Ford XE Fairmont sedan |
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| Manufacturer | Ford Australia |
|---|---|
| Also called | XE Fairmont |
| Production | March 1982 – October 1984 |
| Predecessor | XD Falcon |
| Successor | XF Falcon |
| Body style | 4 door Sedan 4 door Station Wagon 2 door Coupe utility 2 door Van |
| Engine | 3.3 litre I6 4.1 litre carburetted I6 4.1 litre EFI I6 4.9 litre Cleveland V8 5.8 litre Cleveland V8 |
| Transmission | 3-spd manual (column) 4-spd manual (floor) 5-spd manual (floor) 3-spd auto (column & floor) |
The Ford XE Falcon is a car which was produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1982 and 1984. Introduced on 11 March 1982,[1] the XE was a revised version of the XD Falcon, which it replaced. [2]
Contents |
XE Falcon GL Wagon |
The XE range consisted of nine models marketed as follows:
An S-Pack was available on Falcon GL and Fairmont models and a European Sports Pack (or "ESP") was offered on the Fairmont Ghia.[3]
Limited edition models followed, including the Fairmont Limited Edition [5] and the Falcon Eclipse.[6]
The XE was a facelifted and revised version of the XD Falcon with external differences restricted to a new nose, new rear bumper, and taillights.[2] The biggest technical change was the introduction of a four link suspension system with coil springs on the Sedans.[2] Wagons, Utes and Vans retained the semi-elliptical leaf springs as used on XD models.[1]
The XE 'ESP' option added different headlights (with integrated driving lights) and a corresponding alternate bonnet, along with two-tone paint, Scheel-brand front bucket seats and other performance/luxury differences.
The XE range was introduced with a choice of four engines.[1]
The Australian-assembled V8s were discontinued in November 1982. Ford Australia had built up a large stockpile of V8s intended to last until 1984. After the announcement of the end of the V8 in 1982 however, the stockpile had evaporated by the end of the year. During this period, Ford Australia also built a quantity of 4-bolt 5.8 litre “351s” — similar to those used in NASCAR at the time — for race purposes in Australia. When the 351's race career ended in 1985, the remains were shipped and sold in the United States.
A fuel injected “EFI” version of the 4.1 litre six-cylinder was introduced in February 1983[2] to replace the 4.9 litre V8 but initially produced only 149 bhp and 325 Nm of torque, well down from the 188 bhp and 344 Nm produced by the 4.9. V8 engines remained absent from the Falcon range between 1983 and 1991.
Manual transmission was available in 3 speed column shift (in 6 seater models) and in the more common 4 or 5 speeds floor shift. Auto transmission was 3 speed, floor shift in 5 seats and column shift 6 seater units. Automatic was more common than manual. The XE was the first Falcon to be offered with a 5 speed manual transmission.[2]
As the fuel crisis eased, Australians moved away from the smaller Holden Commodore back to the traditional full-size Falcon. In 1982, for the first time in more than a decade, the Falcon eclipsed its Holden rival in terms of sales. Ford Falcon remained number one seller in Australia until 1988, when Holden returned to the full-size Australian sedan design.
Queenslander Dick Johnson won the 1984 Australian Touring Car Championship at the wheel of an XE Falcon.[7]
The XE Falcon/Fairlane/LTD range was the first automobile to receive the prestigious Australian Design Award.
Production totalled 193,890 units [1] prior to the replacement of the XE by the XF Falcon in October 1984.[8]
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