pffan1990

I didn't even think about checking Ford's Media site regarding the UAW negotiation progress. Unfortunately, it's not looking good. https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2023/09/14/ford-update-on-uaw-negotiations.html

With less than three hours to go before the midnight deadline, anyone knows the progress of the negotiations so far? Hopefully both sides can reach an agreement where the workers get what they deserve and the automakers can get some of what they want too. But it's interesting that nothing has been mentioned in the media or from the UAW, that I've noticed, whether or not any new American-made vehicles would be introduced, any plant expansions are planned, newly-created jobs, nor anything regarding securing EV production for the next four years.

I remember a time of the F-150, light-duty F-250, plus the F-250HD and F-350. Then came the Super Duty that includes the F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, etc. plus F-150 and F-250. Then the F-250 light-duty simply became the 7-lug F-150 'HD'. It's possible that the F-200 is the modern version of the 7-lug F-150 HD for the 2024 update. We'll see in a few days.

I actually like everything about it. The stripes and wheels and even the yellow color. The Rally should help boost MM-E sales in the new year.

I have seen few plant workers and some insiders here say the same you just did. I don't work within the auto industry so don't know all this first hand and sometimes hard to remember all this. Thanks for quickly explaining and jogging up my memory of what the others here have said about the processes. A quick changeover in March of 2024 sounds logical, if article sources is true, to prepare for the switch to 2025MY. Back on thread topic though, I do think Ford's press conference will have: the 1) new F-150 hybrid variant and 2) F-150 Lobo, due to the 'F-150 Fest' listed in the NAIAS press conference page I linked in the previous page. With Ford changing their plans so often, who knows what their plans will be next month. lol

I had to go back to the article because your quoted paragraph was not in the article when I first read it a few hours ago. I had thought that the minor re-tooling had already been done for preparation of the 2024MY production. We had seen test prototypes out on public streets for a few months now. I figured production would have started soon within the remainder of 2023 CY. I agree about piss-poor reporting, hence I suggested taking this article with grain of salt.

Well that's a surprising turn of events all of a sudden if it's true. ? However, a huge caveat needs to be had regarding Ford Authority. Their articles are written as if they have good insiders with 'few sources' but usually turn out wrong. Remember the uproar they recently caused with the so-called 'mid-engined Mustang'?? Even though it was another writer who wrote that Mustang article, Brett Foote's articles really need to be taken with a grain of salt. Personally, I think it may be a good idea to postpone the update to 2025, if it's true. That's so they can get their quality control issues under control during the 2024 model year before re-tooling for the 2025. Perhaps Ford also wants to wait to get the UAW negotiations complete as well.

I see on the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) site that the press conference schedule has been posted. Ford has the 'F-150 Fest' set for Tuesday the 12th at 5:30pm. That appears to be the only Ford conference scheduled so far since there's the planned Cadillac, GMC, and Jeep conferences set for the 13th. The F-150 Fest would be a good way to show the new updates, discuss features, etc. and reveal the new variants. We already know the announced 'new hybrid variant' that will be revealed. The second would likely be this Lobo edition. No mention of the 2024 Explorer/Aviator but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be revealed at the show. It could just have a standalone online announcement prior to the show but still be on floor display during the public viewing. https://naias.com/press-conference-schedule/

I also find it hard to believe that the Escape would be next this soon. Sales have spiked after the 2023 update and has received numerous good reviews. I could see sometime beyond 2025. I'm thinking this could be Ford's 'leverage' as part of UAW negotiations. That way, they can eventually reach a deal and then 'backtrack' a bit and announce more details of ICE production plans. I could see the Escape going away at some point, with the 2024 Nautilus in its production place in Louisville, making the Chinese importation a short-term plan. It would be nice to also have overflow capacity at Louisville for both Maverick and Bronco Sport if possible. But we'll see how the UAW negotiations go.

Nice! While not rear mid-engine as previously rumored, the GTD is still an impressive piece of machinery. For those disappointed with the price, this is just a limited edition homologation special. I'm sure Ford has plans for other editions to fill the gap between Dark Horse and GTD. In fact, some engineering and parts of the GTD may trickle down to the Shelby series, for example. There's already the EcoBoost and GT for the lower range below Dark Horse. Ford is just getting their bases covered with the 'S650' Mustang.

Looks like it's just the GTD. The same writer now admits his sources had it wrong about it not being S650-based. https://fordauthority.com/2023/08/ford-mustang-gtd-leaks-ahead-of-debut/

I lurk on the Mustang6G and Mustang7G sites and seen that the GTD is apparently the street-legal GT3 car. Maybe it's front mid-engined where the engine is pulled back a few inches? There's mention of DCT transaxle and using carbon fiber driveshaft. Dealers saying it wasn't S650-based could be that it was heavily-modified for production. Or perhaps there's two separate Mustangs shown to the dealers with the GT3-based GTD and the other one which is true rear mid-engined. Who knows?

I re-read the Ford Authority article after my previous post and seen Multimatic making the GT3 and GT4 and also the Bronco DR too, as it said. This is what happens when I don't carefully read the article before posting at late night. lol As for my thoughts of Multimatic building the racing version and Ford building the road going version of the new Mustang mid-engine car, which I now realized I was wrong, I was just hoping that Ford would have something else for the Flat Rock workers to build in addition to the Mustang S650. This project is still good news for Ford though and I look forward to hearing (and seeing) about it soon. That makes sense and is likely the case.

This. And the Fusion as well, including the Active versions of both.

This is great! Finally, a mid-engined Mustang! I also wanted this to happen and had also been talking about this for awhile. It wasn't just you, DeluxeStang. It's possible that Ford had this project in development before this topic was even being discussed here. With Multimatic being reportedly involved, I'm thinking they may be handling the production of the racing version and Ford will build the road-going version at Flat Rock. I do wonder what it will be called, though, other than 'Mustang'. (now realized I was wrong about Multimatic/Ford production, thanks to two users here, so disregard this). I had suggested 'Mustang RS500' (for the 5.0L V8 displacement) in an old thread, linked below. I'm sure Ford has a better name for it and has something good planned for this whole mid-engined project. I even suggested 'Mustang Ranchero' name for a 2-door Mustang-based pickup that was being discussed as part of theoretical Mustang sub-brand expansion in another old thread, also linked below. lol ? I also had ideas on expanding the 'Mach-E' lineup where the next generation MME goes on the GE2, in both 2-row and 3-row setup, while current MME gets redesigned on the new CE1 (which jpd80 had brought up in discussions, hence my quoting his posts) and renamed 'Mustang Mach-E Sport' to help amortize BEV development and production costs. So the mid-engined/expanded Mustang sub-brand topics have been discussed for quite some time here and Ford's official word of its mid-engined Mustang makes this even more exciting! Just curious, DeluxeStang, what engine do you think it will have other than the 5.0L? I'm hoping for the 6.8L/7.3L, in limited production of course. lol Hybrid with electric motors in front wheels is very likely as well.

I was just about to say the same thing. From what has been said by insiders and that blurry still image of T3 from a Ford video, it will resemble the 1997-2003 F-150. There is indeed a slight 1997 look with the 2024 F-150 update as shown in article photos. It's also interesting to note that the F-150 is getting a full redesign for 2026/2027, which may be the final ICE. It could be possible that the 2024 update is a preview of sorts for the ICE 2026/2027 redesign in addition the 2025 T3 EV.

I think 'Edison' is just a general placeholder name until Ford officially announces the name. The 3-row Explorer is likely to have a name change due to more aero styling that's unlike the traditional Explorer styling. There's a post on another site, that's discussed in another thread here, that indicates Thunderbird is being considered. I do personally think Ford still has an actual Explorer EV that's planned with the rugged boxier styling and somewhat good off-road capability. However, to avoid confusion until official announcement by Ford, we'll continue to use the 'Explorer' for the 3-row aero styling EV for now. The 'Edison' will be the midsize EV, as indicated by the charts shown in the link. Ford keeps changing their plans that it's hard for any of us to keep up. lol It's still possible to have 4 EVs at OAC but that would include the Lincoln versions. For example, this Explorer 3-row EV with aero styling. The Lincoln version would be the Aviator. The link says there's the Ford 'Edison' midsize CUV EV coming alongside the Lincoln 'Star' as luxury midsize CUV EVs. Not sure if these will be made at OAC but we can presume so considering these will be GE2-based. That's 4. However, with changing plans, who knows what will be made at OAC. Seems like Ford would be communicating with the current workers at OAC to keep them in the loop to reassure them of their future job security. That's interesting to see it listed in the charts. Either it really is canceled and the list wasn't updated to reflect this (I doubt this). Or Ford decided to resurrect the Mustang Hybrid project, which could likely be it.

My only logical speculation with the design change is that perhaps it was Hackett that ordered the change from original boxy design to the new aero design. Now it's Farley trying to do what he can with the change as that was already undergoing by the time he took over. So the new aero EV will likely have a name change - as it should - with hopefully the originally-cancelled boxy EV proposal being resurrected as true 'Explorer' EV sometime soon. As I previously mentioned, there is a new ICE gen Explorer coming soon so there's time for the boxy Explorer EV to come out. So my speculation is that Farley's doing what he can to get the ongoing projects out to market, while possibly going through the previously-cancelled projects, and deciding which ones to resurrect. That's my only logical guess. But then again, it's Ford. They've done this before where they decide what the market should want and then wonder why customers don't buy them.

That's a good idea and I like your logo proposal. Didn't Ford actually trademark 'Evolve'? Seems like I seen something like it.

That made sense why the 'Explorer' name was going to be attached to the EV. It originally had the traditional Explorer design before they changed it. As I said in my previous post ('They can still do a true upright, boxy midsized TE1 EV with 'Explorer' and build that at BOC. Or as a GE2 at OAC if there's room for three EVs.'), they can still do the proper Explorer EV. There is a next gen ICE Explorer coming soon, IIRC, so there's time for a true Explorer EV to be sold alongside it. I'm guessing the 'Explorer' EV may have undergone similar route as the C-Max EV replacement where it was started over into what was eventually the Mustang Mach-E. I just thought of something. When Farley spoke at the Capital Markets event, and discussed the upcoming the 3-row EV, he didn't actually call it Explorer. It was referred to having the interior room of ICE Expedition while being the size of ICE Explorer. No name of this EV was ever spoken at all. So could it be possible that Ford has changed the name to it? It's already been known and reported numerous times that the Explorer/Aviator EVs were going to OAC. Now all of a sudden, he didn't even mention any names to this new EV at all during the event presentation.

I'm thinking Borg may have meant that it wasn't loved in terms of 'Explorer' name attached to the vehicle in that low-riding aero style. The Explorer has always been upright, boxy, and higher up. Even with the 2011-2019 unibody front driver/all wheel drive one. So I do agree that this vehicle should not have 'Explorer' name at all. They can still do a true upright, boxy midsized TE1 EV with 'Explorer' and build that at BOC. Or as a GE2 at OAC if there's room for three EVs. As for 'Thunderbird' name, I would wait for confirmation before we react or overreact. Let's see an announcement first or confirmation by an insider or two here. Having said that though, it could be well-executed. Remember that the C-Max replacement was quickly redone as a Mustang Mach-E with huge success. It could be done with this one as 'Thunderbird' with various recognizable retro styling cues. The upcoming UAW talks will be quite interesting, to say the least, regarding upcoming products and their nameplates.

Thanks! I occasionally lurk that Ranger6G forum but didn't see that particular post from Dave (All Terrain Nation) with the embargo time. I just went there and now seen it via forum search. I figured it would be 6AM since that's usually when Ford would release info onto their sites, including the Ford Media page, for new vehicles that don't have reveal events.

Does anyone know the time that Ford plans to reveal the new Ranger via their linked site in the short ad video, their media press page, as well as when general embargo ends? I keep seeing 'Wednesday May 10th' but no time.

Of course Ram gotta use the Ranger Reveal Day to make their announcement. ? But yes, the Ram Rampage would be a good guess for what's coming. Competition is good so the Rampage would be a welcome addition to the small trucks market.

https://blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/74863-2024-us-ranger-without-camo-spotted/&page=13 Yes, you're right on that. It was an ad during the Kentucky Derby. JX1 also posted that video link in the 'US Ranger without camo' thread linked above but also included the Courier Journal article about Derby ad. You'll see my below quote in reply to his on that link.