Vehicle sizing, market share

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

I still don't see how the Taurus will ever work.

It's enormous.

It's FWD.

Just as, if not thirstier than a Falcon.

Cramped interior for a car of it's size.

I don't see how it will work either, it's a stupid car but one thing to consider is that the Taurus in its current massive, heavy FWD form isn't the car that MAY come here. If this plan eventuates (IF), then the next-gen Taurus will be something else.

What the future Toreass will be, I don't know, but I do know that the next gen Fusion and Mondeo are now locked into one platform for US release in 2013 and in Europe and Australia a little later and that that platform is called CD391. This platform may not even come with a V6 option which (if rumour is correct and the future Taurus is going to be a LWB version of that) will create an obvious issue for Taurus AND Falcon buyers...

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I don't see how it will work either, it's a stupid car but one thing to consider is that the Taurus in its current massive, heavy FWD form isn't the car that MAY come here. If this plan eventuates (IF), then the next-gen Taurus will be something else.

What the future Toreass will be, I don't know, but I do know that the next gen Fusion and Mondeo are now locked into one platform for US release in 2013 and in Europe and Australia a little later and that that platform is called CD391. This platform may not even come with a V6 option which (if rumour is correct and the future Taurus is going to be a LWB version of that) will create an obvious issue for Taurus AND Falcon buyers...

No one does. Designs for Ford's next 'global' large car have been submitted by teams from the UK, Germany, US, and Astraaaya.

[vztrt]

Actually making the Falcon smaller is probably a good start. This would mean the I6 is gone and a V6 goes in. Also making the dash a tad smaller and making sure the rear has the leg room (like the Mondeo) and not like the Focus/Mazda3.

But pushing a V6 with a lighter body and better fuel economy might appeal. But this would need to be a GRWD.

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Anyone who called the KQ laser a small car was 100% incorrect - it was a medium sized car in every which way.

I think the issue he is largely based around perception. People are so incorrect about what they call small cars or large cars - anyone who calls a focus a small car is completely incorrect - it is a medium sized car. A fiesta is a small car.

What a load of rubbish...

Small: Escort/Laser/Focus/
Med: Cortina/Telstar/Sierra/Mondeo
Large: Falcon
LWB: Fairlane

And as the Euro influence grew we got more classes like Compact/Mini and Super Mini which were Fiesta/Festiva and Ka.

Super Mini: Ka
Mini/Compact: Fiesta/Festiva
Small: Escort/Laser/Focus
Med: Cortina/Telstar/Sierra/Mondeo
Large: Falcon
LWB: Fairlane

The fact that models grow in size over time is hardly surprising, its called progress.

If a Laser is a medium sized car then a Telstar is a large car... are you English by any chance.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

With the toyota corolla and the Mazda 3 being some of australia's biggest selling cars, and them being right in the middle of the mid-sized category,.

but isn't corolla and mazda 3 supposed to be SMALL cars? i think thats what JPD80 is getting at. they have grown so much they are now mid sized cars.

What will FPV produce if ford stops making falcon?

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Actually making the Falcon smaller is probably a good start. This would mean the I6 is gone and a V6 goes in. Also making the dash a tad smaller and making sure the rear has the leg room (like the Mondeo) and not like the Focus/Mazda3.

But pushing a V6 with a lighter body and better fuel economy might appeal. But this would need to be a GRWD.

Mustang is going ahead despite anything. So why not just let FoA use that to underpin the next Falcon?

[jpd80]

IMO, the bestcase scenario for beyond 2015/6 is:

- Variation of Fusion/Mondeo for Australia that's slightly larger (wider body) than present
- SUV/CUV based on CD4 (Next Edge) as a companion build for Fusion/Mondeo.
- Mustang imported in RHD along with RWD four door coupe based on same platform,
think Ford's equivalent of Jaguar XK and XF........

Not sure about local manufacturing, it will only happen if Ford twists the
government's arm and starts building vehicles that more people want to buy..

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by jpd80

IMO, the bestcase scenario for beyond 2015/6 is:

- Variation of Fusion/Mondeo for Australia that's slightly larger (wider body) than present
- SUV/CUV based on CD4 (Next Edge) as a companion build for Fusion/Mondeo.
- Mustang imported in RHD along with RWD four door coupe based on same platform,
think Ford's equivalent of Jaguar XK and XF........

Not sure about local manufacturing, it will only happen if Ford twists the
government's arm and starts building vehicles that more people want to buy..

I think you're being negative again.