Moosetang

I want to preface by saying that the end of Ford GT production, while sad, was the right thing to do. In Ford's financial state of the time there were simply too many downsides to limited Halo car production to justify it. And in reality, the custom-platform one-off Halo car is still a hard case to make. But Ford's seeing a slow yet steady climb back from the brink, and they could use something extra to show that return to success. And with PAG gone now, the remaining Ford satellite brands could stand to get something that improves their brand image as well

So here's my idea: Sometime mid-decade Ford, Mazda, and Volvo each get their own Halo car based on a new small 2-seat RWD platform. The Vehicles produced from this would be a new RX-7, a new P1800 Coupé , and a new Cobra. All have the same 2-seat, front-engine, RWD pedigree, and none alone could really generate the production numbers necessary for production on their own. But on a common platform and with some share running gear, it would be a much easier case to make. The new GRWD platfrom's probably too big to serve these small roadsters, but lessons learned developing it could allow a new Small RWDP to be produced more quickly. As other Ford platform sharing has shown, they wouldn't have to look a thing alike, or share anywhere near the same driving characteristics in the end product. And the result is that all 3 brands get their Halo vehicle.

So, what do you think. Good idea or dumb idea?

Zastava_101

I'm against two seat idea.

I would like to see new Mazda RX-7 and Shelby GR-1 concept in the production.

Cheese302

i like it, would have to handle a number of different engines though. cobra would have to be v8, volvo would only be good with a turbo straight 5, and the rx7 would need a rotary to have rx in the name.

rhumb

Maybe not even as Halo cars but rather, as credible, smaller RWD performance cars for a 35mpg warmed-up world. Ford does sound like its getting more serious about using worldwide shared platform cars. A Solstice class (Kappa chassis?) platform would form the underpinnings for a P1800 for Volvo, the RX-8 for Mazda and a Probe/Cougar sized coupe for Ford, and maybe another variant or two for, say, Mercury (Capri). I'd let Mazda develop the chassis as they seem easily the best of Ford's various entities while each division could do their own external/interior styling and fit their own motors to give them each enough of a distinctive personality so that the platform sharing doesn't lead to too much sameness, as is often the case.

At the top end, Ford really could use a Halo car to showcase their engineering talent and bona fides. The Ford GT was a very well conceived, designed and engineered car that lost none of its cache in translation from concept to reality -- something Ford generally does not pull off all that well.

05fordgt

I too would LOVE to see the GR-1 be produced! And Red, the GR-1 is a 2-seater!

hi5.0

As was the US-spec FD RX 7.

That is an interesting idea about the three companies sharing a platform, but GRWD sounds too big and heavy for that application since the Cobra and the RX7's main virtue was the inherent light weight of the design. If it is scalable, no problem.

Vermillion06

How's this for an idea: a production version of the GR-1 called a Thunderbird. Try making the interior a bit more luxurious like an Aston Martin, heck that could be the theme of the car, a sort of an American version of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. We get a halo car with a well known and loved nameplate, and the Thunderbird returns to its roots as Corvette competitor.

hi5.0

I don't know if potential (future) Ford Thunderbird buyers would be willing to pay for such a car, as the price may be too "Astony" for their liking.

Slims00ls1z28

I'm all for an actual competitor to the vette or the solctice/miata. After all that is what the Tbird was back in the day. However it needs to be more like the vette to make it something longlived instead of niche such as the GT was. Like the viper the GT was too expensive to sell in numbers that could be sustained. A big reason why the viper is no more I would speculate.

tacbear

I would love to see something like this....................

FLAstangx3

Actually, we already have a line forming. That;s exactly what we want the new Thunderbird to be. 2012 Baby. Just you wait and see.

And for the other idea's. Don't bother to include Volvo, she'll be long gone.

Zastava_101

Thunderbird should be the same as 49 concept.

Vermillion06

Just a quick "what if"



I think something like this would be worthy to the Thunderbird name and wouldn't look out of place parked with the Astons and Jags...

Vermillion06

Quick roadster version:

buck

I really like the look but if that gets built I personally think it should stick with a shelby moniker. I realize he had absolutely nothing to do with it but to me it is truly a reincarnation of the daytona coupe and should be named accordingly. Although I would love to see a thunderbird come back the 49 concept imo follows the thunderbird name much closer.

hi5.0

That "Shel-bird" 'chop w/the egg crate(?) grille looks positively Ferrari-ish. The "other" Daytona.

Vermillion06

Yup, the 55 T-bird grille was inspired by the Ferraris of the time, so it looks good on this body....