silvrsvt Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Someone posted a photo on Facebook of it today (forgot about it for the most part), then it dawned on me...it was more or less the concept for the 2010 Taurus...outside of the overwrought front end on it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 IMHO, it's interesting to see how different the profile looks with the chassis leveled, with no rake or tilt, with the raised rear ride height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 IMHO, it's interesting to see how different the profile looks with the chassis leveled, with no rake or tilt, with the raised rear ride height. Cool body style? Meet the D3 platform. D3 platform? Meet cool body style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Except that the concept was a cobbled up smoke and mirrors version of the mustang platform with RWD and a 5.0L V8. Rumor has it when Mulally saw this and the similar MKR and said "go build it!" he was told that not only were these not running prototypes they weren't production capable at all. He was not pleased and that's when he made the declaration that Ford would not do these kinds of unbuildable concept cars that looked like production ready vehicles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 I remember that very concept car in the photo was displayed in the New England Auto show the year after it was displayed in Detroit. I assumed it was supposed to be some sort of Crown Vic sized car and I was shocked by how small the car looked (It was based on the Mustang platform.) and by the fact it was sitting in the middle of the floor not roped off or on a platform so you could walk right up to it. I tried to see if it was unlocked (no such luck). The Taurus by comparison seems huge! The Taurus also looks better in person with the awkwardness ironed out and that locomotive grille gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron W. Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hmmmmm, Blue one makes me think new T-bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemiman Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Amazing what putting the front wheels out front where they belong does for the profile of a vehicle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZanatWork Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Except that the concept was a cobbled up smoke and mirrors version of the mustang platform with RWD and a 5.0L V8. Rumor has it when Mulally saw this and the similar MKR and said "go build it!" he was told that not only were these not running prototypes they weren't production capable at all. He was not pleased and that's when he made the declaration that Ford would not do these kinds of unbuildable concept cars that looked like production ready vehicles. Alan was right, even though it ended a pretty glorious period for Ford concept cars. The 49, the Continental, the Interceptor, the MKR...all essentially heartbreaking no-shows in a time when Ford's production car styling needed some help. These were the kinds of rwd-based concepts that were tantalizing for Ford performance fans, all leading to considerable disappointment and frustration that hasn't totally worn off. Here's hoping the S550 is more resilient than the ol' DEW98 chassis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Except that the concept was a cobbled up smoke and mirrors version of the mustang platform with RWD and a 5.0L V8. Rumor has it when Mulally saw this and the similar MKR and said "go build it!" he was told that not only were these not running prototypes they weren't production capable at all. He was not pleased and that's when he made the declaration that Ford would not do these kinds of unbuildable concept cars that looked like production ready vehicles. Actually this vehicle made it to the cover of Autoweek-you might say twice as the first version was called the "427"-and better looking IMO-did not have that "Super Tonka" or "Super Chief" front end that was on a concept Super Duty. Was not aware of the "unbuildable concept" issue. good Ol' Al-nothing like common sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted July 23, 2014 Author Share Posted July 23, 2014 (edited) Actually this vehicle made it to the cover of Autoweek-you might say twice as the first version was called the "427"-and better looking IMO-did not have that "Super Tonka" or "Super Chief" front end that was on a concept Super Duty. The 2003 Ford 427 concept was preview of the Fusion in 2005 Edited July 23, 2014 by silvrsvt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30 OTT 6 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 The 2003 Ford 427 concept was preview of the Fusion in 2005 The story that I read (I think on this website) was that the Fusion was very close to coming out with the same lame styling as the 2005 FiveHundred and Focus. They thankfully redesigned the Fusion at the final bell to incorporate the "three bar grill" style, similar to what they did when the FiveHundred became the new Taurus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted July 23, 2014 Author Share Posted July 23, 2014 The story that I read (I think on this website) was that the Fusion was very close to coming out with the same lame styling as the 2005 FiveHundred and Focus. They thankfully redesigned the Fusion at the final bell to incorporate the "three bar grill" style, similar to what they did when the FiveHundred became the new Taurus. Your right about that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Yep. It was supposed to look like the CDW220 Mondeo. Because European styling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted July 23, 2014 Author Share Posted July 23, 2014 Yep. It was supposed to look like the CDW220 Mondeo. Because European styling. With that being said, Kinetic design (current design philosophy) did originate from Europe....which has been pretty successful... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usa_4004 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 (edited) I found this video of the Interceptor driven by Ford around a track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwDz4CsV8UI Edited July 23, 2014 by usa_4004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 The story that I read (I think on this website) was that the Fusion was very close to coming out with the same lame styling as the 2005 FiveHundred and Focus. They thankfully redesigned the Fusion at the final bell to incorporate the "three bar grill" style, similar to what they did when the FiveHundred became the new Taurus. If Ford had built the 427 as a full size car they would have killed the Chrysler 300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 (edited) The most infuriating thing about the other "Mustang" concept was that the MKS was built with tread width and wheelbase almost identical to the current Aussie falcon of the time with absolutely zero intention of using that in production platform. At the time Fields deflected criticism of concepts not being ready by saying that various Ford regions didn't interact with each others products and concepts. I wonder what would have happened if FoA had been allowed to do both concepts on production ready vehicles, maybe Mulally would have found it harder to nix Global RWD so out of hand. RWD/AWD Territory could have easily covered Edge and Explorer as two versions as well as Lincoln MKX and MKT.. Edited July 23, 2014 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 (edited) With that being said, Kinetic design (current design philosophy) did originate from Europe....which has been pretty successful...another story I read from the "Bold" (aka "Dave") vs Kinetic (which I call "Nigel") days was that Mr. Mulally told the designers, "Pick one" (imho someone was bright enough to DO, if not say, "BOTH") Edited July 23, 2014 by 2b2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 The most infuriating thing about the other "Mustang" concept was that the MKS was built with tread width and wheelbase almost identical to the current Aussie falcon of the time with absolutely zero intention of using that in production platform. At the time Fields deflected criticism of concepts not being ready by saying that various Ford regions didn't interact with each others products and concepts. I wonder what would have happened if FoA had been allowed to do both concepts on production ready vehicles, maybe Mulally would have found it harder to nix Global RWD so out of hand. RWD/AWD Territory could have easily covered Edge and Explorer as two versions as well as Lincoln MKX and MKT.. If I remember correctly, the MKR concept actually ran - I remember reading an article about reviewers getting to drive it and how it didn't have any air conditioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMoon Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I don't remember ever seeing the MKR concept before (though I'm sure I did, at the time). Interesting to see some design cues made it into the current MKZ! (Especially around the rear quarter and C pillar.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 The double edged sword about production ready concepts is yes it's good to see that when a new concept come out from Ford it's likely to be produced but with no "pused the envelope " concepts, no inspiration is generated in design studios for a good looking vehicle or line of vehicles, a design language like in the late 90s Ford cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Not necessarily. Mulally didn't want these pie-in-the-sky things shown. That doesn't mean that Ford's designers are working non-stop on nothing but short-turn-around production vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 The double edged sword about production ready concepts is yes it's good to see that when a new concept come out from Ford it's likely to be produced but with no "pused the envelope " concepts, no inspiration is generated in design studios for a good looking vehicle or line of vehicles, a design language like in the late 90s Ford cars. go over to Mustang6g.com/forums and see pix of numerous full-size Mustang styling exercises the only people missing out are the fans at autoshows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 (edited) Final Falcon Revealed... THIS is it. The final Falcon. The last local Ford hits the road on December 1 and this is how it will look as an XR8 hero car Ford Australia is finally going public with a full reveal of the Falcon’s new bodywork after a series of teaser pictures, and Carsguide has it first here. The new look on the XR includes a bolder grille opening — with an Aston Martin flavour — laser-cut headlamps, LED daytime running lights and a bigger bonnet bulge. The cabin will be more upscale and there will be some mechanical changes as Ford completes the package to take the Falcon through to the Broadmeadows factory shutdown in 2016. The new Falcon will make an instant impact when it hits the road and its importance cannot be overstated. It is truly the end of the line for an Australian icon and ends a chapter of motoring history that began in the early 1960s. Edited July 24, 2014 by jpd80 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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