ZanatWork

It kinda looks like a Flex and a Range Rover made a camo'd baby.

I saw that, and may have drooled a little. I thought the use of the hydroboost system was clever, because that was actually a trick to improve steering feel in Fox-derived Fords for decades.

Dan is a jerk, and I've happily emailed him at a previous employer to point out ridiculous errors in some of his columns. His eventual retirement will improve the world.

Given that most CUVs are basically "tall wagons", there should be a way to keep the Mustang viable on a shared platform.

Maybe, but the painful fact that you can get a Focus ST wagon in Europe is kinda heartbreaking when its only brand-sibling equivalent over here is the ugly blob known as the slow-selilng C-Max. Yes, trends have people buying more and more baby CUVs that have AWD but never even see dirt roads, and have an extra foot of bodywork height/weight compared to an equivalent wagon. Subaru actually took risks like that, including WRX wagons. They're the most-loved freakin' car brand in our market right now, despite the fact that they're getting way too "normal", nowadays. In any case, a small "sportwagon" remains attractive to some of us (I'll bet more than 15), and would likely do decently with even moderate advertising effort.

If "car guys" had bought Panthers new instead of used, Ford would've green-lighted a genuine successive RWD chassis to respond to market demand. Instead, the "Panther Mafia" consumed all the P71s they could find at auction. I kinda understand the loyalty to that platform, but again...if it was so great, why so few retail sales?

http://jalopnik.com/ford-ceo-mark-fields-reportedly-fired-in-management-sha-1795421644?rev=1495426354345&utm_campaign=socialflow_jalopnik_facebook&utm_source=jalopnik_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow So...did Mark get fired, or is this is rumor and speculation making a stepchild?

I wonder if the Fusion could take on an "EL" model of its own, the way Crown Vics used to have extended wheelbases for police/taxi fleets. As some Fusions are used in law enforcement, nowadays, it may not be a terrible approach.

Yep. My employer (with many locations nationwide) is officially done with that horrid transaxle. Aside from a few Transit Connects, there will be no more Fords purchased for the company. The hatred for the Powershift is immense, coast to coast, with my employer and co-employees. It's expensive, it's crappy to drive (I hate driving the things), and it's benched several of our cars, now. To hell with it.

Yeah...sorry...as someone who's owned both FE and 385-series motors in my vehicles, I'm afraid you're less than accurate in that assessment.

I saw a rumor regarding the 7.0 being in the next GT-500, but I saw it over someone else's shoulder, and don't remember the source. I kinda doubt it, but it did make me wonder....

I admit that I've been hoping it'd be a turbo'd motor, as that would fold better into Ford's recent tendencies and maybe use that "EcoBeast" label they copyrighted. ​The way I see it, if tuners were replacing the blower on Ford GTs with turbos over the last decade and getting 4-digit horsepower, a Coyote or Voodoo should be able to flatten the Hellcat and meet emission requirements. ​Plus, I'm honestly not a huge fan of parasitic losses that come with supercharging. Maybe if they utilized electric forced induction...?

That is a lovely beast, I like the pics more and more. According to a source on another board, 20 hp might be a very conservative estimate of the 5.0's hp increase. I do wonder if the next "monster Mustang" will have turbocharging this time around, instead of the typical blower arrangement. Turbo technology has finally caught up to the promises carmakers were throwing around in the 80's.

After looking at the various pics a few times each, I'm convinced of one thing: I TRULY hate that color. I'll hold out 'til I see it in Guards or a similar hue.

The Chevy resemblance is something I noticed as well, but I'm hoping that it'll lose that resemblance in production form.

This is the first positive-anything I've seen from MT toward Ford in some time, now.

I'll be very sad to see it go, as I prefer a commodious wagon with available AWD to pretend-SUVs and mommy-vans. While I still have and love my Expedition, a Flex would offer much lower load-in height for musical gear (a constant in my life for decades) while still offering good space for passengers. I'm not a fan of the current front end, either, and would like it to get something more attractive before finally wandering off the lot for good.

Having now driven a few Fords with that awful gearbox, I really think a real automatic would help matters.

Obviously, the Flex sales gains are the true story, here.

Fairly thick rumor that it is a TT, upgraded Coyote being evaluated. Given the V8 history with Mustangs, I think this is the way to go.

Note to self: I need a Ranchero project before much longer.

I wonder if "Courier" could be a name for a unibody mini-truck...something to be the first of its kind since the Rabbit pickup. Much smaller than the Ridgeline, something that could inhabit its own niche as an entry-level pickup that truly is compact...?

I admit some fear for the rest of the driveline and brakes/chassis if they aren't somewhat improved as well.

This should do much to guarantee that development of at least one rwd car chassis remains a priority with Ford for the foreseeable future... ...which should also mean that the MCE and the "S650" should be meaningful upgrades.