Is Huntsman Dead? Ford Rethinking It's RWD Future

[JoeT]

Ford RWD ‘Rethink’

Terry Martin
15 July 2008
www.goauto.com.au

Ford global product chief says large rear-drive car future must now be reconsidered.

The Ford Motor Co’s global development program for large rear-wheel drive cars is now being reviewed in light of rising fuel costs and changing market trends.

Global product development chief Derrick Kuzak has told US industry journal Automotive News that he is reconsidering the program, which sources indicate was on track for the 2013 model year.

“We need to understand the role of those vehicles, given the change in the market mix,” Mr Kuzak said, but added that development work continued at full speed.

The role of Ford Australia in the future global RWD program is still to be confirmed.

Mr Kuzak met with Ford Australia president Bill Osborne in May to discuss the program, which Mr Osborne – prior to the visit – said would include the case for increased exports from Australia.

“We are going to have some very open discussions about all kinds of future products. Large cars will be on the agenda as well,” Mr Osborne told GoAuto at the time.

“I would say the purpose of the meeting would be to ensure we have the most robust strategy for Ford Australia going forward and I do believe that part of that strategy includes exports.”

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Ford's New Global RWD Range Aimed At GM's Zeta Program

[MN12Fan]

Jeez, first GM and now Ford? Talk about the sky falling. Is it really so hard to make a fuel efficient RWD car? My 14 year old, two-ton Thunderbird consistently gets fuel economy in the high twenties on the highway (28MPG was my all-time best) and in the high teens in the city. I've gotten about 23MPG combined on each of my past two fill ups with about 60% highway driving. Am I to believe that the limit of fuel efficiency in RWD cars was reached in the mid-'90s? What a gyp.

[vcs2600]

Pontiac might sell 30K G8s this year. Dodge might sell 60K Chargers.

A large RWD Ford sedan is pretty much an irrelevant product in the current market.

[Aych Es Vee]

since when do rwd cars use much more petrol than fwd ones????
wtf.

Being rwd isnt a fuel economy handicap....

[igor]

OH c'mon do articles NOT do research anymore!?!?

Kuzack said: - we are rethinking the volume we can expect from the GRWD models
- we are rethingking how we will position the RWD models
- However the work was not even slowed down - it is going full steam ahead


(That besides the point that GRWD is NOT Huntsmen - and both are underway)

Ford might.may/will scale down its projected volume and might/may/will kill some models, but there are three already approved and they will come: Mustang, Falcon, MKR - and as long as Falcon stays RWD - GRWD is underway.

Hutsmen is a minor (relatively speaking) project - it is adjustment of Orion for the D35, and 5.0l V8, and replacement of Aus wiring harnesses and crontrols with new global ones. PERIOND _ DONE _ FINITO _VSIO - there is no more to Huntsmen than that - maybe minor sheetmetal and interior tweaks, but it is all technical, and hardpoints are all remaining.

GRWD is being built in Dearborn much the same as Zeta was in Australia - ground up as a new platform. Originally, 3 lengths were intended: Regular wheelbase for Falcon and MKR, Special Short wheelbase for Mustang, and Long Wheelbase for Lincoln Flagship (either future MKS, or a model above it) and return of Fairlane in AU. There were also rumors that future Taurus would use the LWB GRWD.

The Regular and Short wheelbase are safe and there is no way to kill them without killing Falcon. So the MKR, Mustang anf Flacon will come - and together there is enough volume to justify the expense. The Long wheelbase might be dropped, or some corners cut to reduce development costs - because the large sedan volume is dropping rapidly (see Mercedes S-class).

However Huntsmen is full speed ahead
GRWD is full speed ahead

PERIOD

Igor

[Kamshaaft]

Originally Posted by Aych Es Vee

since when do rwd cars use much more petrol than fwd ones????
wtf.

Being rwd isnt a fuel economy handicap....

To put it like a spokesperson might: The power loss margin of RWD drivetrains compared to those of FWD are high enough to demonstrate significant savings in fuel consumption by making Front Wheel Drive the new standard.

In reality the only advantages of FWD are minimised drivetrain loss, cheaper to manufacture, and slightly lighter (including rotating mass). FWD can also has easier (I am going to make a distinction between easier and better here) handling in slippery conditions.

Everything else you can possibly think of is a disadvantage of FWD.

[igor]

Originally Posted by Aych Es Vee

since when do rwd cars use much more petrol than fwd ones????
wtf.

Being rwd isnt a fuel economy handicap....

Ford actually SAID THAT - FE is not the concern - the concern were the largest models planned. That segment, regardless of brand and drivetrain, is rapidly losing sales; so Ford is considering whether the originally planned LWB GRWD is still sustainable with the lower volume projection, or ewhether the LWB (AND LWB ONLY) should be adjusted/reduced in costs/ or even dropped.

As I said above - as long as Australia needs Falcon and US needs Mustang - GRWD is underway, and Lincoln will even get the MKR (Falcon with fancy bits).

Igor

[igor]

Originally Posted by Kamshaaft

To put it like a spokesperson might: The power loss margin of RWD drivetrains compared to those of FWD are high enough to demonstrate significant savings in fuel consumption by making Front Wheel Drive the new standard.

Ford - unike GM - actually said - FE is not the concern - there is no necessary rule that RWD will be less efficient. Their concern is the collapse of LARGE SEDAN MARKET in US and globally (as I said - see Mercedes S-class)

Igor

[igor]

THIS IS COMING


God I forgot just how HUGE the grille was on the MKR
Igor

[Xenon]

Will the Falcon come to the US?

[BigThreeForever]

I am really, really looking forward to Ford's GWRD products.

I was so pleased that Ford announced it was proceeding with a new RWD program. It was, and is, a true "Bold Move", particularly in the light of GM's totally pathetic (and sadly characteristic) dithering on Zeta over the last four years . . . on-off, on-off, definitely on . . . nope, maybe . . . nah, not at all, actually . . . . what a crock.

I just hope and pray that GWRD can survive the present fuel prices (a scam of titanic proportions).

I understand that GWRD will replace the Panther, Orion/Huntsman and Mustang platforms, and has assumed even more importance as a basis for high-end product following the departure of Jaguar and the possible sale of Volvo.

What models can we expect, Igor? I've even heard rumours of a Thunderbird.

GO FORD!

[igor]

Originally Posted by Xenon

Will the Falcon come to the US?

That is unknown - but it might - or it might one of the moves being "re-thought"

The plan as it was outlined last fall / this spring was:

Short Wheelbase:
Mustang for US (maybe EU and AUS)
Possible Lincoln version for Lincoln markets

Regualr Wheelbase:
Falcon for AUS and Middle East, but not US
MKR for Lincoln markets

Long Wheelbase
Taurus for US
Fiarlane for AUS ( Taurus and Fairlane would be identical cars)
One of those names for Middle East)
MKS or a Lincoln Flagship above MKS for Lincoln and its markets

The most sensible prediction is that the LWB cars are being scaled back. The top hats are so different when WLB chanfges, that the cost reduction would be significant, and the projected volume just might not be enough t o justify it. Maybe Ford is looking at cheaper ways to get the LWB or something else.

By all indicators, the RWB/SWB is the key part of this and the one right now worked on (the one needed the earliest) and that is going forward unchanged and full speed.

Igor

[igor]

Originally Posted by BigThreeForever

I've even heard rumours of a Thunderbird.

I have heard none, and actually hope, FOrd leaves the large personal coupe market as dead as it is today - it will not come back - Mustang is the right size.

Igor

[Aych Es Vee]

^^ Taurus would be long wheelbase?
Last Taurus that came here was smaller than the Falcon :s
That was like, the late 90s/early 2000s, very round looking one.

But anyway, i hope it all comes through, and that USA gets the Falcon, and Australia gets the Mustang.

Mustangs could sell so well in Australia.

[benroethig]

Originally Posted by Aych Es Vee

^^ Taurus would be long wheelbase?
Last Taurus that came here was smaller than the Falcon :s
That was like, the late 90s/early 2000s, very round looking one.

But anyway, i hope it all comes through, and that USA gets the Falcon, and Australia gets the Mustang.

Mustangs could sell so well in Australia.

Ford decided to slap the Taurus name on the 500 instead of keeping it reserved for a fusion replacement. I honestly do not see a RWD Taurus.