twintornados

Hey RMC...you got some impressive photoshopping skills....make the Lincoln "C" into a Mercury....please??

I remember reading an article about the MN12 chassis development where it was too late in the design stage to make changes to it, so it was allowed to proceed, but the designers that were responsible got the axe due to it's missing the weight targets of the era.

Think back fellas to the re-designed Five Hundred....then when it appeared at Chicago...it was a Taurus. Now, I realize that changing the nameplates is a lot easier than changing a grille/front end...but wouldn't it be interesting if the MK-C shows up at Chicago as a Mercury? Complete with a waterfall grille and a tweaked roof/rear quarter window design....

EcoBoost is a series of engines, thus spreading the development costs to more platforms, whereas a more fuel efficient V8 can only be used in a vehicle specifically designed for a V8....I want to see what EcoBoost does for Fusion....can Ford squeeze a V8 into it instead....or a Focus, or Fiesta.....

Oh ANTAUS...can't you spot the rich guys and their "dates"...??? <wink-wink>

holy crap on a cracker.....give me a spoon so I can gouge my eyes out....it burns....it burns!!!!!

I will be able to look at it when Ford updates the suspension...until then, every single Econoline currently made has Twin I Beam....

I think the confusion of Transit and Transit Connect is in the naming scheme....it would be like calling Transit Connect the Econoline Connect for the North American market. If the full size European Transit and North American Econoline do merge onto one chassis, the naming of them should remain Transit and Econoline for their respective markets.

Upper and lower ball joints are indeed on the ends of the beams....but it is still a Twin I Beam suspension. The King Pin set up was updated to upper and lower ball joints to help with geometry and wear issues, but the fact that it now has ball joints does not negate the fact that it is still a Twin I Beam setup. Cut and pasted from the Ford website: Chassis Specifications Front suspension Twin I-beam IFS with computer-selected coil springs and larger-diameter stabilizer bar Rear suspension Multileaf 2-stage leaf springs/solid axle Front and rear shocks Heavy-duty gas-pressurized Traction assist AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ (RSC®) Brakes Power 4-wheel disc anti-lock Steering Recirculating ball, power assisted

Wiz....better check the Ford website, the Twin I Beam front end is still in use under the Econoline....read the specs for yourself man. If Twin I Beam died....someone better call Ford and let them know..... Also, Twin I Beam was in use in F series up until 1996 before the big redesign. http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/eseries/features/specs/ Ford needs to bring Econoline into the 21st century....the full length body doesn't help much when you get into cutaway chassis sales... (AKA ambulances, U-Haul trucks, etc, etc)...come up with a better argument than that friend.

My thoughts are with the new "religion" at the Glass Palace of "One Ford"...the next generation of E-150 and Transit (full size) will share the same chassis design to help spread costs over a wider base. The E-150 is in desperate need of a chassis upgrade from the old style "C" channel frame, to the solid rear axle, and the god forsaken twin "I" beam front suspension.....I mean, how long is that front end going to be around??

Seriously, this vehicle is solely intended for the commercial market.....19/24 is a good number for those fleets. I also thought that the target volume was something in the range of 15,000 annual sales to start. Does anyone know what the projections of sales Ford is thinking with this vehicle?

All while getting 65 MPG

I personally like the fact the Ford is willing to push the envelope and see what kind of reaction they will get, honestly, this concept would probably be accepted by the younger set and women as well (no offense ladies and young-uns) But I would love to see what this would look like as a Mercury with a waterfall grille and a redesigned roof line with a rear quarter window treatment similar to the 83-86 Cougar (just don't call it Cougar though!!!) Thoughts??

You may just be right Armada.....the whole global downturn may just well be the call to the governor that Panther was waiting for to tell the executioner to take a break for now..... Now, since Ford isn't going to be spending money on a new rear drive chassis...could we please have an update to Panther??? Give her the new Taurus style treatment on the front end, and those awesome "interceptor style" taillights in the rear. And while we are at it....how about an independent rear suspension from say....an Expedition?? Cost should be nil since the engineering is already paid for.....

Here is a curiosity....when Motor Trend begins testing for the 2010 COTY awards, Taurus, Fusion, AND Mustang will be competing against each other.... ADD ON: ...and the Lincoln MKT

I think it recalls the famous grilles of yesteryear with a new updated twist....personally, I think it looks cool....no one will ever mistake this as anything other that uniquely "Ford"

They make that now.....Ram 1500

what??

Great job Ford....I thought the redesign of the Five Hundred into Taurus was a good move but this.....wow! The Five Hundred/Taurus can now officially be put out to pasture.

this just in......your application to the "Panther Mafia" has been approved...

Only if the back up motor is diesel.....

Unless they decide to build the next generation of F-650/750's there....

http://www.easybourse.com/bourse-actualite...53708600-593574 It looks like the world-wide dominoes are starting to fall....could Chrysler be next??

I wonder what 5 billion will get you in the porn industry....hmmmmm