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Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

It seems to me, if Ford can use previous generations of Focus tooling to build "new" Foci in America, why can't they use their old engine tooling too?

The Endura-D in the 1st/2nd generation of the Mondeo was the tail end of a very long production optimization cycle for an engine. All the kinks were worked out and things were fine, until Ford realized their advertising department had sold the public on the idea that they need "more power" as a reason to buy a new car. Bringing the old Endura tooling into one of many idled factories across North America would not cost $350 million. They could even use their laid-off SUV/truck workers to build the things. Throw on copies of the latest generation of emissions control for low-sulfur diesel and Ford would be in the game. Are the Ford advertising executives incapable of selling the public cars that will save their customers money over time? Last I heard, people like free money.

BTW, Adam98SVT, how hard were you hit by the hurricanes? The Contour section of my junkyard is still ankle deep one week after bits of Gustav went through Arkansas. I'm glad I've got all the interior parts I need, except the shifter knob.

So far so good. Not even power loss. The ponds went up a couple of feet (literally) and the fishing (largemouth bass) died down, but otherwise no big deal.

When Charlie hit a few years ago (4?) I was working in Punta Gorda, which is where it made landfall. I drove into work the next morning and it was the most awesome display of destruction I imagine I will ever see. If you woke up that morning not knowing anything about the hurricane, surely you would have thought it was the end of the world.

Ford could have had diesel Contours from day one over here...I think myself and maybe a handful of other engineers were the only ones to ever drive a diesel Contour on USA roads!!!

...just to add to the fire, Ford DO have engineers over here working on passenger diesels...now! Only 20 years too late...Ford Dearborn were alway a bit gutless when it came to diesel cars..They could have had an engine plant here years ago! That was all we did at KC plant, replicate the tooling from Genk...and sent over another set from Europe...Short sighted in Ford product planning....never to be a market leader!!! sad...and stupid!

I find it hard to believe Ford can't educate the public about the NEW CRD diesels???? Come on Mr. Fields your just to lazy to try. If Ford manage hadn't been so greedy thinking a miracle was going to keep the market the same forever!!! Just plain lazy greed. What's Mullay doing?
Ford deserves to go down in flames. Somebody at Ford in bed with EPA/whoever in the government!!!!!!!!!

This post has been edited by rkctdwn: Sep 10 2008, 09:46 PM

rkctdwn I have to agree with you. For instance I have an '02 Dodge Grand Caravan with the 3.3L. Very nice. I wish they could just put a turbo diesel in a minivan. Would be good on gas, last longer, and tow more. Perfect application for a diesel.

Its def a conspiracy/collusion of some sort IMO. And we are on the penetration end of the deal.

If I ever buy a new vehicle, it definitely will not be from the big 3. Wont support their BS.

Was it really a diesel "Contour," or a Mondeo with the steering wheel on the wrong side? I hope one of your engineer buddies didn't stop for fuel at a high-sulfur truck stop!

Seriously, though, how could the board room in Michigan commit to spending $1bn on a car and not even make a decent commercial for it? Couldn't they realize they were competing with the fussy then-small-car Camry and Accord buyers, and they would have to ADVERTISE to get them to visit a Ford dealer? The engineering was at least on par with the Japanese; however, I would admit the maquiladora's quality inspectors of my Mystique may have been taking a siesta given the break-in period it needed.

What does Ford do with old tooling? That is, unless they can't move it to a second-rate market like North America. I guess I've been watching too much Top Gear.

Terry heard anything about Ford small direct-injection engine testing?

...the Contour was a pure case of not invented here and it just stuck in Ford USA graw!...To them it wasn't worth much attention...until they 'woke up' to the modular engine family that the 2.5 would start,the engine that thy had NO INTEREST IN when we did the Contour prog...thats why we had protos from Porsche and not Ford to build the cars with...just plain 'not interested'..Ford of Europe should be stand alone away from Dearborn!!!

Ford has alot of interesting things going on in Brazil right now..... Sounds like it's the test ground for whats coming to the US soon.

-Dom

I guess I've been watching too much Top Gear.
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That is interesting show to watch, especially the review where Jeremy drove the Mondeo! Sorta like what we thought about Contour, bang for the buck drivers while being an everyday driver. Ok maybe that's my take? Unfortunately 90%(maybe a bit high?) of the cars are way above what the major folks can afford, but then I'm on the down side of my income cycle. I've followed the Ole Marine's advise -"Learn to live within your means"! HOWEVER it's still fun to watch their take on ABS and stability/ETC controls!

I meet two guys last weekend (niece's wedding) they studied at Ford's automotive college in Brazil. Both work for GM now one Heads GM interiors and other was Head engineer for the Cobalt and G-6 and then working in Japan on big truck(Terex) for China. He's will go back to Japan working on small pickup to replace Colorado/Canyon. ( I wouldn't like that part being away from family). Big in stature Japanese guy raised in Argentina, Ricardo, the Groom's father!
A very interesting guy, his parents (flew in from Argentina) in their late 80's now, exiled with 20 other families from Japan to Argentina in 1941. I know of many that exiled Europe before WWII and ended up here and South America but never anyone that left Japan. The things you learn that you're not likely to find in a history book. The Grooms' mom, family exiled from Italy, raised in Argentina, also has two awesomely gorgeous daughters living in Michigan.

Raphael a native Argentinean, and the only thing I could think of at the moment I like the Malibu's interior keep up the good work!!! Geeze

The Groom, new Electrical engineer for GM, doing battery R & D!!! It sure must be nice to have genius genes!!!!!! I'd just be happy to have few more abilities in English composition. Ah yes interesting weekend and humbling! Takes extreme abilities to be a really sharp engineer, besides the technical part there the accounting and English composition so you can convince upper management your're worth receiving the big bucks. Eh Terry? How do you do that and still have time to do the technical work?????????????? Hmmm I'd be better off as a "technologists". Wish I'd knew about this 40+ years ago. Interest how things happen! Need a emoticon con for pondering my navel? I know ORF's have weird thoughts , well for those non-ORF's. Someday you younger folk will get your turn!

...it was 15 years hard graft for me in Ford R & D. I was on 18 hr days when we first kicked this off in '89...So next year it's the 20th anniversary of the first CDW27 Workhorse/Proto/Mule getting 'rubber on the road'!!!

My son and daughter in-law has the same kid hauler, yes it could use big boost in MPG and low end torque. Heh have you had any trouble with evaporate leak codes? It one of those nightmares that only a smoke machine can find, so I'm told by service manager that I source info for our cars. Unfortunately because its not a diesel my son has no interest in fixing it he says heh it runs find why waste money with over priced dealer visits! Besides I doubt it would help mpg.
Like he says once drive a diesel anything else is junk. He has two E350 Econoline work trucks. He was interested in the Fiesta until Mark Field chickened out!