Hoon Crackdown: Two Anti-Hooning Ads from Different Ends of the Spectrum

In Australia and New Zealand, “hooning” is a term applied to any anti-social and often dangerous behavior behind the wheel of a car. Burnouts, car surfing and illegal street racing all fall under this rather broad definition. And it’s an ever-growing problem. Each year there are more reports like, “Hoons kill innocent driver in Dandenong, say police” and, “Man killed in Burwood Highway 'hoon' crash.”

So it’s obvious that cracking down on hooning is very important to the governments of both nations. Here we have two adverts, one from Oz and one from Kiwiland, that use tactics both old and new to get their message across. The Aussie one plays on that, “If you hoon, you’ll lose your car” message while the NZ one plays on the, “If you hoon, you’ll lose your life” vibe. Who knew that New Zealand’s roads were covered with hidden landmines?

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Ford and Top Gear Australia Revive Mad Max Interceptor with a Pair of Concepts

More than 30 years after George Miller's original Mad Max film starring Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky hit the screens turning both the American-born Australian actor and his jet-black Ford Falcon XB GT351 coupe-based Interceptor into movie icons, Ford’s local division in partnership with Top Gear Australia magazine, has revealed two concept studies for a modern day Interceptor.

The company formed a group of designers led by chief designer of passenger cars for the Asia, Pacific and Africa region, Todd Willing. The team created several of studies that paid tribute to the styling cues from the original XB Coupe Interceptor, but ultimately, only two made the cut. The winning designs were penned by Nima Nourian and Simon Brook.

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2011 Ford Territory: Redesigned Australian Crossover Teased

Ford Motor Corp.'s Australian division has released a teaser illustration of its new-look 2011 Territory, some six months ahead of the crossover's market launch. The current Territory is based on the underpinnings of the local market Falcon sedan and was first introduced in Australia in 2004 having received some subtle updates throughout its production life.

It is believed that the 2011 Territory will continue to make use of current model's platform adding fresh styling inside and out, plus a number of technology highlights, including the introduction of turbo-diesel power.

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Ford to Unveil All-New Ranger Pickup Truck and FPV Falcon with Supercharged V8 at Sydney Motor Show

This year's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, which runs October 15 -24, will see Ford taking the wraps off an all-new generation of its Ranger compact pickup truck. The new Ranger will be joined by Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) first-ever supercharged V8 Falcons, and the Aussie debuts of the current Focus RS and Fiesta Sedan.

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Burnin' gas and kickin' ass: Ford Australia Supercharges 5.0 V8 for FPV Falcon

The Ford vs. GM war continues to rage in a theater of Kangaroo meat and toilets that flush counter-clockwise. In order to give Holden (aka GM) a kick in the Down Under, Ford Australia recently dropped a load of forced induction all over its delectable Falcon GT. Unfortunately there are no cosmetic updates because all the money was spent on the engine. Rock and roll.

Ford Performance Vehicles, owned by Ford Australia and Prodrive, fell over itself to find a suitably-powered replacement for its retiring 5.4-liter.

After musing about the possibilities of twin-turbos, they decided to add a supercharger to the 5.0 instead; with it come improved cooling/fuel delivery, an active exhaust, and all the other tidbits necessary to make the car production-ready without grenading itself all over the asphalt.

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Ford Australia's Falcon Wagon to Bite the Dust in June, Replaced by Mondeo Wagon

In an ominous sign for the rest of the Falcon range, Ford Australia announced that the Falcon Wagon will be axed in June. Ironically, the announcement comes a few months before the company celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Australian Falcon that was launched onto the market in June of 1960.

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Ford Australia Revives Falcon GS Nameplate with Budget 405HP V8 Sedan and Ute Models

Named after the original Aussie model from the late 1960s, the Falcon GS sedan and ute models are the new entry-level products of Ford Performance Vehicles, otherwise known as FPV. Available in limited numbers, the new FPV GS is the budget series of the Falcon GT with both the sedan and ute being powered by a detuned version of the 5.4-liter V8 engine that now produces an output of 405HP (302kW) instead of 423HP (315kW). Peak torque remains the same at 551Nm or 406 lb-ft.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a standard six-speed manual gearbox or optionally, a six-speed automatic transmission. Ford did not release performance specs for the GS Falcons.

Both Falcon GS models get specific race stripes, a charcoal cloth interior, FPV GT instrumentation, gear knob, starter button and badging while a premium sound system with iPod and Bluetooth integration, and dual zone climate control are also standard.

In addition, the GS sedan features 19-inch Graphite alloy wheels and a choice of six exterior color/stripe combinations, while the GS Ute gets 19-inch Alpine Silver alloys, an FPV soft tonneau and a choice of three exterior color/stripe combinations.

FPV said that production of the GS Series is limited to 250 sedans and 75 Utes, with prices set at $54,950 AUS and $49,950 AUS respectively.

"GS is another iconic badge in Ford's family history in this country," said FPV General Manager, Rod Barrett. "Our aim was to develop a model that provides the performance, prestige and individuality that is a signature of the FPV brand, with its own identifiable model personality, and all at a great price."

Ford Australia to offer Falcon RWD Sedan with 2.0-liter Turbo Four, Territory gets V6 Diesel

The first application of Ford's new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine in a rear-wheel drive vehicle will be on the Australian market Falcon sedan, the U.S.-based automaker announced today. The new powerplant that uses petrol turbocharged direct-injection technology will be available in Australia from 2011. According to the Ford, the new EcoBoost four-pot will "deliver the power and refinement of a six-cylinder" but with 15-20 percent better fuel economy than the firm's 4.0-liter straight-six engine.

The company also announced its plans to introduce the Ford and Peugeot-Citroen PSA co-developed 2.7-liter V6 turbo diesel engine to the Australian market Territory SUV. Ford said that the diesel powerplant will improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gases compared to the 4.0-liter 6-cylinder petrol engine.

"Today's announcements put Ford Australia in a strong position for profitable growth in today's auto industry," said Marin Burela, President & CEO of Ford Australia. "We are ensuring our core Falcon and Territory vehicles will have the most advanced, high-tech and cleanest engines possible. At the same time, this represents the biggest environmental transformation in the fifty-year history of Ford Falcon by giving buyers the newest engine in the Ford Motor Company stable."

Aside from the turbocharged V6 diesel and four-cylinder engines, the company said that it will also present a new, more technologically advanced version of its LPG engine for the Falcon sedan.

Source: Ford -Thanks for the tip John.L

1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase 3: Giga 1/8th Scale Die-Cast Model

Being somewhat of die-cast model collectors ourselves, we couldn't bypass the chance to tell you about this giga-sized, 1/8th scale replica of the 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III from 'Icon Models' that will be produced in a limited run of 1,000 units each priced at a hefty $1,295 AUD - that's about €700 or US$925. For non-Australian readers, the GTHO Phase II Falcon is one of the most iconic muscle cars from the land 'Down Under' reputed at its time to be the fastest production saloon in the world.

The actual '71 Falcon XY GTHO Phase III was powered by a modified 351 Cleveland V8 engine that produced somewhere around 380HP. Mated to a 4 speed manual-gearbox, the rear-wheel drive Falcon was said to reach 60mph (96km/h) in 6.4 seconds and the quarter mile in 14.2 seconds while its top speed was close to 230km/h (143mph). Only a mere 300 examples of the GTHO Phase III were built and fewer than 100 survive today. The past few years, prices for the much sought after Ford have skyrocketed to as high as AUD$800,000.

As for the die-cast version of the Aussie muscle car, the 60cm or 23.6-in. long 1/8th scale replica looks the part from the photos featuring many realistic details, but we'd like to see one up close before spending a grand on a die-cast model. According to the maker, the Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase 3 will be available during the thrid quarter of the year.

Link: Icon Models

Ford Celebrates FPV's 5th Anniversary with Special Edition Model

In celebration of its 5th birthday, Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) revealed a limited edition version of its FG Falcon based sports sedan at the at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. Claimed to offer over $9,600 AU worth of additional features for a premium of $5,300 over the retail price of an FPV GT sedan, the FVP 5th Anniversary model gets a series of goodies like 19-inch alloys, a 6-piston Brembo brake package, unique decals, badges, stripping and sports seats finished in Nudo Leather. -Continued

The FPV 5th Anniversary will be available in two colors, Lightning Strike or Silhouette with prices set at $71,890 AU and production limited to 200 examples.

Ouch… $200,000 AUD Ford Falcon GT Confiscated For Doing Burnouts

Australian authorities are stepping up their anti-hooning practices as this past Sunday, thirty New South Wales cops raided a car enthusiast gathering at Anzac Parade and Penrhyn Road resulitng in a in a search of 72 vehicles, 39 tickets and 18 vehicle impoundments.

The most prized… loot was a classic Ford Falcon GT muscle car which the owner claims is worth at least $200,000 AUD or about $189,000 USD. And on what grounds may you ask will this poor fella have his car impounded and sold at a government auction? This was his second burnout offense… Come on, this is beyond ridiculous now. -Continued

During the same raid, Aussie cops also impounded another Ford GT, 3 Holden Commodores, a Holden Utility, Holden Torana and a Nissan 200SX for a minimum of three months for violating anti-hoon statutes.

But that doesn’t bother Australian authorities as car impounding is a thriving business Down-Under with the State of Victoria having seized a whopping 3,437 cars between July 2006 and December 2007 generating a nice $1 million net revenue.

And nothing seems to be stopping them. Superintdendent Ron Mason told Australian newspapers that police are determined to stamp out the hoons, who were endangering other motorists with risky driving and unroadworthy cars. "This is not a one off operation. This is ongoing. Whatever day they're going to be there, we'll be there. You do the wrong thing and you can expect to pay the consequences”, he said.

Sure some people act dangerously and yes there have to be consequences. But there’s something horribly wrong with a law that allows the impounding and auctioning of a car because its owner was caught a couple of times performing burnouts...

Via: Jalopnik , Source: Thenewspaper