that ford falcon looks like a 3 series bimma. and yea sick, that car does have a resemblance to a VW. somewhat also like the old LS.

 

I can sorta see the resembelance (sp?) of the Falcon and 3-series... except the Falcon is a LOT bigger than the 3-series (seems a touch bigger than the 5 as well)... the domestic cars here in Australia are getting up to standard, but are using alot of ideas and styling concepts of imports (e.g. the rival of the Falcon, the Holden Commodore, has lights similar to the IS-style lights etc etc...)... and Ford has started using turbos in their line up (Falcon XR6 turbo etc.)

Maybe one day Toyota Australia will eventually decide to bring back the Supra turbo and the like???

 

Looks like a reboddied Passat to me.

 

Isn't the Falcon RWD? This new 500 will be FWD, right?

 

It's mentioned in the 1st post that the Ford 500 will offer AWD.

 

I knew it would have avaliable AWD. This is old news. I was wondering as to why there were comparisons with the Falcon, because I thought the Falcon was RWD.

Anyway, on a side note, more important that this 500 is the fact that VW is bringing the TDI Passat. Oh yeah baby, 247TQ!!!

And TVRBO DIESEL!! w00t!!

 

Yup the Falcons are RWD (except for the AWD versions)... the most powerful one has 260Kw... not too shabby for a mainstream family car!

 

Those names are well known. Caddy is moving to CTS, STS etc as these names are associated with luxury (hence Lincoln LS, LS 430, GS 430 etc). I think though, America had an EDGE with those names, dumping em is not really great (similar to Acura dropping the Legend, Vigor etc for CL, TL etc).
Taurus was seen in marketing groups as "rental" and losing it's luster. Bill Ford also wants this to be "HIS" era, new names on the cars. I think it's a good move, like the Ford Focus instead of Escort.I don't think it is based on the Falcoln.

 

Five Hundred may spawn Town Car; Ford considering awd, V8 sedan - - RICK KRANZ | Automotive News - - Source: Autoweek


CHICAGO -- Ford Motor Co. will decide within 12 months whether to replace the Lincoln Town Car with an all-wheel-drive, V8-powered sedan developed by stretching the platform for the 2005 Ford Five Hundred.

"We have a number of alternatives we are looking at, and that is one of the alternatives," said Paul Mascarenas, executive director for medium and large front-drive and all-wheel-drive platforms.

"We are not scheduled to decide until probably around the third quarter of next year, when we have to have a firm decision and an approved program," Mascarenas said. He was interviewed at a Ford event here.

The mid-sized, fwd 2005 Five Hundred sedan and Ford Freestyle sport wagon, and the 2005 Mercury Montego sedan, are based on Volvo vehicle architecture. All three go on sale next month, and each will offer awd.

Mascarenas did not reveal all of the alternatives. But he said keeping the Panther platform on which the Town Car is assembled is an option. That platform dates to 1978 and is shared by the Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis.

Suppliers familiar with the company's plans expect the redesigned Town Car, and possibly the LS replacement, to be developed on the platform shared by the Five Hundred, Freestyle and the Montego.

The new Lincolns are expected to be assembled at Ford's Atlanta assembly plant in 2007 or 2008, they say.

Longer wheelbase

A Lincoln model could be differentiated by extending the wheelbase and front and rear overhangs.

"I would think (the wheelbase could be extended) 100 millimeters (3.9 inches), 125 millimeters (4.9 inches) before you would need to start widening the vehicle to balance out proportions," Mascarenas said.

The three 2005 vehicles share a 112.9-inch wheelbase.

Mascarenas said a V-8 would fit the engine compartment.

While General Motors and the Chrysler group are expanding their lines with rear-drive models, Mascarenas said: "I'm not sure the customer needs rear-wheel drive."

But he said Ford will closely monitor response to the awd option on the Five Hundred and Montego.

"That will help us gauge customer reaction to the front-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive alternative, relative to a rear-wheel drive offering, and that in turn, strategic planning for the next generation of products," he said.

Tough competition

The Five Hundred and Montego will compete against the popular rwd Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum. Both offer awd.

But the mid-sized, rwd platform used by the Australian Falcon will not be adopted for Lincoln.

"We get better economies of scale, better manufacturing efficiencies, better engineering synergies by working with our available design architectures, our available power plants, our available cross vehicle line commodities," Mascarenas said.

For the Lincoln brand, he said the company is focused "on what is the best we can do with what we've got as opposed to looking for yet new, more different design architectures."

 

I wonder if they'll turn them into police cars as well

 

DGot20s new company beater!!!

IMO, this is a nice replacement for the current model, will a SHO model follow?

 

Its funny you say that because I have a vivid memory of me following behind a Dealer associate of mine en route to his place. He was driving a SHO and the thing was smoking, stalling, tranny busting, etc.. the whole way over there!!! Me and my friend were cracking up the whole way

 

 

I actually got to see/drive behind/around one in person on the road this past Sunday. Car had MFR plates. Initial impressions were:

Outside looks bland.
Pictures don't seem to do the interior justice. It looked nicer in person.
It's bigger than I would have expected.
Paint quality seemed better than other FoMoCo products.

I'm not sure if it will be a hit or not. I think it really depends on where they end up with pricing OTD.

 

AVALONISH looking to me!