Merging falcon and mustang

[Archilino]

http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2009...-finesse-14891

All hypothetical but interesting as well

[platinumXR]

A hypothetical? watch out...FLAPPIST will be onto this like... :

[JPFS1]

I like that article... and not too far fetched I would think.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by JPFS1

I like that article... and not too far fetched I would think.

I agree. Also the writer has justified a business case to sell more units in markets that Ford US dont really get into.

[mikmak]

This really needs to happen, for the sake of Ford enthusiasts everywhere. Of course one might argue (and I often do on a GM site no less) that Falcon should already be melting rubber across the planet. I even went so far as to investigate how hard it would be to convert them from Correct Hand Drive to Wrong hand drive.

The steering arm (duh )


Plenty of room (looking forward from behind the left front wheel)....


Aside from a bespoke dash and inverted front rack (plus a few smaller items) and rerouting a few hoses, it shouldn't be that difficult.

I even know a local comany that can do it if enough interest was generated to warrant the investment: Performax International

Check out their current setup that I recently checked out[URL=http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f32/rwd-alive-part-1-american-werewolves-gympie-75550[/URL]

Yeah yeah, start the Holden abuse. But at the end of the day, I'm a RWD fan. :evilsasmo

[Road_Warrior]

fresh from sticking it to another media outlet for irresponsible speculation

The claws are out!

[InfernoSR]

Good read, and great idea's!!

Imagine a Turbo I6 in a Mustang? would be different and rather cool IMO!

[Road_Warrior]

So basically they are saying that there is no reason why Falcon, Mustang, Taurus X/Freestyle whatever its called, and Territory to NOT share a platform.

[BrisVegas]

It would improve the offerings both in America and here if BOTH Mustang (coupe) & Falcon (sedan) were available. They could have much the same underpinnings, but appeal to different target markets.

I agree about the Focus & Mondeo, they should be the fleet vehicle of choice, rather than Falcons.

[BrisVegas]

Falcon & Mustang are a logical counter to the Commodore & Camaro.

[Mr Brooksy]

Its an interesting article, however I can not see the Americans wanting to send the platform to lil ol Oz, and for us to assemble it and send it back to them. Usually massive US companies pull everything back to the 'States' dont they?

I could (unfortunately) see Ford US build and ship 80% of the next Falcon Territory to Aus, for us to put body panels on and interiors etc.

I hope this isnt the case, and the Carpoint have gotten most of it right.

One thing is for sure though. Only time will tell.

[Luke Plaizier]

Well, I like it that carpoint are sticking it to Drive as much as we have been.


Lukeyson

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by mikmak

This really needs to happen, for the sake of Ford enthusiasts everywhere. Of course one might argue (and I often do on a GM site no less) that Falcon should already be melting rubber across the planet. I even went so far as to investigate how hard it would be to convert them from Correct Hand Drive to Wrong hand drive.

The steering arm (duh )


Plenty of room (looking forward from behind the left front wheel)....


Aside from a bespoke dash and inverted front rack (plus a few smaller items) and rerouting a few hoses, it shouldn't be that difficult.

I even know a local comany that can do it if enough interest was generated to warrant the investment: Performax International

Check out their current setup that I recently checked out[URL=http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f32/rwd-alive-part-1-american-werewolves-gympie-75550[/URL]

Yeah yeah, start the Holden abuse. But at the end of the day, I'm a RWD fan. :evilsasmo

The FG has been design protected for LHD, meaning it was designed to be able to be converted to LHD if they wanted too, and there is nothing major in the design that will get in the way of doing it if they had too, so it can happen if Detroit give them the nod.

If it did happen it will without a doubt mean the death of the I6 though, it will be V6 and V8 only. The Mustang is already getting the V6 next year and the engine plant here cannot provide the volumes of engines needed to handle Falcon, Territory and Mustang, and it would be easier for parts and servicing if the Mustang used the V6 which is basically the same as used in other Ford US vehicles such as Taurus and some Lincoln models, and soon F series.

[Road_Warrior]

I would imagine that the death of the I6 is inevitable anyway, sooner or later, for the same reasons Gorman gave back when he announced the closure of the plant. However, bonnet clearance issues aside, is there any reason why the Orion platform cannot accept both engines? It's wishful thinking I feel if people think the Mustang will be made here because of some form of platform sharing, but in some of those GoAuto articles and that carpoint one (not this one) the FoA spokesperson spoke of the one Ford thing and how it will allow global products to be 'tailored' to local markets...

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I would imagine that the death of the I6 is inevitable anyway, sooner or later, for the same reasons Gorman gave back when he announced the closure of the plant. However, bonnet clearance issues aside, is there any reason why the Orion platform cannot accept both engines? It's wishful thinking I feel if people think the Mustang will be made here because of some form of platform sharing, but in some of those GoAuto articles and that carpoint one (not this one) the FoA spokesperson spoke of the one Ford thing and how it will allow global products to be 'tailored' to local markets...

Yep, its inevitable. Euro 5 will probably kill it off but the government is yet to set a date for when it will come into effect. Many are suggesting maybe 2015?

I've heard that Euro 5 is really stringent and the I6 probably wouldn't get past it without massive amounts of money for direct injection and so forth. Still might not be enough to get it past, but the V6 will come eventually anyway.

[Scott]

Nice article that, nice to read something from the media that is constructive and positive rather than just sensationalist negative and damaging tripe we normally come across.

[Falc'man]

I can't remember which issue of Wheels it was, but Robbo was saying the exact same thing well over 15 year ago, re Mustang/Falcon shared platform.



The article is, as JPFS1 says, not far fetched at all. Not the gist of it, anyway. Although hypothetical there are very strong points, such as...
"Kuzak and Farley are aware that the Mustang coupe, even more than the Falcon, stands or falls by being rear-wheel drive. Nothing else will do. Ford has to remain in the rear-wheel drive market in one way or another" And this is why I believe, barring the unforeseen, it doesn't (and it never will) make sense to make the Falc a FWD.



The following is something else I'd like to see as well, especially when the base XT looks quite dull next to the G6...
"Where company cars continue to be purchased under the watchful purview of a fleet manager, they're tending to be more economical cars -- and smaller. So the Focus could and should be Ford's fleet sales conquistador, not the Falcon.

Since sales of the XT are now down around 30 per cent of total FG Falcon sales, with the remaining 60 or 70 per cent composed of lucrative XR and G6 models, why not just pull the plug on the Falcon (XT) as a fleet queen? After all, it's the private buyers that want the car to remain a rear-driver; the fleet buyers mostly couldn't give a tinker's cuss. If they're looking for a spacious 'large' car and don't care about which end drives, offer them a deal on Mondeo."

[whynot]

It may be wishful thinking, for me, this article really hits all the nails on the head.

The government fleet market has changed. Period. Australian made and four cylinders makes it a compelling (emotional) argument for the government fleets to buy.
Ford knows that the Territory is just too good to kill. This article posits a way to keep it alive.

An AWD Falcon with Ecoboost would be a killer vehicle. Where do I sign up?

An AWD Territory with diesel would also be a killer vehicle. If Ford can get it over the 5.5 greenstar guide, consider it sold.

[mikmak]

Do you really want an AWD Falcon? In my opinion (for what it's worth ) AWD doesn't belong on a car that already needs to be as light as possible. Let's not even start on the front end weight bias. Sure the yanks need them, but they already have the big *** Taurus to take care of that.

[JC]

So if Mustang and Falcon share a platform, then this is a case of these cars going back to their origins. The Mustang was just a 2 door body thrown on the falcon chassis because Ford couldn't sell the falcon. But the Mustang became an overnight success and Lee Iococca (sp?) looked like a genius!

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Do you really want an AWD Falcon? In my opinion (for what it's worth ) AWD doesn't belong on a car that already needs to be as light as possible. Let's not even start on the front end weight bias. Sure the yanks need them, but they already have the big *** Taurus to take care of that.

I agree, The money to get it AWD would be better spent making it lighter, same as making it FWD. Ford has technology (developed by Volvo) where they can make the panels thinner yet still stay as strong as they were previously. This would cut weight and reduced fuel consumption.

[Watto_Cobra]

+1 for lighter RWD. In the FG 4kg was saved in the NA I6 inlet manifold. 21kg saved in the new front suspension.

Despite the savings FG weight remained the same due to more and more safety features.

I'd really like to see the update go on a big diet, yeah, dreaming I know. :

[ebxr8240]

Do you realy think the Mustang will go FWD ??
G.M went mainly FWD on all there cars..
Look where they are now !

[Chilliman]

"Everything points in a certain direction -- but it's all fiction remember..."

That last line in the article is a bit cheeky....isn't it? :

[GT69]

Am i right in assuming that, if the mustang (2 door) and Falcon (4 door) share the same platform, it would be possible, at a greatly reduced price, to get coupes going again with the new falcons?

[CRUSHU F150]

Here is a sneak preview of a test mule BF ute:

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by GT69

Am i right in assuming that, if the mustang (2 door) and Falcon (4 door) share the same platform, it would be possible, at a greatly reduced price, to get coupes going again with the new falcons?

Not a chance. Coupes just don't sell in high enough numbers to justify the costs. Even if Falcon and Mustang do share the same platform it would still most likely mean that all the body panels between them would be different, a top hat as they call it. But it could mean that they make the Mustang in RHD and sell it alongside Falcon, which would be awesome.

Would be fairly easy to do if the chassis is already RHD compatible.

[Nikked]

Im part of the Falcon staying RWD belivers.

It makes sense to not mess with a formula, even in tough times.

[Ohio XB]

I don't have time to read that whole article right now, but what I did read was pretty interesting.


One idea I got from it is for the next gen Mustang. In 1971 the Mustang got bigger. If the current Mustang goes to the Falcon wheelbase Ford could then give the Mustang some 1971 styling. Just a thought.


And how did we sneak that picture of the test mule BF??? : Is that a Ute version Mustang??

Someone made a comment about the Mustang being released because they could not sell Falcons. Mustang was made with Falcon bits in order to save tooling costs in an effort by Iacocca to get approval for Mustang production.



Steve

[Elks]

Originally Posted by JC

So if Mustang and Falcon share a platform, then this is a case of these cars going back to their origins.

Correct. The circle of life.

Good idea though, hypothetically speaking.