jpd80

Firstly, the new model isn't out until next month. Bill Osbourne is implimenting a turnaround plan for Australia based on what was done in Canada - he and his team worked wonders there!! Secondly, The article didn't say anything about US exports - they're after Rest of the World. Thirdly, you contradict yourself, you say the Falcon is too milktoast for American tastes yet 85% of US sales are to brands other than Ford. It is this playing to the limited tastes of fans like yourself that is quick sand to Ford's market share, they need to attract new buyers. Thirdly, the last thing Ford needs is Chrysler 300, the polarising style is a financial mirage. At first successful, the market has now moved on and away from it!! As fans, we all have a narrowed perspective of the perfect Ford vehicle, the truth is Ford needs all the product base it can muster. With such a fragmented market nothing is a given anymore.

Bill Osbourne has been rather expansive on his vision for Ford Australia, he's saying every vehicle he produces needs to have a LHD companion for export to get his production numbers up. C1 Focus Production starts in 2011 and Osbourne hinted at Kuga as well as LHD exports too! I know he's looking at South Africa and UK for Falcon (RHD) but really wants Middle East and China (LHD). Strong rumor: FoA wants Falcon based MKR for China - the front and rear clips are relatively easy to do....

The Pontiac G8 has 50/50 weight distribution which means 2,000 lb on the rear. Early Crown Victoria was approx. 4000 lb and 60/40 weight distribution -1600 lb on the rear. See the difference?

I'm not saying RWD is better than FWD/AWD, just that newer RWDs aren't as bad as some make out. Given enough weight in the back and all weather tyres, your hills would be worth a try. I'm sure a couple of panther guys have some tails they will undoubtly unload on you now......

Freestyle sales were good early on, just ineffecive marketing let the Freestyle down: 2005: 76,739 2006: 58,602 2007: 23,765 (+18,345 Taurus X) With figures like that, Lincoln should be do better - this product, the MKT is superior in every respect!

Well, you never can tell what might happen..... All we gotta do is get them in the seat, the car will do the rest.

You and 300 million other people, Ford's marketing on Freestyle and Taurus X was basically non-existant. For a product to fail, people have to at least know about it.

I see the Edge and Flex as the CUV alternatives to Explorer and Expedition. As SUV sales migrate to CUVs Ford is now positioned to retain and grow its customer base. Good move Ford.

Diesel engines were an expedient for Europe to meet fuel economy and CO2 targets. Ecoboost offeres the same torque but far more horsepower than a comparable diesel engine. This alone guarantees its priority placing in F Trucks ahead of any diesel. The returns on Ecoboost will be much quicker than either diesel or hybrid. When Ecoboost hits, you'll probably see European Fords switch back to petrol before adopting hybrids.

Are Mercury and Lincoln products sold out of the same dealerships? If so could there be a gradual shift towards Lincon as the primary product with say only a couple of entry level Mercurys?

Those regulations don't start for another 3.5 years yet. All of FoE's vehicles are smallish efficient vehicles, I don't believe they'd have much problem staying in front of the CO2 penalties, even if they imported small numbers of Falcons. If as Ford Jellymoulds says, Ford are bringing out impressive Econetic diesel in small cars, that then offsets their other cars that don't fit under the envelope. Importing up to 10,000 vehicles wouldn't make that much difference to Ford Europes' 2012 emissions tally.

The Germans have traditionally paid CAFE fines and passed on to the consumers, the EU fines are so steep that this makes the vehicles unmarketable, lots of models will disappear!!! While it's true the new CO2 regulations are averaged across a manufacturers' total sales, anything larger than a 1.6 TDi Focus will need to be Hybrids to comply. Manufacturers need more time to develop passive hybrids with regen braking.

I seriously doubt that to happen anymore with Dynamic Safety Control and traction control.

Can you show me the article where it says the proposed EU CO2 Fine regime has been passed and ratified? I can only find articles saying it is proposed to commence in 2012. The proposal is unworkable and all the fines will be passed onto people, no matter how big they are. The EU is so stupid, they really think another tax will work - it just hurts ordinary people and drives up the cost of food and transport. There is no way in a pink fit the Germans will accept this - if they opt out, the precious EU will collapse.

Good post, Agree AWD / 4WD is best in the snow, if the weather is that bad, maybe it's best not to go out. "Aussie Detroit" has two brilliant examples of how to a Modern RWD, I'm glad you get at least one. The new Falcon shades the Commodore/G8 and fuel efficient Turbo 6 is a precursor to ecoboost!!! I can see two identical Taurus vehicles sharing the showroom - one FWD/AWD, the other RWD. GM missed a perfect opportunity to do with the Impala - their loss!!

Ford Jellymoulds, I found this from 13th March, 2008

Sure the roads have been cleared but I bet there's still some slippery stuff there as well. To hear some speak on the forums. you'd think RWD cars can't be sold in snow areas. I don't advocate RWD over FWD - there's room and a market for both.

For too long people have been comparing modern up to date FWD cars with their RWD predecesors. This video helps dispell the old concepts that RWD cars are inferior to FWD in snow driving. A modern RWD car with 50/50 weight distribution, traction control, dynamic stability control and proper snow tyres is every bit as good as its FWD countrepart. Pontiac should play this thing on a loop in their dealerships: Let the fun begin.

Slightly off topic, I watched the February Autoline interview with Mulally, he hinted establishing a Lincoln RWD in Asia and China. Kuzak has a meeting with Ford Australia on 1st may regarding their desire for exports to Asia, South Africa and Europe. This would also mean developing a Left hand drive version of the Falcon line. I find it strange that a CEO would talk about a meeting before it happens and his desired outcome. Can we put 2 and 2 together?

That's the tall canopy effect Nick, measurements don't lie. I'll agree the lower roofline in Fusion/Mazda 6 and Crown Victoria makes them feel smaller but raise the roof a la Volvo in the Taurus an Mondeo (D3 and EUCD) and it's a different ball game. I've sat in all the vehicles mentioned, width and canopy effect are everything in big car feel. The Mondeo is cavenous and is much closer to Taurus in feel than Fusion. Compare Falcon sized Pontiac G8 with the Taurus and you'll get where I'm coming from

They're expecting to average ove 8,000 sales/month? That's either a lot of conquest sales or canabalising its own product sales. Brave product move, interesting to see if this works.

No, that's projected CO2 tax penalties on top of retail for Falcons in the UK!!!!! The only thing that doesn't get the tax reamed out of it there is a 1.6 TDi Focus. Be glad you live in The North America or Australia !!!!!!! Relax: FYI, XR6T and XR8 are the same price as Holden SS Commodore - your Pontiac G8 GT. About the same as a Lincoln MKZ - I know which type I'd rather have and it ain't the FWD jobby!!!

Here you go, Taxes for cars above 120g/klm: Falcon Standard 4.0 is 240g/klm = USD$18,000 Falcon Turbo 6 is 300g/klm = USD$27,000 Falcon 5.4 V8 is 340g/klm = USD$33,000 Ford Jellymoulds, I know you love England but seriously, Bollocks!!!!!!

Nope 2008 Ford Focus CC Coupe Cabriolet official pictures

TDi slated for Falcon and Territory in 2010 - won't say what size but money is on PAG V6. Might be easier to remove afew politicians... I just saw a show about the early Saxons and the "night of the long knives".