Ford to Move to Just Five Global Modular Platforms

LeadFoot81 · 13-08-2018, 09:30 AM

"Hau Thai-Tang, head of product development and purchasing at Ford, told attendees at 2018 J.P. Morgan Auto Conference in New York about the company's new platform portfolio plan as part of its drive to cut US$25.5 billion ($34.3 billion) from costs between now and 2025.

The five modular platforms will be:

Rear- and all-wheel drive body-on-frame for pickup trucks and utes
Rear- and all-wheel drive unibody, which should appear first on the next-generation Ford Explorer
Front- and all-wheel drive unibody
Front-wheel drive commercial van unibody
Battery electric unibody"

https://www.caradvice.com.au/675159/...lar-platforms/

Wretched · 13-08-2018, 09:47 AM

Interesting to see what impact this will have on Mustang which doesn't appear to be covered in these?

ebv8 · 13-08-2018, 09:56 AM

might just mean global cars not american cars

they still would keep the F trucks and ranger separate so i guess the US will still make mustang also

lets just hope they want to keep making right hand drive mustangs for export

**janddbone** · 13-08-2018, 10:04 AM

Sounds a good plan, including RWD, ten years to late but better than never.

Vesper Martini · 13-08-2018, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

Interesting to see what impact this will have on Mustang which doesn't appear to be covered in these?

Just a hunch But we may see them coming off the same production line as the Lincoln's meaning the possibility of an AWD Mustang.

malazn mafia · 13-08-2018, 10:40 AM

RWD/AWD unibody SUV was done 14 years ago by Ford Australia, well done Detroit for catching up

danzvtil · 13-08-2018, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

RWD/AWD unibody SUV was done 14 years ago by Ford Australia, well done Detroit for catching up

On an old orphan platform not suited to any other markets.

Sprintey · 13-08-2018, 01:47 PM

Done nonetheless and done well.

**janddbone** · 13-08-2018, 02:14 PM

Being a good boy and not biting!

malazn mafia · 13-08-2018, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danzvtil

On an old orphan platform not suited to any other markets.

As good as an X5, but half the price. I beg to differ regarding the 'not suited to any other markets' statement..

jpd80 · 13-08-2018, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

Interesting to see what impact this will have on Mustang which doesn't appear to be covered in these?

Mustang is moving to CD6 - RWD / AWD Unitary.
and with that, Mustang gains a hybrid version.

Along with Mustang, Explorer and Lincoln Navigator, word is that at least one Sedan is planned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

RWD/AWD unibody SUV was done 14 years ago by Ford Australia, well done Detroit for catching up

It's sad reading this years later, the good news is the list of known engines
- 3.3 V6
- 3.3 V6 Hybrid
- 3.0 V6 EB
- 3.0 EB V6 PHEV

jpd80 · 13-08-2018, 04:33 PM

And they're not platforms, they are global architectures which means a lot of the
engineering modules used now will be grouped together to form new product sets.

Bossxr8 · 14-08-2018, 03:18 PM

Will be interesting to see how the Mustangs unique dimensions fit within a platform also used by Explorer. Huge size differences and proportions.

Nikked · 14-08-2018, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Will be interesting to see how the Mustangs unique dimensions fit within a platform also used by Explorer. Huge size differences and proportions.

Forget the notion of a platform being used as a set chassis with different bodies on top.

They are rather a set of pick up points (from what i understand) meaning production lines can be easily changed to suit different models.

For example, BMW use the same platform for the X3/X4 as they do 8 series.

Syndrome · 14-08-2018, 05:14 PM

Ford playing catch-up again. Volkswagen announced their MQB strategy in 2012

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksw...p_MQB_platform

Trendseeker · 14-08-2018, 08:04 PM

Some more information on Drive, including a mention of the Mustang:

https://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/...trackLink=SMH1

Bossxr8 · 15-08-2018, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Forget the notion of a platform being used as a set chassis with different bodies on top.

They are rather a set of pick up points (from what i understand) meaning production lines can be easily changed to suit different models.

For example, BMW use the same platform for the X3/X4 as they do 8 series.

Yes but even those hard points are significantly different. Just look at things like cowl height etc. And the Mustang has a low nose making the suspension hard points much shorter than they would be in a tall SUV.

I know they use "modules" that can be interchangeable between models, and some bits can be scaled up and down. But it's interesting how they will do this because a Mustang and an Explorer are significantly different in just about any way.

jpd80 · 15-08-2018, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Will be interesting to see how the Mustangs unique dimensions fit within a platform also used by Explorer. Huge size differences and proportions.

It's not a platform, that's the big difference to get your head around with what's planned.
Imagine Falcon platform + Territory platform + Mustang platform = variable architecture

When the product envelope is scoped to include it at the beginning,
it's much easier than trying to accommodate it on an existing Falcon.
In a variable architecture, those hard points that proved so difficult
to overcome in the past are now flexible enough to accommodate
so much more..