Press Release
New Models Deliver on Customer Wants
Falcon and Territory customers can look forward to safer, more refined vehicles when the new BF Falcon and SY Territory models go on sale in October.
"We're delivering on what the customer wants with the new Falcon and Territory range – economy, performance, refinement and safety," said Ford
"The high levels of engineering that are clearly evident in the new Falcon and Territory range continues a long line of firsts for Ford
"We were the first Australian manufacturer to introduce the active safety benefits of Dynamic Stability Control when we launched the Territory AWD range last year.
"This year DSC will feature on selected Falcon and Territory RWD models, including the first local DSC application on a V8 sedan.
"In another exciting first for customers, Territory Ghia will become the first Australian manufactured vehicle to feature a reverse camera, adding to the outstanding versatility of the top-selling SUV in the country."
The new BF Falcon range will also feature traction control as standard on all petrol sedans and wagons and, for the first time, on XR Utes.
"The addition of traction control on all our petrol sedans and wagons and our performance Utes, combines with the specially calibrated DSC applications for our luxury and performance sedans, to ensure we are offering customers a range of safety enhancements that suit their driving characteristics and wants."
Mr Gorman said the new Falcon and Territory range will also offer new levels of comfort and refinement.
"It's only going to take a short drive in any one of the new models to realise this is a significantly quieter car, and has taken refinement to a new level.
"Importantly, we have developed a car that reduces the overall sound level in the cabin while still retaining the pure engine note that our customers love to hear.
"In combination with the dramatic upgrades to the engine and transmission we announced last month, which set new benchmarks for fuel economy, performance and smoothness, it all adds up to another exciting range of Falcon and Territory models for customers in October," Mr Gorman said.
All Quiet on the Ford Front
"Refinement isn't just about silencing the car. It's the science of removing the undesirable vehicles noises, leaving the driver with quality sounds they like to hear. We took this approach to the BF Falcon and SY Territory programme to produce the quietest, smoothest vehicles we've ever engineered."
- Tim Hosking, Ford
Ford
"It only takes a few minutes behind the wheel to appreciate the outstanding levels of refinement built into this car, from the entry level XT right through to the LTD," said Product and Development Vice President Trevor Worthington.
"Attention to detail has taken what was already a very quiet vehicle and produced a vehicle boasting superb levels of refinement."
Vehicle Refinement Supervisor Tim Hosking said the team worked on achieving two goals with the BF Falcon and SY Territory programme.
"We wanted to reduce overall sound levels in the cabin, particularly targeting high frequency annoyance noises, allowing the driver to hear the pure note of the engine.
"The end result of very careful attention to detail is a vehicle that is up to six decibels quieter during wide open throttle acceleration.
"A 10 decibel reduction is approximately half as loud to the human ear, so customers will definitely notice and appreciate a six decibel improvement.
"On part throttle acceleration, the I6 engine in Territory and Falcon is three decibels quieter, while road noise sound pressure levels have been lowered by up to one and a half decibels.
"We also worked hard on improving the articulation index, or the ability to easily converse with passengers, and achieved an overall nine per cent improvement in this area," Hosking said.
"Research shows customers can perceive a two per cent improvement, making this enhancement significant in terms of producing a noticeably quieter car."
Lofted outer dash
A new feature contributing to the improved refinement levels in all BF Falcons and SY Territory models is the inclusion of a lofted outer dash, previously seen only on expensive European cars.
"The new outer dash is a two-piece part that works as an absorptive barrier to attenuate broad band noise from the engine. The lofted outer dash works in conjunction with the dash panel and firewall to help insulate the driver and passengers, particularly from high frequency annoyance noises.
"As a result, Falcon and Territory are significantly quieter during start-up, idle, acceleration and shut down.
"Fitting the new lofted outer dash was a significant factor in improving the articulation index in BF Falcon and SY Territory, which translates to a much quieter car for our customers,” Hosking said.
Bitumastic pads
Further quietness has been built into the BF Falcon and SY Territory with the optimisation of sound dampening bitumastic pads.
“Bitumastic pads are added to the body to provide damping for low and mid frequency noises, making for a quieter car,” said Hosking.
“The pads act as a mass damper to reduce structural response to vibrations generated by road conditions and reduce the transmission of these noises to the occupants.
"During development of the BF Falcon, the team ran designed experiments to optimise the position and size of the bitumastic pad package.
"As a result a BF XT, Futura or XR now boasts equivalent performance to a BA Fairmont Ghia. The new BF Fairmont Ghia has been further enhanced, with a sound dampening pack targeting rear seat quietness.
“Customers will notice a reduction in overall road noise at cruising speeds, particularly in the rear of the car,” Hosking said.
Absorptive roof-liner
BF Falcon now uses an absorptive roof-liner to reduce reflected noise in the cabin of ute, sedan, Fairlane and wagon.
Hosking explained the new treatment followed the same principle as an acoustically lined recording studio to improve cabin ambience, delivering lower levels of wind, road and engine noise.
