jpd80

Nah, he had a golden parachute a while ago before everything went South for GM. I think they retain him as a "consultant" - team mascot would be a more apt title.

It suits Ford's purpose to adapt a supplier's existing system than to try doing it in house. You also get economy of scales by plugging into FoE and Ford Global major contracts with Bosch.

Ford dealers are more likely to be in a rural areas vacated by Chrysler dealers. Toyota and Honda don't really do that many rural dealerships by comparison.

The GMNA play book is: 1) Overproduce 2) ? 3) Profit

It's trickery with numbers. The uncorrected CAFE test figures are roughly 20% higher than what's posted on windshields.

Link Into the arms of Ford, Mercury and Lincoln....

Thanks Richard, this is what Tom Cackette from the CARB was trying to explain to John McElroy (Ritchie Cunningham) on Autoline Detroit TV. - LINK to “Bulking Up” He explains some interesting points on CO2 and fuel economy in gasoline, Diesel and ethanol.

Someone out there will be along with X-ray eyes...:rolleyes:

Is this an oxymoron or just a plain moron. Someone enlighten me, what patriotic vehicle could you buy that isn't made by the UAW? would a Jeep assembled by Hyundai qualify?

Sorry I bit big time,

Lutz the putz should stay gone and forgotten. It will be like listening to grandpa Simpson:

Bullshit - don't even mention D3 around Ford Australia!!! It'd body on frame RWD and available in low and high ride heights

But I thought that "elefantfahrstuhlführeraufzugsleiter" meant Opel in German.

Good one.

The only part of the article that matters:

Bodies are not T6. Chassis/suspension mules on modified current Global Rangers, bodies were supplied by Auto Alliance Thailand (Mazda).

The current EPA economy figures quoted for all vehicles are actually understated 20%. Many people do not know that: The CAFE figures used on the MSRP are not the figures CAFE uses to calculate fleet average, they are reduced 20% from actual results to better reflect what drivers can expect. This was explained on a recent interview on Autoline Detroit TV

If you know anything about Ecoboost, you'd know that 1.3 liter would have about 140 hp/140 lb ft. That sounds more like a 2.0 liter engine to me. Interesting words on Autoline Detroit TV recently from Tom Cackette, Deputy Director, CARB regarding those CAFE stickers on the windshields of new cars - they're discounted 20% from actual CAFE test results to reflect what people will achieve in the real world. The uncorrected CAFE mileage numbers are used for determining fleet averages. So a truck with a sticker proclaiming 21 mpg highway actually rates as 26 mpg for CAFE purposes. And most vehicles are much more economical than people think. Bet you didn't know that.

"At Chrysler, our warranties are government backed" Yeah, right........

That's because the iron block 5.4 4V is about 200 lb heavier in the nose and because there's no VCT, it really lacks the good low end torque of the 4.0 turbo. It is hoped that the much lighter, all alloy 5.0 4V with VCT will do the job. people still love their V8s down here and it's hoped the next incarnation will spread across the entire range.

Sounds like the new GM corporate theme.

Wow, that last comment from the Ford AUS Production development director is pretty provocative. Even though the Turbo I-6 Falcons are good sellers, plenty of people still want a V8 Ford.

I remember seeing an interview on Autoline Detroit TV with Jim Farley He said that Ford looks at housing sector and pricing there helps them gauge the market. “Man on Wire” And this from Bloomberg:

Hi there FJM and thanks for posting the figures from your corner of the world. Great to hear ford is hanging in there and keeping VW honest. Not aToyota in sight ....even better. At the moment, it's Autumn in the tropics, 12C overnight and 22C during the days. the weather here is beautiful 9 month of the year, bit steamy in Summer though. (Falcon 4.0 and ZF 6-speed auto have now cracked 9.9 litres/100 klm on city cylce) Fiesta sales are a bit constrained by Euro factories in ability to supply enough of them but the Auto Alliance in Thailand starts making them and the sedans next year.