"2014 is weighing very heavily on us right now," said one highly placed source at Ford Motor Company of Detroit exhibition. The date is significant because it will be the 50th anniversary of the Mustang, and aims to be the all new Ford ponycar market celebrations.
But Ford's global program on the rear drive platform apparently dead, Dearborn product planners are trying to figure out exactly how they will build, especially given that CEO Alan Mulally reiterated his position that the Detroit automakers could more capacity building vehicles for each country.
Under the plan, global rear-drive platform, the 2014 Mustang to share the basic architecture of next generation Australian Ford Falcon, and perhaps a new flagship sedan for Lincoln. Mustang would be a short wheelbase version of the platform, the bum in the middle of the wheelbase, and Lincoln for a long wheelbase. But the strategy has changed, for three key reasons:
1) sedan will be pressure behind the United States require lightweight platform architecture to help meet upcoming fuel economy and emissions standards. 2) Blue Australian sales slumped last year more than 30,000 units, the lowest level in the history of the nameplate to 49 years in Australia. 3) While it has avoided bankruptcy, Ford burned through a lot of money last year, and can not afford to spend on the development of architecture will be complex, but relatively niche.
By the time the new could appear rear-drive Lincoln, the Town Car is out of production for three or four years, and high gasoline prices in Australia, nobody expects a big increase in sales of Falcon. It seems that these factors together have conspired to torpedo-back pressure on the global stage. "In [the next generation rear-drive] Blue is dead," said one Ford insider outdoors, all in the certificate.
For all insist, our source will drive the 2014 Mustang rear. And, he adds, it will (eventually) to have an independent rear suspension. Put the two facts in the context of pressure on the back of the global scene and attitudes league Mullaly, and has only one logical conclusion: The next-generation Mustang to become a global car platform built rear disc itself.
Ford reportedly planners are looking at three possible routes of 2014 Mustang. The evolution of an existing car, with styling cues that will appeal to the traditionalist, and continued focus on the 5.0-liter V-8 engine like a halo - the first - and perhaps the easiest. The second is more than a M3-style car, possibly turbocharged V-6 power markets like Europe. The third - and probably least likely, says our source - is to change the Mustang coupe in ultra-high tech, ultra high performance along the lines of giant killing Nissan GT-R.
Regardless of the overall leadership of the next generation Mustang will almost certainly be smaller cars and lighter than the current coupe to enable it to meet more stringent gas mileage goals. As a side benefit, it would be better suited for the markets of Europe and Asia, too.
The style is a hot topic of debate. The Mustangs 2005 and 2010, clearly inspired by their ancestors in the mid 60s, a great success, but inside I doubt if Ford could go down the road retro third time and get away with it.
So what should a 21st century kind Mustang car to be: Pan-American ponycar; the M3 coupe sophisto-style Godzilla or killer? And what should it look?
Your comments below, please. The folks at Ford will be read.
But Ford's global program on the rear drive platform apparently dead, Dearborn product planners are trying to figure out exactly how they will build, especially given that CEO Alan Mulally reiterated his position that the Detroit automakers could more capacity building vehicles for each country.
Under the plan, global rear-drive platform, the 2014 Mustang to share the basic architecture of next generation Australian Ford Falcon, and perhaps a new flagship sedan for Lincoln. Mustang would be a short wheelbase version of the platform, the bum in the middle of the wheelbase, and Lincoln for a long wheelbase. But the strategy has changed, for three key reasons:
1) sedan will be pressure behind the United States require lightweight platform architecture to help meet upcoming fuel economy and emissions standards. 2) Blue Australian sales slumped last year more than 30,000 units, the lowest level in the history of the nameplate to 49 years in Australia. 3) While it has avoided bankruptcy, Ford burned through a lot of money last year, and can not afford to spend on the development of architecture will be complex, but relatively niche.
By the time the new could appear rear-drive Lincoln, the Town Car is out of production for three or four years, and high gasoline prices in Australia, nobody expects a big increase in sales of Falcon. It seems that these factors together have conspired to torpedo-back pressure on the global stage. "In [the next generation rear-drive] Blue is dead," said one Ford insider outdoors, all in the certificate.
For all insist, our source will drive the 2014 Mustang rear. And, he adds, it will (eventually) to have an independent rear suspension. Put the two facts in the context of pressure on the back of the global scene and attitudes league Mullaly, and has only one logical conclusion: The next-generation Mustang to become a global car platform built rear disc itself.
Ford reportedly planners are looking at three possible routes of 2014 Mustang. The evolution of an existing car, with styling cues that will appeal to the traditionalist, and continued focus on the 5.0-liter V-8 engine like a halo - the first - and perhaps the easiest. The second is more than a M3-style car, possibly turbocharged V-6 power markets like Europe. The third - and probably least likely, says our source - is to change the Mustang coupe in ultra-high tech, ultra high performance along the lines of giant killing Nissan GT-R.
Regardless of the overall leadership of the next generation Mustang will almost certainly be smaller cars and lighter than the current coupe to enable it to meet more stringent gas mileage goals. As a side benefit, it would be better suited for the markets of Europe and Asia, too.
The style is a hot topic of debate. The Mustangs 2005 and 2010, clearly inspired by their ancestors in the mid 60s, a great success, but inside I doubt if Ford could go down the road retro third time and get away with it.
So what should a 21st century kind Mustang car to be: Pan-American ponycar; the M3 coupe sophisto-style Godzilla or killer? And what should it look?
Your comments below, please. The folks at Ford will be read.
