jpd80 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) Testing in Arizona - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz0Csx2JYMg Sorry browser won't let me embed youtube videos. Testing in Simpson Desert, Australia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdHyEJtFyJc Behind the Scenes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCXINw1ey-8 Edited January 19, 2015 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probowler Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Uh........so does Ford usually build LHD test versions of their Australian Exclusive RHD vehicles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Uh........so does Ford usually build LHD test versions of their Australian Exclusive RHD vehicles? LHD Everest.jpg When it will be sold around the world yes, just not the US at this time formally. It has already been announced for China/Korea/Middle East. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) Uh........so does Ford usually build LHD test versions of their Australian Exclusive RHD vehicles? LHD Everest.jpg This is not an Australian exclusive product, T6 Ranger is sold in up to 130 countries in rest of the world. T6 Everest is the companion SUV that will be sold along side it and replaces a previous Mazda design About the only place they are not currently sold in is North America. When it will be sold around the world yes, just not the US at this time formally. It has already been announced for China/Korea/Middle East. Thailand, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and South America markets, maybe Central America too? Ranger is also sold in UK and Europe so highly ikely that diesel Everest will be sold there too. Edited January 19, 2015 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGR Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I saw 5-6 VW Amaroks driving in a convoy in Arizona a few years back. The American Southwest is one of the few hot desert environments in the world that is mostly crime free, so all kinds of vehicles are tested here whether or not they're actually going to be sold here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 yawn. ROW cars are tested in the states all the time, its cheaper for Ford to do everything here where they have access just about every climate in the world I've seen Chinese spec cars driving down I-75 near my house, complete with Chinese language badges I've seen the previous gen Territory in the same area, Right hand Drive version. There's Right-Hand-Drive PP Mustangs driving around the area of the Dearborn proving grounds as we speak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pictor Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Funny thing, Australia has some pretty good deserts for this kind of testing as well, and it is summer there now. Just saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Funny thing, Australia has some pretty good deserts for this kind of testing as well, and it is summer there now. Just saying But we don't have high altitude deserts, that may make a huge difference to the data collection. I have a feeling that using Arizona also assists in standardizing tests and data for universal application across a lot of markets. Perhaps this is also a way of preserving critical raw data incase North America decides it wants in at a future time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Funny thing, Australia has some pretty good deserts for this kind of testing as well, and it is summer there now. Just saying Yes, but they probably can't justify the added expense of shipping cars over there just for testing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Yes, but they probably can't justify the added expense of shipping cars over there just for testing They ship lots of cars here from around the world - not much difference. Just takes a few more days to get there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 They ship lots of cars here from around the world - not much difference. Just takes a few more days to get there. Just for testing? Seems silly to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Just for testing? Seems silly to me There aren't many places like death valley for heat testing or yellowknife for cold weather testing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 (edited) Yes, but they probably can't justify the added expense of shipping cars over there just for testing Actually quite the opposite. Geelong is base for Ford Asia Pacific design and engineering, they have over 1500 engineers there as well a testing facilities that are coming over from Ford Australia. There's even talk of turning Broadmeadows into a pilot plant after Falcon ends in 2016. The point is that a lot of testing gets dom=ne in Australia yes but some final testing is required elsewhere ilike Nth America and Europe. Due to the large number of countries Everest and Ranger are sold in, they require far more extensive testing than would be applied to a domestic product that's basically intended for say, North America or Australia. The numbers of vehicles required to complete crash testing for T6 Ranger alone was jaw dropping and I'd expect that Everest will be no less comprehensive. Stop thinking Ford Australia - think Ford Asia Pacific Center of Excellence which just happens to be located in Australia and has taken over FoA development facilities. FAPA also does work for other regions like Ford NA and Ford Europe as exampled by past deliveries of Taurus and Fusion Hybrid for testing and evaluation purposes. Edited January 20, 2015 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Austin, I think, has mentioned in the past that prototypes are occasionally tested in multiple locations to validate the testing protocols. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probowler Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Well- Seems legit! Should have known better to think there could be a non-logical reason Ford was doing what they do......I mean were not talking GM here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) Austin, I think, has mentioned in the past that prototypes are occasionally tested in multiple locations to validate the testing protocols. Interestingly enough, I've just seen two Ford engineers (one active, one retired) say on another forum that they always test in multiple locations. The retired one had to go to Yellowknife in the winter on a regular basis, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't miss it. Edited January 21, 2015 by SoonerLS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Interestingly enough, I've just seen two Ford engineers (one active, one retired) say on another forum that they always test in multiple locations. The retired one had to go to Yellowknife in the winter on a regular basis, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't miss it. Yellowknife is currently -11°F. Wind chill -29°F Sunrise: 9:37 Sunset: 16:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 (edited) Years ago the EB Falcon was tested by driving back and froth from San Diego to Alaska for many months, can you imagine the tongues wagging in California seeing an odd looking taurus going back and forthe... This car brings back memories for me , I put 250,000 kms on one with a 4.0 I-6, the color is called Everglade.. Edited January 21, 2015 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Years ago the EB Falcon was tested by driving back and froth from San Diego to Alaska for many months, can you imagine the tongues wagging in California seeing an odd looking taurus going back and forthe... This car brings back memories for me , I put 250,000 kms on one with a 4.0 I-6, the color is called Everglade.. EB had the ZF 4 speed auto right? My dad had an EA and the 3 speed auto was... craptastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justins Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 The 3 speed didn't last long. EA update had 4 speed. 3sp was a BorgWarner, 4sp a BTR (subsequently Ion, then DSI, now owned by Geely). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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