Mullaly confirms Falcon and Mustang to share platform from 2016

[vztrt]

Just to add some more fuel to the LWB fire.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/53179/lincoln-to-go-global/

Lincoln to go global

January 14, 2010 by Adam Marshall

Ford is considering selling its luxury Lincoln brand globally, Mark Fields says.

“Potentially, but we are focusing Lincoln here in North America for right now,” Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said here yesterday at the auto show.

“We don’t have any plans at this point to take it global. That doesn’t mean in the future we wouldn’t look at that, but it’s very important for us to focus on North America.”

Overseas sales of the Lincoln brand would fill the void created by Ford’s shrinking luxury portfolio as well as help rebuild the brand, sales were at a 28 year low in 2009.

With the sale of Volvo Ford will lose its luxury presence in China, one of the world’s fastest growing markets. Jaguar and Land Rover were sold in 2008 also sell in China.

Lincoln unveiled a redesigned MKX crossover due to go on-sale in the middle of 2010. But will not discuss the prospects of a small car joining the line-up.

[Road_Warrior]

Yeahhh but...he's a marketing guy. Marketing guys say all sorts of wacky stuff but might not really know what's going on in the back office.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Just to add some more fuel to the LWB fire.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/53179/lincoln-to-go-global/

I had a PM conversation with someone last night and we talked about this very thing. Whether fairlaine returns as a lincoln or a Ford i'm not sure, but if GRWD does go ahead (and that is now all but confirmed) and Ford Aus is part of it you can bet your left you know what that the will try to get fairlaine back if there is any sort of business model for it. Even launching an imported, based on GRWD lincoln as a fairlaine type car might be a good brand builder and get incremental sales....

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

I had a PM conversation with someone last night and we talked about this very thing. Whether fairlaine returns as a lincoln or a Ford i'm not sure, but if GRWD does go ahead (and that is now all but confirmed) and Ford Aus is part of it you can bet your left you know what that the will try to get fairlaine back if there is any sort of business model for it. Even launching an imported, based on GRWD lincoln as a fairlaine type car might be a good brand builder and get incremental sales....

It would also make a good base for a new police fleet, even though odds are taurus.

[Chilliman]

Originally Posted by cosmo20btt

It would also make a good base for a new police fleet, even though odds are taurus.

I have a feeling that if there is a long wheel-base version of GRWD, then the Taurus Police Interceptor will just be a 'gap-filler' until it arrives.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Chilliman

I have a feeling that if there is a long wheel-base version of GRWD, then the Taurus Police Interceptor will just be a 'gap-filler' until it arrives.

Quite possibly. If ford can do a pretty cheap 'police pack' taurus in the meantime then why not. They will lose some sales but not as much as if they did not compete at all. Then come out swingning with the GRWD based car in 2012-2013 or something...

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

Quite possibly. If ford can do a pretty cheap 'police pack' taurus in the meantime then why not. They will lose some sales but not as much as if they did not compete at all. Then come out swingning with the GRWD based car in 2012-2013 or something...

That's a bit early...

Lets assume work starts on GRWD late this year - it'll be 4 years before a production car is ready... That's a pretty quick time frame also ..

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

That's a bit early...

Lets assume work starts on GRWD late this year - it'll be 4 years before a production car is ready... That's a pretty quick time frame also ..

yes perhaps i was a bit optimistc. forgot we are in 2010 now LOL!

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

That's a bit early...

Lets assume work starts on GRWD late this year - it'll be 4 years before a production car is ready... That's a pretty quick time frame also ..

Didn't Marin say it's 12-18 months before a decision has to be made?

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Didn't Marin say it's 12-18 months before a decision has to be made?

I think marin's statement is meant as '12-18 months till we make a call on falcon staying in production...' if falcon exists, it iwll be off GRWD i'm sure of it. The latest rumblings seem to illustrate that GRWD will happen, and if it does Ford Aus will most likely develop it. It does not specify how long it will take to put the car/s into production off this platform, one thinks it will take a bit longer to develop it versus say the straight eveolution of Falcon (which is just conintual modifcation of an existing car). Putting a mustang (or new linconl model) on grwd will take 2 years once the platform is nailed down (with base suspensions etc. designed). Now if GRWD is close to FG, then it could be setup much faster. But given the need for changes to accomodate all those cars/markets involved i'd say it iwll be a whiel yet. Thankfully FG is so damn competitive as is.....

Could ford aus still develop GRWD even if falcon was not built here? Well why not? It is unusual for non-production countries to develop production cars but it has been done before.... Ford is developing the T6 and it won't be built here....

[Watto_Cobra]

I feel much better about the likely merging of Mustang and Falcon under GRWD.

But what will GRWD mean for ute and wagon (and Territory)?

I suspect the wagon will be gone mid-year : Chances of it making a comeback in 2015?

I also suspect One Ford may rule out a sedan-based ute and we'd be forced into Rangers/T6 and the like. :

[LeadFoot81]

I don't think there will be another Falcon wagon after BF3, or another Falcon ute after FG wraps up.

Something will be worked out for a next gen Territory, but who knows if it will be Falcon based?

Falcon sedan will be/has been consolidated into the GRWD platform but I think our luck will end there.

[Road_Warrior]

Right.

There is still a chance that the Toreass will be imported here, as a large car replacement. This would more than likely fill the Falcon's shoes, or try to.

The Falcon/Mustang/MKR and...another...will more than likely platform share but this may mean that the Falcon will be a little bit smaller than it is now. Ford doesn't want a grossly oversized and overweight Mustang (which is a volume seller) ruining its icon.

This will in turn mean that the Falcon would, as I have suspected for a while now, become a niche vehicle for the luxury and performance buyer. No more fleet queen, no more family wagon. Whether this vehicle is made here or not is anyone's guess, and is still years away in any case, but this is how things appear to be shaping up at the moment.

[Chilliman]

More media sites are coming around - from carpoint.com.au:

Why Falcon shouldn't be written off yet
words - Joshua Dowling
Falcon and Mustang could repeat history and become twins under the skin
Following a turbulent week of speculation regarding the future of the Falcon, it now seems possible that Australia's second biggest selling six-cylinder sedan could be brought into Ford's global plans and share its DNA with the Mustang.
Some media believe Ford CEO Alan Mulally cast doubt over the future of the Falcon when he told Australian journalists at the Detroit motor show earlier in the week: "People who make one vehicle for one country, a different vehicle, those days are gone." He also boasted that more imported Ford vehicles would head to Australia over the coming years.
This sent some sections of the media into a spin, but it has since transpired that history could be repeated and the comments could have instead meant that the Falcon may be reunited with the Mustang.
The two iconic cars were twins under the skin in the 1960s until Ford Australia decided it needed a tougher chassis to handle Australia's unique conditions.
The Carsales Network understands the reason behind Ford's secrecy around the future of the Falcon is because it is intrinsically linked to the Mustang, which is at a critical stage of development.
In his responses to questions from the Australian media about rear-wheel-drive, Mulally made the point several times that he is committed to rear-drive cars, thus taking some strength out of the rumours the Falcon might eventually go front-wheel-drive.
What has been overlooked until now is that the timing of future versions of the Mustang and Falcon are close enough that this could provide Ford with a golden opportunity to "marry" them.
The Mustang's 50th anniversary is in 2014. The Falcon is due for replacement in 2015. If the two vehicles were to share their underpinnings the planning would be at an extremely sensitive point right now.
The Carsales Network understands that Ford must decide within the next six to 12 months on what characteristics will be required to make the next generation Mustang, a highly profitable and iconic car for the Ford brand which outsells the humble Falcon by more than 10-to-1.
When interviewed by the Carsales Network, Ford Australia boss Marin Burela refused to comment on what possible link there may be with the Falcon and the Mustang of the future. When asked if the matter had even been discussed, Burela said: "With all due respect, it's simply not a discussion we're going to get into right now."
Meanwhile, Mulally told Melbourne's the Herald Sun newspaper: "We have learned so much from the Falcon. But as we go forward we'll continue to use all our assets around the world. Whatever that Falcon morphs to, for the next one, it will be available around the world."
He also gave the clearest sign yet that rear-drive was here to stay. He told the newspaper: "The whole thing about rear drive? We're going to have a rear drive car. And we've got the Mustang, so you can imagine going forward that there will be a version of the Falcon that will be even better. In capital letters."
This means that Ford Australia could be responsible for developing both the next generation Falcon and the Mustang -- in much the same way Holden did the engineering for the Commodore and the Camaro.
In Holden's case, the Camaro is made in Canada and the Commodore is made locally.
What's unclear in Ford's plans is whether the Falcon can be sold in high enough numbers to justify local manufacturing.
Burela says the Ford Australia factory is viable at 55,000 units annually (its production volume last year). "But remember, by 2015 the market will have probably grown to 1.2 to 1.3 million units by then. So if we maintain a 10 to 11 per cent share of the total market, our numbers will grow."
Burela said he would rather be competing in a large-car market where there were just two main rivals competing for 100,000 annual sales, rather than in the small-car class where there are 22 brands competing for 200,000 sales.

[GK]

^^

Good article and cements what many here have been saying. Ford need a GRWD and FordAus are the best at it. Mustang is a Ford icon and needs a better platform.

Marry the two and viola! It's a win/win.

GK

[dmcgr39]

i cant see them cutting the falcon ute from the line up.
it still beats the commodore ute for sales and alot of trademen like the ute as it drives better then any jap ute.
a bigger towing capacity would be nice, and a tray back xr8

[Sprint XR8]

The Carsales Network understands that Ford must decide within the next six to 12 months on what characteristics will be required to make the next generation Mustang, a highly profitable and iconic car for the Ford brand which outsells the humble Falcon by more than 10-to-1.

Ford sold 66623 Mustangs in 2009, Falcon sedan and ute sold around 43000. Its not even a 2 to 1 difference.

[SSD-85]

^^ Well given the mustang is selling to a populace thats more than 10 times higher than ours, its expected.

[Ghiadude]

2 to 1 but does that include ute and territory and further down the line fairlane? and quite possibly wagon??? when you look at it that way we are on a fairly good footing are we not?

[Ohio XB]

I finally got around to reading all this.

This article bothers me in the way it is reported...

Lincoln to go global

January 14, 2010 by Adam Marshall

Ford is considering selling its luxury Lincoln brand globally, Mark Fields says.

“Potentially, but we are focusing Lincoln here in North America for right now,” Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said here yesterday at the auto show.

“We don’t have any plans at this point to take it global. That doesn’t mean in the future we wouldn’t look at that, but it’s very important for us to focus on North America.”

Now, I can just imagine that the reporter asked Fields if Ford had plans to sell Lincoln globally, to which Fields answered "Potentially, but we are focusing Lincoln here in North America for right now. We don’t have any plans at this point to take it global. That doesn’t mean in the future we wouldn’t look at that, but it’s very important for us to focus on North America."

From that the reporter makes the headline Lincoln to go global.....even though he only said potentially, we don't have any plans, we're only working on it here at the moment.

Geessshh!

In 2007 Ford sold 134,626 Mustangs and only 91,251 in 2008 as the economy started to tank. The low 2009 sales are not a reflection of typical annual sales. Still not a 10 to one difference when looking at 2007 sales.


Steve

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

I finally got around to reading all this.

This article bothers me in the way it is reported...

Lincoln to go global

Now, I can just imagine that the reporter asked Fields if Ford had plans to sell Lincoln globally, to which Fields answered "Potentially, but we are focusing Lincoln here in North America for right now. We don’t have any plans at this point to take it global. That doesn’t mean in the future we wouldn’t look at that, but it’s very important for us to focus on North America."

From that the reporter makes the headline Lincoln to go global.....even though he only said potentially, we don't have any plans, we're only working on it here at the moment.

Geessshh!

In 2007 Ford sold 134,626 Mustangs and only 91,251 in 2008 as the economy started to tank. The low 2009 sales are not a reflection of typical annual sales. Still not a 10 to one difference when looking at 2007 sales.

Steve

OhioXB, i agree. There was absolutely nothing in that article to suggest that Lincoln is going global. Makes me wonder what was left out. If anything.

The other thought is that, maybe they were trying to get some sort of information which could then tie Lincoln / Mustang / Falcon into GRWD.

As for the 2007 Mustang sales of 134,626, I also agree that those sorts of figures are much more in line with historical trends.

I'm hopeful that the Falcon will sell 36,000 this year. The Ute should do about 14,000 and Territory about the same.

[last fairlane]

Lets go back close to 50 years and the Falcon and Mustang were twins
why couldnt they be twins now
that way the Stang gets rid of its 1982 XE Falcon rear end and gets an FG rear end
and Falcon gets a decent V8 from the Stang
that would be a win/win sitution wouldnt it?
Also couldnt Ford US give us a Lincoln for Example and we could call it a Fairlane/LTD we used to have yank cars here which had different names here in Australia to the American names over in the UK they sell Galaxies and they are people movers just like a Hi ace
If a Lincoln was imported as an LTD it could be re styled around the front to keep it looking like it came from the Falcon family
Holden did this back in the eighties they made the Geminis and Camiras look like the were part if the Commodore family so it can be done
or leave it as a stand alone model something like a Chrysler 300 which looks nothing like any other Chrysler
Just my thoughts
thanks John

[jpd80]

Hello everyone, first post on AFF but a frequent flier on other Ford websites here and in the US.

Wesconet is a Ford insider who posts over on GM Insidenews,
he had some interesting news:

"The only thing the Mustang and Falcon will share are powertrains, most of the stuff fore of the firewall, and the usual Ford interior bits.

Thunderbird is in discussions as a US-built, Falcon-derived sports sedan to hit back at the Charger. Falcon would remain as an Australian-built unit. Regardless, the Thunderbird would be significantly more stylish... think Mercedes CLS.

MKR would follow suit to give Auto Alliance more work to do, and to compliment the Lincoln line."


(emphasis added)

Thunderbird as a sports-sedan indicates that Taurus will stay FWD/AWD. Interesting that the MKR would be built at Auto Alliance...

* Auto Alliance is the plant at Flat Rock where the Mustang, Mazda 6 is also built there too

Personally, I'm hoping that they are fiddling around with the long wheelbase Fairlane version
that's far more suited to the luxury market and give Ford a really great flagship.

Either way, it surely cements Falcon's future in the company
and allows FoA the freedom to keep the I-6 for now......


John

[Falc'man]

Welcome aboard mate, it's good to have you here.


Edit: Just a coincidinc; I was about to post this in the other thread, but here's just as fitting.

Originally Posted by wescoent

Why does 'global' to everyone mean Western Europe?

Lincoln going global means China, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America.

In the long run, Lincoln is looking to compete with Mercedes and BMW, in a manner of speaking. Attention to detail. Near-perfect reliability. Unmistakable styling. Unmatched customer service experience. Cutting-edge technology. It's not hyperbole... it's a goal.

Lincoln is slowly, but surely, creating their brand identity, and with each passing generation, the cars will improve.

They won't give up on the traditional American hallmarks of roominess for people and cargo, and effortless acceleration, which is why Western Europe will never accept them.

They're not there yet... not by a long shot, but that's the plan.

What I find interesting about wescoent is that he puts all this on a GM forum, of all places. I hope he knows where his limits are.

[OZQUAD44]

Good to see some optimism surrounding the Falcon and RWD.

Mustang and Falcon sharing the same underpinnings sounds like a very good thing. Like it has been said Win/Win. Can't believe how long its taken Ford USA to get on board with this. Remember Clarkson from Top Gear throwing a picture of the Mustang into the NOT WANT bin, based purely on its lousy live rear end.

Doesn't worry me if the Falcon gets a bit smaller because of the union. Its about time it shed a few pounds, just as long as they don't make it too small and skinny, like the VB-VL commondores were in the eighties. Look at a Toyota Camry nowadays, that thing feels and looks almost as big as a Falcon if looked at in isolation. So car makers can make small look and feel big quite successfully. If the Falcon lost a few mm here and there I wouldn't be worried in the least.

I would be shattered if they made it FWD though, surely Ford AU/USA can see that is a death knell for the badge in this country, and a very dumb idea.

The Australian Media need a fair kick up the rear end the way they have smashed the Falcon over the years. Like one bloke said, they've been trying to kill off the Falcon for the last twenty years. Keep trying you losers! Only makes me want one more.

I'm looking forward to the all alloy V8 just around the corner or giving the Inline 6 turbo a crack in my next Falcon/Terry. Long Live the Falcon, an Aussie Icon that the rest of the world have missed out on, to their detriment. Perhaps Falcon DNA will find its way onto a broader stage in the future?

[SSD-85]

A new T-bird? Based on a Falcon? Now THAT is exciting. Hopefully mentioning that its going to compete against the charger indicates that Ford will take it more seriously this time around, unlike that early 00's model. If it is released in a way im expecting, and brought here to OZ id happily shell out for one.

[Rodp]

Damn, here I was hoping I could buy a Mustang in a couple of years.. :(

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Rodp

Damn, here I was hoping I could buy a Mustang in a couple of years.. :(

In a couple of years you'll be able to say that.
(Barring the unforeseen)

[China]

Yeh in a couple of years you,ll be able to say that. But it won't have the grunt, after the Xr6 destruction today I have it on good authority that the govenment is planning a new 70's style ban the performance car campain

[Ghiadude]

Im sorry - but I wont stand for it and in this modern era of the internet it would be easy to unite for a common cause ESPECIALLY ONE THIS POPULAR.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR OF BANNING LOW PERFORMANCE DRIVERS AND NOT HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS SAY 'I' -