[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

Yeah....quality reporting that. Now the quesiton becomes, is Jez Spinks is a muppet, a twit of unimangined proportions with 0 journalistic credibility and even less sense.

Another classic!

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

This is one of many reasons why GRWD will exist. Fact is that large and very large sedans don't have the incentive to go FWD due to packaging, and the AWD option (to adequately control the hp needed to move them in the manner to which their owners have become acustomed) is far too heavy. Thus negating any benefit of the common platform.

Even Hyundai have recognised this with their Genesis range of i4t, v6 & v8 range of sedans & coupes. RWD equals better performance, dynamics AND better image.

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

So if lincoln (prime candidate for large, powerful luxury sedans) needs RWD, and mustang needs RWD, and FG is the best current platform on which to base said cars, then it hardly seems unlikey that both GRWD will happen (in time) and that Falcon will be on it. It would be a small price to pay for Ford NA....you do all the platform work (much cheaper than us) and in return you can make falcon fit on it.

Using the FG as a basis with the essentially 'global' Ecoboost i4t and Coyote V8 as it will have within 12mths is a great start. The drivetrain apart from the v6/i6 is the global design. Surely at the least, using the FG will provide a good $0.5B 'head start'. The platform is very good, the doors are the latest and perhaps best in the Ford world. Add in some of the US/European gimmicks and it is all coming together. At a very reasonable price too.

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

The only reason Falcon would not exist is if Ford Aus cant make a business case for it. Given GRWD woud only increase corporate investment (thus keeping Falcon development costs to current levels), and the plant is making money now (and will do so more and more due to I4T, diesel territory, high spec falcon, possible niche exports etc. etc.) what's the problem?

It's much easier to get approval for a $2B platform housing 3 core derivatives with expected sales of 200,000 vehicles per annum that a $0.5B platform with expected sales of 50,000 with 1 core derivative. Even if the raw numbers look the same. The larger investment would have more stability.

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

Plus, when I6 goes (likely 2015) then that is another production cost taken out of australia and put with high volume, lower cost mass production.....

Sad but it will reduce the cost / overheads. We should also be onto later editions of the already good 3.7L V6. Dropping the i6 will also mean better packaging efficiency.

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

Alot on here think that Ford US just wants to FORCE the wrong car on the aussie market. They aren't that stupid....there is a reason Falcon has escape the chopping block for 20 years..... How does saving $500-700million in Falcon specific GRWD development costs pay for 5-10 years of $100m annual losses because Ford Aus can't get the replacement car (whatever it is) to work? Not to mention, the savings of GRWD will probably be bigger, since the development costs for a Mustang only RWD platform (as some media are spinning) won't be amortised over as many cars, even IF mustang goes global......

Stop it. You are just making too much sense Mustang absolutely needs a new platform. Lincoln need RWD if they want to continue their move upmarket to rival Cadillac. Falcon will need at the least an update in 2015.

So why spend $1.5B on Lincoln for 50,000 sales, $1.5B on Mustang for 100,000 sales, $0.5B on Falcon for 50,000 when you could have the lot of that for half price?

I think Ford have learnt from the IRS debacle with the Mustang. It ended up costing them more money by going it alone with a solid axle rear than by using the AU IRS. I doubt that mistake will happen again with Mullaly / Kuzak around.

Mullaly is keen to leverage wherever the expertise is for the relevant segment. GRWD makes a solid financial case. Just not as solid as global Fiesta and global Focus. Which is exactly why those cars have been launched first.