jpd80 Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) 54 minutes ago, Assimilator said: Australia had the Falcon, North America had the Panther. Both venerable and mediocre RWD architectures with infrequently updated bodystyles, although the Panther was much larger and more robust. Nobody was missing anything if they wanted to be overcharged for an ancient large RWD sedan. Falcon had long been an inferior and ancient design to the Commodore anyway, it's only celebrated by Ford fans. The nostalgia taints the reality that the Ford lost the plot well before Holden did. Ford Aus actually developed the Territory SUV off the Falcon platform as a way of transitioning to the growing trend but let it rot on the vine for five years by not providing the V6 diesel until 2010. By then the writing was on the wall but what really killed both Falcon and Commodore was their retreat to performance versions, fans who loved them - they covered that beautifully but the basic sedan buyer had no real reason to stay and pay more fo something they really didn't need anymore. Far from being Ancient, the Falcon was an evolutionary product that to outsiders seemed older than it was, and after the plant closed, we were all hoping that Ford would embrace it and rework the design for a new suite of RWD vehicles under the CD6, Edited January 5, 2019 by jpd80 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DequindreToo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 It's softer looking than I expected (I imagine that Ford is targeting the female market). I'm glad that Ford will offer a Maverick with more traditional SUV styling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 I just showed my wife it-she said it looks like a station wagon. I think it looks ok, but I also think it looks too “car like” also. Not exactly sure at least the US car buying public is wanting staton wagon on stilts either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) 18 hours ago, ANTAUS said: Honestly, I'm getting pretty tired of that grill design, can they please introduce a new design. I dare to say that an CrV actually looks more stylish than this. It's too bad Ford didn't stick with something closer to the original iteration of the aping of the Aston Martin grill. The Escape grill looks like it's upside down in comparison to the original Fusion grill: Edited January 5, 2019 by Harley Lover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) Question: how does this: relate to what we are seeing here? Wasn't there speculation at the time of this photo that the mule was showing that the Escape wheelbase was growing, etc.? Edited January 5, 2019 by Harley Lover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 2 minutes ago, Harley Lover said: Question: how does this: relate to what we are seeing here? It's a very early attribute/HVAC mule Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-dubz Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 the implementation of this grille works a lot better on the focus. The grille and headlights appear larger on the focus. You’d think it would be the other way around. Also, the positioning of the headlights is much better on the focus. On the escape, the headlights are completely above the grille. This gives it an appearance of a smiley face and reminds me of this Miata. They could fix this design by taking a lot of the slope out of the hood and having a more upright front. Make the grille larger and move it up higher. Put the headlights on the side of the grille instead of above it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 53 minutes ago, fuzzymoomoo said: It's a very early attribute/HVAC mule I know what it is, Fuzz, I'm specifically wondering about the speculation surrounding the wheelbase, owing to the cobbled rear section of the mule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 16 minutes ago, T-dubz said: the implementation of this grille works a lot better on the focus. The grille and headlights appear larger on the focus. You’d think it would be the other way around. Also, the positioning of the headlights is much better on the focus. On the escape, the headlights are completely above the grille. It's possible that the disguise on the mule is hiding some front end sculpting that is obvious on the Focus. I hope the final product looks better than the front end as presented on the mule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assimilator Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) What makes the Escape one of the oddest designs in the segment is the horizon line across the front which flattens and lowers the fascia. Placing the grille below that horizon line and well below the headlights is a strange decision for a utility design. I do think some of this is related to improving efficiency through better aerodynamics. What makes the Focus fascia work better is the notched headlights and the hood bulge meeting with the shape of the grille. The Escape doesn't pickup the same surfacing details of the Focus, but there is some details hidden by the vinyl wrap. I mentioned it looked like a cross between Focus and Explorer, and you can even see those Explorer-like ground effects. I should clarify my earlier statements about the Escape. It's largely retaining the same exterior dimensions (like Focus), but the wheelbase has been lengthened with improved interior packaging and spaciousness. Edited January 5, 2019 by Assimilator 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 1 hour ago, Harley Lover said: I know what it is, Fuzz, I'm specifically wondering about the speculation surrounding the wheelbase, owing to the cobbled rear section of the mule. Oh it's definitely longer and the outgoing one, I can tell you that for sure based on the size of the front floor pan vs. the old one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 On 1/4/2019 at 6:40 PM, Deanh said: Aussie styling and American tastes don't really jive....the Commodore released here ( US ) Chevrolet SS is a classic case...friggen awesome car but styling came off as generic and bland. Engines....blame our stringent emission laws would be my guess. Not to mention the "GTO" and the "G8" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadicalX Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 10 hours ago, T-dubz said: the implementation of this grille works a lot better on the focus. The grille and headlights appear larger on the focus. You’d think it would be the other way around. Also, the positioning of the headlights is much better on the focus. On the escape, the headlights are completely above the grille. This gives it an appearance of a smiley face and reminds me of this Miata. They could fix this design by taking a lot of the slope out of the hood and having a more upright front. Make the grille larger and move it up higher. Put the headlights on the side of the grille instead of above it. The absence of front license plate also changes the design quite a bit. The new Escape with front license plate would make the car less smiley. I think the Focus 4 without license plate would also be quite smiley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02MustangGT Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 The angle of the photo and camo on the Esacape also has something to with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 I think an ST version of that with 320-350 hp would sell like gangbusters. I dislike CUVs, but I kind of like that. They should make that Maverick thing the Escape and this the Fusion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assimilator Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 (edited) Sadly the Escape appears not to be debuting with an ST version, but the Kuga is getting an RS version. It may come later. If it does get an ST version at launch, the engine is no larger than the 2.0L EB. I suppose that's still quite reasonable. Edited January 6, 2019 by Assimilator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurgeh Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 39 minutes ago, Assimilator said: Sadly the Escape appears not to be debuting with an ST version, but the Kuga is getting an RS version. It may come later. If it does get an ST version at launch, the engine is no larger than the 2.0L EB. I suppose that's still quite reasonable. Though I'm sure that the Lincoln version, the new Corsair, will have as its upgrade engine the twin turbo 2.3 with at least the hp (285) and torque (305 lb/ft) of the MKC that it is replacing. It would be nice if they could tune up the engine even more, but for a compact crossover that's still pretty darned good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 On 1/5/2019 at 10:35 AM, T-dubz said: These grilles always look worse with the non-EU plates. Always makes me think of buck teeth. (Tesla Model 3 has this issue too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assimilator Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Leave it to Michigan to appreciate the horror of a front-plate. I've often wondered what we can do to eliminate the front plate throughout North America. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 8 minutes ago, Assimilator said: Leave it to Michigan to appreciate the horror of a front-plate. I've often wondered what we can do to eliminate the front plate throughout North America. Let people know the cost of it. https://patch.com/rhode-island/coventry/rep-nardolillo-calls-elimination-front-plate Letting people know that you can save millions of dollars dumping it gets the public on the side of doing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 My truck has ONLY a front plate. Here in MO, we are required to have front and rear. However, trucks licensed 18k and over only get a front plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadicalX Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausrutherford Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 I think the design follows the Fiesta more than the Focus. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadicalX Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 41 minutes ago, ausrutherford said: I think the design follows the Fiesta more than the Focus. This filleted grille in a 2020 Platinum Escape version would look beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadicalX Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 The grille seem to have evolved from three bars to five bars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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