Ford Officially Commits to RWD March 24, 2008, 10:59:14 AM Bringing up the rear: Ford to revive rear-wheel drive in U.S.Mustang Aussie: Ford To Focus On The Falcon, Not So Much MercuryQuote from: JalopnikWe hear this AM that Ford's taking a page directly from GM's Aussie-loving playbook. Bryce Hoffman of the Detroit News, who's never met a job he couldn't hand-le when it comes to Ford, is reporting they're looking at bringing the rear-wheel-drive Falcon platform up from down under to provide the basis for the next Ford Mustang. In addition to the muscular two-door, it'll also be used for new sedans from the Ford and Lincoln brands -- replacements for the Crown Vic and Lincoln Town Car -- both scheduled to meet their demise come 2011......So what about Mercury? Good question -- we've no clue, but we haven't seen any new product from the brand all about the heat in quite some time (wait, sorry, we mustn't forget the refreshed 2009 Mercury Mariner). We've also not heard of any new product coming down the development line. Oh FoMoCo, where art your Mercury brand? Who cares really, as long as that rear-wheel drive sedan looks like the Interceptor we saw at the Detroit Auto Show last year. So there ya go. Ford, inexorably intertwined with following GM's lead, finally does the right thing at the expense of Mercury division. This is what happens when the focus on reorganization is not being spearheaded by car guys. And as flippant as Jalopnik can be sometimes, their comments seem to convey the prevailing attitude about Mercury division. Look for the ax to fall within a few years.Oh wellz...at least it's half good news anyway.(and LMAO @ "Ford bringing up the rear". Haven't we been doing that for Ford all this time?!) Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #1 – March 24, 2008, 01:01:45 PM Quote from: EricCoolCats;210589(and LMAO @ "Ford bringing up the rear". Haven't we been doing that for Ford all this time?!)Good info. And I thought the title was apropos.QuoteCEO Alan Mulally was dismayed to learn that the company he had just been hired to lead had no plans to actually build it.Mulally seems to be the first CEO in a long time to know what he's doing. Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #2 – March 24, 2008, 03:02:01 PM Mercury's already dead in Canada. All of the L-M dealerships were converted to Ford-Lincoln dealerships and the brand went away. The only Mercury we can buy here is, tragically and almost comically, the Grandma Marquis.I don't care if Ford is following GM, since when you think about it, GM is following Chrysler. The important thing is that RWD cars are coming, so in 10-15 years I'll be able to buy a decent beater and won't necessarily have to go with an old Charger or 300 :hick: Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #3 – March 24, 2008, 03:45:02 PM The problem with mercury is that they have nothing unique, everything is a ford clone, maybe with a few extra luxuries. I say bring back the marauder for the panther platforms exit... Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #4 – March 24, 2008, 04:32:54 PM QuoteThe problem with mercury is that they have nothing unique, everything is a ford clone, maybe with a few extra luxuries. A Mercury has always been an upscale Ford...there's never been anything pretentious about that. The real problem is that the luxury features which used to be in upscale vehicles like Mercurys are now trickling down to even base Ford vehicles. In other words, Ford vehicles are bypassing the reason why Mercury existed in the first place. So what to do with Mercury now? That is the connundrum that Ford is in.A few articles have suggested that Mercury could become FoMoCo's niche division, with unique cars (read: imported). That has been tried several times with extremely limited success (1991 Capri, 1999 FWD Cougar, the entire Merkur fiasco, etc.). Plus parts availability will be limited and expensive, something that Ford doesn't need to get into at this point.If Mercury were to build vehicles unique to that division, that would be something positive. The Messenger coupe from the auto shows a few years ago comes to mind. Of course we'll always be rooting for a Mustang-based Cougar derivative. But Ford already does their own unique vehicles, and so does Lincoln. The Mercury brand cannot be like the other two in that respect. They have to blend the two other divisions in order to survive.I've always been happy with Mercury Division as being upscale Fords. There are so many more quality features in my basic Mountaineer than in a semi-loaded base Explorer of that era. I believe the Mountaineer was the equivalent of the Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition, which means you had to bypass several lower Ford versions to even get close to what Mercury offered as standard. That's a pretty sweet idea (although I've always said that the Mountaineer is the one vehicle that Mercury has always gotten right from day one...now you know why). Even with our cars, and their nearly 75% parts interchange rate, there are enough differences between the Cougar and Thunderbird to make the Mercury version a little more substantial. There's no shame in that.Probably what Mercury should be in the future (if Ford keeps them around, anyhow) is more of what makes them unique. Take the upscale Ford idea but push it further. Give features that no Ford vehicle has, to make the Merc that much more desirable. Like these multiple glass roofs that a lot of newer vehicles have. Ford: single or dual traditional-style power moonroofs. Mercury: quad-style power. Lincoln: Full glass roof with split opening. See that? The idea works because you cannot easily switch roofs on a car...if you want that feature, you have to buy that division's car, simple as that. It's not hard to figure out stuff like this if they used a little brain power.I look at things backwards: from a parts perspective. In other words, what parts can I scavenge from the upscale car to put on mine, and make mine look more upscale (or even "factory customized")? It's like the people that swapped out the Cadillac Escalade EXT front ends onto their Chevy Avalanches a few years ago. Simple swap but makes a big difference in looks, without paying the full premium price. If the Mercury parts (seats, grille, dash panels, etc.) were so far beyond what the Fords offer, then you've got brand equity. The only problem then would be, how far can you push a Mercury's uniqueness before it becomes a Lincoln?That would be a great problem to have, though... Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #5 – March 24, 2008, 04:39:43 PM QuoteSources said the new rear-wheel-drive platform will provide the underlying architecture for an all-new Ford Mustang, as well as for new Ford and Lincoln sedans. Guess I'll be takin out another car loan.:hick: QuoteSo what to do with Mercury now? That is the connundrum that Ford is in.With the current state of affairs at FoMoCo, they can't afford to do what needs to be done IMHO. Remember when there were dramatic sheetmetal differences between Ford and Mercury counterparts? Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #6 – March 24, 2008, 04:53:49 PM QuoteRemember when there were dramatic sheetmetal differences between Ford and Mercury counterparts?Remember how Ford had that problem figured out two decades ago but are too stupid to figure it out now? :hick: Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #7 – March 24, 2008, 05:17:28 PM I am a huge Mercury-of-the-past fan, but the current successful car manufacturer model is base-brand and luxury-brand as established by Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. Mercury's existence doesn't make sense from a workload perspective considering all the white collar workforce reductions. Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #8 – March 24, 2008, 05:22:05 PM Quote from: Thunder Chicken;210611 The only Mercury we can buy here is, tragically and almost comically, the Grandma Marquis.-yeah, the older mom and pops still come in looking for that platform, and alot want the CV, alas, as unless your fleet, no CV for you. so you have the GM, which some dont want, and the sales people push them towards the taurus/sable(500/montego)..... Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #9 – March 24, 2008, 06:24:44 PM im glad to see Ford keeping RWD around, but kind of disappointed because we all know Mercury will go the way of Oldsmobile. Sure we all know the "New Edge" Cougar Neco Cougar what ever you want to call it was a total detour from what had been the cougar for the past 20 years , in fact before i actually drove a 99 i hated them. But alas i doubt we will ever see a new V8 Cougar i would love to but just don't think we will. Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #10 – March 24, 2008, 06:59:23 PM the cars will probly be automatic only over here like all the chrysler ones are, so none of this :burnout: Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #11 – March 24, 2008, 07:00:41 PM Quote from: EricCoolCats;210623I believe the Mountaineer was the equivalent of the Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition, which means you had to bypass several lower Ford versions to even get close to what Mercury offered as standard. That's a pretty sweet idea (although I've always said that the Mountaineer is the one vehicle that Mercury has always gotten right from day one...now you know why).I duno! If you seen Gumby's Mounty you would think otherwise. Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #12 – March 24, 2008, 09:08:23 PM I can honestly say an Ozzie Falcon brought to the US as a Crown Vic replacement would be a new car that I would very heavily consider. Mulally is a tough customer, I have high hopes for him at Ford. Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #13 – March 24, 2008, 09:19:22 PM i agree about the falcon. i love fords, would never buy any other american brand, (would consider puppiess solely for mpg for my wife) and mustangs are just too common. Quote Selected
Ford Officially Commits to RWD Reply #14 – March 25, 2008, 05:25:02 AM Heh kinda funny the mustang gets Falcon underpinnings again. Quote Selected
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