Ford’s FG Falcon falters

CUSTOMER versions of the Blue Oval’s blistering new XR6 Turbo and G6E Turbo, the heroes of Ford Australia’s vital new FG Falcon range, are yet to roll off the Broadmeadows assembly line as pre-production validation testing continues a month after their mainstream stablemates entered production.

Ford denies the absence of its highly anticipated and critically acclaimed turbocharged flagships from dealer showrooms is due to cooling problems, rumours of which have circulated on well-subscribed threads within a Ford enthusiast website.

Other FG Falcon variants, including the naturally-aspirated XRs, are now widely available within Ford’s national dealer network, which was to have released the new Falcon range in May.

Ford dealer sources this week told GoAuto that turbo models will not be available for delivery until early June, at the earliest. One Ford retailer said he has learned the FG XR6T has experienced transmission related issues.

Ford has confirmed that full-scale FG Falcon production began about a month ago, early in the week of the model’s national media launch (April 8-10), but stresses that the complex new model launch was always going to involve staggered production commencement dates, which it won’t reveal, for the seven FG Falcon sedan variants.

Left: G6E Turbo.

It is not clear whether XR6T versions of the FG Falcon ute, which will be handed over to the media at its national press launch later this week, are affected. Ford’s national television advertising campaign for the new Falcon begins this Sunday, ahead of FPV’s FG launch next week.

“We have a staggered launch to the full FG range that we're currently working through,” Ford public affairs manager Sinead McAlary told GoAuto this week.

“In order to deliver a quality launch for our customers, we bring different vehicles on line at different stages so that we can minimise complexity and the possibility of any issues for both us and our suppliers.

“This is the most concentrated launch we've ever done and our sole focus is to deliver the launch with quality - we're not being driven only by dates. Job One for the FG Falcon did take place during April but different models are coming on stream at different times, with the line speed also ramping up slowly in order to ensure a quality outcome for our customers.

“I'm not prepared to give you the exact dates for all of them individually because that's competitive information.

“As for the turbo engine specifically, it continues to go through a rigorous final testing and validation regime and will go into production when that is completed. As with every other variant in our range, launching with quality is our priority. We haven't built any turbo customer cars yet but we're not officially on sale yet either.

“We've started with the entry-level models (and engines) and are working our way up to the performance derivatives which will happen shortly. It is usual procedure for us to bring models on line at different stages in advance of the range going on sale,” said Ms McAlary.

“As you'd know, there is quite often a number of months (up to 18 months in the case of our nearest Ute competitor) between those launches but doing them together brings their own challenges in terms of logistics, support from suppliers, and final sign-offs in the plants, etc.

“We have an intricate process in place to manage all that and, as a result, we'll be ramping up production of various models and specs in the coming weeks,” she said, adding that it was not unusual for a new model to remain the subject of validation testing after its press launch.

In another potential blow to the rollout of the crucial new FG Falcon, Ford sources this week told GoAuto that Ford and its major plastic component supplier, Venture Industries, were in "high-level" talks about the company’s ability to continue production.

The sources said Venture, which was formerly owned by Ford Australia but is now a subsidiary of its South African parent, might need financial assistance from Ford in order to continue to supply crucial Falcon and Territory components.

“Venture continues to supply a significant number of parts directly to our production line and is therefore a very important supplier to Ford,” said Ms McAlary. “We're working closely with them on a number of issues.

“I believe that Venture is in ongoing discussions with its union about resolving some issues that arose out of the situation that took place in August last year, however, it's not really appropriate for me to comment on those.

“In relation to our production schedule, we're continuing to produce FG and Territory as per our current schedule,” she said.

A spokesperson for Venture, who did not wish to be named, said it was business as usual.

“I’m not able to comment on that. We’re manufacturing parts on a daily basis. There are no crisis meetings occurring. We don’t have any comment to pass and no there’s nothing that’s really worth reporting.

“We’ve often got issues ongoing - we’re dealing with those in the normal process and there’s nothing to report.” The Venture spokesperson would not be drawn on whether the recent speculation was related to a strike over $25 million worth of worker entitlements last year, which shut down the Ford assembly line in late August. That matter is still before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

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