To Little To Late? RWD non-Mustang Ford's on the way

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Ford expects non-Mustang RWD cars within five years

Source: Leftlanenews

While GM may have put its RWD ambitions on hold for the time being, rival Ford still has plans for a new rear-drive architecture. Ford North America president Mark Fields said the first vehicles would arrive within the next five years, according to the latest GoAutoNews newsletter.

"I'd say that we are looking at that very, very closely," Fields said. Like GM's Zeta platform, Ford's new RWD architecture will also come from Australia.

It's not known if the next-generation Mustang will also share the platform, or if it will continue on its own architecture. The Mustang will receive a facelift for the 2009 model year, and a complete redesign — with a new platform — for 2012.

Earlier this year, Ford revealed the Interceptor concept, which was built on a modified Mustang platform.
 
I don't think its too little too late just yet. Ford is kind of inbetween GM and Chrysler at the moment--maybe they can take some time to come up with a good RWD platform that doesn't weigh a million pounds like the Zeta platform. 2010 is only 3 years away, that isn't that much time to develop a completely new platform AND have it extensively tested if you think about it.

And I don't think anyone will beat Chrysler--they are on a freight train straight for bankruptcy protection from the US Goverment kind of like how Delta Airlines did it.
 
The Zeta platform really isn't all that heavy, it's to heavy for a four cylinder but it isn't any heavier then the a 300 which weighs in at 4,000 pounds.
 
Joey D
The Zeta platform really isn't all that heavy, it's to heavy for a four cylinder but it isn't any heavier then the a 300 which weighs in at 4,000 pounds.
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Yeah. Spec for spec (engines, wise) the Commodore weighs about the same as the 300. The Commodore is about half a foot shorter in overall length and wheelbase, but otherwise they line up pretty well size wise, too. One could argue size class differences (Commodore is E-Class sized and 300 is S Class sized), but I just don't care right now.
 
Its disappointing to see Ford in this situation, as it doesn't seem like it would be that hard to throw something together in less than two years. With two concepts shown a Detroit and a history built on the platform beneath the Mustang, what exactly is stopping them from designing a reasonable body and interior using off-the-shelf parts, and have it on the road in no-time?

Granted, the Mustang is due to be updated in two years, and that is likely the reason why they wish to wait, but they are going to be lagging behind GM and Chrysler if they go without a RWD model for too long. But with gas prices already fairly high, emissions standards and fuel economy standards tighting, it will be interesting to see what happens for all three companies.

Lets hope for the best. I want to see the Fairlane return to the US sometime soon, as a showdown with it and the Impala as well as the Charger would just be awesome...
 
I don't really understand what the point of this strategy is.

Ford's getting beaten up by FWD Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys.

..so they're going to invest millions of dollars only to get beat up by RWD Chargers and 300s??? Or, at the very best, eck out a chunk of Chrysler's market share, which isn't all that big to begin with?

What they need to do is out-Accord the Accords of this world. Look at how long it's taken the Koreans to get pretty good at the 'me-too' game. 10, 15 years? Ford's been at this longer than just about anyone else. What's the problem?


M
 
Joey D
The Zeta platform really isn't all that heavy, it's to heavy for a four cylinder but it isn't any heavier then the a 300 which weighs in at 4,000 pounds.
Click to expand...


Zeta platform is heavy, specially considering it is over 400lb's heavier than the model it replaced, sure it may weigh the same as a 300, but the 300 is heavy too.
 
Ford is having an identity crisis...

Also what happened to running a Mustang platform for 25 years? I could understand a rebody in 2012 but they should just keep the platform for the aftermarket's sake. It's pretty good.
 
JCE3000GT
And I don't think anyone will beat Chrysler--they are on a freight train straight for bankruptcy protection from the US Goverment kind of like how Delta Airlines did it.
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The U.S government saved Chrysler from bankruptcy back in the 70's, with a donation of, i think it was, 2 million dollars. but back then it was worth saving.
 
It was a loan of 1.5 billion dollars back in 1979.
 
I actually don't think the government would allow them, I'm listening to Lee Iaccoca's new book right now entitled "Where Have All the Leaders Gone" and from what I gather Reagan wouldn't take a payback.
 

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