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Report: Ford looking to spawn three sedans from new platform

 
11 2,808 views Jul 12, 2009

By utilizing two separate fuel tanks, the Tri-Fuel Mondeo is capable of driving up to 815 miles (1,311km)

By utilizing two separate fuel tanks, the Tri-Fuel Mondeo is capable of driving up to 815 miles (1,311km)

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Ford’s future models are to share common vehicle platforms across the globe, a practice that is the keystone of CEO Alan Mulally’s strategy to help shed costs and turn around the fortunes of the company. The first of these new global cars has already been launched in the form of the compact Fiesta hatch and sedan, and this same practice of using a common platform for multiple markets will eventually filter across into Ford’s global sedan lineup as well.

On the drawing board are the designs for the next-generation Taurus, Fusion and European Mondeo. Speaking with The Detroit News, an insider has revealed that Ford plans to develop a new front-wheel-drive midsize platform that will be used for all three of the aforementioned models, replacing three separate platforms in the process.

The new platform would be an evolution of the European C/D-class platform that currently underpins several midsize models, such as the Mondeo. North American models like the Ford Fusion and Edge, which are currently built on the CD3 platform, would move to this new platform, but so would larger vehicles like the Taurus, which is currently manufactured on the D3 platform.

The insider explained that the next-generation Taurus would be slightly smaller than the current model. The same would also be true for the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT, two crossover models also currently based on the D3 platform.

Ford neither denied nor confirmed the news but said no final decision had been made.



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Comments (11)

  1. By HVM Posted: 8/27/2008 11:27am PDT

    One RWD platform for Taurus/Falcoln replacement, Mustang, MKS, Crown Vic/Fairlane and Town Car replacement would generate pretty viable volume in my world.
     
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  2. By raptor Posted: 8/27/2008 12:30pm PDT

    Stupid, and all that because of 2% better fuel economy. What's next, FWD Mustang?

    RWD cars are fun, FWD aren't, period.
     
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  3. By ROOLLY Posted: 8/27/2008 1:19pm PDT

    It's the fuel economy factor nowadays. On the same note I heard there won't even be more V8 mustangs.
     
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  4. By Kevin Posted: 8/27/2008 1:52pm PDT

    No FWD large cars please.
     
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  5. By NoNameDenton Posted: 8/27/2008 4:09pm PDT

    Diesel and DGI turbo small displacment V8s for better fuel economy dernit
     
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  6. By Wizards Lore Posted: 8/28/2008 9:21pm PDT

    if they want to keep the large car they are heading the wrong way if they want to make it FWD...all that weight being pulled by the front wheels alone...poor idea...then there is the fact that the weight will impact steering response...resulting in horrific understeer....
    if the format is to be changed i would say a simple 4wd system would be better.....as the wieght and power distribution is better as well as the safety aspect !
     
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  7. By Chris Posted: 8/29/2008 7:49am PDT

    roolly... i dont know where you heard that but ford is still going to offer a V8 on the next mustang.. in fact they developed an all new 302 (aka 5.0L) V8 just for that purpose. they will be offering turbocharged V6's that will make the V8 obsolete however.

    I've talked to several of my automotive engineer friends and they've stated time and time again that as far as a "platform" is concerned, FWD and AWD are very similar because you're basically adding on a set of rear drive wheels in a piggy back manner.. meaning all you need to do is make enough room on the undercarriage for the second set of drive wheels. at that point, making the platform RWD capable shouldnt be much more work.

    I suspect that ford will do a single large car platform. one where the suspension geometry and components are the same, the unibody is very flexible but still very modular (to allow for a "small" mustang to be built on the same platform as perhaps a large lincoln sedan).. and make the matter of FWD/AWD or RWD/AWD just a matter of the product, and the drive train options. make the taurus and what ever aussie has for a large boring sedan a FWD/AWD only thing.. with a SHO pack for RWD.. mustang is always RWD, along with the falcon, and your lincoln large sedan as well.

    that would ensure that the next mustang gets IRS (like the rest of the platform would HAVE to have)
     
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  8. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 7/12/2009 8:17pm PDT

    Good a smaller Taurus means less weight, just keep the SHO around as well
     
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  9. ma_Michael D avatar Michael D Posted: 7/12/2009 9:02pm PDT

    I could see an evolution of the platform from the well received European Mondeo underpinning some of the vehicles, especially if Volvo gets sold off, but, I hope the cars such as the new Taurus, Flex, MKS and MKT are not reduced in size, humbled and, dumbed-down. They now have this D3 as a proud line with presence, and a great EcoBoost twin-turbo, D.I. V6 upgrade - I don't want to see this brought down. I admire the current line-up much and want to see it built on for the next-generation.
     
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  10. ma_bepsf avatar bepsf Posted: 7/13/2009 9:24am PDT

    Makes sense to me - Just what Ford should have been doing all along...

    ...now bring over the RWD Australian Falcon platform to underpin a new Ford Galaxie, Mercury Montclair and Lincoln Continental and they'll have the large RWD market all wrapped up too with products targeted to compete w/ Chevrolet Caprice, Buick Lucerne/Park Avenue and Cadillac XXX (can never remember those letters...)
     
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  11. ma_lopsided avatar lopsided Posted: 7/16/2009 1:03pm PDT

    If you don't like the push for smaller, lighter, lower-powered front-drive cars, complain to your congressional representative. The gov't and environmental extremists are running the show now.
     
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