The "Boss"

Lemers · 03-08-2011, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

They didn't get lucky at all with the downturn. They just refinanced all their debt in 2006 before the market turned south. That's what saved them. If they had waited any longer they would have been in the same boat as GM and Chrysler, requiring a bailout. Their restructuring started well before the economic downturn.

IMO, it all really started with the Fusion. When that car started winning quality and reliability awards the market started to take notice... Ford was up to something unusual.

Exactly my point. Ford got luckily with their timing. And since they had extra cash when everyone else's investments were going down the drain. Ford was able to reinvest in themselves at a lower cost. Luck and timing.

Lug · 03-08-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemers

Exactly my point. Ford got luckily with their timing. And since they had extra cash when everyone else's investments were going down the drain. Ford was able to reinvest in themselves at a lower cost. Luck and timing.

I wouldn't call deciding to get fiscally sound and push quality asap as getting "lucky". I'm sure they took quite a bit of short term quarterly profit hit to get there.

m4a1mustang · 03-08-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lug

I wouldn't call deciding to get fiscally sound and push quality asap as getting "lucky". I'm sure they took quite a bit of short term quarterly profit hit to get there.

It was a lot of smart decision making. Honestly, it never would have happened without Alan Mulally. After turning Boeing around he came in and started making wholesale changes.

He's got an engineering background which really helps with the end products, too. He knows what Ford needs to be making and focusing it's attention on to succeed. One of the more notable things he's done lately is issue notice to all Ford engineers that, if any new model after 2012 is not, at a minimum, 250 to 750 lbs lighter than the model it's replacing it will not be approved... no exceptions.

That's pretty cool because then you figure the 50th Anniversary Mustang (MY2014) will be around 3,350 lbs at maximum with likely ~450 hp in V8 form.

AND we're likely to see the 3.7L V6 replaced with an EcoBoost 4 banger.

Lug · 03-08-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

That's pretty cool because then you figure the 50th Anniversary Mustang (MY2014) will be around 3,350 lbs at maximum with likely ~450 hp in V8 form.

Ok, I admit it, I just got sprung.

Edit: Great article on what m4a1 said: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...-explorer.html

LinPark · 03-08-2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

It was a lot of smart decision making. Honestly, it never would have happened without Alan Mulally. After turning Boeing around he came in and started making wholesale changes.

He's got an engineering background which really helps with the end products, too. He knows what Ford needs to be making and focusing it's attention on to succeed. One of the more notable things he's done lately is issue notice to all Ford engineers that, if any new model after 2012 is not, at a minimum, 250 to 750 lbs lighter than the model it's replacing it will not be approved... no exceptions.

That's pretty cool because then you figure the 50th Anniversary Mustang (MY2014) will be around 3,350 lbs at maximum with likely ~450 hp in V8 form.

AND we're likely to see the 3.7L V6 replaced with an EcoBoost 4 banger.

You honestly think that rule will apply to the 50th Anniv Edition of the Mustang????? The only way they would meet those weight requirements and keep it affordable would be to weigh the car before they put the engine in it.

m4a1mustang · 03-08-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinPark

You honestly think that rule will apply to the 50th Anniv Edition of the Mustang????? The only way they would meet those weight requirements and keep it affordable would be to weigh the car before they put the engine in it.

It's going to be an entirely new chassis, so yes.

For the 2005 redesign the car actually got longer, wider, taller, and, well... heavier. The 2014 MY will be a good bit smaller in dimensions and the weight will be down as well. Shouldn't be hard at all considering my '03 GT weighed around 3250 lbs, and that's with an iron block 4.6L.

omgZ · 03-08-2011, 11:40 PM

Amazing car.

Isamu · 03-09-2011, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

It's going to be an entirely new chassis, so yes.

For the 2005 redesign the car actually got longer, wider, taller, and, well... heavier. The 2014 MY will be a good bit smaller in dimensions and the weight will be down as well. Shouldn't be hard at all considering my '03 GT weighed around 3250 lbs, and that's with an iron block 4.6L.

you 'spose they will be moving to an aluminum block/heads?

ImportConvert · 03-09-2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isamu

you 'spose they will be moving to an aluminum block/heads?

They did that back in 2005.

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