Looks OK, but who wants to be the first to update us with info on the last Aussie car to be sold in the US and how well that went over?
Posted on 07/24/2006 11:05:04 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
In March, we told you about a Newsweek report that indicated Ford was working on a retro-styled rear-wheel-drive sedan to compete with the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. The automaker later confirmed its development team in Australia was working on a new RWD platform for its Falcon and Territory models, as well as other future vehicles. In a conversation this week with Drive.com.au, Ford Australia boss Tom Gorman said a new sedan to replace the Fairlane and LTD models could be released alongside the the next-generation Falcon some time in 2008. The new model is said to have a shorter wheelbase than the Fairlane and LTD. It would be based on the Falcon, but be slightly more luxurious. The vehicle could come to the United Sates, too, he said. "We want to be an exporter […] I think that now is a very good time for us to do that. […] And it's at a time where the US is looking and where it's going with its large rear wheel drive platform."
Gorman said the Ford Australia could export 15,000 to 30,000 vehicles per year — "not 100,000." It's unclear how well a rear-whee-drive sedan would sell in America, but that limited capacity would present an interesting problem if demand was strong.
While a specific timeframe has not been given, Gorman admitted developments were coming in the near future.
"Given the challenges being faced in the US it's a great time to bring our resources and technologies even closer so we can really leverage – so that two and two is five, instead of both of us going off and doing separate vehicles," said Gorman.
"The next year or so is going to be very exciting."
Looks OK, but who wants to be the first to update us with info on the last Aussie car to be sold in the US and how well that went over?
The GTO, but that is because of totally inept marketing on the part of GM.
The car itself is wonderful! If the GM dealer experience hadn't been so awful, I would have bought one.
Also, this is the fastest way for Ford to get a new *good* RWD sedan over here - American engineers at Ford and GM have repeatedly proven that they have no idea how to build a good modern RWD sedan design any more.
And I was hoping for a Pinto or a Mustang II.
"rear-whee-drive"
Sounds like fun.
Cause you can bet your boots Ford will follow the same sorry path Pontiac did.
Or maybe not.
"It's unclear how well a rear-whee-drive sedan would sell in America, but that limited capacity would present an interesting problem if demand was strong."
Umm....no, it's not unclear at all. Chrysler can't keep 300s or Chargers on the showroom floor for long at all. There's a lot of pent up demand for this type of car that was being fulfilled by (surprise) Nissan, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, et al...
It's especially bad for people of my generation who grew up with sporty RWD imports. The reactions of people used to RWD sport sedans when they get into a FWD American sedan and try to drive it hard are quite amusing - but that same FWD car's reaction will immediately drive the potential buyer right back to the imports. Besides, even after 26 years of FWD production, I have yet to see a large American FWD sedan that doesn't suck. (Though the Cadillac DTS sort of comes close through all of the dynamic ride and stability control stuff they tacked on it.)
Um... Chrysler 300s with the Hemi V8 sell for $35K+, and they're selling all they can make of those....
No, they're the old Mustang IIs, but with some bondo, a fresh coat of paint, and two squirts of new car smell.
With its rear-wheel drive, it can do a perfect "skid 180" (kinda' like an intentional skid u-turn....you've seen it on tv).
Also known as a bootlegger turn. :)
That said, the Charger police car is even better, from all reports. Lots of room for gear, lots MORE power, and an enormous trunk.
It's only Infiniti's best seller -- the RWD G35 sedan.
It was the 1980s frenzy of FWD crap that the public bought in to.
Personally, I would never own a FWD car.
Oddly enough, this is all stuff that was imported. I would hate to see most of today's drivers trying to negotiate an icy road in a RWD car w (or w/o) positraction.
Oddly enough, this is all stuff that was imported. I would hate to see most of today's drivers trying to negotiate an icy road in a RWD car w (or w/o) positraction.
Most of the cops I've talked to prefer the Caprice and weren't happy when GM took them out of production. The Chevy rear suspension and axle setup made a better handling vehicle. The Ford is more prone to uncontrolled over steer aka spinning out.
Why do they want to go back to RWD?
FWD was touted as being so much better, I don't understand. I have driven both, but have never owned an FWD.
The '05 Stang is built in the Lincoln LS platform. I have one. I was a lifelong GM man who used to knock "rustangs". Ford and Chrysler have figured out how to make retro rods. Look at GM's new Camaro aberration to see how far they are behind.
I was referring specifically to RWD sedans. Neither Ford nor GM has any modern US-designed RWD sedans.
Ford's current Crown Vic/Town Car/Grand Marquis is literally the same car from **1977** with a few changes. It's horrifically long in the tooth and in need of replacement. No IRS, chassis that's a flexi-flyer by today's standards, handling that while no longer yacht-like, still retains more than a little nautical flavor, if you know what I mean.
GM's current RWD platforms are courtesy of GM Europe and are mostly German designs. Their prior designs, like Ford's Panther chassis, dated back to the "downsize" Caprice model of 1977.
There have been no truly new or modern RWD sedan designs from Ford or GM's US design houses since 1977. I don't think they even have the in-house expertise anymore.
GM still hasn't figured out that in order to compete with the 300/Charger, they need a V8 RWD car. Their answer is a FWD Impala with a 5.3L V8 crammed in the nose.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.