Moosetang

http://www.leftlanenews.com/spied-fo...n-america.html



Interesting that LefLane mentions the next-gen 'Stang having Aussie roots. I don't know if cutting the E8 (Orion) down to 2 doors would be any more cost-effective than stretching the D2c to four. But if the E8's a world-class platform as it should be, it would be a great move for Mustang to tranistion to a derivative rather than carry on with D2C in the face of competition across the board. And it would only increase the business case to build Interceptor (though on the E8 platform).

jsaylor

Orion is just another update on the current Falcon platform so it's roots are pretty old to say the least. Most of the rumours coming out of Oz indicate that, should the mustang and Falcon actually end up sharing a platform, it wont be a derivative of Orion/E8 or the Mustan's D2C platform. Of course Ford has tried to pull a fast one on issues like this before, so who knows.

Moosetang

Bleh, I was under the impression that E8 was more new than old, so I guess my whole line of reasoning is out the window. Oh well.

jsaylor

Well, dynamically rumours indicate they did an exceptional job on it despite the near ancient basis....but they typically do surprise with just how much they can do with an old chassis and a shoestring budget every time a new Falcon rolls 'round. But there are always shortcomings despite the innovation they've shown, old platforms make it inevitable, and I just don't hold out much hope that this will be the first one absent of the same.