theoldwizard

The new Boss (regardless of size) is OHC ! Last I knew only 1 cam per head.

I agree with everyone ! Remember, my data is now 3-4 months old ! I hope I am wrong !

More torque capacity ? Getrag 6DCT250 Getrag 6DCT450 Getrag 7DCI600

Who says they are groundbreaking ? These technologies are only "new" to Ford Motor Company ! Ford was truly a pioneer in the early days of EFI, but that was a long time ago.

Late this year or early 2008. What scares me is, by then, I don't know if they will have be able to fix it. Very few people know that the Electronic Throttle Control system on the current F150 was a major "crap shoot". There was a "back room" meeting at one of the "water holes" in Dearborn about 6 months before job 1. That's when they found out it "had to work" because there was no fall back ! Thank God (and a very few dedicated, hardworking engineers (not me)) it did work !

Mullaly is being "handled" (...as was Billy. It was easier with Billy, he thought everyone always told him the truth !) The "good old boys (and girls)" have circled the wagons and are spend extra time "getting their stories straight" so they both give the same answer to upper management (who, in some cases, is so clueless they don't even know what questions to ask, "Is it on time and on budget ?" Important question but easy to bluff.)

What limited amount I am telling you was first hand and was accurate at one time ! I need to stop by POEE (EEE for all you old timers) at least one more time before they close the doors on it for good !

I have been accused of that by many management types. Must be why my career advancement ended over 10 years ago. Part of my signature at work was "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." George Bernard ShaW

yes ! But I haven't said anything that you couldn't find in the "public domain" if you know where to look !

Powershift is the internal name the Ford-Getrag Dual Clutch used in the new S40 The Powershift 175 is scheduled for the B-car and is a cost reduced version of the Volvo tranny.

No, it all depends on costs ! Ford and ZF got married and divorced over the CVT. I don't expect them to do another big deal with ZF.

I was a very small cog in the big wheel of Product Development. After 30 years I know it takes a lot of bodies to accomplish what management wants. However, when you have had 5 Department Managers, 3 Chief Engineers and 3 VP in less than 2 years, you loose faith that anyone really knows what is going on. Actually I like to think I convinced one of the Chief Engineers to take the buy out last December after I had a "skip level" meeting with him. I explained how many of the recent decisions had added a huge amount of complexity to the engineering process. His response was "I didn't know that !" and "Why didn't the Managers tell me ?" The answer to that was "Because they don't understand it either ! Why didn't you ask your Technical Experts !!" There are 5 new major "technologies" that still have not really left Research that are schedule for production in MY2009-10. The joke inside is this is a tsunami. No one is heading for the hills or even moving the the second floor. These technologies are key to various vehicle programs that I essential for the survival of FoMoCo.

It was thrifted as part of the Way Forward.

Not Likely ! If this box was manufactured by FoA, maybe. Several new 6 speed RWD are coming as well as the FWD Powershift transmissions. There was talk of adapting Powershift to RWD but it is heavy and expensive.

The 2009 US "B-car" will use the 1.6L Sigma RoCam built in Brazil. The real "challenge" is going to be the PowerShift 175 dual-clutch automatic-manual similar to Volvo S40 dual-clutch. While similar to the one used by Volvo, the PS175 has some significant differences to lower costs. There is lots of work to do on this project and I really question if Ford still has enough engineers left to finish it on time and on budget ! I know the engineering management does not have a realistic idea of how much work is still left.

More on 2009 US Fiesta

Brazil is in the running, but the final decision hasn't been made yet (according to my source). I'm betting Mexico because it is a NAFTA country. As for using the 4.4L "around the world", that engine is too big for any non-US passenger cars and it is even too big for a Transit. Latest rumor is that the 4.4L might make it in the F250/E250 in addition to the F150/E150.

In February, the only engine scheduled for the US "B car" was the 1.6L Sigma. No DI, probably E85 capable. Powershift 195(?) will be the automatic transmission.

Yes I discussed this once with a warranty analysis guy. He said even though the same switch was used on many different models of many years, only certain models and model years were recalled. This was because only those models and years showed "above average" failure rates. The government approved this action. Go figure.

There's at least 4 or 5 of us out there that would! :P Turbo Honda Element does 13.88 quarter mile !

Watch out Sprinter ! Watch out Element ! Her comes the Transits !! Ford Transit SportVans

See this post Wish List

I don't know who you have been talking to, but I had lunch today with one of my buddies who is working on the "mid-range" (as it is called inside Ford) diesel. He been working on the "controls" end of this program for several months now. Anyway, he says vehicle Job 1 (F150) is 2010.5 ! They still don't know where the engine is going to be built, but it is likely to be in a NAFTA country (i.e. not England and not Brazil)

I'm on your side ! I haven't been "up close and personal" with the current Mondeo, but I was a very disappointed owner of a Contour. Why the disappointment in the Contour ? The interior was only slightly larger than a Focus! Entry/exit from the back seat was horrible and if you were taller than 5'4" there was not enough rear legroom. I had a 2006 Fusion and now 2007 Milan, and these vehicle have much better interiors. (I really like the dash and seats of the new Milan much better than the Fusion.) I only wish you could get a M/T with the V6 !

I sold all of the Ford stock in my 401k back when it was 28. Re-investing that money in various other mutual funds is what allowed me to take the buyout on 2/28/2007. Again, knowing what I know, I only give Ford a 50-50 chance of not going Chapter 11 in 2009. As for future engineering buyouts, Ford does not have to worry. GM is Hiring !