Ford Australia has announced it will no longer offer a V8 engine option in any locall

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A Ford engine plant closure in Canada has forced Ford Australia to end production of the V8-powered Fairmont Ghia, Fairlane and LTD, reports GLENN BUTLER.


Ford Fairlane G8


Ford Australia has announced it will no longer offer a V8 engine option in any locally built sedans, wagons or utes outside its sports-oriented XR range.

The decision to drop the three-valve 5.4-litre V8 engine from the Fairmont Ghia, the Fairlane G220/G8 and the LTD was not a hard one, says Ford boss Tom Gorman.

"We were selling 10 a month. We're not talking big numbers here."

Ford has referred to this engine as the Barra 220 and the Barra 230 in recent years.

The move to drop V8-powered Falcons will no doubt have some Ford fans on edge, given the negative publicity Ford endured throughout much of the 1980s by not offering a V8 across its range.

However, Ford points out that this time around the V8 shake-up is very different, because it will still offer some V8s on its sports-oriented models.

The four-valve 5.4-litre engine offered in the XR8 is not affected. It makes the Falcon XR8 sedan and ute the only V8 models in Ford's entire line-up. FPV models are not affected.

Ford Australia's hand was forced by the closure of Ford's Essex engine plant in Windsor where the three-valve 5.4-litre V8 was produced. Gorman says Ford Australia has stockpiled the engine to ensure it has enough to meet demand up until the arrival or Orion in the first-quarter of 2008.

In addition to this, Gorman announced that Ford would replace the full-size spare tyre in Falcon sedans with a temporary space saver. Buyers who wish to have a full-size spare in their Falcon will be forced to pay between $100 - $250 for the option, depending on the model.

Gorman said the move would not result in a reduction of the Falcon's retail price, and nor would it free up more space in the boot because the wheel well would remain capable of accommodating a full-size spare.

Indeed, the Falcon boot is one of the biggest in the large car segment, and space has never been an issue.

He said the move was more about aligning itself with the competition. Holden fitted space-saver spare tyres to all Commodore models since the VE launched in August 2006.


Gorman also hinted that the space saver spare would free up a packaging alternative on the new Falcon – codenamed Orion – due in 2008.

He hinted that those opting for a full-size spare on the Orion would miss out on a new packaging system – most likely a 'wet-storage' area under the boot floor similar to that fitted to the Ford Territory wagon.

Drive blog
Ford Australia has announced it will no longer offer a V8 engine option in any locally built sedans, wagons or utes outside its sports-oriented XR range.
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