Show by building its stand outside the exhibit building PIC JOHN FOTIADIS, NEWS LTD.

More highlights from the Australian International Motor Show 2012

Ford has built a million-dollar mega site that hijacks motor show fans before they make it to the front door.

The company tricked the competition by taking space for just three cars inside the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre for the Australian International Motor Show - but will have 14 cars on display outside.

The giant blue structure - made from shipping containers - is so big that from some angles you can’t see the entrance to the official motor show venue, which opens to the public this Friday. Rival brands only found out about Ford’s bold plan at the weekend when contractors began constructing the 4600 square metre site - about four times larger than the biggest stands inside the hall.

Ford’s arch rival Holden would not comment on the active display which will allow show goers to get behind the wheel of one of three new Fords at no charge. Tickets for the show, which runs from October 19 to 28, are $20 for adults and $45 for families. "If they don’t like it, they should have thought of it first," said Ford Australia public affairs director Sinead Phipps, when asked if the move had upset rival brands.

"We worked very closely with [event] organisers to do this. We believe this is going to change the face of motorshows in Australia." Show director Russ Tyrie said the Ford stand was "a very positive move for the show" and "an opportunity to engage with visitors, to actually get behind the wheel and drive the cars".

It is not the first time a car maker has had an outdoor driving display adjacent to the motor show - but it is the first time one brand has taken up so much space. After seven straight years of sales decline and record-low Falcon demand, Ford Australia is pulling out all stops to reverse its current slump.

After paying for "flashmobs" in Sydney and Melbourne last week, Ford is running a TV ad with singer John Farnham performing You’re the Voice - for what is believed to be a $1 million fee - to promote the voice recognition system that controls air-conditioning, phone and audio systems in some new Ford cars.

The chorus 'Try To Understand It' also has meaning; Ford modified the voice recognition system to respond to Australian accents after the earlier American and English systems struggled with the local drawl. Ford will have three test drives outside the show: a four-wheel-drive test course for its new Ranger ute, a road drive of its new Kuga softroader, and a demonstration of the self-parking and auto-braking technology in the new Focus small car.

Not to be outdone, Holden says show-goers will be able to test drive the new Volt plug-in hybrid electric car - but only after they register on the stand inside the exhibition centre. The Sydney Motor Show now occurs once every two years, alternating with Melbourne after both events struggled to attract visitors - and car makers became increasingly reluctant to pay millions for each display.

After next year’s show in Melbourne, the Sydney Motor Show will move from Darling Harbour to Olympic Park in 2014, where more car makers are expected to have outdoor displays and test drive opportunities.

[RASER]

Last roll of the dice and hoorah for the Falcon at the Sydney Motorshow, it most likely wont be at the next Sydney motorshow.....vale Falcon.

[GQ_Smooth]

Well done Ford, Marketing dollars well spent for a change!

[mik]

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...737#post448173

[MAD]

oops. I looked but obviously not hard enough.

[Vincenzo]

Originally Posted by RASER

Last roll of the dice and hoorah for the Falcon at the Sydney Motorshow, it most likely wont be at the next Sydney motorshow.....vale Falcon.

Your optimism knows no bounds!

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by RASER

Last roll of the dice and hoorah for the Falcon at the Sydney Motorshow, it most likely wont be at the next Sydney motorshow.....vale Falcon.

No, the MY14 Falcon will be on display at the 2014 sydney motor show...

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by RASER

Last roll of the dice and hoorah for the Falcon at the Sydney Motorshow, it most likely wont be at the next Sydney motorshow.....vale Falcon.

And good riddance to you too.

[zilo]

I will be there on weekend and will post photos...any requests?

[mik]

Originally Posted by Ugg

I will be there on weekend and will post photos...any requests?

yes mate ....pics of Fords .

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by mik

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...737#post448173

No matter, it's worth double posting, and it gives that Eternal Optimist, RASER, a chance to complain on two threads

[Road_Warrior]

Well well well.

http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2012...n-teased-33119

Ford shows teaser video of its heavily upgraded 2014 Falcon at today’s Sydney show

Ford Australia used this morning’s Sydney motor show opening to reveal a teaser video of the heavily upgraded Falcon that will be released in 2014.

The fleeting teaser footage – a screen-grab of which is pictured here – was played on a large video screen and revealed only the front-end of the 2014 Falcon.

However, clearly evident in the video are a new bonnet, headlights, front quarter guards, bumper and grille, supporting news from motoring.com.au sources that the FG Falcon’s midlife makeover will in fact be an all-new ‘top hat’.

The extensive Falcon upgrade indicates the iconic Ford large car will continue to be produced at the Blue Oval’s Melbourne assembly plant beyond 2016, despite the fact Ford has not committed to local manufacturing beyond that year.

As one Ford insider told motoring.com.au: “The investment is far too great and the upgrade far too extensive to only last three years”.

“We're really excited about Falcon, and what it represents to our portfolio,” said Ford Australia President Bob Graziano.

“And we think given our recent announcement about investment in January that it is important that we show people where we are heading with Falcon.

“It' s a terrific product and we're really looking forward to having the vehicle in the showrooms in 2014,” he said.

Looks like there is going to be some rather large helpings of humble pie getting dished out soon to some of the negatards on here.

[GTP534]

Just from that teaser it looks like some Mustang influence on the front end.

[EgoFG]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnH64zffAqk

[anto]

Well that is a confidence booster...

[TC200six]

Good to see Ford making a step in the right direction to ending the doom and gloom, plus letting the public know they haven't abandoned the Falcon.

RASER's comment reminds me of this post earlier in the year.

Originally Posted by Nikked

No, the falcon is not dead, dispite what you read on AFF

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by mik

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...737#post448173

Thanks.