| Manufacturer | Ford Australia |
|---|---|
| Also called | Ford Fairmont Nissan Ute |
| Production | 1984–1988 (sedan, wagon) 1984–1993 (utility, panel van) |
| Predecessor | XE Falcon |
| Successor | EA Falcon (sedan, wagon) XG Falcon (utility, panel van) |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 2-door coupé utility 2-door panel van 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
| Engine | 3.3 L I6 4.1 L I6 (Carburetor) 4.1 L I6 (EFI) |
| Transmission | 3-speed automatic 3-speed manual 4-speed manual 5-speed manual |
| Length | 4,775 mm (188.0 in) |
| Width | 1,860 mm (73.2 in) |
| Height | 1,367 mm (53.8 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,333 kg (2,939 lb) |
| Related | Ford ZL Fairlane Ford FE LTD |
The Ford XF Falcon is a car that was produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia between 1984 and 1993. The XF sedan and wagon sold between October 1984 and February 1988,[1] with the utility and panel vans running through to March 1993.
The ride and handling were described as competent, but the non-powered steering was heavy at low speeds with an overly strong castor action after performing a manoeuvre such as a U-turn. Engines were modified to run on unleaded fuel from January 1986. The XF series remains Ford's best-selling Falcon model to date with 278,101[2] built.
Contents |
XF models were available with a choice of 3.3 or 4.1 litre engine six-cylinder engines.[3] The 4.1 litre unit was standard on Fairmont models.[4]
Transmissions available were four- or five-speed manual floor shift, or the much more popular three-speed automatic with the selector lever located either on the floor or the column in cars that seat six. In three-seat utilities and vans, the three-speed manual on the column was standard.
An optional "S" pack was available on some models, featuring body stripes, fog lamps, styled wheels, Falcon "S" badging, steering rake adjustment, driver's lumbar support, driver's seat tilt and footrest and sports instrument cluster.[3]
Along with the luxury Fairmont models, Ford also produced a long-wheelbase ZL Fairlane sedan, which was based on the XF wagon platform. An even more luxurious version of the Fairlane, the FE series LTD was also offered.
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| 1988 Nissan Ute print advertisement | |
The Nissan Ute was a badge engineered version of the XF Falcon utility sold by Nissan in Australia from August 1988 to 1991.[6] Nissan Utes were sold as a result of a model-sharing scheme known as the Button car plan. In an attempt to rationalise the Australian automotive industry, the Button plan induced car manufacturers to share core platforms. For this particular vehicle, XF series Ford utility vehicles were rebadged as "Nissan".
Nissan did not offer the various equipment levels of the Ford donor vehicle, instead offering only two basic trims (DX and ST) without a performance-oriented option such as the Falcon XR6 or "S" pack. The plan was generally considered a "disaster" by the industry as the car buying public steered clear of the badge engineered vehicles. Furthermore, spare parts could often only be purchased from the original vehicle maker—as was the case with the Nissan Ute.
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