New RWD platform

[igor]

so is Vista ultimate the RWD platform from Ford?

 

I guesss then 4gb HP will be sufficient ... or better said needed.

 

I am glad to report, Mac decided to move OsX to FWD with no AWD option.

 

Oh how FAR off topic can some threads go....

 

Igor

[jpd80]

I wonder if we'll see any announcements previews at NAIAS this year?

Love to see an Orion Falcon up there complete with a gillette grille.

Edited October 3, 2007 by jpd80

[CSMJ]

I keep hearing Ford wants to invest in RWD cars, but when will this happen and where?

Costa Rico

[LincolnFan]

I wonder if we'll see any announcements previews at NAIAS this year?

Love to see an Orion Falcon up there complete with a gillette grille.

 

Hmm.. it would look pretty close to the Fusion with that headlights mask...

[SysEng]

...and no 'Sys Eng" types were going to get the 'tiny' LS. So, they were phuhced.

 

Well, glad to see someone gets the picture!

 

The question isn't when or where... its WHY?!

 

RWD may be my preferred platform, but unless your world has

perfect weather ( like no snow ) you'll find that the current

"panther" platform is about as small as you want to go with RWD.

Any smaller, and I'd be looking for AWD or FWD... "if" you could

actually justify to me on economic, performance, reliability,

safety, etc... ( you get the picture ) any of the above grounds

that a smaller platform actually carried more benefits than

liabilities... which you'd be damned hard put to prove on any

valid engineering grounds.

[jpd80]

I don't believe it's an either/or situation, SysEng.

Nobody is saying it's imperative RWD substitutes all larger FWD vehicles, it's just that there's a

whole line of vehicles in Australia that could be linked to Mustang for one and possibly a

Panther replacement. The cost of developing the platform has been carried by Australia already

and there are only showroom pluses all the way to the bank. I'm proposing Ford follow GM's Pontiac division and develop the Mustang/Falcon/Fairlane/Territory in common with the US, the middle two could be sold as Maverick and Galaxie in the US.

 

Modern rear wheel drives are different to the dinosaurs they're being compared to.

The new Zetas from GM have a 50/50 front/rear weight distribution, so on a 3700 lb car that's

1850 lb on the back wheels. We know the panther's weight distribution is biased more to the front

so even if its 55/45, that means about 1800 lb of the 4000 lb is on the back wheels, see where I'm going with this?

 

I understand the problems with RWD cars in the snowbelt states but you gotta admit the Mustang sells there too, so there is a market for some RWD cars inspite of the weather.

[Ford Jellymoulds]

Well, glad to see someone gets the picture!

 

The question isn't when or where... its WHY?!

 

RWD may be my preferred platform, but unless your world has

perfect weather ( like no snow ) you'll find that the current

"panther" platform is about as small as you want to go with RWD.

Any smaller, and I'd be looking for AWD or FWD... "if" you could

actually justify to me on economic, performance, reliability,

safety, etc... ( you get the picture ) any of the above grounds

that a smaller platform actually carried more benefits than

liabilities... which you'd be damned hard put to prove on any

valid engineering grounds.

 

World of rallying is a high speed motor sport raced on all surfaces including snow that was a 2WD until ended in 1981 when the awesome AWD Audi Quatros changed the sport to AWD for good.

 

Before this happened why was it that RWD totally dominated the sport with RWD Ford Escorts, most of the other front runners were RWD like the Porsche 911, BMW CLs Ferrari power Lancia's, what happened to your superior FWD cars in the ultimate endurance test of any car could be put through?

 

You could carry on to the races tracks of Le Mans GT 40's Ferrari Porsche 911 all RWD, European Touring cars at the time were dominated by RWD Alfa's, BMW Batmobiles, Capri’s and Porsche 911s.

 

Why did none of the cheap and cheerful to insert the lump in the front in one bit never rise to the top here if FWD so bloody good?

 

FWD is used by the best

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2873080

 

RWD cant handle snow

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/df14305...8d50062689b.htm

 

Escorts RWD don't do snow?

[Deanh]

World of rallying is a high speed motor sport raced on all surfaces including snow that was a 2WD until ended in 1981 when the awesome AWD Audi Quatros changed the sport to AWD for good.

 

Before this happened why was it that RWD totally dominated the sport with RWD Ford Escorts, most of the other front runners were RWD like the Porsche 911, BMW CLs Ferrari power Lancia's, what happened to your superior FWD cars in the ultimate endurance test of any car could be put through?

 

You could carry on to the races tracks of Le Mans GT 40's Ferrari Porsche 911 all RWD, European Touring cars at the time were dominated by RWD Alfa's, BMW Batmobiles, Capri’s and Porsche 911s.

 

Why did none of the cheap and cheerful to insert the lump in the front in one bit never rise to the top here if FWD so bloody good?

 

FWD is used by the best

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2873080

 

RWD cant handle snow

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/df14305...8d50062689b.htm

 

Escorts RWD don't do snow?

correct me if I am wrong but i seem to recall Coppers doing exceptionally well as well and dominateing bigger more powerful rally cars.........oh, RIP Colin McRae...class act.

[NickF1011]

correct me if I am wrong but i seem to recall Coppers doing exceptionally well as well and dominateing bigger more powerful rally cars.........oh, RIP Colin McRae...class act.

 

Wow, that's the first I heard about Colin McRae...that sucks.

[Devodev]

I don't believe it's an either/or situation, SysEng.

Nobody is saying it's imperative RWD substitutes all larger FWD vehicles, it's just that there's a

whole line of vehicles in Australia that could be linked to Mustang for one and possibly a

Panther replacement. The cost of developing the platform has been carried by Australia already

and there are only showroom pluses all the way to the bank. I'm proposing Ford follow GM's Pontiac division and develop the Mustang/Falcon/Fairlane/Territory in common with the US, the middle two could be sold as Maverick and Galaxie in the US.

 

Modern rear wheel drives are different to the dinosaurs they're being compared to.

The new Zetas from GM have a 50/50 front/rear weight distribution, so on a 3700 lb car that's

1850 lb on the back wheels. We know the panther's weight distribution is biased more to the front

so even if its 55/45, that means about 1800 lb of the 4000 lb is on the back wheels, see where I'm going with this?

 

I understand the problems with RWD cars in the snowbelt states but you gotta admit the Mustang sells there too, so there is a market for some RWD cars inspite of the weather.

 

 

Gotta agree that maybe Ford should follow GM's lead on just bringing existing vehicles/platforms over here. That pattern already looks like it may save Saturn from the chopping block and allows for a rapid product turn-around (which Ford needs!).

 

Selling RWD rides in the snowbelt??? I agree again, seems that if you make a car that a person just has to have and love, snow (Mustang),gas prices (Hummer)-cost-of-ownership, whatever, will not keep them from buying it! With most households having more than one car, it's not as big of an issue for some vehicles.

[NickF1011]

With most households having more than one car, it's not as big of an issue for some vehicles.

 

Most households have about 2 vehicles -- one for each spouse. In most households, both spouses work. So both of them are going to want fuel-efficient vehicles that are good in adverse weather. Not saying there's no place for more niche-type RWD vehicles, but they aren't going to have widespread appeal for most buyers.

[Blue II]

Gotta agree that maybe Ford should follow GM's lead on just bringing existing vehicles/platforms over here. That pattern already looks like it may save Saturn from the chopping block and allows for a rapid product turn-around (which Ford needs!).

 

Selling RWD rides in the snowbelt??? I agree again, seems that if you make a car that a person just has to have and love, snow (Mustang),gas prices (Hummer)-cost-of-ownership, whatever, will not keep them from buying it! With most households having more than one car, it's not as big of an issue for some vehicles.

 

The Taxi and PI fleets do pretty good on icy snow covered roads. My uncle has a CV with traction control and it does quite well on ice and snow.

[silvrsvt]

Selling RWD rides in the snowbelt??? I agree again, seems that if you make a car that a person just has to have and love, snow (Mustang),gas prices (Hummer)-cost-of-ownership, whatever, will not keep them from buying it! With most households having more than one car, it's not as big of an issue for some vehicles.

 

I think that FWD are more capaible in the snow vs RWD cars has been oversold as a selling point when FWD cars came out about 30 years ago.

 

Plus you really shouldn't be out on the roads if there is 6 inches of snow on the ground, unplowed.

[Ford Jellymoulds]

Most households have about 2 vehicles -- one for each spouse. In most households, both spouses work. So both of them are going to want fuel-efficient vehicles that are good in adverse weather. Not saying there's no place for more niche-type RWD vehicles, but they aren't going to have widespread appeal for most buyers.

 

Just as well Ford did not go ahead with F-Series or Mustang then Nick, they might have had a million sales less if they had not cornered the FWD niche?

[suv_guy_19]

Most households have about 2 vehicles -- one for each spouse. In most households, both spouses work. So both of them are going to want fuel-efficient vehicles that are good in adverse weather. Not saying there's no place for more niche-type RWD vehicles, but they aren't going to have widespread appeal for most buyers.

 

 

So while your two spouses go to work, you come on BON .

Edited October 8, 2007 by suv_guy_19

[NickF1011]

So while your two spouses go to work, you come on BON .

 

1. I don't have a spouse. 2. I normally come on BON WHILE I'm at work. 3. I love my job. :shades:

[NickF1011]

Just as well Ford did not go ahead with F-Series or Mustang then Nick, they might have had a million sales less if they had not cornered the FWD niche?

 

From a sheer business case standpoint, the Mustang has always struggled to make its case for production. As for the F-150....they obviously have a utilitarian use that goes beyond a typical commuter car.

[suv_guy_19]

1. I don't have a spouse. 2. I normally come on BON WHILE I'm at work. 3. I love my job. :shades:

 

Lol

Edited October 8, 2007 by suv_guy_19

[LincolnFan]

So what does this all have to do with the Huntsman?

[jpd80]

Like I said before, it's not a case of replacing FWD with RWD but more of offering customers a choice.

There's a good case for selling a modern CV replacement and while that arguement stands up there's a place for RWD.

Especilly if the vehicles share a platform with a volume seller like Mustang.

[LincolnFan]

Like I said before, it's not a case of replacing FWD with RWD but more of offering customers a choice.

There's a good case for selling a modern CV replacement and while that arguement stands up there's a place for RWD.

Especilly if the vehicles share a platform with a volume seller like Mustang.

 

The people who buy CV usually buy it used or buy it because it has the same feeling as a '70 landyachet.

[NickF1011]

The people who buy CV usually buy it used or buy it because it has the same feeling as a '70 landyachet.

 

That's only because everyone else who wants a real RWD sedan doesn't even look in Ford's direction presently.

[LincolnFan]

That's only because everyone else who wants a real RWD sedan doesn't even look in Ford's direction presently.

 

That's because the CV has been Ford's solely RWD car for 2 decades, a piece of dung.

[NickF1011]

That's because the CV has been Ford's solely RWD car for 2 decades, a piece of dung.

 

[Ed McMahon]You are correct, sir![/Ed McMahon]

[jpd80]

That's only because everyone else who wants a real RWD sedan doesn't even look in Ford's direction presently.

And that's something that really has to change, it's a side of the business being neglected without good reason.

I would love nothing better than to see an Americanised Falcon at NAIAS complete with a Duratec 35 and our 400 Hp 5.4.