battyr

My new topic got moved so I am repeating it here so no one will miss this. From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.c...5#ixzz0f4YbJiVV More bad Toyota news to help Ford. I was thinking that it would take 3 distinct quality problems to really show that they really do have a problem. I wonder if this will continue.

Try copying the link into Google Translate http://translate.google.com/ so we know what it is about. It works well. Here is the results: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.noticiasautomotivas.com.br/ecosport-2011-imagens-do-modelo-que-traz-uma-nova-identidade-visual-da-ford/

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100209/AUTO01/2090401/1148/rss25#ixzz0f4YbJiVV

The Bantam would make a great car/toy. If it had enough power and reasonable quality, I would buy one. I like to carry big things and go off road, but don't need a real truck. I don't need to carry a cord of wood, but do need to carry a big screen tv or a ladder.

Looks like the only ones who can sell in Japan are the Germans. Maybe the secret to selling in Japan is to convince the Japanese that you have better quality than Toyota?

I think that is the body of the first generation Focus added to a Fiesta front and rear end. My guess is that they are using the Focus body to test the Fiesta for the weight and size of the up coming B-Max.

I had the same thought. Looks like they wanted a car the size of a Focus, but the cost of a Fiesta. Odd, does not look like a product of One Ford.

If they were going to name the car the C4, then they would have a registered trademark on the name by now.

The way I understand Mercury's future, they will be small luxury cars. Like the smaller Volvos. While Lincoln will be larger, more expensive luxury cars. That means Mercury will appeal to younger people who can not afford a larger car. Like the son of a doctor. I think the name C4 would appeal to a younger crowd.

This might be right? I have driven a VW 5 cylinder and it is rough at certain rpms. It also sounds sick. I do not know the specs. on the VW engine.

Mercury may be 5 to 10 years away from going global, but it sounds like they are starting to think global with their naming schemes. Numbers and letters work better for international cars. That way language is not an issue.

Fusion coupe. Likely not until the Mondeo version comes out.

Small diesel in F-150.

If this hybrid AWD systems works and they can get the cost down, The next Mustang might be based off a FWD platform? I predict it is just a matter of getting the cost down.

Remember the RS is FWD only. It has a transaxle that limits wheel spin. Putting that much torque through the body of the car to the wheels would result in a weight transfer from over the front wheels to the rear wheels. Since the rear wheels are not powered, then the car would suffer from lack of traction. If they could apply some power through high torque electric motors at the rear wheels, then they could get much better acceleration at extremes. A future 300 hp hybrid RS (with power going to the rear wheels) could out perform a 350 hp FWD RS?

I think the F-150 is more aerodynamic than most people think. To reduce it much further would require making it lower and narrower. reducing the drag of the underside would help to.

Looks like a good car to sell in South America, Africa, and India. Hell, sell it everywhere. The Europeans might even buy it. Just give it a good ground clearance and a rugged suspension.

If you look at how the current Explorer is made, to get the rigidity, it is essentially a unibody design sitting on top of a full frame. The frame does not add that much weight, but does take up space by raising the floor.

The F-100 would work if Ford can justify it with sales volume. They can beat Toyota by having a product design specifically for the US market. Without a large sales demand in this size of vehicle, the T6 Ranger makes more sense. We likely would likely have to wait for a 3 year design cycle to get the T6 legal for the US.

I would say they are the repeat buyers. What ever number they make up.

Most loyal Toyota buyers will just wait until the problem is solved and then buy their new Toyota. Some people who are undecided or have using other peoples advice will either wait or buy from their second choice of automaker. Ford will benefit most from this after JD Powers report that Ford has better quality than Toyota. The recall will make JD Powers more believable.

Here is an idea, when the new Explorer comes out, bring out a new Flex a Mercury. I think the Flex has the higher level of class to fit into the Mercury environment. The Sports and Utility of the Explorer would appeal to the masses for Ford.

Thats 25 to 30% with N.A. V6, 50% with EcoBoost.

My bet is that the Explorer will debut in Chicago. But it is only an opinion. I have no evidence. When will they start building the Explorer?

This is what I heard. Next generation Transit Connect could appeal to the consumer market. 2012 Focus to be priced against the Honda Civic. A nicely equipped base model at a competitive prices and loaded models to be prices for good profit.