GRWD: gone

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

And the Falcon platform would need to be made a bit smaller for the Mustang which would reduce cost a little bit.

If they did that, they could also use it to make a mid size rwd platform. That would be nice mid sized rwd and a v8

[JPFS1]

Forget about RWD platform in the US... it's not happening. It's not on their agenda and with insignificant sales volume of RWD in the US market, it means nothing for them to cut it completely.

We will have Falcon as we know it for possibly one more new cycle. After that, it's only chance is if it's tolerated by Head Office as a unique niche platform for a very small Australian market.

[csv8]

Ford's decision to drop its global rear-wheel drive platform development puts added pressure on the locally made Falcon and increases speculation Australia could get the American Taurus.
2009 Ford Taurus

2009 Ford Taurus

2009 Ford Taurus2009 Ford Taurus2009 Ford Taurus2009 Ford Taurus

The future of the locally built Falcon large car faces fresh uncertainty after Ford said it was abandoning its rear-wheel-drive development program in North America.

Ford Australia was expected to play a key role in the program, with rear-wheel-drive Fords and Lincolns being built on the Falcon’s platform.

The large American cars were due to go on sale in 2013, about two years before the next-generation Falcon is anticipated.

Ford’s product planning chief Derek Kuzak confirmed the decision to axe its rear-wheel-drive plans at the 2009 Detroit motor show debut of the new-generation, front-drive Taurus.

“Because of [government] directives on [stricter] fuel economy, we did have a substantial rear-wheel-drive program under way, but we put that vehicle program on hold and stopped it,” says Kuzak.

“We’re now looking through various alternatives [for Ford large-car platforms] as we look into the future. But we have stopped work on rear-wheel drive.”

Ford has admitted it’s now focusing on fuel efficiency, with American large cars and utes suffering a decline in 2008 when petrol prices almost tripled.

Kuzak acknowledge the reputation of the Falcon’s underpinnings in the Ford Motor Company empire, though suggested it could become a front-wheel-drive car in future.

“We have a very capable rear-wheel-drive platform in Australia; we don’t have to change that tomorrow, so we have time to look through what the alternatives are [for a future platform] … rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive.

“We haven’t made a decision yet and we don’t have a formal program in place at the moment.”

Kuzak didn’t rule out a next-generation version of the American-built Taurus becoming Ford’s new global large car as part of the company’s new One-Ford strategy – where one Ford product is designed to be sold worldwide rather than completely different vehicles for separate markets.

2009 Ford Taurus2009 Ford Taurus2009 Ford Taurus2009 Ford Taurus

“At this point, the Taurus is a North American vehicle only,” he says. “We haven’t developed it yet [as a global vehicle] at this point, but it’s part of the alternatives we’re looking at.”

The new Taurus is powered by the 3.5-litre V6 Duratec engine that was set to be installed in the Falcon from 2010 before Ford Australia reversed its decision in late 2008.

Already industry speculation suggests Ford made the decision to stick with the inline six-cylinder it has built in Geelong for five decades because it made more business sense than reingeering the existing Falcon for a new V6. While Ford is confirming it will build Falcons with a version of the existing engine until 2013 it will not confirm the future of locally made Falcons beyond that date.

From 2011 Ford will begin building the Focus small car at its Broadmeadows factory.

Kuzak says he wasn’t surprised Ford Australia changed its mind to instead stick with the ageing inline six-cylinder engine. “It was part of an overall business strategy in Ford Australia,” says Ford’s product boss.

Former Ford Australia boss Tom Gorman, however, said in 2007 that the new V6 would put the local car maker in a stronger position to be involved in its parent company’s global rear-wheel-drive development.

“[The V6] brings us one step closer to better integrating with Ford’s global product development,” said Gorman at the time. “The longer we remain an ‘orphan’ in terms of our technologies in Australia, the less likely we are to fully participate in all the activity that’s under way in rear-wheel drive.”

It’s not clear whether Ford Australia last year announced it would stick with the inline six-cylinder it builds in Geelong after learning the Falcon’s platform would no longer be used globally.

[Airmon]

Originally Posted by barbarian

Agreed.

Much prefer the Mondeo over Taurus

: FWD Turbo5 vs AWD Turbo6?

Also the US can afford to sell cars cheaper then the equivalent here, just look at their sales compared to our, their population compared to ours. The produce more, so they can produce it for less, and they are competing in a completely different market.
The G8 Pontiac had to be sold cheaper to compete, GM were probably hoping that the sales would take off and they would be able to move every unit they imported which would make a profit in the long term.

[Burnout]

I have not & will not buy a front wheel drive vehicle ever!

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by vztrt

If they did that, they could also use it to make a mid size rwd platform. That would be nice mid sized rwd and a v8

I think from now on manufacturers will be starting to downsize vehicles across the range. Cars have been getting bigger and bigger for a long time now and weights been going up accordingly. I think this trend will reverse and cars will start getting smaller to reduce weight and fuel consumption, with slightly reduced costs to go along with it as a bonus. I think Holden have already talked about going a bit smaller, maybe back to VZ size, and if there's a new Falcon I wouldn't be surprised if it dropped a few centimeters here and there to bring the dimensions in tighter and to help get the weight down.

[Gobes32]

Using Holden as a case in point, the Kingswood kept getting bigger and bigger until the HZ when Holden pulled the rug from under it's feet and announced the all new Commodore, then the Commodore kept getting bigger until now, the VE is massive compared to a VB.