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jpd80

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Everything posted by jpd80

  1. A 5.0 V8 and an Ecoboost V6 - that covers a lot more of the market! Both will give way getter fuel economy than the bigger GM or Chrysler engines.
  2. So what do fans want, production racing or clones painted up to look like cars you buy? Production racing is fine but can lead to bitter paritydisputes particularly if one manufacturer dominates a series. The clones eliminate variables but give much higher speed threshold and make the driver/crew skills the only variables.
  3. Given theDuratec 35/37power and torque levels, a 5.0 V8 with an extra 40 hp and 40 lbft over the 4.6 isn't a stretch. Those power levels will be impressive in a light Mustang.
  4. How long since Ford had true believers that could envigorate a room full of people instilling in them a new found puropse with focus and drive. It might sound a bit gospel hall but, this is how movement and change happens, it starts with people believing in what they're doing and faith in the people making it happen. Now go make the plan work.
  5. Tell you what is spooky, Mondeo 2.3 auto = 227g/klm CO2 Falcon 4.0 auto = 240g/klm CO2 I know which one I'd rather have and it's not the 4 cylinder.
  6. Actually, that's a good point - width is a big selling point as the hip and shoulder room in Taurus/Mondeo/Fusion is very similar but in terms of superior canopy effect, the order is 1)Taurus, 2)Mondeo, 3) Fusion. For a wider hip and shoulder measurements, you need to go to Panther and Falcon for a bigger car feel.
  7. I saw Homer Simpson's face tattooed on a female's anatomy on the internet. I wonder if someone has done a blue oval there too, a real dyed in the wool fan.
  8. a nice short review of Focus. Amongst some good company: 2008 Volvo C30 - CNET Rating: 7.9 out of 10 Very good 2008 Scion xB - CNET Rating: 7.1 out of 10 Very good 2008 Saturn Vue XR - CNET Rating: 8.0 out of 10 Excellent 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe - CNET Rating: 7.5 out of 10 Very good 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT - CNET Rating: 7.3 out of 10 Very good 2007 Mini Cooper S - CNET Rating: 9.3 out of 10 Spectacular
  9. Thank you for your kind words - my sentiments exactly. We'll be ready to move on come 2010. The biggest joy with the 3.7 and 6-speed auto is that it will force GM /Holden to use the premium DI version of the HFV6 and 6-speed auto to stay with Ford. On topic with the 5.0 V8, If it's to be on the 4.6 architecture, that means the DOHC heads will be back this time with VCT but maybe limited to the inlet valves like the D35/37. when Direct Injection is added to the pot, 400 hp/400 lbft is possible! By comparison, the bigger capacity GM and Chrysler engines will struggle with CAFE and no wonder with Lutz already predicting the partial extinction of V8s by 2012. Maybe Ford sticking with smaller capacities is about to finally pay off!!!
  10. I can understand the American version of Kinetic being milder, it's only natural that you'd want to coax your existing buyers whilst expanding the pool of people who don't think Ford builds cars for them. The new Ford has to be more inclusive of these people and their preferences for the blandish Asian, unmoving, unoffending style. This will probably be the norm with volume products but cars like the Mustang will retain heritage styling. Here's hoping Ford gets the balance right, how much can you tip the scales towards Euro/Japanese without alienating long standing Ford customers. It's a fine line indeed!
  11. I think it's more like the Iosis:
  12. Well, there was something like 6 or 8 six cylinders around when Mulally arrived - pretty dysfunctional! He's now got that down to Duratec V6 (3.0/3.5/3.7) and Volvo/Ford SI6 (3.0/3.2) On topic, I like how Bill Osbourne is good for sound bytes - something he says revirbirates across the Pacific. Will keep posting any little snippets that leak out down here. Does anyone know what performance numbers we can expect from a Mustang with a 400 hp/390 lb 5.0 liter? I know it would be pretty quick - 0-60 mph in the high 4s?
  13. LOL, You guys think we're hard cases - what was the reaction when the 302 was cancelled, Hmmmmm????? Or, wait until the panther supporters have to change something!!!!!! The initial reaction last year was - the inline 6 is gone? Oh shoot! Well we did get 50 years out of her anyway!!! What's the most important to us? Answer: Ensuring the Falcon survives - Moving to corporate engines strengthens those prospects.
  14. USA has FTAs with Brazil so 25% Tarriff doesnt apply. Australia also has FTA with USA. BTW, the reason Ford Aus has been decimated is because tarriffs that are in place are reducing from 10% to 5%. Australia now has FTAs with a lot of Asian countries so imports walk throgh the door at the expense of Ford and Holden. End of my rant.
  15. You had another thread on this picture, in it DearbornDerek said this: Could it be a stop gap model to bridge between end of US Ranger and Global Ranger which isn't produced anywhere until 2011? T6 has independant front suspension - lead engineer heard to say he's never built an I-Beam front end an not about to start.
  16. Think of it this way, Our Aussie 4.0 I-6 was a more efficient solution to importing the 4.6 2V and produces similar power and torque. Your Cologne and Essex V6s are being replaced by the Duratec 35, a more efficient solution. We just have to get used to having the same power and torque as our competitors but the hope is that importing the V6 will save roughly $2,000/car meeting new emissions which Ford will pocket for themselves . On 50,000 cars, that's an easy $100 million profit! The 2.0 Ecoboost should be part of Ford's RWD plans, it's the perfect V6 replacement!!
  17. Diversification. It's happening with cars so why not trucks and anyways,Ford knows trucks better than cars........
  18. F100/Ranger would be for people wanting emphasis on pick up rather than a towing. And the really help CAFE numbers too!
  19. There was an article where Fields was saying Ford were looking at new RWd in 3-4 years, FoA was doing T6 work for them for South America - 2007 article Leaks from T6 project reports it will be wider and more car like - a la Nissan Navara.
  20. T6 is wider than Thai Ranger, will come with 4 cylinder turbo diesels, corporate V6 and possibly Ecoboost I-4. Ford are predicting up to 400,000 world annual sales. When Fields spoke of T6 last year, he Said FoA were doing the T6 Light Truck project on behalf of Dearborn for South America Work that one out - FTA with the USA?
  21. Now it makes sense, FNA wants the Ranger to be a variation of F150 namely, F100 and Bronco - smart move but not acceptable for global use. T6 is the long term platform that started out as a Rest of World replacemernt for Mazda BT50 /Thai Ranger. Courier/Ranger has grown to almost US Ranger size and grows wider with T6 which will then go head to head with Toyota/Nissan. Global production of T6 Ranger starts mid 2011 for Thailand, South Africa and two other locations not named. I did think the F100 plan had been scrapped as part of Mulally's drive to end duplication.........
  22. I wonder about that. In1996 the MSRP was around $20,000 and now it only approx. $23,000. Back on topic, Pleasing to see Focus getting back up to expected sales volumes - it's been declining since 2004. With Mustang and large car sales off, it looks like buyers switched to Focus - still better than sales walking out the door.
  23. At least these two vehicles look the similar. Unlike other BON threads where people assert completely different cars look the same.
  24. Sentiment? Even Ford chiefs have concerns over lack of torque in the new engine's naturally aspirated form! There's no way 250 lbft in a 3.5 will work the same as 295 lbft from 4.0 litres. They will miss the low end torque - a familiar hallmark of Falcon for 50 years. As for Turbo applications, if you call replacing one turbo with two, then i guess it's progress.... Since 2003, The XR6T has demonstrated 20% improvement in fuel economoy over the 5.4 4V. While Ecoboost may be more advanced with direct injection, the FPV versions of the 4.0 turbo have been sold with over 400 hp for years. So from our perspective, so long as Ecoboost 35 makes approx. 360 - 400 hp it's business as usual. Turbo Fords in mass production are a bit newer for you guys in America, we're pretty much over the Turbo 6 Vs V8 arguements and fights - although V8s are nice, the Turbos win hands down!
  25. Gotcha!!! No arguement with Ecoboost. I hope the V6 is a roaring success - really do so there's no chagrin there. That Detroit bosses want a second drive of the Falcon should prick your ears. That Detroit bosses are at least discussing the potential of Rest of World Exports is pleasing. We won't be breaking open the champagne but things are looking good.....Hey were walking. AC/DC - Its A Long Way To The Top If Ya Wanna Rock And Roll
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