Euro 5 for Ford's inline six?

[jpd80]

Does it make economic sense to spend a substantial sum of money improving the engine that powers it for a new emissions standard due 12 months before the projected end of life for the car? No, to put it quite simply, but Ford needs to have a contingency plan in place nonetheless.

Ford Australia Communications Manager Sinead McAlary provided perhaps the clearest hint to date that the local manufacturer could and would commit to upgrading the big six to Euro 5 compliance -- in the right circumstances, presumably.

"It's an extremely complex engineering program which requires resources and funding and time -- but we've been able to determine that it is possible to do it," She told the Carsales Network during the announcement today that Ford's casting plant in Geelong had picked up brake rotor-supply business from Bosch.

"All the discussion papers had to be filed by the middle of March, which we've done."
Full article here...

So, it is more than possible to upgrade the I-6 to Euro 5 and Euro 6 but the big question is whether Ford is
prepared to continue the Falcon and its I-6 or whether they are looking at using a corporate platform.

The federal government tipped in $13 million of the $21 million needed to upgrade the Falcon I-6 to Euro 4,
maybe Ford is looking at two things here,
- What is the actual timing of Euro 5 and Euro 6 implementation?
- Will the federal government give Ford more money for I-6 engine upgrades?

It looks like Ford is continually weighing up the economies of a corporate FWD/AWD platform
versus how much money they can get from the government to keep the local RWD platform
and work force going. It's a complex question and probably why the 2015 Falcon's business
case won't become clearer until 2011 or 2012.