FoMoCo to reveal RWD Lincoln Concept at NAIAS

[igor]

Report: Ford to reveal Lincoln RWD concept in Detroit



Ford will unveil a new rear-wheel-drive Lincoln concept car at the Detroit auto show early next month, according to a report by BusinessWeek magazine. The car is based on the same platform as Ford Australia's next-generation Falcon.



More at LLN: http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/12/...pt-in-detroit/



Igor

[FoMoCo Fan]

I betcha it'll be similar to the clay model spotted in the Bold Moves video.

[igor]

The LLN post was based on a BW report ..http://www.businessweek.com/autos/co...212_753286.htm

pretty good read ..

apparently, Horbury is leading a fight with the bean counters to make a Ford version of GM's Zeta - a global RWD architecture.

This definitely clears some of the confusion - Ford will not try t evolve the Mustang platform - instead it will go with the Aussie platform (if they do give it green light).

Igor

[Swahili]

Does that pic look like a cross between the 427 Concept and maybe a modern age Continental with suicide doors?

Of course, if it gets to see the light of production, it'll no doubt be FWD
But seriously, I'd really like to see some more RWD full sizers from Ford. I'll always be a Crown Vic fan but Ford hasn't treated it with much attention for a long time, even though it's still a fleet car cash cow.

[Ach]

"He says that Ford had recently discussed building a rear-drive Lincoln off the engineering architecture of the Ford Mustang. But that idea was thwarted because the Mustang has a solid rear axle, and the ride of a luxury car should have an independent rear suspension." ????

Can this be the real reason? Would it really be that hard to put IRS in there, especially given the premium you'd be able to charge for a Lincoln over the Mustang? For the love of God, they even managed to put IRS in the Fox platform.

But the idea makes great sense, esp. if Ford gets a new RWD sedan off the Falcon platform as well. I wonder where Fields stands on this?

[igor]

Originally Posted by Ach

"He says that Ford had recently discussed building a rear-drive Lincoln off the engineering architecture of the Ford Mustang. But that idea was thwarted because the Mustang has a solid rear axle, and the ride of a luxury car should have an independent rear suspension." ????

Can this be the real reason? Would it really be that hard to put IRS in there, especially given the premium you'd be able to charge for a Lincoln over the Mustang? For the love of God, they even managed to put IRS in the Fox platform.

But the idea makes great sense, esp. if Ford gets a new RWD sedan off the Falcon platform as well. I wonder where Fields stands on this?

well the original Mustang platform did have IRS .. but some damn bean-counter demanded it be replaced by solid-axle.. in the process, they had to change so much, the original IRS could not be used..

the main reason is, however, that the Mustang was developed for a single vehicle - the MUSTANG - it is inflexible, largely unique, and did I say inflexible? It would probably be quite expensive to even stretch it for a 4door sedan. - it was a good platform for the time, but it cannot grow.

The Aussie platform has alwya been a full featured platform .. just did not have LHD capability ... now it will have that, and will spread globally.

Igor

[FoMoCo Fan]

Originally Posted by igor

well the original Mustang platform did have IRS .. but some damn bean-counter demanded it be replaced by solid-axle.. in the process, they had to change so much, the original IRS could not be used..

the main reason is, however, that the Mustang was developed for a single vehicle - the MUSTANG - it is inflexible, largely unique, and did I say inflexible? It would probably be quite expensive to even stretch it for a 4door sedan. - it was a good platform for the time, but it cannot grow.

The Aussie platform has alwya been a full featured platform .. just did not have LHD capability ... now it will have that, and will spread globally.

Igor

I betcha the NEXT GEN Mustang (not the upcoming refresh) will be on that Aussie platform too. It's not surprising that Lincoln would base this on an upcoming Falcon platform, as by the time the Lincoln is ready to launch (09/10) the current Mustang platform will be itself due for a major redesign.

[igor]

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

I betcha the NEXT GEN Mustang (not the upcoming refresh) will be on that Aussie platform too. It's not surprising that Lincoln would base this on an upcoming Falcon platform, as by the time the Lincoln is ready to launch (09/10) the current Mustang platform will be itself due for a major redesign.

yes .

There has been speculation how Ford will answer the GM and DCX RWD offerrings, and helps Lincoln.

One was Re-engineering the Mustang platform into a full-featured flexible platform. The other was re-engineering the Falcon platform to work for FordNA needs. It seems they picked the second choice. But that yes, this new platfroms will almost definitely include the new Mustang.

Igor

[igor]

Originally Posted by Swahili

Does that pic look like a cross between the 427 Concept and maybe a modern age Continental with suicide doors?

Of course, if it gets to see the light of production, it'll no doubt be FWD
But seriously, I'd really like to see some more RWD full sizers from Ford. I'll always be a Crown Vic fan but Ford hasn't treated it with much attention for a long time, even though it's still a fleet car cash cow.

I believe that was the Continental Concept from a couple years back ..

Igor

[Butz]

Horay! Now this is what I call Bold Moves!

[2b2]

YAY!!! a new star
from the constellation
(codename of the platform incase ya didn't know)
hope Hope HOPE this produces an ARCHITECTURE that'll give us a full range of Rwd's from HRL-LincStang to true flagship! as well as giving Aussies their next(?) Falcon/Fairlane!

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

I betcha it'll be similar to the clay model spotted in the Bold Moves video.

me too!
Swahili, forget the old Conti-concept, here's the clay mystery-model


Now my major concerns are
1. FML's definition of concept -
this is a Concept (tho Not what I want to see from Lincoln)


this is a styling exercise :DROOL: but Not a concept


this was a just a tease, a cruel cruel tease

and
the 'concept' in Igor's original post is just a NeverWas :CRY: one of Many

&
2. WHEN? as in when will they get to the point of being able to start showing stuff that'll be AtTheDealer before that autoshow comes 'round again?

[nadepalma]

SOURCE: http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/12/...pt-in-detroit/

REPORT: Ford to unveal RWD Lincoln Concept in Detroit



Ford will unveil a new rear-wheel-drive Lincoln concept car at the Detroit auto show early next month, according to a report by BusinessWeek magazine. The car is based on the same platform as Ford Australia's next-generation Falcon.

Back in May, Ford announced its Australian engineers were working on an all-new Falcon whose platform could form the basis for several potential large rear-wheel drive vehicles. Later, Ford Australia boss Tom Gorman acknowledged cars based on the new architecture would likely show up on U.S. shores, as soon as 2008.

Aside from confirming the debut of the new concept, the BW report doesn't provide specifics on the car's styling, intended competitors, or price. Ford reportedly considered using a stretched version of the Mustang platform, but it was decided a solid rear axle wouldn't be appropriate for a luxury vehicle. In March, Newsweek said Ford was working on a retro-styled RWD rival to the Chrysler 300C.

[nadepalma]

As far as I'm concerned this is good news for Lincoln and for Ford. If this platform is as flexible as GM's VE/Zeta platform, then perhaps Ford could spawn any number of products off this one architecture for other divisions.

Regardless, I hope it looks good. Supposedly Peter Horbury was supposed to "refine" the look of Lincoln so we finally get a good taste of the division's future. If they are talking about going Retro, I hope it isn't gonna be looking to the past TOO much. I like some retro inspired designs, but some of it has overstayed it's welcome.

[kenman923]

It should be interesting to see an all new, retro looking Town Car. I imagine that the next Town Car will be based heavily on this concept.

[throwback]

FORD, enough with the retro styling! You have some good designers use some imagination.