2008 Ford Falcon (COMING TO USA)

"The cover has been blown on the best-kept secret of the year -- the 2008 Ford Falcon. Heavily camouflaged photos of Ford's next Falcon, code-named Orion, might be popping up every-where as the car nears its launch, but these photos reveal, for the first time, exactly what the newcomer looks like.

As the top-secret pictures show, the Ford Performance Vehicles division clearly has Holden Special Vehicles in its sights with these aggressively styled FPV sedans, the F6, GT and GT-P.
The FPV cars also give a strong indication of the overall styling direction for the bread-and-butter Falcons.

The look is sharper, more contemporary and significantly more refined than the almost 1-year old current design, which started life in the 1998 AU Falcon.
Orion will get a new body on proven mechanicals, meaning the existing sex-cylinder and V8 engines will carry over with improve fuel econonomy. The suspensions, too, are expected to be retained, with improvements in ride and handling.
It's clear, though, the FPV cars are designed to shock.

They have deep front bumpers and aggressive grille treatments, but the standard car will also get similar "eyebrow" headlights that flow into the rising wedge-like shoulder line just below the window line, which in turn flows into the car's boot.
The front is also designed to be more pedestrian-friendly and the angular headlights look similar to the new Mondeo, due out late this year.

The cars will get distinctive blacked-out headlight surrounds that arch down to the below-bumper foglights.

The cars are set off by body kits, big 20-inch wheels and pronounced bonnet bulges to hide the powerful V8s on the GT and GT-P.

Performance for the FPV V8s is also believed to have increased to more than 300kW.

To contain power, some FPV models could sport cross-drilled high performance Brembo brakes, normally the domain of more expensive European sportscars. High-end models are expected to get xenon headlights.

Matching the contemporary looks are new pull-style door handles that replace the recessed handles of the current Falcons. Following a European trend, the rear-view mirrors will now feature indicator lights.

As expected, some of the key problem areas of the BF Falcon have been addressed.
The car's narrow rear-door opening, long criticised bu fleet operators, is now more curved and appears longer.
This will allow for a wider opening door for rear sear passengers.
Like the current Falcon, the boot is flat and the thinner tail-lights now wrap around the rear end, like an Audi.

The FPV cars sport dual and quad exhausts, an under bumper diffuser and rear spoilers.
The flared "venturi-effect" venting at the side of the rear bumpers is a styling point.
Underneath the Falcon is said to adopt the Territory's virtual pivot control link front suspension, which ensures crisper turn-in and more precision.

The interior, already a strong point with the current car, has also come in for a makeover.
There will be more a pronounced console separating the front seat passenger and driver and a reworked dashboard and gauges that, like the VE Commodore, will include an LED speedo readout.
FPV models are also likely to carry over the high-set gauges on top of the dashboard but they will be better integrated in the same way as the gauges in the Focus XR5.

Quality, safety and equipment levels have also moved up-market.

Ford is expected to offer curtain airbags, electronic stability control and a substantially stronger body.
The company is said to have been benchmarking Audi interior quality levels.

In an effort to trim weight, Ford is believed to have been testing a space-saver spare for the car, in a similar fashion to the VE Commodore, which has made the spacesaver standard and full-size spare a $100 option.

Apart from what we know about the FPV cars, Ford has also registered the names, "R6" "G" and "G6" which could point to new models.
However, it is not uncommon for car companies to registered a whole batch of new names and not use them.
Given the axing of the long-wheelbase Fairlane range, there is a possibility Ford may introduce a higher-level luxury car above the Fairmont Ghia, which could use the "G" model name.
The current 5.4-litre Fairlane G8 is the long-wheelbase range-topper.
The Trickle of information on the Orion just turned into an avalanche.