| Ford El Falcon |
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The Ford EL Falcon was a Large Car manufactured by Ford Australia from 1996 and was replaced by the AU Falcon in 1998. A replacement for the Ford EF Falcon , the EL was one of the most popular Falcons produced; more cars were sold from the EL range than from its successor the AU . MODELS The EL Falcon was the final chapter of the 'E'-series model ranges, which began with the EA. Ten variants of the EL were produced, all of which were available fitted with either Manual or Automatic Transmission , although automatic transmissions were more a more popular choice among buyers. Ford spent $40 million for the development of the EL Falcon. Thicker glass and more insulation were used in the dash board to make it quieter. The EL at the time was the only Australian built car that had a driver side Airbag as standard on all models, side airbags were as an option. The EL Falcon was also used largely as a Police Car and a Taxi .1 Base models The GLi was the most basic model Falcon. It came standard with a Straight Six engine, with an option of upgrading to a V8 .2 The Futura was visually similar to the GLi, with only minor exterior changes. The main difference between the two models was features:
Optional LPG was available for 6-cylinder engines in both models. Sapphire, Classic, and Falcon 'S' Ford introduced the Sapphire shortly after the Holden VT Commodore was released 1997, in an bid to make the EL more competitive. It was a limited edition model and had two variants based on either the GLi or the Futura, each with different included extras. All Sapphires had 15-inch Alloy Wheels and metallic paint as standard. Other responses to the VT Commodore were the '''Classic''' and '''Falcon 'S'''' models. Similarly to the Sapphire, they were also limited edition variants based on either the GLi or Futura. Standard for the Falcon 'S' were a six stack CD Player , air conditioning, and alloy wheels which were the same as those fitted to the XR6 and XR8 models of the earlier ED Falcon range. Sports models The biggest difference between the so called 'XR series' performance Falcons and the base models were the engines; the XR6 and '''XR8''' boasted a 164kW six-cylinder and a 170kW V8 (later upgraded to 185kW) respectively. The upgraded gearboxes and exhaust were unique to the XR range, as were its interior & exterior styling and headlights which gave the XR's a more aggressive look than other Falcons. Both models came standard with a limited slip differential and specially tuned suspension. Body kits were also installed to improve the visual looks of the car and the aerodynamics. The high performance flagship sports sedan known as the '''GT''' the most expensive model in the Ford range. Therefore it came with much improved performance and handling upgrades. The GT had a Tickford 5.0L 200kw engine, but the GT was based on the Fairmont Ghia rather than the XR performance models which was first anticipated.3 It cost AU$69,900 when brand new also only 250 cars were ever built which means a moderate conditioned GT can cost at least AU$80,000 - AU$90,000 and the current time it is estimated that in 2017 the GT could cost up to AU$120,000 if sold in a car auction.,"Wheels magazine", page 61. Aussie Gold, 2005 Luxury models The Fairmont was promoted by Ford as a luxury car. It contained the same six-cylinder engine as the Futura, but with added features such as premium seats, automatic climate control and dual horns. The Fairmont's features, instrumentation and electronics were also superior to those of other models. A number of changes were made to the exterior to distinguish the Fairmont from other models, most noticeable was the more prominent front Grille which was accommodated by a larger bonnet bulge and different headlights.
The Fairmont Ghia station wagon was discontinued in the EL range, unlike the Fairmont wagon which was still available. MODIFICATIONS The EL was based on its predecessor the EF, which began production in 1994. Ford introduced a number of improvements aimed extending the life of the E-series while the AU was being developed, which resulted in the highest annual sales of a Falcon since 1960. Facelift The most obvious change visually was the introduction of a front Grille for GLi and Futura models. The grille itself was now oval in shape, a trait shared by other Ford models available at the time. The overall effect was to give the front of the car a 'round' visual theme, continuing a shift away from the boxier styling traits of the early E-series models. Interior upgrades came in the form of reshaped seats and Headrest s, new colour schemes, and new switches. A third-row children's seat, cargo barrier, and preinstalled wiring to accommodate Mobile Phone usage were made available as options for the station wagon variants. Additionally, all models were fitted with an advanced Window Film know as "Smart Tint", which claimed to give equivalent protection levels of SPF15 Sunscreen . Other aesthetic changes included:
Engine The EL introduced only minor changes to the Falcon's base-model Straight-six engine, when compared radical overhaul presented by the EF. The coil-pack ignition system introduced in the EF was rolled back to a dizzy-style ignition due to reliability problems, and a divided air induction pipe which led to the throttle was replaced with a single, wider pipe. Engine output remained unchanged at 157kW / 357nm. Handling and braking |
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