Ford Falcon (BA)

The BA model represented a A$500 million investment, and 24,000 hours of engine and durability testing. Germany's Nürburgring test track was used for some suspension testing. The anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control were calibrated in Sweden, as well as Australia. Exterior design Exterior styling was led by design director Scott Strong, then chief designer for Ford Australia. After Strong departed from operations at Ford in 2001, Simon Butterworth took over this role. Ford Australia's intention was to create a European influence for the vehicle, whereby most aspects of the AU's "New Edge" design would be revised. The result was a significant update of the existing AU body shell, rather than a completely new design. Interior design From the inside, the "New Edge" interior of the AU was discarded in favour of a contemporary style, based upon European designs. Marcus Hotblack, the director of interior design, focused on improving user friendliness. The resulting design was an ergonomically-correct interior command centre, highlighted by the satin-finish centre console. The theme was further extended by the audio and cruise control switches' location on the steering wheel. A prominent feature of the new command centre was a large liquid crystal display which displayed information regarding the air conditioning unit and sound system. Buyers could opt for a premium sound package, standard on the Fairmont Ghia, which included a full-colour screen. Ventilation outlets were larger than those of previous models, resulting in a cabin that could be more effectively and efficiently heated or cooled. Another change was the headlamp switch, which was now located on the end of the turn signal stalk for easier reach. Interior colour schemes varied from model to model, but shared a common design approach. The entry-level XT featured a black plastic panel for the upper half of the dashboard, with either a black, charcoal, or beige panel for the lower half. Not all variants offered the distinctive colour palette; the sports variants could not be optioned with the two-tone interior. == Powertrain ==

Powerplants consisted of both straight sixes and V8s, with the entry-level Barra 182 six-cylinder being a significant improvement over the AU Falcon's six. The base model engine contained substantial mechanical changes such as dual infinitely variable cam timing for a gain of of power for a total of . The Barra 182 can also take advantage of higher octane fuels, where a small increase of torque can be achieved. The LPG-only Barra E-Gas engine was offered as an option on lower specification models. A turbocharged variant of the Barra engine was introduced in a new XR6 Turbo model and produced of power. Two transmissions were available for the BA—a four-speed automatic and a five-speed manual, both floor-mounted. The automatic unit featured Sequential Sports Shift, a first for the Falcon nameplate in Australia. Utility body styles were also available with an optional column-mounted automatic shifter (without Sequential Sports Shift) in lieu of the floor-mounted system also offered. The new Control-Blade independent rear suspension (IRS) fitted to all sedans—first used in development of the Ford Focus and the Jaguar X-Type— was superior to the optional double wishbone IRS suspension used on AU sedans, and was cheaper. However, it was heavier than the previous live rear axle used for base models, and the change contributed to the base model XT sedan's weight increase from the previous model. The wagons and utilities retained the leaf spring live axle rear suspension of the AU wagon and utility; consequently, they did not gain as much weight as the sedan. The BA Falcon was also smoother on the road, with increased towing capabilities from previous models. Fuel consumption in the Barra 182 was measured at for city driving and for highway driving. These numbers were government figures, measured indoors using a dynamometer. Real-world testing has shown that an extra 12% is actually consumed. == Safety ==

Passenger safety was a key design aspect for the Ford engineers. Anti-lock brakes were standard on all models; electronic brakeforce distribution was also standard on most variants. The addition of traction control for higher trim levels helped to prevent loss of traction. On top of this, dual front airbags were a standard fitment across the range; side-impact airbags were equipped on higher luxury levels such as the Fairmont. In a crash safety assessment conducted by ANCAP, the BA model scored 27.27 out of a possible 37 points, giving a rating of four out of five stars. == Model range ==

Falcon XT Marketed largely towards the fleet industry, the entry-level Falcon XT sold in the most numbers. The Barra 220 V8 engine was available as an option. Judges of the ''Australia's Best Cars awards crowned the XT Best Family Car'' in 2002, Sedan and wagon models were available. File:2004 Ford Falcon (BA) Futura sedan (2015-07-03) 01.jpg|BA Falcon Futura sedan File:2004 Ford Falcon (BA) Futura sedan (2015-07-03) 02.jpg|BA Falcon Futura sedan Falcon XR6 Building on the features of the XT, Ford Australia at one point considered not releasing the sports-oriented Falcon XR6 because of the new XR6 Turbo model. However, Ford overturned this decision before production. A specifically designed body kit distinguished the XR6 from other variants, except for the XR6 Turbo and XR8 which shared the sports bodywork. The naturally aspirated engine was identical to the engine used on the XT and Futura, and the five-speed manual transmission came as standard. The newly introduced Falcon XR6 Turbo (XR6T) received critical acclaim at launch, and the Australia's Best Car's judges even awarded it the Best Sports car under $57,000 in 2002. The turbocharger is a Garrett GT35/40 unit. File:2002-2004 Ford Falcon (BA) XR6 sedan (18731328968).jpg|BA Falcon XR6 sedan File:2003 Ford Falcon (BA) XR6 Turbo sedan (17350151531).jpg|BA Falcon XR6 Turbo sedan Falcon XR8 Being the flagship sports variant, the XR8 credited specially tuned sports suspension, seating trim displaying the "XR" insignia, 17-inch wheels and the new 5.4-litre Boss 260 engine, outputting 30 percent more power than the previous model. Fairmont The Fairmont model opened up the luxury sector for the BA range. Externally, the Fairmont could be distinguished from the other BA models with its 16-inch alloy wheels and grey mesh grille with chrome surround. The basic mechanical setup carried over from the XT, although buyers could opt for the Barra 220 V8 engine. File:2002 Ford Fairmont (BA) sedan (17695633372).jpg|BA Fairmont sedan Fairmont Ghia By far the most expensive variant in the BA range, the Fairmont Ghia featured leather upholstery, wood grain highlights, full power options and a unique suspension assembly. The premium sound system, which incorporated a full-colour LCD screen, was standard, and the centre console stack was characterised by an analogue clock. • XL Cab Chassis • XL Wellbody • XLS Cab Chassis • XLS Wellbody • XR6 Wellbody • XR6 Turbo These were later joined by two additional models: • XR8: reintroduced to the range early in 2003 (last seen in the previous AU III series). • RTV: was released in September 2003. The name "RTV" stood for "Rugged Terrain Vehicle" and featured an increased ride height, additional underbody protection, a lockable rear differential, a unique grille, flared guards and 16-inch alloy wheels. Originally dubbed "Hi-Ride" prior to release, in early 2003 Ford Australia held a competition to find a name for this variant, with "RTV" announced as the winning entrant in July. File:2002-2004 Ford Falcon (BA) XR6 utility (2010-07-05).jpg|BA Falcon XR6 utility File:2004 Ford Falcon (BA) XR6 Turbo utility (2010-07-08) 02.jpg|BA Falcon XR6 Turbo utility File:Transporting a Dash 8-400 propeller to General Aviation (9720791725).jpg|BA Falcon XLS cab chassis == Model changes ==

Mk II Ford released the Mk II (BA II) Falcon in October 2004 to maintain sales interest until the 2005 introduction of the BF update. Modifications included some cosmetic changes and a new six-speed Tremec T56 manual transmission replacing the five-speed on XR6 Turbo and XR8 models. The Mk II XT included the following changes over the Mk I: MKII badge, wider spokes on the hubcaps, auto headlights, cruise control standard, and a different cup holder. The Futura model gained power adjustable pedals, and side airbags, with a DVD entertainment system being offered on upmarket trim levels. File:2005 Ford Falcon (BA II) XT station wagon (2015-05-29) 01.jpg|BA II XT station wagon File:2005 Ford Falcon (BA II) XT station wagon (2015-05-29) 02.jpg|BA II XT station wagon File:2005 Ford Falcon (BA II) XR6 sedan (2015-07-03) 01.jpg|BA II Falcon XR6 sedan File:2005 Ford Falcon (BA II) XR6 sedan (2015-07-03) 02.jpg|BA II Falcon XR6 sedan File:2005 Ford Falcon (BA II) XR8 sedan (2009-07-15) 01.jpg|BA II Falcon XR8 sedan File:2005 Ford Falcon (BA II) XR8 sedan (2009-07-15) 02.jpg|BA II Falcon XR8 sedan File:2005 Ford Falcon (BA II) XR8 Enforcer sedan (23475622549).jpg|BA II Falcon XR8 Enforcer sedan File:2005 Ford Fairmont (BA II) Ghia sedan (2015-07-14) 01.jpg|BA II Fairmont Ghia sedan File:2005 Ford Fairmont (BA II) Ghia sedan (2015-07-14) 02.jpg|BA II Fairmont Ghia sedan File:2004 Ford Falcon (BA II) RTV utility (2010-07-08).jpg|BA II Falcon RTV utility == FPV range ==

Ford Australia's performance vehicle partner Ford Performance Vehicles produced a range of models based on the Falcon BA and marketed under the FPV name. The 2003 BA range included the GT, GT-P, and the Pursuit. The GT was the entry-level vehicle that started with a suggested retail price of A$59,810. The GT-P was the upmarket version of the GT, with a price tag of A$69,850. The Pursuit was a ute (utility) version of the GT, featuring the same seats, basic dash/interior package and wheels. FPV specific body-kits were applied to all cars, using the lights from the XR-range. The kit had a strong resemblance to the BA Falcon V8 Supercar, highlighting the connection to FPR. All three were powered by the Boss 290, producing , it was a unique version of Ford's 5.4-litre Modular V8, with DOHC 4-valve cylinder heads from the 2000 Cobra R. Mk II The GT, GT-P and Pursuit received a new stripe package with bonnet decals, a six-speed Tremec T56 manual and the GT-P received 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels. FPV also released the Super Pursuit, which was a Pursuit ute with GT-P extras. New six cylinder sedan and utility models were added to the range, the F6 Typhoon and F6 Tornado, respectively. The F6 was visually separated from the GT range with the use of a different pattern in the front bumper grill mesh, and a smaller boot spoiler on the Typhoon. They were powered by FPV's Barra 270T engine, producing . ==Ford Falcon BA in V8 Supercars==

and Jamie Whincup won the 2006 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 driving this Ford Falcon BA for Triple Eight Race Engineering. The image was taken in 2018. The Falcon BA was raced in the Australian V8 Supercar category from 2003. Marcos Ambrose won the V8 Supercar Championship Series in 2003 and 2004 driving a BA. Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup won the 2006 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 driving a Falcon BA. ==Enforcer and Devil R==

After winning the V8 Supercar Championship Series in 2004 with racing drivers Marcos Ambrose and Russell Ingall Ford Australia released two limited run Ford Falcon BA XR8 dealer run-out vehicles denoted 'Enforcer', (only available in Envy Green) and 'Devil R' (named after Ambrose's nickname "The Devil Racer" (in reference to the Tasmanian Devil from his home state)) available in Shock-Wave blue only. These warmed-over XR8 base vehicles came with the same Boss 260 5.4-litre V8 engine as the base XR8 producing the same output as the base XR8. Ford Australia has stated only 125 (56 manual 69 auto) of each model were produced. Both vehicle types were not sold with an individual build number as per the FPV range. These vehicles were equipped with a signed owners manual with Russell Ingall's signature, for the 'Enforcer'model or Marcos Ambrose's signature, for the 'Devil R' model, as well as respective signed engine bay plate. Both vehicles received 18" shadow chrome alloy wheels, carpets with the appropriate 'Enforcer' or 'Devil R' embroidery, leather seats with the model logo embroidery, Momo steering wheel, 'premium' brake package (non Brembo), either the 'Enforcer' or 'Devil R' badging to the exterior and the appropriate model name applied to the XR8 bonnet bulge side decals. These vehicles were priced below the FPV GT and GT-P hero cars in the non-FPV range, intended to be up-spec packaged versions of the base XR8 vehicles where Ford Australia intended to run out the remainder of optional-extras equipment during the last of the BA Mk II vehicles prior to the incoming redesigned BF model. == Issues and criticism ==

Critics in the media noted some build quality faults in the BA Falcon, such as inconsistent gaps between trim sections and joints, although other commentators praised the interior design and craftsmanship. In the used car market, non-FPV BA Falcons tend to suffer from poor depreciation rates, due to influxes of ex-fleet models entering the second-hand market and because of the cost of fuel. == References ==