The Fairmont includes all of the Futura qualities plus:

• Road speed variable intermittent wipers.
• Analogue clock.
• Message display center with permanent ambient temperature display.
• Automatic climate controls.
• Trip computer and over speed warning.
• Variable intensity instrument panel illumination.
• Door ajar car outline on dash, showing which door is open.
• Dual horns.
• Front and rear power windows.
• 10 speed fan on climate control.
• Headlamps 80 second auto off delay (gives you time to get in the front door when you arrive home).
• Velour trim in Warm Charcoal range of colours (Medium Graphite available as an option).
• Luxury Series dash with wood grain inserts.
• Rear door map pockets.
• Front and rear foot well lamps.
• Driver and passenger sun visor vanity mirrors with sliding covers.
• 100 watt AM/FM single slot CD player including all other Futura features.
• Unique Fairmont 15” x 6.5” alloy wheels.
• Fairmont roof rack standard on wagon (permanent fit - removable cross bars).
• Chromed headlight backing panel.
• Luxury series bonnet.
• Honeycomb grill with body coloured center bar.
• Passenger and driver’s airbag standard.
• Body coloured exterior rear view mirrors.
• Boot lid felt liner for sedans (all wagons have this item).
• Height adjustable upper anchorage point for the front seat belts (included in all Falcon models from AU Upgrade).
• Cargo blind standard on Fairmont station wagons (including pre-upgrade).
• Chrome sedan boot lid appliqué (above number plate).
• Fairmont badging on boot lid / tailgate.
• Clear rear blinker lenses.
• Clear front blinker repeater lenses.
• Rear folding arm rest with built in cup holders for back seat passengers.
• Mobile phone platform, wiring and antenna.
• Power antenna with half height function switch.

Full Specifications Listing:

Engine:   (back to index)

• 4.0 litre inline six cylinder.
• 157kW @ 4900 rpm.
• 357Nm @ 3000 rpm.
• Overhead Cam with roller rockers & roller cam followers.
• Alloy head with direct heat detection sender on the back of no.6 combustion chamber.
• Stronger head studs with greater pull down tensions.
• New two-piece head gasket to further aid in reducing blown head gaskets.
• Sequential fuel injection.
• Dual resonance intake manifold for a better torque spread.
• Serpentine accessory drive belt for quietness and increased reliability.
• Fail safe cooling (engine can literally run without coolant in it - theoretically it is impossible to cook this engine due to loss of coolant).  *This feature un-available while running on LPG.
• ‘Smart start’ - prevents you from engaging the starter motor if the engine is already running.
• Structural sump for quieter operation and increased block stiffness.
• New alloy rocker cover for improved looks and quieter operation.
• New stiffer and better balanced crankshaft for quieter operation and less NVH.
• Longer conrods for better fuel economy & better burn control.
• New short skirt anti-friction coated pistons for better fuel economy.
• Overall, a much sweeter and easier engine to rev than ever before...

Engine Optional #1:

• 5.0 litre V8.
• 175 kW @ 4600 rpm (up from 165 kW @ 4500 rpm in EL).
• 395 Nm @ 3200 rpm (up from 388 Nm @ 3000 rpm in EL).
• Pushrod valve actuation.
• Cast-iron heads.
• Sequential fuel injection.
• Serpentine accessory drive belt.
• Pressed steel rocker covers and sump.
• Note:  All AU Falcon V8s came minus the "fail safe cooling" of the six cylinder, and hence must be treated accordingly.  Considering the V8s have never had significant head gasket problems (and neither did the AU six for that matter) this shouldn't put you off.

Engine Optional #2:

• Factory fitted “Tickford” LPG conversion:
• Including no loss in power.
• Works with Distance to Empty calculator.
• Integrated look to dash controls.
• Uses standard fuel gauge for selected fuel.
• Greater economy than most aftermarket units.
• Cannot be fitted by dealer or aftermarket - only by Tickford on new vehicle as delivered from factory.
• Not available on V8.
    
• Dealer fitted “Parnell” LPG conversion:
• Some have commented it handles “dirty” gas better than the Tickford unit.
• Only a small power loss.
• Costs less to install.
• Can be fitted at any time by dealer or aftermarket.
• Available for V8 fitment.

Gearbox:   (back to index)

• Standard 4 speed automatic with floor shift including converter lock-up, electronic control and a overdrive 4^th gear.  - Includes power and economy modes.  *In good condition, one of the smoothest shifting gearboxes on the market at the time, this very same gearbox was used by Maseratti on some earlier models.
• Manual gearbox not available (doh!)

Brakes:   (back to index)

Four wheel disc brakes including the following:

• front ventilated discs.
• rear solid discs.
• special dedicated rear internal drum brakes (inside disc brake hubs) for exceptional hand brake performance and increased reliability.
• easy to use centre mounted hand brake lever.
• Bosch ABS (Bosch Anti-lock Braking System) included as standard equipment.
• ABS module is now bolted to the inner guard inside the engine bay and out of harm’s way in the event of an accident.

Steering:   (back to index)

• Power assistance standard in every AU Falcon.
• Rack and pinion.
• This steering has a increadibly accurate feel to it and only gets better as you progress to the performance Falcons - unlike the VT Commodore’s vague and unresponsive steering (if you could call it that).  Do not confuse the Commodore's lack of responsiveness combined with it's under-engineered IRS for added stability!  
• Optional leather Momo steering wheel with wood grain inserts.

Front Suspension:   (back to index)

• Coil sprung double wishbone for much better handling and rigidity than Commodore’s McPherson strut.
• Drop forged steel upper and lower wishbones for even greater strength.
• Lower control arm features combined 3 point anchorage for greater stability and steering responsiveness.
• Forged steel spindles for reliability.
• Machined aluminium cross member.
• Ball-joints relocated for greater steering responsiveness.

Rear Suspension:   (back to index)

• Coil sprung live rear axil standard on sedans.
• Mounted via a “four link” suspension system with Watts link, on sedans only.
• Optional Multi-link Independent Rear Suspension on sedans only.
• Optional limited slip differential (NA with IRS option - don't ask me why!).
• Optional Tickford handling kit (includes front suspention) for all body styles & suspension options.
• Standard “Wide Track” rear leave sprung live axil in wagon - smooth riding with exceptional load carrying abilities and sag supression (something that can’t be said about the Commodore equivalent) - Surprisingly the wagon actually handles better than the standard coil sprung standard sedan equivalent!
• All Falcons post 'AU Update' (April 99') were lowered 1” front and rear.

Security:   (back to index)

• Tibbe locks in driver’s door and ignition.
• Smartlock system makes hotwiring difficult via electronic engine immobilisation.
• Post 'AU Update' vehicles include a special key with internal transponder as well as better ignition lock shielding.  This can be identified by a fatter key pad as well as a recessed ignition lock / fatter 'eyebrow' above the lock itself.
• Central locking standard.
• Lock button on driver's door only allowing less entry points for the potential theif.
• ‘Smartlock’ remote keyless door and boot (tailgate) entry system.
• Electronic engine immobilization.
• Interior light comes on with remote unlocking.
• Lockable glovebox.
• Optional dealer fitted Ford backed car alarm.

Sound System:   (back to index)

• Single slot CD player built into head unit.
• Double din security coded 100 watt auto reverse/auto scan radio/cassette player.
• Mobile phone interface with mute.
• CD controls for remote stacker unit (not fitted – option only).
• Six cone speaker system.
• Steering wheel mounted volume and seek functions (a feature also shared with the Forte).
• One hour keyless play function (i.e. without the need to have the ignition on).
• Power antenna with half height function switch.
• Mobile phone platform, wiring and antenna built-in.

Instrumentation:   (back to index)

• Tachometer.
• Temperature.
• Speedo.
• Fuel.
• Oil Pressure Guage.
• Voltage Guage.
• Distance to Empty calculator for fuel.
• Service due indicator.
• Orange LED readouts for DTE, tripmeter, odometer and service due indicators (odometer display disappears after the ignition is turned off). 
• Analogue clock.
• Message display center with permanent ambient temperature display.
• Automatic climate controls.
• Trip computer and over speed warning with instantaneous fuel usage and average economy functions.
• Variable intensity instrument panel illumination.
• Door ajar car outline on dash, showing which door is open.
• Luxury Series dash with wood grain inserts.

Comfort:   (back to index)

• Automatic Climate Control standard in all Fairmonts including:
• CFC free air conditioning.
• 10 speed fan.
• six easy to use and well placed dash vents.
• dash top vents to direct air to front side windows for added demisting.
• ducting to rear seat passengers.
• Seating:
• Manually adjustable lumbar support on both front seats.
• Driver's seat cushion tilt adjustment and adjustable thigh support.
• Adjustable lumbar support for driver and front seat passenger.
• Adjustable front seat head rests.
• Built in (fixed) rear seat head rests.
• Rear folding arm rest with built in cup holders for back seat passengers.
• 60/40 fold down rear seat with access into boot of sedans / cargo area of wagons.
• Velour trim in Warm Charcoal range of colours (Medium Graphite available as an option).
• Steering wheel adjustable for both reach and height.

Safety:   (back to index)

• Retractable lap-sash seat belts in all positions (sedan only).
• Wagon center rear seat belt lap style only - retractable lap/sash in all other seating positions.
• Height adjustable upper anchorage point for the front seat belts (included in all Falcon models from AU Upgrade).
• Passenger and driver’s airbag as standard equipment.
• Childproof rear door locks.
• Built in child seat anchorage points.
• Steering wheel adjustable for both reach and height.
• Built in station wagon cargo barrier mounting points - including front position.  Allows easy no-tools-required fitment of a cargo barrier.
• Cargo tie down points built into the floor of the station wagon.
• Rear window demister.
• Passenger air bag optional.
• ABS braking standard.
• Dual note horns.

Convenience:   (back to index)

• Centre front consol with rubberised parts tray and compartment for tapes and CD’s, and including coin slots.
• Centre front cup holder in consol.
• Swivelling map reading lights for front seat occupants.
• Fixed map reading lights for rear seat passengers.
• Front and Rear door map pockets standard.
• Body colour electrically operable exterior rear view mirrors.
• Cargo blind standard on all Fairmont wagons.
• Fairmont roof rack standard on wagon (permanent fit - removable cross bars).
• Luggage compartment lamp in both sedans and wagons.
• Ignition lock illumination.
• Driver and passenger sun visor vanity mirrors with sliding covers.
• Standard Cruise Control with easy steering wheel mounted operation.
• Storage pocket below the radio in Forte deleted due to the inclusion of a more powerful double din radio/cassette/CD controller.
• Integrated grab handles (roof mounted in 3 positions) and coat hooks.
• Boot lid felt liner for sedans (all wagons have this item).
• Mobile phone platform, wiring and antenna.
• Gathered front seat back map pockets.

Appearance / Identification:   (back to index)

• Silver painted unique 'Fairmont' 15" alloy wheels.
• Luxury series raised bonnet.
• Honeycomb grill with body coloured center bar and chrome surround.
• “INTECH OHC” decal on front mudguard.
• Optional low level rear spoiler.
• Optional high level XR6 style rear spoiler.
• Chrome sedan boot lid appliqué (above number plate).
• Body colour side protection strips.
• Fairmont badging on boot lid / tailgate.
• Clear rear blinker lenses.
• Clear front blinker repeater lenses.

Lighting:   (back to index)

• Exceptionally bright headlights (30% brighter than the EL's) - make the VT’s pale in comparison and exceptionally good to drive by.  Plastic shatter resistant lenses - no longer require headlight covers.
• Chromed headlight surrounds.
• Clear front guard indicator repeater lenses.
• Clear blinker lenses in tail lights (clear in Fairmont / Fairmont Ghia).
• Self fading interior light.
• Front and rear interior foot well lamps.
• Illuminated ignition lock.
• High mount rear stop light.
• 'Jeweled' tail lights finally included in the wagon (first introduced to the EF sedan of 1994).
• Headlamps 80 second auto off delay (gives you time to get in the front door when you arrive home).

Wheels:   (back to index)

• Unique Fairmont 15” x 6.5” silver painted alloy wheels. 
• Optional 16” x Tickford five spoke alloy wheels as fitted to the Falcon S, XR6 & XR8.
• Optional 17” x 8.0” Tickford five spoke alloy wheels.
  (the above Tickford wheel options only available with the Sports Suspension option).

Tyres:   (back to index)

• Standard P205/65 HR15 steel belt radial ply tyres.
• Optional (with appropriate wheels) P215/55 R16 tyres.
• Optional (with appropriate wheels) P235/45 ZR17 tyres.

Windows:   (back to index)

• Front and rear power windows with time delay after key off - all controls on drivers door with separate window controls on each door.
• Two speed front windscreen wipers plus road speed variable intermittent setting and on-demand wash / wipe.
• Rear tail gate mounted wiper with wash function on wagon (auto activation when in reverse gear & wipers on) - intermittent function included.
• Rear window demister with timed auto switch off (standard on both sedan and wagon).
• Body colour electrically operable exterior rear view mirrors.
• Wide angle left hand rear view mirror.
• Day/night interior rear view mirror.

Towing:   (back to index)

• Optional 1600*kg rated towbar (auto only).
• Optional 2300*kg rated towbar (auto only).

* See Ford for specifications needed to achieve these rated figures.

Body:   (back to index)

• The AU Fairmont benefited from the same race stiffened body shell as the XR8 that was so suitably used for the V8 Supercar series with the major change being the bonnet.
• Bake hardened steel used in all external surfaces - means a lighter body shell while being more resistant to shopping trolley dints than the model it replaces.
• Body kit available as an option - uses the rear spoiler (single deck), side & rear skirts as well as front air dam extension -overall very attractive and well suited to the AU’s shape.  Much wilder than the VT’s Hyundai imitation (body kit not available on wagons).
• More aerodynamic than VT.
• “New Edge” styling has an added practical feature - sharp corners add strength and rigidity to panels, further resisting low speed impacts.
• Boot hinges do not intrude into boot space allowing you more room to pack the goodies in as well as a lessened chance of damaging packed items...
• “Blocker” steel bar welded across front of the radiator to help prevent damage in low speed impacts (therefore cheaper repairs).
  

Fuel Economy:   (back to index)

* Actual figures taken from Ford's official AU series 1 brochure featuring both Forte, Futura and Falcon S.

Dimensions:   (back to index)

Exterior (mm)      Front track      Rear track      Front overhang      Rear overhang Interior (mm)      Front headroom      Front legroom      Front Shoulder Room      Front hiproom      Rear headroom      Rear legroom      Rear shoulder room General      Kerb weight (kg) **      Luggage capacity (L)      Minimum turning circle (m)      - diameter, kerb to kerb. Fuel Tank Capacity      Petrol (litres)      LPG   (litres)

Sedan 1566 1547 918 1197 991 1081 1523 1482 978 986 1517 1531 512 10.9 Sedan 68 68

Wagon 1566 1547 918 1219 991 1081 1523 1482 1043 986 1517 1608 1254 (a) / 2584 (b) 11.3 Wagon 68 68

*Optional Ford Sunroof reduces available headroom by approximately 40mm when fitted - only available on sedans only (after market units may be fitted to the wagon).
**Approximate kerb weight for a Falcon Forte fitted with 4.0 litre Intech, SOHC engine and 4 speed automatic transmission (Including air conditioning).
(a) With rear seats upright.
(b) With rear seats folded down.

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Info By Doug Bevan, site by Anthony Robinson.
Copyright © 2000 by Doug & Any . All rights reserved.
Revised: 19 Nov 2002 .