AU series 1 Falcon - Introduction:

Finally, the AU had inherited the coveted 'Australia's Own' title from Holden - a title GM had not been able to wear with pride since the demise of the WB in 1984. The AU Falcon now represented everything that the Holden once was - and now wasn't. Funnily enough, it was the Holden (Commodore) that now represented everything that that original XK Falcon once was - flimsy front suspension and an adapted over seas design. But even then that is not being fair - the XK at least had an Australian manufactured engine - the Commodore did not.

The AU Falcon was now more Australian in design than the original FX Holden of 1948 - a fact very few Australians were aware of

Where as the first Holden (FX) had been an old abandoned Chevrolet prototype slightly revised for Australian conditions, the AU was Australian from the ground up - save for it's American manufactured optional 5.0 litre V8. The AU's inline six had finally removed from itself any vestige of comparison with the original Falcon six - making it a true Australian master piece considering the few remaining inline six's available in the world - the BMW M3, Nissan Skyline GTR aka 'Godzilla' and the Lexus IS300. With it's VCT technology and 'fail safe cooling' the AU finally had an engine that Aussies could be proud of.

But the Commodore however, is one car for which the Australian public should hang their head in shame. With steam-age engine technology and off shore based design from the body shell to gearbox and even the suspension, the notion of a new Holden being Australian was now well and truly dead. Long live the Aussie Falcon! - Truly Australia's Own.

The AU Falcon Introduction: