AU Falcon

Ford Falcon (AU)
Ford Fairmont sedan (Series III)
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Australia
Also called	Ford Fairmont (AU) FTE TE50 FTE TS50
Production	September 1998 – September 2002
Assembly	Australia: Campbellfield, Victoria
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Platform	EA169
Related	Ford Fairlane (AU) Ford LTD (AU)
Powertrain
Engine	4.0 L Intech I6 (petrol) 4.0 L Intech E-Gas I6 (LPG) 4.0 L Intech HP I6 (petrol) 4.0 L Intech VCT I6 (petrol) 5.0 L Windsor V8 (petrol) 5.0 L Synergy 5000 V8 (petrol) 5.6 L Windsor V8 (petrol)
Transmission	4-speed M93LE automatic (I6) 4-speed M97LE automatic (V8) 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,793 mm (110.0 in)–3,096 mm (121.9 in)
Length	4,907 mm (193.2 in)–5,077 mm (199.9 in)
Width	1,870 mm (74 in)–1,871 mm (73.7 in)
Height	1,437 mm (56.6 in)
Curb weight	1,437–1,645 kg (3,168–3,627 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Falcon (EL)
Successor	Ford Falcon (BA)

The Ford Falcon (AU) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1998 to 2002. It was the first iteration of the sixth generation Ford Falcon and also included the Ford Fairmont (AU)—the luxury-oriented model range. The AU series replaced the EL Falcon constructed on the previous generation architecture, and was replaced by the updated BA series.

The AU series was conceived under "Project Eagle" that begun in February 1993, and gained the official codename "EA169" in October 1994. It was developed and brought to market in 1998 only after Ford Australia had given consideration to a revamped fifth generation Falcon and a fully imported replacement such as the American front-wheel drive Ford Taurus or rear-wheel drive Ford Crown Victoria, the European rear wheel-drive Scorpio and, reportedly, even the Japanese rear-wheel drive Mazda 929 (then part of the Ford conglomerate).

The above alternatives were eliminated in favour of a substantial redesign of the indigenous platform, due to concerns about the Australian market preference for high towing capacity, large interior size and local employment. Specific factors included, for example: research at the time indicated that 69% of Falcons were fitted with towbars and the perception that rear-wheel drive cars were better at towing; the fact that the import models had limited body style options (sedan only or sedan and wagon) and no capability to use a V8 engine.

Stylistically, this new generation Falcon sported Ford's radically new global design language, labelled "New Edge". The aim of this design was to attract a younger generation of buyers with avant-garde looks, however, in Australia it polarized public opinion to the benefit of the more organically designed rival, the 1997 Holden Commodore (VT). The AU series had a very efficient drag coefficient of Cd=0.29 for the sedan (an 11% improvement over the preceding EL series) and 0.34 for the wagon.