2000 saw Ford Australia celebrate its 75th Anniversary with a year full of celebrations including a rally and huge family day finishing at the Geelong Waterfront around the Ford Discovery Centre attracting one of Australia’s biggest ever turn out of Ford vehicles and over 100,000 spectators.
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Ford Australia’s 75th Annivesary celebrations in Geelong
Falcon also celebrated a milestone in 2000 with its 40th Anniversary. A special commemorative model was releleased and a series two version of the AU Falcon was also released.
2001 the 100th Birtday of the Ford motor Company and saw plenty of new models enter the Australian market one of the new contenders was the compact SUV Escape and there was plenty of American muscle with the Mustang and F250 and F350 trucks. A high performance Falcon the T-Series also hit the market bringing new levels of style and performance to Falcon.
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The 2002 Focus brought stylish European styling to Ford Australia’s lineup
2002 was a defining year for Ford Australia with the launch of the European styled Focus it set new benchmarks in small cars with new levels of style, performance and safety. The focus was closely followed by the BA Falcon which won the Wheels Car of the Year and several other high profile motoring awards including the Best Family Car award from major Automobile Clubs. With the introduction of Ford Performance Vehicles in 2002 the BA brought back a full time GT Falcon and other sporty models.
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The BA Falcon brought new engines, styling and performance to the market
2004 Ford Australia launched one of the most successful and iconic vehciles of the decade with the introduction of Territory. This new syle of family wagon offered the driving and conforts of a sedan with the space and flexibilty of a SUV. The Territory has gone on to claim many awards including Wheels Car of the Year.
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The Territory is one of Ford Australia’s most awarded vehicles including picking up the prestigous Wheels Car of the Year award.
The 2nd Generation Focus followed in 2005 and was launched with the new updated Falcon the BF. The BF brought further refinement to the popular BA Falcon.
2006 saw Falcon win Bathurst, Craig Lownes took the checquerd flag for the “Blue Team”. A performance version of the Territory was launched with Turbo engine and the Ranger two and four wheel drive utilites were released.
2007 Saw the Mondeo come back to Australia after nearly a decade, with a new level of European style and featuring the new Ford look Kinetic Design. In Australia for invested hundreds of millions of dollars in new facilities in readiness for a brand new Falcon and their part of the new One Ford global ideals. Huge testing facilities were commisioned at the Proving Ground and Geelong recived a brand new Research and Development Centre housing over 300 engineers wo will work on both local and international vehicle programs.
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The Anachonic Chaber at the Ford You Yangs Proving Ground is used design vehicles quieter
The biggest vehicle launch in 2008 was the FG Falcon range, with equipment levels, style comfort and saftey never before seen on an Australian car. Falcon was the first Australian made vehicle to achieve the highest 5 star safety rating and took home arm fulls of trophies and acculades including the Automotive Clubs Best Car award.
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The G Series are new luxury levels of the FG Falcon range
Fiesta the sporty Eurpoean designed small car was introduced into the Australian market in 2009 along with a fresh faced Focus, Ranger, Territory and Mondeo. As the decade closes things are starting to look bright for Ford Australia as it further integrates into the One Ford Plan and become a integral and valuable part of the Global Ford organisation. Ford Australia has announced exciting plans for its future Falcon and Territory vehicles with new engines which will bring new levels of refinement, fuel efficency and lower emissions, and is designing and engineering vehicles for the world.
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The 2009 Fiesta is one of the first examples of Ford’s kinetic design.
