jpd80

I must have had the thing in 3, no wait it had a 4-speed auto!!!

I drove one while in your countray a few years ago and I don't think the little 3.0 Fivehundred is a looser at all. A 6- speed auto would really help, also had they kept going with kinetic style, it woulda looked like the current Mondeo. Thanks for the comments on the Falcon, they look great in the flesh, they made it too good for Dearborn to ignore, blew the socks off Kuzak last Friday. (sorry about typos, too much rum in the drink...)

That's your wildest prediction yet but I see why, Press is taking the knife to the dead wood before the market does:

Fuel economy was never the issue with the Fivehundred.

I believe the 2008 Taurus would get the same fuel economy, does that ring a bell?

It's a longshot but PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) may look at Volvo as their possible luxury marque. Ford already has a diesel engine alliance with PSA so maybe something further down the track. BTW, I don't believe Ford will sell Volvo inside of the next two years.

In all fairness, I don't think it's like that at all! Inside Ford, the latest Falcon is highly regarded and is an example of cooperation that has been occurring all around Ford. It is basically a template of how a home division can build a car utilising all of Ford's resources including Volvo. We ended up with a Falcon like no other - it trancends all previous build quality standards for Ford Australia and if this is an example of what Kuzak has in mind for all of Ford's cars - I say bring it on!!! FoE assisted with supply of a Bordeaux built 5-speed auto transmission and single sided frame technology and Volvo assisted FoA by giving them the EUCD Slim door technology.

An insiders tells me that on Thursday Kuzak said that "he had a plan in his head" so maybe no decision yet. I don't like to spread rumors and then look foolish later. Either way, there's a lot of great work gone into this Falcon- I'm sure it won't be lost.

I take it that's the new GRWD interior then, the reversed Mustang?

Ford and GM are poles apart, I now think GM is 12-18 months behind Ford. GM hasn't done the hard yards yet and don't look like starting anytime soon.

Ford has made real changes to its North American business, GM has not. Guess which one is being found out big time?

Edit, Unfortunately for FoA, Detroit wants to do its own platform so matter how good the Falcon is, the US will probably get its way and the Falcon will switch to the US platform in 2013. Kuzak's trip to Australia was to: 1. Drive the new Falcon and its competitors, he was amazed by the Falcon "Best car bar none!" 2. Discuss FoA's renewed desire for RHD and LHD exports to UK, Middle East and China. 3. Discuss the RWD strtegy Kuzak was heard to say "he has a plan in his head", probably best released when back in Dearborn. Last time he announced something from the US it was all bad news for FoA. Either way we all get a new efficient RWD platform and I'm happy with that.

I know the wheel is on the wrong side but this is what a good interior looks like:

The South Carolina expansion won't be finished for another four years.

Now that the UAW deal has been reached, Jaguar and Land Rover are sold, I think the pressure is off. Look at the timing on sales Aston Martin - March 2007. J/LR - March 2008. I don't think you'll see any move on Volvo before this time next year, if they're considering it that is. By then the cash burn will be finished and North America should be break even turning profitable. As for Ford's ego, the mortgage was an additional $24 billion or only 20% of one year's revenue.

They already have the South Carolina plant for exclusive production of X5 and X6. The expansion is for inclusion of the X3 and increased production of X5 and X6. BMW spending $750 million to expand US plant; 500 new jobs created It looks more like BMW are very self intent and not looking at Volvo at the moment, ask the same question in 12-18 months and the answer may be different. Don't expect any change in position either until financial lending eases.

Care to qualify that with a time frame, like Tracinda is saying -18 months or sooner? I think you're just guessing, BMW looked twice last year and walked away.....

Judging by Yaris figures of 11,434 (+45.9%) the Fiesta will do well, maybe 8,000-10,000/mth

Tough crowd. The Focus sells strongly, gets good media reviews and qualty reports yet some still don't consider it good enough - lofty ideals for a budget priced car?

If the same as other C1 Plants around the world, the US will build volume versions and import specials. Vehicles like Cabriolet, ST Sports and even C-Max may be imported or built at another NA plant. Australia is also to stamp and build C1 Focus then so maybe some specials sourced from there.

That's true and those that want a C1 can quit whining get one from Mexico fairly easily.

In fairness Nick, when you look on the Ponitac site the offers range from $4,500 for the '08 Grand Prix down to $1,000 for the G8 - it's the smallest amount. I think Pontiac is feeling the pinch and felt they had to offer something on all cars, probably psychological inducement for G8 buyers. Pontiac Cash back offer This would have to be the worst possible time to launch a V6 & V8 performance sedan and they still sold over 2,000 of them without heavy discounts!!!! There is no doubt that a RWD Ford sedan with Ecoboost V6 would outsell the G8 by a wide margin. If not a Falcon, perhaps a RWD Fusion sold as an SVT.

Ah I knew I'd run foul of the sizing changes.... Mid-Sized cars in the 1960s and 1970s are the same as Today's Full Sized cars. 1974 Torino is the same size as today's Crown Vicky, would you call the CV Mid Sized or Full Sized? Pontiac G8 is classed as a Full Sized car, the Falcon is near identical in size.

I think Grand Torino had 4-speed manual through to 1974, can't be sure after that. If you want to include them, Falcons still have 6-speed manuals availiable on some models.....

Focus went 21,269 in May 2007, so what are the chances it will eclipse that and by how much? Are we looking at a possible 25,000 month or is that a bit optimistic?