Ford Estimate: 50% Of Cars Will Be AWD By 2012

[Perian]

SOURCE: media.ford.com

Ironically, the popularity of SUVs in the 1990s is now driving growth in the high-end features in car-based products as some buyers migrate from SUVs to smaller vehicles. All-wheel drive is becoming a more important factor in consumer purchase decisions.

Ford customer research and independent analysis shows that 73 percent of current midsize SUV owners want AWD or four-wheel drive (4WD) in their next vehicle. Additionally, 20 percent of full-size car owners want AWD in their next vehicle. And interestingly, in the large car sample, less than one percent of the owners currently have AWD.

In 2003, AWD or 4WD vehicles accounted for 25 percent of the market. It is estimated that number could double to 50 percent of the market by 2012.

[PitoNY]

is that 50% of cars or 50% of cars and SUV's?? if it is both combined i can see where that is coming from but if it is just cars I would have to disagree. With this wave of muscle car nostalgia coming i see a lot more car companies, especially GM switching cars from fwd to rwd. But now that i think about it, i guess a lot more of the everyday, non-enthusiast cars will become awd now, such as the camry's and others like that. But then again, awd will raise costs and weight of cars so i think some will switch to awd but most will stick with fwd and a select few geared towards people that buy cars for more then a ways of getting from point A to point B will be rwd.

[SobeSVT]

I guess is a fair estimate. Power is not the only feature that sells cars, safety does too, and AWD as always been seen as a cool safety feature. For which we have to thank Audi.

Pito is vehicles, so I guess they mean cars and SUVs.

[syr74]

While I am unsure that this will occur by 2012 I will be very surprised it it does not happen eventually (if I had to guess maybe tack another five years onto that estimate) First of all fwd architecture has many cost and production advantages over rwd architecture and is going nowhere performance/muscle comeback or not. AWD allows you to use these same fwd architectures, improve poor weather traction over the standard fwd setup, and improve performance and balance all at the same time.
I personally prefer rwd and it is especially beneficial for luxury and performance applications. And rwd's natural advantage in these areas made the predictions of doom for rwd architecture made long ago ridiculous. But, those areas represent a rather small segment of the overall market and awd seems to be a natural evolution of the fwd mainstream we now have.

[jbartley]

i'm not going to hold me breathe on this..

[jro4566]

While I see the market share of AWD cars increasing, I don't see it as reaching 50% by 2012. For many, FWD still seems to be fine.

[Whirling_Dervish]

Originally Posted by jro4566

While I see the market share of AWD cars increasing, I don't see it as reaching 50% by 2012. For many, FWD still seems to be fine.

Its a trend GM should latch onto. But they'll wait until everyone else does it first.....as usual.

[01cavalier]

Wow, that's a lot of the market. I would personally like to see AWD available on more models,p and it could always bring in more profit. I'm not sure people want to always pay as much extra as it costs though, especially since in normal driving it really seems to have no impact except on acceleration and mileage. What would be cool is a hybrid setup that works on the wheels that are not driven, so it can work in tandem with traction control when needed, and also to help with the mileage.

[cfch3399]

I don't know maybe in the Northern states. I wouldn't want an AWD with the added complexity, cost, weight, gas consumption, etc. I wish the big would announce that 50% of their passenger cars will be RWD.

[Geotpf]

I'm sorry, I'm having trouble believing any prediction Ford says at this point. Their renaming thier coolly named Zephyr to the MKZGDFDTBN four months after it's introduction shows they are now completely and utterly clueless. Structually, they are in better shape than GM, but GM at least seems to making the right moves now(possibly too late, however...), while Ford is tripping all over themselves.

[importedtuna]

Not if gas prices keep going up. AWD cars and trucks are gas hogs compared to the FWD/RWD alternatives.

[IMPALAon20s]

from same link

• Ford sees continued growth in all-wheel drive (AWD), expects to sell more than 500,000 AWD-equipped products annually beginning in 2007.
• Three hot new midsize sedans, Lincoln MKZ, Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan feature all-wheel-drive option for 2007 model year.
• Two new crossovers, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX join the AWD lineup in fall 2006.

kind of funny they are predicting this just as they are moving about half of their product to AWD. IMO this is just usual product propaganda, "tell them what it is they want, because we happen to have what they dont know they want sitting right on the shelf"

[FourOnTheFloor]

50%? I think that's a little high. Awd is great for SUVs and snowbelt drivers, but not necessary for the sunbelt. Honestly, how often would you need Awd in your car? Under normal circumstances, your car hardly ever looses traction. I think it is just another unnecessary thing people are willing to pay a premium for (don't forget lower mpg).

[jbernie]

Well if the performance orientated cars get an system where you can dial up the amount of power directed front/back it could be quite interesting.
normal = front 30 / rear 70
sport = 10 front / 90 rear
bad weather = front 50 / rear 50

I think Subaru has something similar to this on the latest WRX STi.

Also keep in mind that currently the cost to the consumer of AWD is higher as their isn't mass market penetration, the more vehicles that offer it, the less it should cost. Maybe down to a $500 premium or something if it was offered on enough vehicles.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by cfch3399

I don't know maybe in the Northern states. I wouldn't want an AWD with the added complexity, cost, weight, gas consumption, etc. I wish the big would announce that 50% of their passenger cars will be RWD.

I second that. I live in a very wintery place and I've never had any problem driving RWD or FWD. When gas flirts with $1/L I think you'd have to be stupid to drive AWD. Plus the high repair costs...