Jump to content

jpd80

Member
  • Posts

    31,217
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    172

Everything posted by jpd80

  1. Also Richard, There are posters on BON claiming that the EPA method of averaging City/highway fuel economy is also directly transferrable to the CAFE 2016 fuel economy limit of 35 mpg. From my understanding, CAFE only uses the highway portion of EPA tests to determine Fleet fuel economy. I think the confusion stems from the false assumption that the anacronism, CAFE stands for the average of city/highway mileage as applied to cars in EPA testing instead of the correct meaning, that being the average highway fuel economy for all vehicles in a manufacturer's fleet.
  2. I sense the relationship between Mazda and Ford (particularly FoA) has grown even more icy since the Mazda sell down by Ford. Mazda engineers were always a bit stoic but more so these days and only providing assistance when instructed to do so by head office. They now view Ford as a competitor and were less than amused at missing out on the T6 contract.
  3. That's correct, it was felt that FoA should make the regional RHDs for itself, New Zealand and South Africa. This way FoA gets added production, an exportable product and a shot at South East Asian LHD market. In return, South Africa becomes a T6 Ranger plant starting in early 2011. With respect to FoE, I wonder if Belgian Mondeo production will be shifted to Mexico with the next Fusion? Also, Fiesta production commences in Thailand later this year. They will be supplying South East Asia, Australia and South Africa.
  4. I-4 Fusion and Focus have very similar city/highway fuel consumption figures. Ford A few extra bucks each month, buyers can have a mid sized car that's just as economical as a Focus.
  5. As Alan Mulally says, "the buyers will decide". I think buyers voted with their feet and went to Ford dealerships.
  6. New sheet metal and good styling is always a crowd pleaser, perhaps it's that simple. Letting the buyers decide what they want is also very important
  7. Excellent news Ford, I can't wait to see what happens with Fusion sales in the second half of this year. Will July's Camaro sales be above 10,000/month or will they drop back? Pontiac G8: 3,622. Most likely incentive driven but has GM created a tide of G8 buyers by announcing the end of Pontiac?
  8. Europe is different to the US, their products are heavily biased towards diesel for fuel economy and CO2. FoE's gasoline vehicle sales are in the dumpster so Ecoboost is needed to improve efficiency and sales. That situation is far removed from trying to justify EB I-4 in US applications where gas is much cheaper.
  9. See, I get what Ford is trying to do with the Taurus SHO, elevating the marque to a higher level and getting people used to the idea of paying mid $30K for something with quality and performance. That's OK, because profit then takes priority over sales volume adding to exclusivity and resale value. I think Ford should position the Fusion as the volume product (this is already happening) and the Taurus should become a semi niche product with AWD as standard and start above $30,000 That's a very effective way to change product mix, similar to the transformation happening with the Aussie Falcon sales. Something 70% Falcon sales are now mid an upper series where previously, the base model accounted for 60% of the volume. If Ford continues that trend around the globe, then there's no telling where they might end up....
  10. The C-Max and Kuga already have markets in Europe and ROW and Escape is a given for the USA. I think Ford can be a bit daring with C platform derivatives and who says they all have to be Fords?
  11. Given the American driver's general preference for straight line power over cornering ability, I'd say FWD/AWD has all the necessary attributes the market needs, it is a large sedan after all.... The lunatic fringe who regularly drive at or above those limits should really go pick another vehicle.
  12. I'd love to see Frank Williams do a flow chart on TTAC, all the arrows would point to Robert Farago's opinion.
  13. Exactly. I think the article searches for doom, kinda like thrusting survivor guilt on Ford.....
  14. I agree, half the power and half the weight of a Taurus SHO - maybe half the price too..... Paddle shift 6-speed DSG...Mmmmmmmmmmm
  15. I'd say a small loss for 2009 - but not by much and no huge cash burn..... It all depends whether Q2 was ugly or not, Q3 looks to signal the upswing is here, not sure about Q4.
  16. Excellent news blazerdude20. What's your product mix like on Fusion, are you seeing more V6 buyers there than previously? Also, are there any particular versions of version of F Truck or just all of them?
  17. But then again, Ford split the previous Taurus market in two with the Fivehundred and Fusion. How would have viewed that result if Fusion and Fivehundred weren't on separate platforms?
  18. Maybe the key is the intended application in the UK and Europe as a diesel replacement? I think the EB 1.6 is tailored to be cheaper alternative to the 1.6/1.8/2.0 diesel range that FoE likes to put in most of their passenger vehicles. You wouldn't do a 130/150 hp EB I-4 for the US but it makes sense for Europe......
  19. Good review of the Taurus from a normally skeptical bunch, Robert Farago must be out of town.....
  20. I've underlined the three areas I think are incorrect to the point of ridiculous. Ford's Q2 statement which is due mid July is a more accurate litmus test of Ford's performance. Ford will be increasing their Q3 production to levels above same time last year, that in itself would kind of suggest the TTAC predictions are rubbish..
  21. Goodness me, it sounds like you both can't get the product mix of vehicles you could sell right away. One can only imagine what both of your sales figures would be like with Plenty of V6 Fusions and Escapes. Are there any other strong movers or surprise sales surges out there ?
  22. Thanks theoldwizard, Hope my questions didn't offend you but I knew you had a story to tell and wanted others to hear it. One last question, simple PFI and turbo - could it achieve similar real world results?
  23. The only platform I see them using it on would be Epsilon II and the CUV/SUV equivalent. Until new Impalas and Buick/Cadillac Epsillon II are delivered, we won't see much of turbo V6s. I think GM are in Direct Injection mode at the moment, they haven't mentioned turbos coming...
×
×
  • Create New...