wannabe

But it shouldn't look like a Fusion.

2011 Kona Blue

Lmao! Let's get ready to rummmmmmmmmmmble .

RedCandy5.0

http://www.fool.com/investing/genera...he-camaro.aspx

67Drewstang

I think the Mustang is an awesome concept.

But the above-quoted statement, if true, is a fine example of incompetent corporate leadership.

A company whose strategic goal is to become monolithic and unresponsive to local change is doomed to fail. It's as if that brain surgeon Mulally watched the collapse of the Soviet Union and decided, "Hey, wouldn't be cool if I did something like that to a car company?"

What a moron.

67Drewstang

This article was moronic.

Nothing like misreading a simple line chart.

Here's a better way to read that chart: Mustangs are luxury items, not necessities. In 2005-present, the US went through hard times, so sales of Mustangs went down. Since wages have not recovered from 2008, sales of Mustangs have not recovered. And, obtw, now Mustangs have to share the market with the Camaro again.

The End.

Fenderaddict2

The Fox body was conceptually closer to the '65-'66, just visually no where near as exciting.

Fenderaddict2

It doesn't. It and the Fusion look like the Evos concept.

67Drewstang

And I thought the Evos concept borrowed good attributes from the Jag E-type and the Aston Martin.

I like the "mouth".

67Drewstang

Oh, and this car. Whatever it is....

Number23

If the car performs well, is RWD, seats 4 and has a V8 it will do fine.

People who want a retro looking car have 50 years of cars to choose from.

bob

Most of the younger people I know, at least in their early 30's and below identify more with the SN95/New Edge cars. Don't really like the fox cars (the comment I hear most often is boxy and indistinguishable) and generally refer to earlier Mustangs in the same way my generation does pre-war classics which is to say they are appreciated but their is no reverence for them because they just aren't as accessible.

Since this is a site that pretty much caters to the S-197, I can where a lot of people wouldn't see the S550 in a positive light, its going to be a good departure from the current car, it also seems to me that the majority of people here are fans of the 1964-1970 Mustangs and don't really care for anything from 71-04 so I can see where the "sky is falling" message is coming from .

bob

and Challenger (its a V8 RWD coupe as well even if its more of a monte carlo, regal, thunderbird type of coupe), your points are all spot on though.

bob

So Carlos Ghosen and Martin Winterkorn are morons?

Number23

I don't know how you could criticize Mulally, he successfully lead the company though some of the toughest economic times in most anybody's life time and Ford is building the best cars in its history.

67Drewstang

Again, more slowly and for the not too bright among us.

Anyone whose goal is to make a company monolithic and unresponsive to local markets is an idiot and is making a huge mistake.

I don't know who these guys are from Adam, but in the 40 years I've been paying attention to business and the world, the above philosophy has led to monumental failure 100% of the time. 100%. No exceptions.

Do I really have to explain the reasons why this is? I mean, the Ford owner in Malaysia has EXACTLY the same tastes, needs and driving habits as the Ford driver in Idaho, right? Companies have the choice of a) abandoning one or the other customer or b) developing a compromise that almost makes both, but not either customer happy. And NO OTHER COMPANY will come in and steal that market share away, will they?

Any leader of any organization who actually believes that crap is a complete, sub-room temp IQ moron. Or, their ego has overcome their intelligence.

As far as leading a corporation through bad times and building the best cars in history, that is a highly subjective statement.

Most of these guys (CEOs of large companies) have next to zero impact on what the corporations actually do. At best, they are riding the tip of a rocket. Their propaganda then gives credit for any incidental/accidental success to their "brilliance".

At best, they were good at maybe one thing, and are promoted based on "experience". Much like NFL coaches, over half of them have losing records, but they continue to get jobs based on their "experience."

Of course, if "no one is criticizing Mulally" that may be why he'd become so arrogant to say something as stupid as that. Maybe he NEEDS someone to slap him in the face and tell him to quit being such an ignorant , hmmm?

Number23

What? Did Mulally bang your wife? Shoot your dog?

Ford is focusing on global platforms because is saves money. Economies of scale allow car makers to incorporate lightweight materials like aluminium or high strength alloys.

A Focus platform that works in the EU will work here. Specific models can be tailored to specific markets, for example the rest of world gets a Focus wagon. We don't because American's like their wagons on stilts. However, thanks to platform sharing we get a wagon in the form of an Escape. Would it make more sense for Ford to develop a entire car platform just to suit US tastes?

A mustang that can be sold in the EU will result in a better, cheaper mustang for me and more good paying jobs for Americans.

bob

Carlos Ghosen is head of Nissan and Martin Winterkorn is head of Volkswagon, both companies that have been very successful in implementing the sort of strategy your denouncing by reducing the overall number of vehicle platforms with a global design.

Further, Volkswagen is on the verge of implementing a modular design that will further reduce the number of platforms in its inventory.

Bespoke engineering for market's sake might have been fine a decade or more ago but with mounting regulatory issues and a decline in the average person's wealth there isn't enough money available to make specialized platforms for a particular market.

newpony

He must be a current or ex UAW member.

Twin Turbo

Good grief...........can we PLEASE get back on topic?

Flagstang

I think you are off base here.