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1996-1998 Ford Falcon EL review
The last of the E-Series Falcons - the EL - was released in October 1996 and was faced with the tough job of fending off the upcoming Holden VT Commodore until the all-new AU Falcon was ready.
The new grille, which was not to everyone's taste, was an oval shape, in keeping with Ford's then global design theme (think Taurus, Mondeo). There were new headlights, bonnet and front bumper. Fairmont models featured new chrome grilles and the XR models' quad-headlights were slightly changed. At the back, the Fairmonts gained a new number plate surround in between the unchanged tail lights, while all other models now had amber indicators. Wagon indicators were now white. Completing the visual changes were new badges and new ugly wheel designs for every model.
The suspension on the EL Falcon was a giant leap forward from the EF. It was developed by a Tickford engineer, and a balance was achieved between sharper handling and a quiet soft ride. Alterations to angles, settings and dampers also gave the Falcon better straight line stability and a softer impact over bumps. Falcon's front and rear suspension set-ups were now working in harmony.Improvements were made to the steering and the Fairmont Ghia now featured speed-sensitive power steering which meant less effort at parking speeds without affecting steering feel at higher speeds. Changes to get rid of interior noise made the EL even more quiet.Safety wasn't forgotten, with the EL picking up the latest generation Bosch 5.3 anti-lock braking, still optional on the GLi. The windscreen and windows were protected by Smart Tint, offering the same protection as SPF15 sunscreen. Smart Tint also resulted in much lower temperatures inside the cabin.
Inside, the car was freshened up even more. There were new colour schemes, and buttons and switches were colour-coordinated instead of being black. The front seat backs were reshaped, as were the front and rear head restraints, while lumbar adjustment was improved and the seats were trimmed in lighter and more airy fabrics.
Other changes included mobile phone wiring and for the wagons, an optional cargo barrier and optional third-row front-facing kids seat.
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