Confusion on Ford's RWD Future; Update, No Aussie Power

[YSSMAN]

Well this news is strange indeed...

Ford will expand its Mustang lineup to include a sedan and station wagon, according to reports in the latest issues of Autocar and Autoweek. The new models will hit showrooms alongside the sixth-generation Mustang coupe in 2011. The magazines seem to suggest the cars will use the Mustang name, which could prove controversial.

The reports echo a Newsweek story from March that indicated Ford was quietly working on a "rear-wheel-drive family car based on the Mustang that's coming at the end of the decade."

The new reports suggest the rear-wheel-drive platform under development by Ford's Australian branch will be used for the next Mustang, and all its variants. As reported this week, Ford is planning to unveil a Lincoln sedan concept based on the same platform in January. Ford Australia will also use the architecture for its next Falcon. While Ford says the recently-unveiled Mustang Giugiaro concept was intended as a simple design exercise, certain aspects of the design are expected to influence the next-generation 'Stang.

And just a whipped-up image from AutoWeek:

---

So what can you make of this?

1) Ford wants to have RWD cars on the market before the close of the decade. Trust me, thats a GOOD thing, especially with the new Zeta cars due early next year, and the updated LX cars on the way in the same time-frame. The good things do come in threes, and we will have plenty of cars to choose from, given the idea of the coupe (Mustang), sedan (Falcon or Fairlane), and wagon (Country Squire?).

2) Ford is working with Australia, much like GM. This would mean that they are hoping to get that "balance" between American ride and straight-line performance with the best of the Aussie/European handling and build quality. This would presumably signify that the Mustang and its counterparts could go IRS for 2010-ish, and that too is a VERY GOOD thing. However, that leads to one big question:

3) How much is this all going to screw things up? With the Mustang already the king of good looks and performance at a very cheap price in America, could this take everything up a notch to better compete with the Camaro/Impala and Challenger/Charger? That would certainly call for an increase in weight, and presumably an increase in price as well. Lets hope that it isn't the case, but we will see.

---

Thoughts anyone?

 

[Philly]

Didn't GM threaten to do this with the Corvette in the '60s? Did that get off the ground?

On the other side, isn't Ford missing a family size rear drive lineup? Wouldn't they want to fill that hole?

Porsche is trying it now, Bugatti may come out with a sedan and a couple other sports cars may see offsprings in the form of sedans in the future.

Ford would do good to put out a lower level FR sedan. (300 is full size). Maybe we would see a trend developing. Wikipedia tells me that there will be no FR American car of this class before 2009. Maybe a trend would start. Maybe we could compete with the Germans.

 

[McLaren]

A 4-door Mustang? No way.

I'm already letting Porsche pass on that due to that it should be a spectacular 4-door vehicle, but a Mustang? C'mon, the Mustang GT isn't THAT great of a car. Can't say I see a 4-door version doing any better.

 

[Dave A]

The problem with rwd is in more regular cars it takes away from the practicality side of things. Take the Ford Mondeo for example, if they made it rwd, yes it might make it more sporty to drive, but the Mondeo is already a great handling car. But what it would do is take room away from the cabin, away from the rear and make the cabin a smaller place to be. I'm not seeing what Ford is actually trying to do here? What their aim for the US market is seems to be pretty vague. They have Europe sorted, we've got a solid lineup of Fords, and the only rwd one I can think of is the Mustang. Rwd isn't a must have ina car, good build quality, ayout and practicality are a must for a company like ford. Yes have the wild sports cars but they shouldn't be the companys focus. The Mustang as much as people like it will not single handedly keep Ford going, and I don't see how expanding the Mustang range will either. Over here the Mustang is a bit of a rarity, but Ford is very strong, the Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta are all massively popular and sell very well.

 

[YSSMAN]

My understanding is that it will be basically the American version of the Aussie Falcon, but somehow be related to the Mustang brand. Odd, really, because there isn't any reason to tie the Mustang to anything other than just that, THE MUSTANG.

My guess is that they will just use the same platform on all three, just as they are with the Zeta Platform at GM (Commodore/Impala/Monaro/GTO/Camaro), and the upcoming LX Platform at DCX (Magnum/Charger/300C/Challenger). A good guess would be that this "Mustang sedan" would replace the Crown Victoria as well, as the Fivehundred nor the Fusion is worth a damn as a Police Cruiser.

 

[JCE]

If Ford do anything in the area of estate or saloon versions of the Mustang I will cease to be a Ford fan forever.

 

[V1P3R]

Seems like Ford's wanting to follow GM so let em. They arn't all that like GM either.

 

[L8 Apex]

If this is true, wouldn't it be a lot cheaper, easier and quicker for Mulally and posse to just ask Toyota to buy them and get it over with?
Seriously, about the only more sacreligious thing an American automaker could do would be for Chevy to name their version of the Lambda crossover platform "Corvette Broughm" or something. 👎

 

[a6m5]

Interesting...... I don't know what to make of all this though. Scary and exciting at the same time.

 

[Omnis]

Mustangs are not station wagons... They should call it the Mare or Pretty-pretty-pony or something.

 

[Leonidae]

Mustangs are not station wagons... They should call it the Mare or Pretty-pretty-pony or something.

they should paint it pink and call it My Little Ponycar. 💡

 

[Omnis]

Ah, that's what it is. My Little Pony. I'm thinking of the Dexter's Laboratory spoof episode with Pretty-pretty-pony.

 

[niky]

Well, the question is... are they going to name and style the four door and estate "Mustang"? Most likely not. I'd expect them to ressurect the "Falcon" nameplate, use a few styling cues from the Mustang, and coincide the release of these models with the update of the aging Aussie Falcon platform to this new platform (might mean a 100% Aussie-built Mustang too? Great!)

Consider... the platform the Mustang was derived from is from the Lincoln LS / Jaguar S-Type... it's already used for four doors in other applications. Modifying the Mustang version for a four door is an easy way for Ford to get in on the RWD saloon/estate thing without spending lots of money.

I've harped on and on endlessly about how Ford should capitalize on the tooling of the Mustang to expand their model base... and it seems, now, some common sense (gasp!) from Ford... they're actually going to do it!

Yes, RWD probably isn't the wave of the future for "family" cars, as the new FWD mid-sizers are getting bigger and better (take the Camry, for example... no, I'm not kidding)... excitement isn't exactly what 90% of the buyers want, but if Ford can give them some excitement at a modest cost (in terms of investment in tooling), then this is a good move for them.

 

[Jim Prower]

4-dr. Mustang. No
Falcon+Mustang=yes

Also, I think the "GT" Model is enough to link the two cars. That, and the fact thet they'll be FR and V8.

Heck, they could even market the cars in the same brochure, but keep them seperate.

oh, let's leave the Gillette Grille off the Falcon. In fact...Let's kill it altogether.

 

[Onikaze]

I dont care what it's called.

As long as they call it a Falcon.

Just bring that yummy RWD Falcon goodness back.

 

[YSSMAN]

(might mean a 100% Aussie-built Mustang too? Great!)

Well, my guess is that they will continue to build the Mustang in Detroit, but they will indeed share platforms between the American Mustang and the Aussie Falcon. Basically, if everyone can wrap their heads around the GM Zeta program (Camaro/GTO/Monaro, Impala/G8/Commodore, Invicta/Caprice), you can get a general idea as to how Ford will probably make this relationship work.

 

[Pupik]

If Ford do anything in the area of estate or saloon versions of the Mustang I will cease to be a Ford fan forever.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't the 2005 Mustang based loosely on the 4-door Lincoln LS platform?

The trouble is that the Ford Five Hundred is so damn anonymous that using that nameplate would be a terrible idea. Then again, Ford could kill it, and it would make the noise of a tree falling in an uninhabited forest.

Call it the Falcon, Galaxy, or something Ford-type historic. Just not "Mustang".

 

[TopHat]

They wont call the sedan a Mustang, trust me. They will call it a Falcon, or a Fairlane, or a new "F" word. The wagon, you could call it the Fairmont, or something new. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Leonidae]

if they're going to use Falcon, they should do a limited edition called Millennium Falcon, and ask Harrison Ford to promote it.

 

[YSSMAN]

if they're going to use Falcon, they should do a limited edition called Millennium Falcon, and ask Harrison Ford to promote it.

Do you think they can cut the performance times down to less than twelve parsecs in the Kessel Run?

 

[a6m5]

I must admit. I did not see this discussion coming......

 

[YSSMAN]

Uh Oh...

A spokesperson for Ford Australia has denied recent rumors that it is developing a new rear-wheel-drive platform for the next-generation Ford Mustang and a Lincoln sedan.

"We haven't been asked," Sinead McAlary told Drive. "Yes, there will be a Lincoln at the [Detroit] show, but it will be built on a Mustang platform, not ours," she said.

Earlier this week, AutoCar and AutoWeek said Ford Australia would provide a platform for the next-generation Mustang, which would include wagon and sedan variants. The two magazine and BusinessWeek also reported the new Lincoln concept would use the new Australian platform, which will underpin the next Falcon. Stay tuned…

Maybe we won't be getting the Millennium Falcon. Maybe someone forgot to remind Ford not to piss-off the Wookie...

 

[Sage]

autoblog.com/…/ford-outright-denies-four-door-mustang-rumors/

 

[Leonidae]

Do you think they can cut the performance times down to less than twelve parsecs in the Kessel Run?

nope.. but perhaps they could improve the performance and mileage, and do something to that ancient rear suspension. 💡

 

[harrytuttle]

A 4-door Mustang? No way.

I'm already letting Porsche pass on that due to that it should be a spectacular 4-door vehicle, but a Mustang? C'mon, the Mustang GT isn't THAT great of a car. Can't say I see a 4-door version doing any better.

The Mustang has been one basic shape for over 40 years. Unless Ford wants to kill that image (as they almost did with the Mustang II ), this won't come to be. Maybe a separate model based on the Mustang, but I can't see a 4-door pony car...which is an oxymoron. It's as stupid as a 4-door Charger...oh, wait....

I didn't know about a possible 4-door Corvette; I'd love to see concept sketches of that. Porsche's 4-door is a separate model, not a 911 4-door, so that seems acceptable, too.

 

[niky]

autoblog.com/…/ford-outright-denies-four-door-mustang-rumors/

Like, we didn't see that coming?

But still (from the link):

Ford did confirm that a "four-door, rear-wheel-drive concept car" called "The Interceptor" would debut at this year's Detroit auto show in January. That particular concept is based off the Mustang's platform, but will not carry the 'Stang's styling cues and there are no plans for production.

They could mean that the decision is not yet final. You know how Ford is. And I was partially right... it won't be a Mustang, but at least Ford is thinking of how to use the platform. I think a RWD four door is likely.

 

[Onikaze]

*starts chanting "falcon, falcon" in the background*

Fits with the current F naming thing for cars, and it's a cool sounding name, except for the few people who remember the last, awful Falcons.

 

[YSSMAN]

Ford did confirm that a "four-door, rear-wheel-drive concept car" called "The Interceptor"

I think the name "Interceptor" is enough to give away the fact that this new RWD sedan will more than likely replace the ancient Crown Victoria. With Dodge already stealing police-cruiser sales, and Chevrolet more than likely to do the same with the Impala, Ford will need a new RWD model to stay on top.

 

[Jim Prower]

Hopefully, this new RWD platform will be as good as (or even better than) what the Australians get...