Ford Falcon (BF)

Ford Falcon (BF)
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Australia
Production	October 2005 – February 2008 (utility, sedan) October 2005 – June 2010 (wagon)
Assembly	Australia: Campbellfield, Victoria
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door Coupé utility
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Falcon (BA)
Successor	Ford Falcon (FG)

The Ford Falcon (BF) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 2005 to 2008. It was the third and final iteration of the sixth generation of this Australian-made model and also included the Ford Fairmont (BF)—the luxury-oriented version of the Falcon. The station wagon continued until 2010, alongside the new seventh generation Falcon range.

Introduction and changes

Sold between October 2005 and February 2008 in sedan and utility body styles or as a wagon until June 2010, the BF series brought many mechanical upgrades, including but not limited to a raised compression ratio (10.3:1) and improved now-independent dual variable cam timing on the six-cylinder engines and improved knock sensing on the DOHC 3 Valve V8 which, in conjunction with ECU modifications, led to increases in power, torque and fuel economy, required to comply with recently introduced Euro III emissions standards. The changes to the six-cylinder engine further decreased the engine’s already low noise and vibration while increasing power from 182 to 190 kW (244 to 255 hp). With the BF, Ford introduced a six-speed automatic developed by German company ZF and Bosch. The XR6 Turbo got a power increase to 245 kilowatts (329 hp), along with the ZF six-speed automatic.

With the BF Falcon Ford updated the keys and security of the Falcon, replacing the ageing Tibbe lock system with a Huf manufactured 2 track key.

Model range

The BF Falcon started production in October 2005 until it was updated with the Mk II in October 2006.

Its original range comprised the following model variants:

• Falcon XT sedan and wagon
• Falcon Futura sedan and wagon
• Falcon XR6, XR6 Turbo and XR8 sedan
• Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia sedan

In February 2006, the limited edition Falcon SR was also launched with a higher level of equipment relative to the XT.

Mk II

On the 6 October 2006, the BF Mk II was officially launched by former Ford Australia President Tom Gorman. BF Falcon MkII went on sale 22 October 2006. The XT, Futura and Fairmont sport a facelift, with a new bonnet, headlights, grille and front and rear bumpers, while the XR range gets some minor interior updates. The top of the range Fairmont Ghia benefitted most from the BF Mark II upgrade compared to the other models in the range, including more chrome and diamond finished alloy wheels. The Fairmont Ghia also featured sportier body kit with side skirts designed to make the car more attractive to younger buyers. Inside, the Fairmont Ghia featured a piano black finish on the centre stack, chrome plated door handles and a brushed aluminium appearance on the instrument cluster.

In the final months of production (July 2007 onwards), the XR6, XR6 Turbo and XR8 received a special edition body kit with dark gray inserts on the bumpers and skirts (November 2007 onwards), shadow chrome 18" alloys with dark gray inserts on the spokes, and Premium Sound/Climate Control as standard. The naturally aspirated XR6 was gifted these options only with the added option of the ZF six-speed automatic. In New Zealand the cars with the special edition body kit were known as the 'Rebel' model and had Rebel badging with the Rebel title sewn into the leather headrests. The NZ Rebel models included all of the optional upgrades.

It is interesting to note that much of the Falcon's success in Australia can be attributed to Ford Australia (and indeed also Holden) continuing to face the same problem that led to the Falcon's introduction in the 1960s: the resistance of Australian Ford buyers to "smaller" models. Attempts to sell the US Ford Taurus in Australia and New Zealand as a possible future replacement for the Falcon proved disastrous. Conversely, the Mondeo - which proved unpopular in Australia (but a success in New Zealand)—is the largest model available from Ford in Europe since the Scorpio was dropped in 1998.

Mk III

Whilst the BF Series sedans and utes were replaced by the FG range in February 2008, Ford maintained the wagon in Mk III guise. The Futura model was discontinued leaving the base model XT the only model remaining, primarily for fleets. By this time, in fact, private buyers turned to the Ford Territory instead.

The Falcon Mk III gained Dynamic Stability Control (available on petrol powered models only), the new flip key from the FG series, satin alloy accents on the front grille surround, ‘Warm Charcoal’ carpet, Goodyear Excellence tyres and Mk III badging.

The BF wagon was discontinued in late 2010 and was never replaced directly.

FPV range

Engine specifications remain unchanged. All models share the same six-speed manual and were now offered with an optional SS made ZF six-speed automatic (the same as featured in Jaguars and BMWs). The GT received the GT-P's old 19-inch wheels, and the GT-P and Super Pursuit received their own specific road wheel styles. Typhoon & Tornado versions had optional 18-inch road wheel design used on the previous model, or a new 19-inch design with black spokes. All models received new body kits, with the F6 Typhoon benefiting from its own unique styling changes. The F6 now had color coded fog lamp surrounds, and a lower grill insert emphasizing the intercooler. The rear now had a new bumper with mesh inserts, a deeper diffuser, with the GT models now sporting a dual exit exhaust system cut into the diffuser.

2006 BF MkII update

No mechanical changes were introduced with this update; however, all models came standard with 19 inch rims. Subtle styling changes were made, but the most significant news was the introduction of new Force 6 and Force 8 models. Built to rival HSV's Senator Signature, they are mechanically identical to the auto-equipped GT model, but in a more luxury-focused package with more conservative visuals (no rear wing and more conservative colour range). The Force models are essentially an FPV version of the Fairmont Ghia (luxury model in the Falcon range). In the final months of the BF MkII Falcon, a number of limited-edition models were released - the GT 40th Anniversary,[4] the F6 Typhoon R-Spec,[1] the GT Cobra sedan and the Cobra Ute - all of which received stiffer "R-Spec" dampers, and in the case of the GT Cobra, a power increase. (The GT Cobra motor produced 405 hp (302 kW) and 398 lb·ft (540 N·m)).[5]

300 R Spec model Typhoons were produced in 2007, these had different Ardent Dark Silver colour accents on wheels and spoilers, leather upholstery, R spec floor mats, Brembo 4-pot front brakes, ten of these R-Spec Typhoons were exported by Ford Australia into Ford New Zealand, of that ten, one was fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission and the other nine were equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions.

Only 200 BF GT 40th Anniversary models were produced, making it the rarest and most sought after of the limited edition models, as it was released to commemorate as well as celebrate the 40 year anniversary of the Falcon GT legend in Australia, which stretches back to 1967 with the release of the original XR GT Falcon.

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  Ford Falcon (BF II) XT sedan

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  Ford Falcon (BF III) XT wagon

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  Ford Fairmont (BF II) Ghia sedan

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  Ford Falcon (BF II) XR6 Turbo (2007 update)

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  Ford Falcon (BF II) XR6 Turbo utility

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  Ford BF FPV Falcon GT sedan

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  Ford BF FPV Falcon GT-P sedan

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  Ford BF FPV F6 sedan

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  Ford BF FPV Falcon GT 40th anniversary sedan

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  Ford BF FPV Falcon GT Cobra sedan

References

External links

• Ford press release which lists all updates for BF Falcons
• Ford Falcon Homepage
• Ford BF Falcon Review