jpd80

Actually, Tracinda would need something like a 86% of ordinary voting shares to be assured of out manouvering the Fords. This would need to be alliance votes from disaffected share holders as even Captain Kirk doesn't have the cash to buy that many. I think he has a better chance of winning $350 million on the lottery. I think you'll find Special B Voting shares can only be sold back to Ford motor or other Family members.

I didn't say that What I meant was a $4 billion drop by Ford or GM would be written as devestating news by the press but for Toyota it a slow down.....

Welcome to play school. Today, we're looking through the round window.......

Volvo's profits were spoiled for years when Jaguar and Land Rover weren't performing and now that Volvo has a bad trot for 12 months and people are all over them. It's a case of changing their product mix around to suit the newer times, there's an opportunity for Volvo to do that far more cost effectively with Jaguar or Land Rover.

Just to put that in perspective Toyota make $16.54 billion the year just finished and predict only $12 billion this financial year! Ford and GM should be so lucky.

Interceptor.

I've since discovered the LPG/4-speed auto/Non-DSC decision was a carry over from the previous model. In 2010, the V6 will have an LPG option and 5 or 6-speed auto standard so the cost of changing the above system for two years on such a small run was not justified. The lengths that Ford Australia will go to in order to keep the Falcon on budget are well known, they now have a new engineering complex housing more than 350 engineers, that number is expected to grow significantly in the next two years. As for the 5 Speed Autos - our version has a completely different calibration and setup compared with the US Version. American versions don't have Sequential Sport Shift (SSS) , nor do they have dual modes. What has been achieved with the 5A is nothing short of remarkable, and Ford Aus should be proud of their work.

That's all you had to say, the article reporting BMW not interested in Volvo was discused at nauseum here this time last year. At least we're all on the same page with this one.

Police departments have prerequisites for purchasing police vehicles, the Crown Victoria serves a market need. When that need changes then maybe other vehicles are considered. Most police vehicles you think of are crusiers that travel about between 40 and 65 mph, at that speed an O/D 4.6 V8 will give 28-30 mpg and not really the gas guzzler you make out. Remember, petrol isn't taxed to the hilt in the US so not as expensive as England, it's still only about 50p/litre so the cost of catching bad guys versus Europe is about the same or less. Do yor Foci have bullet proof doors? I see that ratbag Ken Livingstone lost his election,

No, the 4-speed auto (Gransdson of a BW) lives on in the dedicated LPG models. Your answers also give a clue as to why DSC is not avaliable with LPG/4-speed Auto, I'm assuming that they couldn't find anyone to get the software to talk. Thanks for the interesting info, sorry you got such a hard time.

Curious, I'm wondering when your last contact with FoA was? I ask because the new FG Falcon's Auto trans is from FoE and the powertrains are going fron the local I-6s to FNA V6s in 2010. That would suggest that either FoE has done the power train work or FNA continued assisting? The FGII with it V6 engines is now signed off for 2010 so, do we have you to thank for the incredibly smooth FG Falcon? FoA is half way through T6 light truck project, they're lead engineers. FORD AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW PROJECTS

The incident was two years ago, imagine salt water attack by now? I wouldn't want one of them

The little hatch is nice but I hope Ford Global sells the sedan as well, it looks sweet! How could anyone want a Yaris over that beautiful little car? I hope the US gets to sell 7-8K/month, that would lift product numbers and profit a bit.

Back on Topic, Maybe Zeta and Sigma platforms merging is an indication of what Ford is planning with the GRWD. By that I mean high / low or Heavy/Lite series depending on intended market and size of the vehicle. For example, A low or light series might be a Mustang and mid sized 4-door sedan having strut front and SRA/IRS rear suspensions while a high or heavy series may use a more durable Falcon styled Front and rear suspension. The best part is both series would use common floor pan, frames, power trains and electrical systems. That way FoA and FNA have enough capacity to cover all required RWD vehicles.

But for all of that, Ford North America is pretty much holding its own now. Much better than 2006 and 2007 with less overall product sales.

Sorry, I though you meant the truckers were tossing them out the window at cars.....

That too and more distance between engine an firewall in a crash. Also, a Short I-6 only needs one turbo.

Thanks for that image Richard, something foreigners should be aware of?

True but I'm not convinced that is happening here as the weighty Zeta body has to go. I'm thinking the lighter Sigma Body will be use and made with more flexibile with the Zeta's suspension used on low series. In that instance, it would be more like a DEW Lite, a reach down from an expensive platform. Maybe this is a pointer to the Ford global RWD platform, same floorpan/frame but different suspensions for low/high series cars. That way Mustang and a "Maverick" could have Mac Strut/SRA/IRS and the High Series RWD uses Falcon suspension. In a quirky way, maybe the rudiments of the system are staring us in the face and all divisions lose nothing and gain everything.

Apples to apples, Pontiac G8 V6 Vs Taurus V6

Could it be the MKT?

Well, GM must be feeling the pinch. I know some here on BON will question the wisdom of having such a comprehansive range of vehicles on the one platform. I guess it's a bit like GM's version of the Ford DEW platform vision - so I wonder if they can pull it off or will history repeat itself?

I'm always a bit wary of article where percentages are quoted. For arguements take, if Tundra sales off say 17% of 200K/year, that would be 34,000 down but for F Trucks that same 17% on 650K/year becomes 111, 000. Easy to see which company gets hurt more.

My mistake the Fivehundred we drove did have a six speed, it was the older Taurus that had the 4-speed auto.

I recon the guys with contraversial thoughts on Ford or the motor industry should have a sticky thread or a link so they don't have to keep explaining their beliefs to new comers. Maybe a protaganist's corner where gloves are off?