justins

Something like http://pocketnow.com/2014/01/07/sony-smartphone-cradle-receiver?

I'd say his initial quote is closer to the truth of the matter...

Can't see Ford getting in on this TBH, considering Daimler Benz and Toyota both already own stakes in Tesla... Too many cooks and all that...

Can't remember where it was but one country recently changed from RHD to LHD. All went fairly smoothly, except for their bus network which now drops people off into oncoming traffic...

Looks like there's plenty of space in the door cavity for the window to me. The door cutout look to go all the way the the grey arch surround, so should be OK.

I think Ford CEO job is Mark Fields' to lose right now... I think it's fairly obvious he is the "Anointed one".

Caradvice.com.au is saying it's looking like Edge (possibly rebadged as Territory for Oz).

Wasn't that the Mazda MZR2.3 (so not technically a Ford engine)? From Wiki

I think it's fairly safe to say that all three auto makers currently manufacturing in Oz use these outposts as tax write offs. Toyota have been found guilty of transfer pricing before (only to have their tax fine mysteriously withdrawn), GM are selling Commodore in US for a price that has to be making a loss for them, and FoA haven't made a profit in 6 years... I suppose it comes down to the idea that if you're only going to make 50 or 60 million profit, then have to pay 30% tax on that, why bother? Find as many write-offs as you can, make a loss, book the profits on parts purchased from the wider network or in IP licensing fees to overseas subsidiaries and cry poor...

It's LHD because most of the markets it's sold in are LHD. No news there...

Now tell us how many of those are actually built in Australia? Mazda 3, Ranger, BT50 and Focus are ALL produced in a factory with a capacity of 250,000 cars per year in Thailand. Corolla? Hasn't been produced in Oz for years. Hilux? Nope. i30? Nope. Camry? Yes. Navara? Nope. Yaris? Nope. Holden lost money last year and are on the record as stating local production is not profitable, but import sales are (Exactly as Ford said the other day). Holden ARE producing a car that Australians supposedly want (the Cruze) and yet they are still losing money. Not only that, they have said they need 2 vehicles in the top 10 to consider staying in Oz and as of last month, the Commodore was just hanging on to a top 10 spot. The fact is there is no scale to be had in Oz manufacturing. The cost of running a plant and producing vehicles in Oz is simply not competitive when compared with other Asian facilities. It's not because they aren't making vehicles people want, it's because they can't make vehicles people want at a competitive cost structure.

Staff have apparently been advised this morning. Press conference to release annual financial results starts at 10:45 local time, with another announcement to be included... Writing has been on the wall for a while, but sad news for all involved. Thoughts are with them.

IMO the whole subject of "luxury" is completely subjective. My idea of luxury is an S Class Merc or an A8 Audi or a 7 Series BMW MINIMUM. It's not an E class or a 5 series or an A6. It's not a Lincoln or a Cadillac. They all sit somewhere below that mark. Other people have different ideas and that's OK, but for mine, anything below that mark is semi-luxury, mid-level executive territory. Luxury - true luxury - says you've made it. If driving an e class or a 5 series (or an ATS or an MKZ) tells the world you've made it, good luck to you.

Wow... 4 Chrysler vehicles in the top 10... Wonder if that will come back to bite THEM..?

Isn't this essentially the same Ford Cargo that was released in Europe in 1981, just dressed up a little? If so, development costs would have been ammortised a LOOONG time ago...

ROARING FORTIES Apparently do one of the best replicas in the world...

This. [sarcasm]Couldn't think of a better way to spend your tax money than on a 30 second spot on the most expensive day on the calendar. [/sarcasm]

I respect deanh for his posts and his reputation. I realise he is a hugely knowledgeable person and he is someone I look to on these forums to gain insights and knowledge from. And I have a right to defend myself. I've edited my post.

You're the second person to make the stretching the truth bit comment - http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/48658-cadillac-vs-lincoln-is-the-rivalry-back/page__view__findpost__p__758396 And if you bothered to look at the image I posted at http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/48658-cadillac-vs-lincoln-is-the-rivalry-back/page__view__findpost__p__758403 You'll CLEARLY see that the two share door / window openings (allowing for a bit of artistic licence on the concept). It's not just the slope of the a pillar. As Borg has said, and as the photos of the production protos show, I'm not imagining anything nor am I stretching anything to the point that "they both have 4 wheels and tires". I said that I pick up on the details like the triangle at the front tip of the front window, and I also said most people wouldn't. I also pick up on the same distances between the rear of the fron wheel arch and the door opening, and the rear door opening in relation to the rear wheel arch (again allowing for artistic licence on the Lincoln). I didn't actually say the 2 CARS look alike. I said the glasshouses are the same forward of the 6th window and that you can tell the Lincoln is based on the Fusion because of that and that that cheapens the Lincoln. Some people agree with that, some disagree. That's fine. But you cannot accuse me of stretching anything given that the proof is in front of your eyes.

FWIW, I think both cars are Ford's best work in years, regardless of the shared glasshouse. And I'm happy to admit that I have an eye for detail - so even things as minute as the triangle in front of the front window are the first giveaway for me that they're the same car. You're right - most people don't pay that much attention, but that doesn't mean the similarities aren't there.

Yep, you're right. Nothing to see here. Those A pillars aren't the same. Nor are the B pillars. Nor for that matter are the rear door trailing edges. Hell, that glasshouse is COMPLETELY different. I MUST be seeing things.

Touche. Which then makes it seem even stranger that the MKZ is so easily distinguished as a tarted up Fusion.

Ooh Ooh! Theres a RWD Ford here in Oz that could fit a diesel with a bit of work! The engine is a bit behind the times, but it'll do the job :-) A bit of badge engineering and you'll be right! We'll call it the MKF, for MKFalcon. he he he...

I kind of see where Borg is coming from with the badge engineered thing... Between Fusion and MKZ the A and B pillars are the same. The glasshouse (apart from the 6th window) is the same. Roof structure looks to be the same. There may be some bespoke panel stamping (door skins, front end etc) but it IS still a reskinned Fusion and you CAN tell it. Like it or not. Caddy's generally now get bespoke design from bumper to bumper. Comparing Lincoln / Ford to VW / Audi / Bentley just doesn't cut it. VW have been very successful at differentiating their brands. Ford, of late, has not. The platform underneath is shared (take the VW PQ35 platform for instance). Same general platform underpins a number of vehicles across the VW group, yet each differently branded vehicle has a bespoke top hat (including the A pillar and glass house) and each brand has it's own styling language. You and I know the A3 is based on the Golf platform but looking at one on the street you'd never tell. The same cannot be said for the MKZ. You can TELL it's a Fusion. Now don't get me wrong. The MKZ (at least in concept form) is an awesome looking car, but it's still visibly a tarted up Fusion and that is part of the reason Lincoln right now is just the new Mercury. A great looking new Mercury, but the new Mercury, nonetheless. As Lincoln starts selling more cars and making more money I'm sure this will change as new models are developed and released, but for now lets call a spade a spade.

Question... Given that Fusion/MKZ now share a global platform with Mondeo which is sold in a number of RHD markets, what are the chances of seeing this thing produced in RHD?