http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...ormance_sedan/


So what does this mean for Ford?

 

Since Pontiac G8 failed in the USA, I don't know why GM think that Chevy SS (which is, a pretty much the same car) will be successful.

 

So why does the Charger do well? I see plenty of them all the time. Even ones that aren't cop cars.

 

Because even though a 4 door, the Charger's got some style - and a bit of sinister look.
That G8 looked stupid. Boring soccer mom car - regardless what was under the hood. Even the name... IMO

 

Ford needs a full-sized rear-wheel sedan. Retro Galaxie/Marquis/Continental would be nice and viable: two & four door, convertible, police package, fleet, limo, economy, ***-hauler, station wagon (panel wagon for business), maybe even a Ranchero configuration. There's a lot you can do with that chassis with modular retooling.

Some 60-67 Galaxies and beyond look pretty dern sinister to me.

 

Ford needs to bring back the bronco!

 

Depends on your definition of "well".

Only 70,000 were sold last year.

Hardly worth the investment of bringing entirely new car from Australia ...

 

Bring back the torino

 

It didn't fail. It was on its way to doing well. They dropped the entire Pontiac line. I'll gladly take one while they're still being produced in Australia. Holden makes a great car.

 

Ford needs to get off its *** and finally bring that falcon to the states. Nuff said.

 

There's room for both on a full-size chassis. But Galaxie first.

Been sayin' that for years - quite the looker, just offer two less doors.

 

Well, if was it doing well, then GM wouldn't have dropped the entire Pontiac line.

 

It's too expensive to bring a brand new car, that doesn't share platforms with other Fords, to the USA for maybe 20,000 units per year.
And there's no way Ford could sell more than that, especially with Taurus being on sale too.

Even in Australia Falcon is doing poorly, I think Ford sold only ~35,000 units or so last year.

 

Which begs the question................just what will underpin the '15 Mustang? Something completely bespoke? A further development of the current chassis with IRS? Neither of those make sense in today's world, so you'd have to assume it's going to share with something. The next-gen Australian Falcon?

It's a pity Ford didn't stick to the original plans for GRWD (Global Rear Wheel Drive) platform.......or if they have, they've kept it very secret.

GRWD could have spawned some awesome cars:

Mustang
Australian Falcon
Galaxie (would make a nice replacement for the Taurus)
Torino (fastback/'vert only this time around. Full 4 seater, not Mustang 2+2)
Ranchero
Lincoln saloon/coupe

 

They are not gonna keep an entire line in business for one decent car. I really miss the Pontiac line. Definitely had more style than Chevy. I think the government had more to do with killing Pontiac.

 

Right - the forced downsizing took out all but the mainstay. Same with the forced closing of dealerships. I was told that GM would only allow stand alone Cheverolet Dealerships - which dooms them to fail in smaller cities and towns. So the nearby town lost its Chevy dealership (that shared with Honda in a long time successful dealership) - which means locals have to drive 1 1/2 hrs in either direction for a GM dealership. More gubmint stooopidness. They have no business being in business.

 

How many of one particular vehicle do you think they should sell in Australia? Geez it's not that big of a place. Why not import and bump sales? GM is doing it right? Have you seen how many models the falcon has to compete with over there? Location is key and down south US is begging for a rwd V8 sedan. Only the Germans are benefitting from the lack of these cars.

 

If G8 was a success - it would've been saved. GM could've sold it as a Chevy or Buick, it wouldn't be killed just like that.

Only 38,000 were sold in 2 years that it was on sale.

 

Because GM can share platforms between Chevys and Cadillacs (and future Buicks), so Holden Commodore is not as expensive for GM like Ford Falcon would be for Ford.

It wouldn't make any sense investing all that money on bringing Falcon to the USA, when Ford already has the Taurus which sells great and shares platforms with other Fords.

 

But it was saved. The platform and drivetrain have never left Australia. It wasn't killed just left overseas. I'm really surprised that it took Chevy this long to chevy badge it. And I can promise you that it will sell in the southern states. And charger sales will drop at the same time. It probably won't do as well up north. I'm really upset about Pontiac because the Ute was on its way when this came down. Elcamino would be nice to see.