Fg Replacement

[Venom XR6]

Ford only spent half what Expensive Daewoo did on VE, on the FG and it clearly shows. It was inexcusable they did not address the poor packaging of the BA/BF with it's ridiculously long overhangs. FG is a better car for sure, but not to have reduced weight and shorten overhangs was plain stupid.

Anyhow the FG update next year should be good at least in way; the POS 5.4 V8 gets dumped for the new 100kg lighter Coyote 5.0 V8, so the car may get a well needed weight cut, although Ford finds it almost impossible to build lighter cars and will probably stuff the car full of useless crap to leave the weight almost the same. Yes and Expensive Daewoo sucks too for the massive weight increase of the VE.

Ford wish they only spent 500 mil on the FG. It was actually over 800. AU to BA was 500, do you seriously think the whole body change of the FG would cost the same. As a matter of fact if you take away the 150 mil or so the Statesman cost then the VE cost around the same as the FG to develop.

To have added all the extra equipment needed on the FG and keep weigh gains to an absolute minimum was a good achievement. You need to remember during the FG's early stages of development around 4-5 years before it was released, and the design locked in 2 years before the release, petrol was still very cheap. They weren't to know oil prices were going to spike. Both Ford and Expensive Daewoo would have made both the VE and FG quite differently if they knew the price of oil was going to soar and environmental issues were going to occur. Once it happened it was too late for them to change, they could only work with what they already had, cars that had designs locked in with very little room for change available.

As for shorter overhangs, who cares. A couple of people don't like it, majority couldn't care less about overhang. Ford design cars for the majority. I think the VE looks like a bulldog with its flat face. Its too upright, because the wheels are too far forward to allow the front to be swept back. They had no choice but to make the front bar very upright. But each to their own, some like it, some don't.

[Venom XR6]

All that aside, and back on topic, are there going to be any revisions to the I6 next year when the new V8s come out? Things like direct injection, more power for XR6 and F6?

Yes, the I6 will cop some changes, again to try to improve economy. No DI, it doesn't need it to improve economy yet. The good thing about trying to improve economy and lower emmisions by making the engines more efficient is that in Fords case it usually results in a little more power, unlike Expensive Daewoo who usually lose power trying to improve economy. Switching to Euro 3 Ford gained 8 kw and improved economy, Expensive Daewoo lost 3 with no gains in economy. To improve economy for the VE last year it again lost power, 5 kw. Only now with DI does the VE actually improve power and economy.

Wether it does gain power is a little to early to say, but the injected LPG engine supposedly makes more power than the petrol version. Wether its released that way or not I don't know though, maybe they will detune it abit. Its a sweet system though.

[thorxr6t]

FG is a very good platform (for the money). For a start it crashes really well; 5 star ANCAP safety rating is a great achievement.

Suspension wise, forged aluminium double A-arms front suspensions with twin virtual pivots. That's something that my prev BMW E90 325i (at almost twice the money!) could only dream of... Actually every series except the x series! The rear is equipped with a compact 4-link IRS.

Now add a 4L I6 DOHC turbo engine with transient overboost and a ZF 6-speed auto box with cylinder cut-out and you have a large car that can make an E92 M3 sweat in a sprint.

Its ride and handling is right up there with the best. It steers and turns really well and is well balance.

Simply put, the FG Falcons RWD platform is the best that Ford currently has globally!

But the longer Alan Mullaly leaves the GRWD program on the shelf the worse it gets for the (2015) falcon IMO. Just imagine the FG replacement with the Mustangs suspensions; strut front, live axle rear!? or worse FWD Taurus!?

[Venom XR6]

I've heard rumours coming from the US that GRWD will be revived once Ford can afford it, which will be soon, and it will be based on the FG platform. But they are just rumours and I can't tell you how accurate they are, but I'd say there's a very good chance it will happen, as the Mustang needs a new platform with IRS and CEO Allan Mullaly recons the FG G6E Turbo is the best car he's ever driven.

[2MUCHKW]

And think of the extra weight going longer and wider has added onto the VE over the VZ. 100kg +.

Bloke I doubt redesigning the front wheels 100mm forward on an FG platform for better balance and handling from where they presently are now would increase vehicle weight by 100kg.

It would increase vehicle weight SFA, give better balance/handling and have a much tougher stance side on!!!

[Paulie2256]

hi guys, word in the fpv office is that the next xr8 will be a blown 5L making 310KW and the gt will be same engine making 352KW. Figures are at Fly wheel. Due to be released July 2010.

Dont know if any of you guys have heard anything different. Have not heard anything about the T's

Cheers,

Paul

[bunna]

All just rumours...

Edited 17/11/09 09:41 PM by bunna

[NB4C]

If Ford supercharges the new V8, Expensive Daewoo is no longer going to have the faster V8s.

[tmac450]

Givem the General's track record, if Ford brings out a blown V8, Expensive Daewoo will launch a limited edition twin turbo, 7 litre V8 with nitros

[Venom XR6]

Bloke I doubt redesigning the front wheels 100mm forward on an FG platform for better balance and handling from where they presently are now would increase vehicle weight by 100kg.

It would increase vehicle weight SFA, give better balance/handling and have a much tougher stance side on!!!

I didn't say moving the wheels forward would add weight, I said having a longer and wider car added a lot of weight to the VE over the VZ. Never said anything about the wheelbase.