Ford may finally start to share
The European Focus, Focus C-Max, Focus Coupe-Cabriolet, Volvo S40, V50, C30, C70, Mazda3, Mazda5, and CX-7 have a lot in common, despite first appearances. These vehicles all use elements of the C1 platform. And they all point to what the future of Ford might be. By using this shared architecture for everything from inexpensive hatchbacks to upscale convertibles, Ford was able to cut engineering costs by 30 percent.
According to Derrick Kuzak, the man who developed the C1 platform for the European Ford Focus, this is what Ford needs for future products as well: A shared versatile architecture with a high amount of variation.
"If you look at C1, it's almost a microcosm of what we're trying to do in the enterprise as a whole," says Kuzak. "Having a very strong and capable platform -- and on top of that you put very unique products that are unique not just in how they look but are very consistent with the individual brand DNA."
Perhaps this is the boldest move yet for Ford, but one of the most obvious. Kuzak seems to have the right idea, but he'll have to move quickly. Time is short and so is development money for this company that desperately needs a home run to get back in the game. At the soonest, his new models wouldn't even reach showrooms until 2008. Follow the read link for even more insight into the future of Ford.
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
J P 5:37PM (11/08/2006)
Finally. America gets the C1 platform. its about time.
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Ken 5:52PM (11/08/2006)
Keep it up FoMoCo !!
That song "Come on Baby let the good times roll...." may become Fords song again !!
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jon 8:04PM (11/08/2006)
Ford also has the larger platform that underpins the Mondeo, S-Max, Galaxy, S80, Freelander.
I don't think that the platform itself is the problem. It is the execution - style, materials, equipment spec etc, that make or break a car.
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Rene Curry 8:28PM (11/08/2006)
Just make sure they all look different. The Mazda '6' platform used on the Lincoln has too many common design themes with the Ford & Mercury counterparts. Especially the greenhouse and front end overhang.
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ak 5:59PM (11/08/2006)
J P,
Volvo S40, V50, and Mazda producs based on C1 platform have been available on the US market for years.
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RZ 6:00PM (11/08/2006)
As always, much ado about nothing. Why are they talking about this guy like he is all that. Give him some time, let’s see what he’ll come up with. Also Ford is doing so poorly now, almost any change will provide better results.
Here’s my .02 cents on all of this. Ford is making products that everyone is making, say SUVs…everyone makes them, same is the case with crossovers. They make Mustang, but GM will introduce Camaro in few years and Dodge/Chrysler are making cool sports cars.
What Ford needs to do is to make a GREAT car, BUT in a segment that does not include Toyota or Honda, make them catch up with you not the other way around. Looking on today’s market I see no decently priced wagons. Almost no one makes them, and those who do usually demand a lot of money, like Volvo or BMW or Cadillac. Honda doesn’t make them, Toyota is not in that market either, and Chevy’s is too plain and is not all that cheap. They need to make an all new, revolutionary wagon , that will be affordable. They provide better fuel economy, better ride and wagons are not something everyone drives so they are unique. Something that is a bit smaller than Magnum, but with plenty of room and power. Have a V4, V6, V8, not too heavy (to get good MPG), diesel, and maybe one a little smaller than another, sort of like Camry and Corolla only wagons…. and they will have a winner.
Chrysler is widely recognized the company that invented minivans, Ford needs to do the same. I may be wrong but as far as I know Toyota makes no wagons right now. By the time Toyota will realize that they need a wagon Ford will be LONG the leader in the class.
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Tom DC/VA 6:29PM (11/08/2006)
"And they all point to what the future of Ford might be. By using this shared architecture for everything from inexpensive hatchbacks to upscale convertibles, Ford was able to cut engineering costs by 30 percent."
Well, duh.
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Gary Blomquist 6:38PM (11/08/2006)
Ford can thank their lucky stars for their Mazda partner for nearly all their car platforms........and that goes for Mazda 2.3 engine too.
Without Mazda.....I don't know where Ford would be now.
Even when Mazda first came out with the Mazda 6S, in 03, powered by the Ford Duratec 3.0 V6, Mazda's Duratech had Mazda re-engineered heads that gave the Duratec new life.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Mazda C-9 that will have the Ford Duratec 3.5 V6, won't have in-house re-engineered heads too.
Looks like Father needs to learn from son.
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Tom DC/VA 12:23AM (11/09/2006)
"I may be wrong but as far as I know Toyota makes no wagons right now.
Toyota Matrix (also marketed as the Pontiac Vibe)
"By the time Toyota will realize that they need a wagon Ford will be LONG the leader in the class."
So why did Ford just drop the Focus wagon from the US lineup? Why did is there no wagon for the Fusion/Milan/MKZ trio or the Five Hundred/Montego twins (though arguably for the latter there is the Freestyle, which IIRC Ford has already declared dead).
As much as I would like to say that Ford is doing a good job, they aren't. They've let nameplates die on the vine repeatedly, and then needlessly burn extra money on clean sheet designs that would be unnecessary if they just had a regular 5 year product cycle.
Ford sucks, they've sucked for years, and I doubt they understand why they suck even at this late and critical date.
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doglet 7:48PM (11/08/2006)
so how many years has it taken ford to realize what everyone just assumed they would do from day one? 3 years, 4?
i swear, ford makes more obviously stupid decisions than any company on earth. they move at glacial speeds. there must be 20 layers of buracuracy decisions have to move thru before they finally get the green stamp.
the simple truth is that if ford cant get its shit together it will cease to exist, sooner rather than later.
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Howard Kerr 10:48PM (11/08/2006)
Gee, I won't own a Toyota, I have owned several Fords, so I'm not a fan of Toyota, but they figured this "shared architecture" deal out...what? twenty years ago? Example? First Lexus ES, the 250 was really nothing more than a Camry hardtop with different front and rear treatments. That was almost 17 years ago.
Hey RZ, maybe it's not a GREAT/WORLD-BEATER of a car, but if you really think Ford needs a wagon so bad, why not consider looking into a Freestyle? I don't know what "plain" Chevy wagon you are talking about, unless I've overlooked it, Chevy has no "WAGON". Unless you mean that PT clone, the HHR. Everyone else that makes a wagon (Honda with its CR-V and Toyota with it's Highlander) builds an SUV that can pretend to be a station wagon. At least the Freestyle actually looks like a modern interpretation of a station wagon. And it is kind of small, but Ford builds the ONLY small wagon in the Focus. NO ONE has anything in it's size, unless you include those funky looking 5 door sedanish cars like the Matrix/Vibe or the Caliber/Compass.
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RZ 10:24AM (11/09/2006)
Chevy wagon is Malibu Maxx.
Yes you are right those small SUVs are in a way wagons, but i was talking about wagons in the style of Volvo and Magnum. They are CARS, low, easy to get into, provide 100% car ride, also low weight...which will make a good engine perform that much better. You get a very roomy car, good MPG, good HP and something that is different from what everyone else is driving.
But my main point was that Ford needs to enter a market that is not already dominated by someone and where they will be first. Much like Prius in hybrid market or Chrysler was in Minivans 15-20 years ago.
As far as wagons go i still think real wagons and those small SUVs you named are different types of vehicles. SUV is an SUV, wheres wagon is your regular sedan but with a a lot of space.
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RZ 12:13AM (11/09/2006)
10 Malibu Maxx
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J P 8:59AM (11/09/2006)
I know mazda and volvo sell C1 platform cars. However, if Ford sold them, America would get domestic, CHEAP, excellent cars. Some people need ford to sell C1 platform cars- some people (not me) only buy domestic, and they would be getting a really good product for a change. I mean- the Mondeo- a fantastic car (and you can ask Jeremy Clarskson) -- doesn't the name Mondeo mean "global" or "world?" let the rest of the world have it! Also, I don't know about you guys, but I would love to have the 5 cylinder Focus ST and the rumored 300hp AWD Focus RS here in the states to beat the pants off whatever gm and chrysler are offering in that department, as well as some imports. I mean, c'mon, these are really good FORDS, and were letting them go to foreign countries. psshhh.
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noub 5:36AM (11/09/2006)
Let this man some time, we will be able to judge the Kuzak's work at the end of 2010 ! not before !
By that time, he will be able to bring B segment cars, bring a brand new focus, replace the 500 ! and maybe redesign the crown vic.
Next year will be just car rebadging! 2008 will bring the fairlane and the mks. the real work will begin in 2009 !
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noub 9:29AM (11/09/2006)
Howard Kerr is right, Ford should market the Freestyle as a 500 station wagon.
that will ease the arrival of the future fairlane concept. Otherwise, the Freestyle will have to desappear.
Anyway, we must let some time to Kuzak to develop a whole range of product. 2007 is just about car relooking (nothing new !! hard year for ford), beginning of 2008 will be the MKS and the fairlane concept. The real work will begin from late 2008 until ...
I think the good time to judge is 2010. At this stage, Kuzak would have bring some B segment cars, a brand new focus, the next 500 !
We can not judge before, just hope the current management will not change each year.
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campbell53 8:15AM (11/09/2006)
Ford gets it finally. But as usual it's 4 years too late. But....there is light. For one...the wagon is coming. It's called the Fairlane (although it will be introduced with another name). A larger people hauler that will replace the minivan. I believe Ford will catch everyone off guard with this product and it will be a big success.....
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HotRod 9:22AM (11/09/2006)
#4, try visiting a few stealerships other than the 2.5. THERE ARE AFFORDABLE WAGONS! Try the Mazda 6! Ford could slap the Fusion grille and the blue football f/r on that puppy tomorrow and sell them for $20-26K just like Mazda.
Oh yeah, if you don't like the Mazda there's this company called SUBARU. I hear they make pretty good wagons...
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tony 1:30AM (11/13/2006)
i have noticed that FORD has a one track mind ... they put all their attention to one model for that year n forget the rest then one again .. if they just learn to spread their vision then they would be very competitive .. case in point: FUSION has 220 hp why? coz the competition is abt 240 n above then they forget abt the 500 still with the anemic 200hp , 2007 they made more hp to FUSION n still leaving behind the 500 .. how can they say they are learning from what customer wants then they are completely disregarding the 500? most of FORDS problems on their vehicles is they are underpowered .. why go for 200 hp car when u can go for 260+ hp car? 500 vs avalon .. at TOYOTA and HONDA n NISSAN n all other manufacturers u notice a heirarchy of hp but not FORD
Focus 150hp
Fusion 220hp whats avail? 265 hp V6 as option engine
500 200 what should be? 265 hp v6 as standard
Crown Vic 245 v8 how abt the 300hp V8 found at Mustang?
Mustand 210 v6 come on 265hp is much preferred
Freestyle 200 hp this heavy car would need 265 hp engine
Explorer 210 v6 underpowered n low mpg, how abt 265hp V6?
EDGE 265 hp no V8? 300 hp v8 would be hot
Finally they got a nice V6 engine with good hp n mpg and yet they wanna keep it for its EDGE only .. FORD ur banking ur farm with one car . how abt share ur new v6 engine with the rest of ur lineup? thats the sharing they actually need right now
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doglet 5:36PM (11/13/2006)
ford is definetly going to spread that new 3.5 all over the place. it will be the new ford v6 in light trucks, v6 mustangs, family sedans, small and mid suv and crossover things.
it will be everywhere in a few years.
im afraid that its not a very good engine though.
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