THE Ford Falcon nameplate could be headed for an unlikely revival, with Ford CEO Jim Farley publicly expressing his desire to bring a rear-wheel-drive performance sedan back into the company’s global line-up – this time powered entirely by electricity.
In a surprise shift for the brand, which has spent the past decade moving away from passenger cars, Farley confirmed he is pushing internally for a new RWD electric sedan built on Ford’s next-generation EV architecture.
The model would act as a spiritual successor to Ford’s storied performance sedans, including Australia’s own Falcon XR6 and XR8.
Speaking to Forrest’s Auto Reviews, Mr Farley said modern EV platforms opened new possibilities for low-slung, enthusiast-focused vehicles.
“I fell in love with sedans when I was a young guy as a product planner at Toyota,” he said.
“The issue is we’re committed to making all of our vehicles in the US, and making a sedan in the US – the only platforms we have are from Europe.”
Mr Farley pointed to the aerodynamic advantages of a sedan profile compared with today’s SUV-dominated EV market, reinforcing that a performance four-door still has untapped potential.
While Ford’s European line-up includes EVs built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, the CEO’s comments hint that Ford’s in-house technology – including what underpins the Mustang Mach-E – may form the basis of the revival.
Ford’s US portfolio today is dominated by pick-ups, SUVs and commercial vans, with the Mustang remaining the only traditional passenger car in the range. The brand’s last American sedans – Taurus and Fusion – were axed in 2019 and 2020 respectively. In Australia, the Falcon rolled off the Broadmeadows line for the final time in 2016.
A large Ford sedan still exists in China and the Middle East, where it is sold as the Mondeo or Taurus, but none of these models are available in North America.
While Mr Farley did not mention the Falcon specifically, the model remains one of Ford’s most recognisable performance sedans globally. Its long-running heritage, especially in Australia, makes it the most likely badge enthusiasts attach to any hypothetical revival.
With Ford now publicly discussing a RWD, performance-oriented EV sedan, speculation around a reborn Falcon – electric, American-built and globally sold – is now truly alive.
Drive.com
