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Rest assured "Homer" is designing a body for the Imparla as we joke!!!!

I really wish they'd use our Aussie I6 in a "Ranger truck". A longer nose wouldn't be much of a concern in a truck. 250 hp @5200 and 280 lb ft @ 2500 now that's gotta be a good start.

Commodore World Car of the Year finalist November 21, 2006 12:19pm Holden's new VE Commodore, developed at a cost of more than $1 billion, has been nominated for the World Car of the Year Award and is the only Australian-made vehicle among the 28 finalists. The award, presented by a worldwide jury of motoring journalists, is judged according to styling, performance, handling, comfort, value, safety and environmental responsibility. To be eligible, a new car must be available in a minimum of five countries on at least two continents. The Commodore is sold in Australia and exported to countries including New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen, Lebanon, Oman, Fiji and South Africa.

Commodore World Car of the Year finalist November 21, 2006 12:19pm Holden's new VE Commodore, developed at a cost of more than $1 billion, has been nominated for the World Car of the Year Award and is the only Australian-made vehicle among the 28 finalists. The award, presented by a worldwide jury of motoring journalists, is judged according to styling, performance, handling, comfort, value, safety and environmental responsibility. To be eligible, a new car must be available in a minimum of five countries on at least two continents. The Commodore is sold in Australia and exported to countries including New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen, Lebanon, Oman, Fiji and South Africa. Full article available at News.com.au Business This is pretty exciting for a small country like Australia. Now, if we could just get the 2008 Falcon to do the same..........

If the Zeta doesn't take-off, you might consider "The Homer"

OK, how about a narrow angle V4 or a SI 4? This would be a snap off VW V6 0r Ford SI6.

Gotta say my new company Hilux is a lot bigger than the old Courier and the turbo diesel goes good. Dual cab Courier/Rangers always feel cramped in the back seat, too little legroom. I'd have DVTs after an hour for sure.

From what we can gleen in AUS, the Orion Falcon whil continue the 111.375" wheelbase but probably wider with reduced overhang. The current cabin is very close to Crown Victoria (Fairlane kills it on leg room) so extra width will give big car feel. GM has jumped off a cliff with their Zeta RWD, with 50/50 weight distribution, I think they're hoping to win back some of the FWD crowd. The previous Commodore also had AWD variations in V6 and V8 so it's not hard to imagine the engineering sitting on the shelf until needed. No body really knows if NA will embrace or reject this resurection of RWD but, if they also offer AWD the could be on a winner. One things for sure, Ford at 12 months behind GM has time to put its house in order before either following or rejecting the GM strategy. On the Ranger, it's very confusing talking about NA Ranger when our "Thai Ranger" , a badge negineered Mazda is a pretty nice littlle truck. Can someone advise what the difference is, NA Ranger to Mazda?

Thanks for the informative article Biker 16. Most people don't know just how hard it is to win a manufacturers title. New Zealand is a beautiful country and it's on our to do list. Victory is sweet especially when it's a FORD!!!!!!

I don't mind either way, I like Fords what do I care! Like I said, this is the beautiful "Aussie styled car". North America will gets the butt-ugly version which all of you will love . Expect a barage of nationalistic advertisments, the American car and such. Just don't tell 'em who did the archetecture.....Shhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

That T6 program is going to take a while, no timeframe from Ford but could be a year or so away. The Territory is a close relative of the Falcon sharing quite a few parts but just as many are different. Now available with the 245 Kw turbo I6. Good articlereferenced from webwombat.com.au Porsche Cayenne S vs. Ford Territory Turbo Porsche Cayenne S Engine: 4.5L V8 Transmission: 6-Speed Auto Weight: 4950 lb Maximum speed: 150MPH Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 7.2 Sec Maximum power hp 340HP @ 6000 rpm Maximum power kW 250KW @ 6000 rpm Maximum torque ft-lb: 310 @ 2500 Maximum torque Nm: 420 @ 2500 PRICE: $129,000 AUD Ford Territory Turbo Engine: 4L I6 Turbocharged, intercooled Transmission: 6-Speed ZF Auto Weight: 4685 lb Maximum speed: ~140MPH Acceleration 0-100 km/h: ~7.3 Sec Maximum power hp 333HP @ 5250 rpm Maximum power kW 245KW @ 5250 rpm Maximum torque ft-lb: 354 @ 2000 Maximum torque Nm: 480 @ 2000 PRICE: $54,000 AUD http://www.fast-autos.net/forum/printthread.php?t=2835

Above Quotes From This Article Ford North America has entrusted Ford Australia to develop the engineering for the T6 Light truck platform, the likely successor to the Courrier/Ranger. So don't fret, help is on the way. And no, Australia is not building it, we're just doing the engineering workFORD AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW PROJECTS

Above Quotes From This Article Ford North America has entrusted Ford Australia to develop the engineering for the T6 Light truck platform, the likely successor to the Courrier/Ranger. So don't fret, help is on the way. And no, Australia is not building it, we're just doing the engineering work. FORD AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW PROJECTS

Hello from the other side of the planet, I've got an interesting tale for you. I see an LHD 2007 RX8 is about MSRP? USD$27,000 so I take it the Mustang is about the same. A work collegue here in Australia has placed an order for an '07 compliance plate RX8. Now ours has to be a RHD model same as Japan but, his OTR Price was AUD$60,000 - that's USD $45,000. Australia removed import duties years ago and even without our Goods and Services tax, that's still USD$40,500. The closest Fords we have to your RX8 is a couple of sporty Falcon Sedans, XR6 Turbo (USD$32,500) and XR8 (USD$33,500). Having seen the Mustang earlier this year in LA, Both of the Aussies' are well made and deserving of the extra cost. My point is: Don't focus on the Mustang being made down to a price of $27,000. Enjoy the value you get with an otherwise $40 -45K car for a competitive $27,000

In the flesh the roof line isn't as Volvoish as the Fivehundred, its abig fella, around 5 metres, nearly 16 feet. AND this is GM remember, they're not above copying other styles too! Don't be scared of the prices they say, in Aussie dollars, think about 2/3s for USD, this is upper end luxury spec. USA models could be more basic. 15.5 sec 1/4 mile for 3.6 V6 5-speed auto good as CV? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkSirm3otXc

Here's a review of the WM Statesman (Zeta long Wheelbase, it's over 5 metres long) I've attached a review of a 3.6 litre V6 version. Be aware the HFV6 pulls the near 2 ton car 0-60 mph in 7.5 secs similar to 4.6 CV. Enjoy, it's about 9 minutes long. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkSirm3otXc More great Holden test drives can be seen at www.seeitdrive.com

So if the next Mazda 6 is 2" wider and has a 2" longer wheelbase, that would be copying Ford, right?

Small blocks are so effective at making good horsepower because they have relatively short strokes and this inturn allows a good rod ratio whilst maintaning a short and light connecting rods. Once the stroke is increased to 3.75" or beyond, the choice is either use an ideal rod ratio results in long heavy rods for best low end torque or use short light rods for revability. At this point maintaining an ideal rod ratio and keeping the weight down is hard unless titanium rods are used (LS7). Without Titanium rods, I beleive the cost effective upper limit of a small block is: 400 CID : 4.125" bore x 3.75" stroke, 6.2" rods, 1.43 piston height. 9.5" deck height. This gives the best balance with maximum size and would be equally at home in either an F-150 or a Mustang.

Whatever happens, I hope Ford will combine all the positive engineering features of their current platforms into say, two super FWD/RWD/AWD modular platforms. Two such platforms and their derivatives could span most of the Ford Empire. Modular body components could save factories billions in setup costs for stamping machines. That way, engineers could choose which body/power train modules make up a particular car's needs and then the stylist go to work on the outer skin.

we can't say its better yet 'cause it's not out for another 16 months. For the last 17 years,Falcon has alway been technically superior to Commodore, it just needs the fresh sheetmetal of Orion. Current Falcon is a brilliant car to drive, it has longwheelbase Fairlane/LTD, has a commercial BOF utility, has an AWD SUV Territory derivative, better than Explorer (puss). No other Ford platform in USA or Europe is anywhere near as versatile. The next Falcon will be engineered for LHD and will share more front suspension/ steering with its sibling Territory, moving steering rack in front of crossmember enables AWD of Territory to be adapted to Falcon.

Falcon's platform has changed through evolution. It's not an old design, it's much newer/more advanced than any other Ford RWD in USA. It's the only thing Ford has close to matching Zeta

Sorry about the mix-up. By "this site" I meant Blueovalnews. Wheels magazine in Australia ran article about the Orion Falcon with the sketch of an MKS veiled by a superimposed sheet. Didn't fool the Ford Australia Forum posters at all.

Of equal concern is their preparedness to raise loans proping up cash on hand with only a slim profit due in 2009. Now in light of "the way forward" having insufficient cuts, what would you make of all of this if you were a stockholder?

Hemi, No1 on Fords and GMs are different cylinders, you have to convert the firing order cylinder numbers to the other guys numbers, read my post above.

Thanks Buddy, I'll try again, Ford (Chev) RHS Bank Cylinder Nos 1(2), 2(4), 3(6), 4(8) Ford (Chev) LHS Bank Cylinder Nos 5(1), 6(3), 7(5), 8(7) FORD ........1 - 3 - 7 - 2 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 8 - 1- 3 - 7 - 2 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 8 LS Chev.....2 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 1 - 8 - 7 - 2 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 1 - 8 - 7 Does the fog lift old son? LOL PS, Of course you're right about Cadillac 1914? They're now GM, Right? manufacturers moved on from flat plane cranks because the secondary imbalance needs balancing shafts. So blub-blub-blub became the cross plane gurgle-gurgle-gurgle. And as he tried to imitate those sounds his wife became very worried, LOL See ya.