salsakingcpa Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 (edited) Ford Reveals More of Rear-Wheel-Drive Plan for U.S. Ford Reveals More of Rear-Wheel-Drive Plan for U.S. Ford Motor Company has reportedly given the green light to a brand new rear-wheel-drive platform for a whole new generation of vehicles. What’s more, the automaker plans to bring the development program for said vehicles back home to Dearborn, after having much of the RWD work done in Australia in recent years. Reports are that the new platform will underpin the next Ford Mustang, as well as serving in the new wave of Ford and Lincoln sedans. The automaker’s current lineup of RWD sedans, the Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car, should be more than ready for replacement when their production ends in 2011. The replacement for those sedan offerings may take a form akin to the Interceptor concept (seen above) shown at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, but are likely to be smaller with aims at improved fuel economy. Ford is also toying with the idea of bringing the next generation of the Australian Falcon over for U.S. consumption, as another push towards the globalization of the brand. what do u think? comments please Edited May 4, 2008 by salsakingcpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 (edited) Edit, Unfortunately for FoA, Detroit wants to do its own platform so matter how good the Falcon is, the US will probably get its way and the Falcon will switch to the US platform in 2013. Kuzak's trip to Australia was to: 1. Drive the new Falcon and its competitors, he was amazed by the Falcon "Best car bar none!" 2. Discuss FoA's renewed desire for RHD and LHD exports to UK, Middle East and China. 3. Discuss the RWD strtegy Kuzak was heard to say "he has a plan in his head", probably best released when back in Dearborn. Last time he announced something from the US it was all bad news for FoA. Either way we all get a new efficient RWD platform and I'm happy with that. Edited May 4, 2008 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueblood Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 I think I just creamed my pants.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Edit,Unfortunately for FoA, Detroit wants to do its own platform so matter how good the Falcon is, the US will probably get its way and the Falcon will switch to the US platform in 2013. Kuzak's trip to Australia was to: 1. Drive the new Falcon and its competitors, he was amazed by the Falcon "Best car bar none!" 2. Discuss FoA's renewed desire for RHD and LHD exports to UK, Middle East and China. 3. Discuss the RWD strtegy Kuzak was heard to say "he has a plan in his head", probably best released when back in Dearborn. Last time he announced something from the US it was all bad news for FoA. Either way we all get a new efficient RWD platform and I'm happy with that. do you think, he would just throw away all the expertise AU has developed with the Falcon> I think the key piece of moving GRWD to Dearborn was staffing, as well as broader model perspective - but I believed Australian engineers were supposed to have a key say in many - MANY - aspects given the fact that besides the Jaguar/LincolnLS/Mustang frankenstein, North America has not touched RWD in decades. Igor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 BTW SalsaKing's post is from HERE: http://news.windingroad.com/concept-cars/f...ve-plan-for-us/ and the Winding Road piece is just a report on the DetNEws "Bringing up the rear" article from about a month ago - so not too much new .... Igor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 (edited) An insiders tells me that on Thursday Kuzak said that "he had a plan in his head" so maybe no decision yet. I don't like to spread rumors and then look foolish later. Either way, there's a lot of great work gone into this Falcon- I'm sure it won't be lost. Edited May 4, 2008 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-150 Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 BTW SalsaKing's post is from HERE: http://news.windingroad.com/concept-cars/f...ve-plan-for-us/ and the Winding Road piece is just a report on the DetNEws "Bringing up the rear" article from about a month ago - so not too much new .... Igor sure beats 1 year olds news stories... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salsakingcpa Posted May 4, 2008 Author Share Posted May 4, 2008 do you think, he would just throw away all the expertise AU has developed with the Falcon> I think the key piece of moving GRWD to Dearborn was staffing, as well as broader model perspective - but I believed Australian engineers were supposed to have a key say in many - MANY - aspects given the fact that besides the Jaguar/LincolnLS/Mustang frankenstein, North America has not touched RWD in decades. Igor Sounds like another fiasco ala explorer in the making. Volvo engineers asked for a strengthened roof on explorers the clueless NA engineers said no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battyr Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 do you think, he would just throw away all the expertise AU has developed with the Falcon> I think the key piece of moving GRWD to Dearborn was staffing, as well as broader model perspective - but I believed Australian engineers were supposed to have a key say in many - MANY - aspects given the fact that besides the Jaguar/LincolnLS/Mustang frankenstein, North America has not touched RWD in decades. Igor Trucks have RWD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 (edited) Sounds like another fiasco ala explorer in the making. Volvo engineers asked for a strengthened roof on explorers the clueless NA engineers said no. In all fairness, I don't think it's like that at all! Inside Ford, the latest Falcon is highly regarded and is an example of cooperation that has been occurring all around Ford. It is basically a template of how a home division can build a car utilising all of Ford's resources including Volvo. We ended up with a Falcon like no other - it trancends all previous build quality standards for Ford Australia and if this is an example of what Kuzak has in mind for all of Ford's cars - I say bring it on!!! FoE assisted with supply of a Bordeaux built 5-speed auto transmission and single sided frame technology and Volvo assisted FoA by giving them the EUCD Slim door technology. Edited May 4, 2008 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armadamaster Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 More Panthers please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papilgee4evaeva Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 More Panthers please. No. Now accept it. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salsakingcpa Posted May 5, 2008 Author Share Posted May 5, 2008 ....FoE assisted with supply of a Bordeaux built 5-speed auto transmission and single sided frame technologyand Volvo assisted FoA by giving them the EUCD Slim door technology. That's so cool!!! I wonder what Mazda and Ford south America contributed. This is great news, indeed. For the longest time, I thought about Mustang becoming something like Infiniti and Acura are for Nissan and Honda. Why do we have to marginalize Mustang into just 2 door sports car? Why can not convert it into a sprots car and a luxury marquee? Comments welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 That's so cool!!! I wonder what Mazda and Ford south America contributed. This is great news, indeed. For the longest time, I thought about Mustang becoming something like Infiniti and Acura are for Nissan and Honda. Why do we have to marginalize Mustang into just 2 door sports car? Why can not convert it into a sprots car and a luxury marquee? Comments welcome. Umm...because Mustang is a model, not a brand. It will always be a model, not a brand. It has always been a 2+2 coupe and converticle, not a brand. It will always be recognized as a 2+2 coupe and convertible, not a brand. It has always stood for relative affordability and attainability, not for a luxury brand. This idea has been hashed and rehashed so many times and has mercifully been filed under Notgunnaeverhappen by the folks at Ford whenever the rumors grow too strong. The confused/mentally unbalanced GM fans that constantly hope for a separate Corvette brand are dismissed in similar fashion. I couldn't even begin to count the number of reasons it would be a bad idea. Maybe our resident CPA can fire up the ol' adding machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salsakingcpa Posted May 5, 2008 Author Share Posted May 5, 2008 That's a shame because whether it is brand or not; Mustang should be able to have other vehicles like Mustang trucks, Mustand SUVs, and the best of all: MUSTANG MOTORCYLES!!!!!!!!!! ala Harley, and then Ford Motor could be really making some cool money. Umm...because Mustang is a model, not a brand. It will always be a model, not a brand. It has always been a 2+2 coupe and converticle, not a brand. It will always be recognized as a 2+2 coupe and convertible, not a brand. It has always stood for relative affordability and attainability, not for a luxury brand.This idea has been hashed and rehashed so many times and has mercifully been filed under Notgunnaeverhappen by the folks at Ford whenever the rumors grow too strong. The confused/mentally unbalanced GM fans that constantly hope for a separate Corvette brand are dismissed in similar fashion.I couldn't even begin to count the number of reasons it would be a bad idea. Maybe our resident CPA can fire up the ol' adding machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 That's a shame because whether it is brand or not; Mustang should be able to have other vehicles like Mustang trucks, Mustand SUVs, and the best of all: MUSTANG MOTORCYLES!!!!!!!!!! ala Harley, and then Ford Motor could be really making some cool money. You are completely insane. Enough said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JW Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 What difference does it make? Kerkorian's getting ready to list the company's assets on eBay, according to you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintlaz1 Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 That's so cool!!! I wonder what Mazda and Ford south America contributed. This is great news, indeed. For the longest time, I thought about Mustang becoming something like Infiniti and Acura are for Nissan and Honda. Why do we have to marginalize Mustang into just 2 door sports car? Why can not convert it into a sprots car and a luxury marquee? Comments welcome. Your Crazy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68Cougar Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 That's a shame because whether it is brand or not; Mustang should be able to have other vehicles like Mustang trucks, Mustand SUVs, and the best of all: MUSTANG MOTORCYLES!!!!!!!!!! ala Harley, and then Ford Motor could be really making some cool money. WTF??? NO!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford-150 Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 (edited) That's a shame because whether it is brand or not; Mustang should be able to have other vehicles like Mustang trucks, Mustand SUVs, and the best of all: MUSTANG MOTORCYLES!!!!!!!!!! ala Harley, and then Ford Motor could be really making some cool money. dude thats getting quoted oh yeah i almost forgot....you're INSANE Edited May 6, 2008 by Ford-150 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang84isu Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Whenever the Mustang badge adorns anything other than a 2-door RWD coupe, someone in Dearborn is going to get a big old thunk on the head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Whenever the Mustang badge adorns anything other than a 2-door RWD coupe, someone in Dearborn is going to get a big old thunk on the head. Salsaking lives in Dearborn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goinbroke2 Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Guys, guys, please....he knows full well what is what. HE STIRRING THE POT! Yes go on a ford forum and say they should build a mustang motorcycle, nope that won't cause knashing of the teeth!?! Log into a GM forum and say the vette should be FWD like all good sportscars, and see what happens! Man, he got you :poke: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 (edited) Back on Topic, Maybe Zeta and Sigma platforms merging is an indication of what Ford is planning with the GRWD. By that I mean high / low or Heavy/Lite series depending on intended market and size of the vehicle. For example, A low or light series might be a Mustang and mid sized 4-door sedan having strut front and SRA/IRS rear suspensions while a high or heavy series may use a more durable Falcon styled Front and rear suspension. The best part is both series would use common floor pan, frames, power trains and electrical systems. That way FoA and FNA have enough capacity to cover all required RWD vehicles. Edited May 7, 2008 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salsakingcpa Posted May 7, 2008 Author Share Posted May 7, 2008 (edited) Guys, guys, please....he knows full well what is what. HE sTIRRING THE POT!Yes go on a ford forum and say they should build a mustang motorcycle, nope that won't cause knashing of the teeth!?!Log into a GM forum and say the vette should be FWD like all good sportscars, and see what happens!Man, he got you :poke: I AM NOT TRYING TO STIR ANY POTS HERE! Haver you heard about Virgin Airlines? Well, the founder also came up with Virgin Cell phones, Virgin this, Virgin that, etc and etc. So I am thinking why not have Mustang as a division like Lincoln and Mercury, and produce different types of automobiles and trucks all unique to Mustang and brand them as Mustangs. Sure the risk here is that this new division might become something like the Mercury Division. Car companies go from bust to boom and back to bust and boom cycles because they automobile businesses go in cycles. On the other hand, motorcycle businesses specially Harleys are more leisurely, and so they are less cyclicals. Thus, my theory is that; why not? Just try out, and CREATE A CULT FOLLOWING IN MUSTANG motorcycles. Edited May 7, 2008 by salsakingcpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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