Rising fuel costs and increasingly tougher fuel economy standards are reportedly forcing Ford to reconsider its plans for a future rear-wheel-drive platform. Back in January, Ford CEO Alan Mullaly was bullish about the development of its new RWD architecture that was intended to underpin new Ford and Lincoln models in the US. However recent spikes in the cost of oil and a renewed consumer focus on small, thrifty, front-wheel-drive cars have cast doubt over the future of the RWD project.
As Ford’s product chief Derrick Kuzak said recently, the reduction in SUV and large pick-up truck production by the automaker has helped stabilise sales, while the increased uptake of economical small cars by a cost-conscious public has thrown water on the belief that ford would benefit from the introduction of another large-car RWD platform. Clearly, large fuel-hungry cars are no longer as high on the new-car shopper’s agenda as they used to be and Ford has been forced to take a second look at the viability of their new RWD architecture.
With Ford in such a financially unstable position, the move to axe potentially unpopular models before they have a chance to bomb in the showrooms would definitely help rein in costs for the beleaguered manufacturer, but does this mean rev-headed Blue Oval fans will no longer be able to pull big, smoky burnouts with Ford’s future offerings? The writing isn’t on the wall just yet, but with words like “change”, “re-evaluate”, and “reconsider” being thrown about, RWD-lovin’ Ford fans in the US may need to look at jumping ship sooner rather than later.
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Here’s a wild idea, FoMoCo.
If big, heavy RWD cars are going out of fashion then how about building small RWD cars? Something like the old Escorts (that are still popular enough to see rallying duties today). Aim for economical and fun.
Just because people are price conscious doesn’t mean they’ve lost their pulse.
Or instead of making several cars in various countries all built on individual platforms why not design a platform which will be built in one country [preferably a country which has years of experience in building quality reliable RWD cars such as Australia] and that will be able to be used on different models such as the Alpha and Zeta Platfroms that were designed by Holden.
Parts-sharing may annoy some enthusiasts with one car having similar parts to that of a car lower down the range [Aston Martin/Jag sharing parts with a Mondeo]
but it helps reduce tooling costs etc thereby making the cars cheaper more popular and easier to repair as parts are more easily/readily availble
The answer to this problem is so obvious, but I hope Ford don’t do anything stupid here. Ford Australia need to take a lead role in re-developing the existing E8 (Orion) platform for use globally, reduce its size a little to be close to Camry mid size, marketing can call it a fantastic all-new platform too.
This is a no brainer, let hope there’s some switched on people left at Ford.
I think WHEELNUT your right. But days of big brash RWD are getting lesser and lesser and the sooner Ford jump ship and go FWD and smaller and lighter platforms then the better it will be. Ford’s trouble is as follows:
1. Stuck in timewarp with outdated hellbent strangling interference from Dearborn USA
2. Obsession with RWD mentality
3. Stuck in void on boxy, brash and bland designs that have only “lately” taken change for better
4. Dont read market right…..in Aust, one of the managers said that they never read market right for diesels to be put in Mondeo and that many diesel Mondeos were purchased and they should bring out the wagon. Customers vote with there wallet and buy them irrespective whether not really a medium to long term solution
5. Ford are scared to put hard yards in and get it fully right to release new models regularly. They say…..we will release in whatever market and do analysis and then if figures right release in Australia. Meanwhile the smarter better managed companies cross the t’s and dot the i’s and release ASAP!
FORD MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO DEARBORN WITH STUBBORN OUTDATED AND OLD REGIMENTAL CONTROL FAIRLY MUCH REST OF WORLD………then sooner some of those tools in USA are removed the better as Mullaly is not a massive risk taker and is mediocre at best
Sad news for performance loving Ford fans,don’t get me wrong fwd does have a place but only on smaller,less weight cars.Would anyone reaily want to buy a fwd G6ETurbo or a fwd ute?The answer is in Toyota’s TRD Aurion - NO.Put the boot on the other foot and say if Toyota made a RWD Aurion whould they scoop the market I think - YES.