[Shotimes] OT Ford's Future Plans for 500 and performance cars

[Paul Nimz]

http://warnerrobert.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum&f=7

Tell it to Bill

Paul Nimz
'97 TR SHO
'93 EG mtx SHO


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Katana" <tomkatana@sympatico.ca>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2002 12:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] OT Ford's Future Plans for 500 and performance cars


> If I remember well, when they started talking about Ford 500, some big
> cheese from Ford said that it would be based on new Mondeo platform.
William
> C. Ford Jr., why do you bother and spend money on developing another car
> when you already have a finished product? Ford Mondeo is not perfect,
> although most flaws have probably been ironed out, it's based now on an
> all-new, redesign platform (supposedly Ford's first vehicle designed
> digitally), it uses familiar Zetec and Duratec engines and (especially)
> there is this 220hp version. Also, there are tons and tons of aftermarket
> performance parts. It would be much cheaper to bring it up to american
specs
> than to design new car from the scratch. Mr. Ford, bring ST220 here and
you
> can also bring all the lesser versions of Mondeo (including 5-door and a
> wagon). Some of us probably can't even imagine changing to a Contour, some
> already own an SVT. I think we can't expect Ford (or any other car
company)
> to create a car with an engine dedicated to only that particular car like
> SHO had. Having in my car an engine that no other car has is one of many
> reasons I love my SHO. And so as much as I hate "it's better than nothing"
> attitude I'd rather see this new Mondeo here now (or soon) than wait I
don't
> know for how long for a new, but questionable car. (I haven't had a chance
> to try ST220 yet, but all descriptions and articles paint a picture of a
> very exciting car.)  Whatever we can say about Europe, and in this case,
> european drivers, they can, as we do, differentiate between good and bad
> cars. And as far as I know, Mondeo, and all its souped-up versions like
ST24
> or ST200 have been extremely popular there. If Ford doesn't know how to do
> it without loosing the face, well, instead of changing the name to Contour
> (or Mystique) leave Mondeo name on - most of the public will probably not
> even know the whole story.
>
> Tom Katana
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred George" <fgeorge@pacbell.net>
> To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 16:22
> Subject: [Shotimes] OT Ford's Future Plans for 500 and performance cars
>
>
> > Read it and weep.  In Thursday's Wall Street Journal, "At Ford, Revamp
> > Means Rebuilding Wrecked System" provides details of how the
> > $162-billion Ford Motor Company went astray, suffered cost and quality
> > control set-backs and ended up with a downgraded credit rating from
> > Standard & Poors.
> >
> > Bottom Line?  Look for the firm to shave every last penny from
> > production costs, mainly produce bread-and-butter products in the next
> > decade and attempt to boost earnings per share. The implication is
> > clear. Cost control is king; inpired engineering is out. Don't look for
> > new high performance, specialty sedans, such as an SHO-inspired Ford 500
> > or Taurus in 2004/05 from the cash strapped company.
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