|
Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated. |
|
The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
25-08-2010, 10:07 AM | #1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Q..10kms west of Rocky...
Posts: 8,318
|
Is Ford preparing a local challenger for Holden's forthcoming petrol-electric car, the Volt, or Toyota's Camry Hybrid? This sighting of a hybrid-badged Ford in the company's Geelong heartland on the weekend raised our hopes.
However, Ford Australia says we shouldn't read too much into local testing of this US-sourced, left-hand-drive Fusion Hybrid. "Ford globally is doing a lot on hybrid technology and we are studying what they are doing," a spokeswoman for Ford Australia, Sinead McAlary, says. She says there are no current plans to hybridise Ford's locally built Falcon and Territory models, nor to replace the imported mid-size Mondeo with the Fusion, which is built in Mexico for the US. "Our PE (product evaluation) team here doesn't just do work for Australia, they also evaluate vehicles on behalf of their global colleagues," McAlary says
__________________
CSGhia |
||
25-08-2010, 10:26 AM | #2 | ||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
|
Unlikely.
__________________
Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica | 1970 XW Falcon | 1971 XY Fairmont | 1973 ZG Fairlane | 1986 XF Falcon panel van | 1987 XFII Falcon S-Pack | 1988 XF Falcon GLS ute | 1993 EBII Fairmont V8 | 1996 XG Falcon ute | 2000 AU Falcon wagon | 2004 BA Falcon XT | 2012 SZ Territory Titanium AWD Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
||
25-08-2010, 10:38 AM | #3 | ||
Render unto Caesar
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ::1
Posts: 4,236
|
Hope not. It would have to replace the Mondeo if it did and that would be marketing nightmare. They're struggling as it is to get the Mondeo name out there in positive light, then to go and change it again....wouldn't put it past Ford though.
My assumption of this is they're testing the drivetrain and i hope that is all it is.
__________________
"Aliens might be surprised to learn that in a cosmos with limitless starlight, humans kill for energy sources buried in sand." - Neil deGrasse Tyson |
||
25-08-2010, 11:33 AM | #4 | |||
You can't stop the signal
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Behind a computer at work
Posts: 1,624
|
Not a great deal of news in that.
The engineering car park at ford (which the public can go through) has a few of these in there, plus some ecoboost cars and others which I can't remember now. Cheers
__________________
Quote:
|
|||
25-08-2010, 01:35 PM | #5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,653
|
Not when we have the Mondeo.. In a few years the Fusion & Mondeo will be the same thing...
I actullay prefer the look of the fusion over the Mondeo |
||
25-08-2010, 02:47 PM | #6 | ||
Guess Who's Back?
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,369
|
I don’t mind the idea of the Fusion Hybrid entering the market as a stand alone model in the Fords range, provided it was at low implementation cost to Ford AU. It could serve the following purpose:
1. Give Ford an entry into the Hybrid Market. While for all intensive purposes Diesel technology is just as ecologically sound as Hybrid technology, it is seen as cutting edge technology and as such Ford should be involved. Why give the entire high margin ‘Green Buyers’ to Toyota & Honda? Get people who’d never consider a Ford into the Dealerships. 2. Fleets – Companies think it’s good to have Hybrids in their Fleet even if they’re limited to promotional vehicles or for senior management. I’d be surprised if Ford received many Fleet tenders which didn’t request the provision of Hybrid vehicles. Five yearly Hybrid sales could win you a hundred sales over the rest of the range. 3. Toyota do it! If Ford wants to be seen as a worthy alternative to Toyota they need to have a full range of competitive vehicles. Using Fusion as a niche player is a great way to show up the Prius as an impractical pose mobile. 4. One Ford – In a few years Mondeo & Fusion will share a platform and as such an understanding of the benefits & weaknesses of each vehicle needs to be known. The only way to get that understanding is have them perform in the same market. Give Australian buyers a taste of the new breed of American Fords and kill the stigma associated with previous releases. 5. Technology Showcase- Have a look at the specifications of the Fusion Hybrid, you name it, and it’s got it. For the reasons above and many more having a Hybrid in the range could have a positive flow on effect for Falcon, Ranger, Territory and even Mondeo sales.
__________________
The 18th Letter |
||
25-08-2010, 05:01 PM | #7 | |||
Meep Meep
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Southside
Posts: 1,513
|
Quote:
3.a. Plus its more fuel efficant than the Camry Hybrid.
__________________
Thundering on.... |
|||
26-08-2010, 03:51 PM | #8 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
|
Quote:
Very good write-up! I think we all know the Fusion is unlikely, but the points you listed here make the argument for a car like it convincing. |
|||
26-08-2010, 04:10 PM | #9 | |||
Guess Who's Back?
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,369
|
Quote:
__________________
The 18th Letter |
|||
25-08-2010, 06:49 PM | #10 | ||
Lukeyson
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW
Posts: 2,584
|
I'm curious.
What Petrol engine is used in the Fusion Hybrid? Is it the same as - or bell-housing bolt compatible with - the Ecoboost I4T engine being developed for RWD application in the Falcon? We know that the Green Car Innovation Fund has pre-allocated funding, but we don't know what it's been allocated to yet. Time to join some speculative dots.... What if Ford can just bolt the FWD Ecoboost + Hybrid system into the engine bay of a RWD Falcon? Now THAT would be something to be excited about. I've always questioned the merit of the I4T over a diesel. Maybe this explains why they went this way. Lukeyson
__________________
If the human brain was simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it. |
||
26-08-2010, 01:59 PM | #11 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
|
Quote:
|
|||
26-08-2010, 03:13 PM | #12 | ||||
Guess Who's Back?
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,369
|
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
The 18th Letter |
||||
26-08-2010, 01:42 PM | #13 | ||
Meep Meep
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Southside
Posts: 1,513
|
^^^^^
Gee, I'd love to see that, 1998: Holden announces it will be releasing a hybrid Commodore 2011: Ford beats it to the market
__________________
Thundering on.... |
||
26-08-2010, 04:14 PM | #14 | ||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
|
Is the Fusion even made in RHD?
__________________
Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica | 1970 XW Falcon | 1971 XY Fairmont | 1973 ZG Fairlane | 1986 XF Falcon panel van | 1987 XFII Falcon S-Pack | 1988 XF Falcon GLS ute | 1993 EBII Fairmont V8 | 1996 XG Falcon ute | 2000 AU Falcon wagon | 2004 BA Falcon XT | 2012 SZ Territory Titanium AWD Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
||
26-08-2010, 04:48 PM | #15 | |||
Guess Who's Back?
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,369
|
Quote:
__________________
The 18th Letter |
|||
28-08-2010, 07:40 PM | #16 | |||
Automotive Designer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 751
|
Quote:
The Fusion and Mondeo will be merging into one product after their current model cycles end - 2013-14? |
|||
29-08-2010, 10:21 AM | #17 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,411
|
Quote:
|
|||
28-08-2010, 06:32 PM | #18 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 531
|
Saw one on the way home from work today so followed it.
Pulled up just around the corner from my house so got out and had a look. 2 German engineers get out... Me: Can I take a look if I put my phone away? Them: Something in German Me: You don't speak english? Them: Something in German. Me: This is the Fusion, from America, yeah? Engineer 1: No, from Germany. Me: No, from America and you obviously speak english, too I see... Engineer 1: Would you trade your mazda 6 for it? Me: After looking at it, I just might. Are they bringing it here? Engineer 1: They might be... Me: Is it as good as the Mondeo? Engineer 1: No. Me: Steering, suspension etc? Engineer 1: Yep. Me: Are they tuning it with a view to bringing it out here? Engineer 1: You can call wheels and they'll love you, but don't say who you heard it from. Now, I'm not saying that I'm taking this guy seriously, but he seemed fairly sincere. And, aside from the rear seats that looked a little flat, this thing looked impressive. VERY impressive. |
||
30-08-2010, 03:03 PM | #19 | |||
Meep Meep
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Southside
Posts: 1,513
|
Quote:
I wonder if the steering/suspension issue's are because of the powertrain or just because its a US model (i.e can easily be brought up to standard).
__________________
Thundering on.... |
|||
30-08-2010, 04:01 PM | #20 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 531
|
Quote:
|
|||
30-08-2010, 09:29 PM | #21 | ||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
|
I've been seeing these at work from time to time for at least 6 months now, as well as the Taurus, so it seems like its a bit more in depth than just evaluation.
Could be anything though. Maybe FoA want to try to use some components from either car as a way of saving money on developing bespoke parts from scratch. Ford Sync hopefully for Falcon and Territory. That would be cool. |
||
29-08-2010, 09:29 AM | #22 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Queensland
Posts: 1,801
|
It's definitly a nice looking car, but the back end is horrible, and the slab of chrome on the front doesn't make it too appealing.
My guess is they've already started work on the new Fusion/Mondeo global mid size car and this is a VERY early test car. The Fusion has been out for ages now, and it's replacement can only be two years away. The Mondeo too has been out since 2007, so by 2012-2013 it'll need replacing.
__________________
CURRENT: 2017 Escape Titanium 2.0L EcoBoost with Technology Pack in White Platinum PREVIOUS 2015 Fiesta ST / 2012 Focus Titanium / 2009 Fiesta Zetec / 2004 Fiesta Zetec |
||
29-08-2010, 10:40 AM | #23 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 531
|
The slab of chrome on the front actually looks a lot better in real life than you'd imagine from the photos. In fact the whole front end works really well together.
The back end isn't the best, but it's certainly not the worst I've seen :-) After seeing it, I'm a big fan. |
||
29-08-2010, 12:00 PM | #24 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Queensland
Posts: 1,801
|
Quote:
__________________
CURRENT: 2017 Escape Titanium 2.0L EcoBoost with Technology Pack in White Platinum PREVIOUS 2015 Fiesta ST / 2012 Focus Titanium / 2009 Fiesta Zetec / 2004 Fiesta Zetec |
|||
30-08-2010, 04:38 AM | #25 | |||
Happy Volkswagen owner
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Manly
Posts: 256
|
I actually like the look of it better than the mondeo, and think a fully fresh start with the fusion name might be what ford needs as the mondeo name i somewhat tarnished from their previous **** boxes!
Stoney!
__________________
Curent ride: 2009 model VW Golf 118tsi - 1.4L supercharged and turbocharged - ECU flash - 151kw and 318nm - 6.7s 0-100. Quote:
|
|||
30-08-2010, 05:52 AM | #26 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,331
|
Fusion would give them some alliteration with their passenger car models. That was part of the idea behind going with Five Hundred in the states as well.
|
||
30-08-2010, 03:43 PM | #27 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,303
|
Theres a real shot in the market for a GOOD looking hybrid, because they are all quite bland at the moment...Fusion is not a looker.
|
||
30-08-2010, 09:58 PM | #28 | ||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
|
Well for starters, bringing in the hybrid Fusion would undermine and compete with Ford's own EcoBoost Falcon strategy, so that's a no go. I seem to recall FoA may have had some involvement (albeit peripheral) in developing the next-gen CD platform which the Fusion and Mondeo will use.
As for the Toreass, that car is due for replacement in 2014 so I suspect its here for benchmarking purposes against what Ford have now decided with RWD cars. But you're definitely on to something with the tech research from the Taurus - the systems in that car would HAVE to find their way into local cars sooner or later and the only way they can really evaluate it and fiddle with it in the real world is in the car itself.
__________________
Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica | 1970 XW Falcon | 1971 XY Fairmont | 1973 ZG Fairlane | 1986 XF Falcon panel van | 1987 XFII Falcon S-Pack | 1988 XF Falcon GLS ute | 1993 EBII Fairmont V8 | 1996 XG Falcon ute | 2000 AU Falcon wagon | 2004 BA Falcon XT | 2012 SZ Territory Titanium AWD Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin Last edited by Road_Warrior; 30-08-2010 at 10:10 PM. |
||