The AU Falcon Introduction:

Safety wise, the AU Falcon exceeded that included in the EL with a number of major improvements - including the availability of IRS in all sedan versions and traction control for the Fairmont Ghia and above. Containing traditional large car safety found only in a few more expensive categories, the AU kept the availability of ABS right across the range as a low-cost option with the Forte and utility range the only Falcons to miss out on receiving this option as standard equipment - and even then many of these came so fitted due to customer demand.

With Ford's typically easy to use cruise control operation (allows further concentration on the road ahead rather than having to worry about speed) and the introduction of steering wheel mounted audio controls, the driver never had it so good. Even the AU's headlights acted as a safety feature giving excellent night time driving ability. The AU sedan's boot lid now came fitted with an internal manual cord release helping prevent kidnappings (a US inspired feature) while making an emergency exit possible when all other avenues are exhausted.

Importantly, the AU came with a new design dash board which included an Air Bag cavity in every Falcon model whether fitted or not. While this might not sound like a huge deal, it allowed retrofitting at any time if the new owner so desired - where as previous models (EF & EL) would have required a complete dash shell change. On the seat belt side, while early AU1 Forte's, Futura's & XR's came fitted with fixed sash heights, the 'AU update' brought with it the Fairmont's sash adjusters to the lower specified vehicles as an added bonus to those of us outside of the 'average' height and build spectrum.

The AU remained the only vehicle at the time to offer some protection for a centre front seat passenger through it's 'keyhole' shaped passenger's air bag which extended across the dash centre section once activated. As well child seat anchorage came as standard equipment to every passenger model making it all the more easy to add a child's seat with little or no afore thought. With only the bolt fitted previously the actual bracket had to be optioned or bought separately meaning that if you weren't near a store that sold one you were stuck. Such a little change but such a huge improvement! Three positions existed already pre-drilled and tapped making your choice of where you put the child seat all the easier.

(Back to the AU1 Intro INDEX.)

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