jpd80

Sounds like a few groups want all green lights clicking on this deal....

Actually, I wonder how a really small Bobcat would work in something like a Fusion or a Taurus. Assuming the 2.0 Ecoboost will produce 230 hp/230 lb ft, maybe a 1.6 Bobcat can do the same..... Edit, In the event of no E85, If an 87 Reg bypass line was fitted, Bobcat could function as a standard Ecoboost. Maybe this feature could be included when all the bugs are worked out. A nice fail safe especially when electronic wastegates are fitted to the turbos.

They looked foolish the first time when the currency shifted against the G8. Not sure that GM will import Park Avenue from China but it's a great product more fitting of Cadillac......

Like they were when Daimler owned them? I thought Fiat only held 35% of Chrysler in return for technology...

The best part about all of this is Ford, their decision to reinvent themselves back in 2006 has worked. As for GM and Chrysler, the only thing that concerns me is the fate of workers, suppliers and investors handcuffed to them. If it weren't for all those people, I'd say both should go to hell.

Yes, I am confused on this too but it was spelled out in some articles approx 2 weeks ago that listed out the frame work, somebody here may be able to explain it better. It seemed like a real impediment.

There's already a Park Avenue built in China, Holden could easily build and those........

Not long ago, any thoughts of a production 5.0 liter V8 that makes 400 hp and 400 lb ft was pure fantasy. Soon, new buyers of the Mustang will experience that very pleasure, well done Ford....

I read that stockholders in the new GM are prevented fro selling stock for the first 6 to 18 months. The government wants the value of the stock in New GM to increase before selling begins...

Both Holden and FoA are on a quest for better fuel economy, some exciting developments are possible. The update Commodore is due in September and will be getting GM's DI V6s in 3o and 3.6 liters and is expected to drop about 100 lbs in weight with even more reduction due in the 2012 update. Ford is keeping tight lipped but rumors of an Ecoboost I-4 Falcon keep persisting.......

Spock, prepare the Vulcan mind meld. "My mind to your mind, our thoughts are as one...."

Especially when GM cancelled the RWD Impala at the eleventh hour, their decision to keep it FWD and move it to the Epsilon II platform with Malibu is totally consistent with Ford's view of the market. The rumor is that Holden have submitted a proposal to supply long and short wheelbase Zetas to Cadillac, I don't think this will fly for several reasons but it could be a sign of GM consolidating Sigma and Zeta RWD car manufacturing offshore in Australia - maybe something Ford should consider......

Chrysler has to survive bankruptcy and Fiat's desire to get rid of the Chrysler brand. I see Fiat hollowing out Chrysler/Dodge and filling it with Alpha Romeo and Fiat products, that does not necessarily mean Chrysler buyers will want to stick with them. GM will exit bankruptcy minus the discarded brands and dealerships, they still are stuck with their existing product lines and over reliance on trucks/SUVs to bring in the lion's share of profit. The discarded brands accounted for roughly 15% of sales in the old GM so while their removal sounds spectacular it's not really not so deep in terms of sales or revenue. GM is only beginning it's restructure where as Ford has three years head start - that a lot ot give a competitor. As others have said there, forget any idea that GM and Chrysler exit Chapter 11 debt free, they will pay a hell of a price to rid themselves of government control.

Rather than calling for boycotts, the media should be calling on the people to support Ford. Support the company that has done the hard work and turned their own fortunes around. A company that didn't lay in its own filth and expect to be bailed out.

That's where the hot exhaust pipe runs.

I like the idea of a mid range V6 Bobcat as a diesel replacement -350 hp and 550 lbft sounds great. An engine like that would be in direct competition with the 4.4 V8 turbo diesel.

A bit different to Fivehundred & Freestyle or Taurus & Taurus X.... Under the skin, it the same formula, just a better mix.....

No it's not the same. As of 2004, the engine is based on the Mazda MZR Duratec and has a timing chain. I remember when the change happened in the Focus in Australia, the "Zetec" model actually had the new Duratec 1.6 with the exhaust to the firewall, early Zetecs had the exhaust to the radiator.

Anyways, I think 22 mpg city mileage is darned good for a spacious little van like Transit Connect. That city figure is only about 2mpg less than what the Focus achieves (24 mpg)

Hello, I asks direct questions and put my guest on the spot, why don't they answer? If I'm not careful, Mulally will look smarter than me.... brain, think of something smart to say.....Doh!

Pretty sure the whole thing has been nixed by Fritz Henderson, The government owns their restructuring plans now. Anyways, Holden would be killed by the present currency exchange rate.

You get days like that. Nobody gives a toss about diesels, they don't comply with the emission regs.

And my qualifying statement for using a small Ecobboost: I wonder if this rumored I-4 EB is actually a Bobcat, that would be a far more practical application..... That would give a small engine with V8 like power at its disposal. Apart from that, a normal I-4 EB is not going to be a very inspiring in an F Truck......

Ethanol is a step down the road in removing carbon from fuel. With a total fleet of about 280 million vehicles in the USA, if all diesel and gasoline vehicles were to run on as little as 5% Ethanol mix, that would be the equivalent of 16.5 million vehicles continuously running on E85. What would be the harm in doing that to base load Ethanol production levels before rolling out even more E85 gas pumps? Ultimately, it may be far more advantageous to convert 87 regular to E22 and reap real reductions in CO2 without waiting for the trickle down effect of new vehicles that may or may not be running on E85, by doing E22 fuel you assure compliance.

What concerns me is that all of these regulations are headding down the path of CO2 regulations, flowing from that is Europe's ready made carbon trading - if this isn't a haven for scammers then I don't know what is. Ther is so much double counting going on in businesses with Carbon footprinting that Europe looks much beter than it is. I'm all for continued efficiency and only using the minimum anount of crude oil but, God help us all when the sane and practical is thrown out the window for super goals driven by our "Ideological Superiors".