Delayed: Ford's 4-cylinder Falcon

[DanielXR8]

Hmm why do I get the feeling that Ford are seeing if Falcon has already 'jumped the shark' before committing to production of FG2...

Delayed: Ford's 4-cylinder Falcon
Matt Campbell
March 15, 2011 - 5:11PM


Ford Mondeo
Mondeo will be first Ford in Australia with new Ecoboost four-cylinder engine after more fuel efficient Falcon is held up until 2012.

The Ford Falcon has suffered another blow, with its long-awaited four-cylinder model delayed until early 2012.

The homegrown large sedan was due to go on sale before the end of the year with the more fuel efficient engine that the company is hoping will help revive flagging sales.

Falcon sales have plummeted 44 per cent compared to the same period last year, and the local car maker has cut production in response.


Ford 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine
The Mondeo medium car will now become the first Ford in Australia to feature the Blue Oval’s new Ecoboost engine technology, with a 149kW version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder arriving mid-year.

The company’s press release says “a more powerful version of this engine will follow for the Australian market over the next 12 months, when Falcon EcoBoost is introduced”, though a Ford Australia spokesman said the model wouldn’t go on sale before 2012.

Offering an EcoBoost Mondeo also goes against the company’s strategy of differentiating the Falcon from the Mondeo in regards to power options. As Drive has previously reported, an EcoBoost Mondeo was virtually ruled out for Australia, as Ford focused on diesel powertrains for the European-made model.

The four-cylinder engine will be available in the mid-range Zetec (which currently starts at $36,240) and top-end Titanium (from $43,490) models, with pricing details yet to be revealed.

The 2.0-litre, which is mated to a dual-clutch auto, produces 149kW and 300Nm – notably higher outputs than the non-turbo 2.3-litre engine (118kW/208Nm). It also sips considerably less fuel, down from an average of 9.5 litres per 100km to a more respectable 8.0L/100km.

The company says the turbocharged Falcon will use a higher output engine than the Mondeo – possibly the 177kW/320Nm version found in some European Mondeo models.