Ford: Leader in Lightness.
2/7/11, 02:37 PM
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Ford: Leader in Lightness.
Alan Rocks, and it shows on the scales.
Mulally is requiring new models introduced from 2012 to 2020 to weigh 250 to 750 pounds less than their predecessors. If they can’t achieve best-in-class fuel economy, he won’t approve them.
2/7/11, 03:24 PM
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Coming from anyone else in the industry other than Mulally, I might think it just a dismiss is as corporate wishful thinking (as they pump out ever larger, fatter car models), but Mulally has some real credibility in making things actually happen. This would be a refreshing change from ever fatter cars needing ever bigger motors pushing ever fatter cars needing ever bigger motors...
Cap power levels where they are now and start adding lightness instead, which would be Godsend for overall performance, not to mention saving beer money as you drive past the gas pumps. As the saying goes, more power makes you faster in the straights, less weight makes you faster everywhere.
Even the baseline 250lb. diet for the Mustang would be huge. Even if you kept the same power, plus an IRS and some good suspension tuning, you'd have a car that not just matches an M3 but one that would eviscerate it, on any road or track, at a $25K+ savings in price.
Cap power levels where they are now and start adding lightness instead, which would be Godsend for overall performance, not to mention saving beer money as you drive past the gas pumps. As the saying goes, more power makes you faster in the straights, less weight makes you faster everywhere.
Even the baseline 250lb. diet for the Mustang would be huge. Even if you kept the same power, plus an IRS and some good suspension tuning, you'd have a car that not just matches an M3 but one that would eviscerate it, on any road or track, at a $25K+ savings in price.
2/7/11, 07:42 PM
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Mulally laid the groundwork for Ford’s recovery -- and its stock rebound -- by sparing engineers from the brunt of his firings when he cut jobs by 42 percent to 164,000 at the end of 2010 from the end of 2006.
The move paid off: Ford’s quality ranked best among mainstream brands last year, with 93 customer complaints per 100 vehicles during the first three months of ownership compared with 117 for Toyota Motor Corp.’s Toyota brand, according to J.D. Power. Ford revealed plans for three new electric or hybrid vehicles on Jan. 10 and said it will hire 750 engineers this year.
I know Ford has been really clamping down on weight in new models, elsewhere one of the guys on another board is a component supplier and before it was "make it strong enough to get the job done" and that was it, now Ford is saying "make it strong enough to do the job and make it light as possible".
Last edited by bob; 2/7/11 at 07:49 PM.
2/7/11, 07:42 PM
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I just hope this doesn't mean that they will start selling stripped cars ... like my F-150, which doesn't even have a simple cassette player. I understand it's a base model, but **** ...
2/7/11, 07:58 PM
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My dad just purchased a base 2011 F150 with the V6 and its pretty well equipped. Compared to what alot of people remeber as a "base" vehicle (roll-up windows, standard locks, heat/defrost only, no radio, power steering/power brakes only if it was impossible to turn or stop the car without being roidded out, rubber floor mats only, no headliner, ect) this truck is very well equipped. Hell the radio has a CD player and 30 presets, power locks, power windows. A6 trans, 4 wheel disc brakes, articulated steps to help reach over the sides of the bead, stamped high strength cargo ties instead of just holes in the bed.
I was really impressed, it even came equipped with Michelin tires (granted they are Cross Terrains).
I was really impressed, it even came equipped with Michelin tires (granted they are Cross Terrains).
2/7/11, 08:28 PM
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For the most part, the trend is toward more standard features, not less. More profit and better brand reputation. Pickups are a special case, though, they usually have a stripper model because people who buy them for contractor use want as little extra as possible to pay for.
2/7/11, 09:21 PM
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For the most part, the trend is toward more standard features, not less. More profit and better brand reputation. Pickups are a special case, though, they usually have a stripper model because people who buy them for contractor use want as little extra as possible to pay for.
I know I got the basic model, but I guess even a power lock and a CD player (which can be bought for $50 at Wal-Mart) were too much to ask.
And yet in a Mustang (which is also one of the basic models) I got both CD player and a cassette player ... Doesn't really make any sense ...
2/7/11, 09:23 PM
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My dad just purchased a base 2011 F150 with the V6 and its pretty well equipped. Compared to what alot of people remeber as a "base" vehicle (roll-up windows, standard locks, heat/defrost only, no radio, power steering/power brakes only if it was impossible to turn or stop the car without being roidded out, rubber floor mats only, no headliner, ect) this truck is very well equipped. Hell the radio has a CD player and 30 presets, power locks, power windows. A6 trans, 4 wheel disc brakes, articulated steps to help reach over the sides of the bead, stamped high strength cargo ties instead of just holes in the bed.
I was really impressed, it even came equipped with Michelin tires (granted they are Cross Terrains).
I was really impressed, it even came equipped with Michelin tires (granted they are Cross Terrains).
Back in 2005 I got mine for $8,500 under MSRP.
2/8/11, 09:00 AM
#12
Needs to be more Astony
2/11/11, 06:34 PM
#15
I drive my F-150 for only few months every year (there's under 20,000 miles on the odometer and it's 6 years old) so I bought the cheapest 4 door/V8/4x4 model available.
I know I got the basic model, but I guess even a power lock and a CD player (which can be bought for $50 at Wal-Mart) were too much to ask.
And yet in a Mustang (which is also one of the basic models) I got both CD player and a cassette player ... Doesn't really make any sense ...
I know I got the basic model, but I guess even a power lock and a CD player (which can be bought for $50 at Wal-Mart) were too much to ask.
And yet in a Mustang (which is also one of the basic models) I got both CD player and a cassette player ... Doesn't really make any sense ...
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