Ford Falcon VS Ford Tuarus

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

I don't know of any bias or lacking quality of Motortrend. But they did not like the new Explorer.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/..._explorer.html

FYI,
Motortrend in the USA is considered similar to Drive here, very pro GM.
They love sticking it to Ford at every opportunity.

[Road_Warrior]

Yes and I remember Motortrend had a **** over the first time the "OMG NO MORE RWD FALCON FWD LOLOL" article got published. In fact, they quoted Drive.

[Buntz]

They gave the Mustang convertible the win over the Camaro.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Yes and I remember Motortrend had a **** over the first time the "OMG NO MORE RWD FALCON FWD LOLOL" article got published. In fact, they quoted Drive.

Motor trend and Drive actually used each other's reports to validate the report...

Like a couple of cowboys eating pudding.....

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Motor trend and Drive actually used each other's reports to validate the report...

Like a couple of cowboys eating pudding.....

Yes that was it. But in their case the cowboys analogy was more like Brokeback Mountain.

[Buntz]

After reading a few articles.... seems they collaborate with drive... and another article called Wheels magazine "a respected Aussie mag".

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

We have an AWD vehicle based off a sedan platform that could easily become a sedan or crossover thing for the US.

In my limited view anyway. I'm just basing it off things like the RTV and Territory.

But again, Territory only shares a few bits directly with Falcon in the frame, its not on the same platform though.

[chevypower]

Didn't Motor Trend's Chief Editor, Angus McKenzie work for Motor Magazine, another pro-GM publication?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by chevypower

Didn't Motor Trend's Chief Editor, Angus McKenzie work for Motor Magazine, another pro-GM publication?

Wheels.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Wheels.

It just gets worse. Okay... no more quoting Motor Trend.

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

But again, Territory only shares a few bits directly with Falcon in the frame, its not on the same platform though.

True. But Territory could scale down to the sedan crossover that is Taurus. Seeing as America's excuse is they need AWD for snow.

[Happymate]

Wheels, motor trend, and motor all love fords... Jeremy Clarkson is a pro ford man, so if thats not good enough, who knows what is.
The taurus chassis is the old volvo s80 chassis apparently, that was a good car too.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Happymate

Wheels, motor trend, and motor all love fords... Jeremy Clarkson is a pro ford man, so if thats not good enough, who knows what is.
The taurus chassis is the old volvo s80 chassis apparently, that was a good car too.

Incorrect.
D3 was derived from the early XC90 chassis, that's why the sedans and SUVs all have the same hulkish proportions.
Give Taurus a proper sedan floor pan, lower hip point with matching top hat and watch the weight drop away...
You could almost call it a falcon if it had RWD.....

[Happymate]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Incorrect.
D3 was derived from the early XC90 chassis, that's why the sedans and SUVs all have the same hulkish proportions.
Give Taurus a proper sedan floor pan, lower hip point with matching top hat and watch the weight drop away...
You could almost call it a falcon if it had RWD.....

Thank you for the correction Why on earth would they choose the xc90 for a sedan base... It would be interesting to know if ford have chassis changes lined up for it in the way that you mention at any point, or if ford aus got stuck with it, if they would do something similar.

I am somewhat confused as to why they didnt use a stretched s60. I had an awd s60 a few years ago and it was incredible in corners, wasnt too hefty on the weight either.

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

We have an AWD vehicle based off a sedan platform that could easily become a sedan or crossover thing for the US.

In my limited view anyway. I'm just basing it off things like the RTV and Territory.

Yes but the system does not do AWD at a sedan ride height it would need to be redesigned to do so if it was possible at all (currently the driveshaft runs under the engine, lower everything for a sedan and you would need to raise the diff relative to the engine which would then be in the way of the driveshaft). ps the RTV is not AWD.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

Yes but the system does not do AWD at a sedan ride height it would need to be redesigned to do so if it was possible at all (currently the driveshaft runs under the engine, lower everything for a sedan and you would need to raise the diff relative to the engine which would then be in the way of the driveshaft). ps the RTV is not AWD.

They could doa BMW X6 competitor with it then.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

Yes but the system does not do AWD at a sedan ride height it would need to be redesigned to do so if it was possible at all (currently the driveshaft runs under the engine, lower everything for a sedan and you would need to raise the diff relative to the engine which would then be in the way of the driveshaft). ps the RTV is not AWD.

Isn't the Territory's Front differential integral with the I-6's sump / oil pan?
I thought that the engineering for AWD had been "preserved" on FG,

[outback_ute]

Yes but if you try to lower the ride height (raise the driveshaft) would the engine/crankcase be in the way of the driveshaft?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

Yes but if you try to lower the ride height (raise the driveshaft) would the engine/crankcase be in the way of the driveshaft?

Most of the additional height comes from larger wheels and slightly raised suspension...
IIRC, the front diff housing is no lower than the lowest part of the rear sump.

Anyone with an AWD Terry able to confirm that?

A picture of underside sump/cross member would be nice...

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Happymate

Thank you for the correction Why on earth would they choose the xc90 for a sedan base... It would be interesting to know if ford have chassis changes lined up for it in the way that you mention at any point, or if ford aus got stuck with it, if they would do something similar.

I am somewhat confused as to why they didnt use a stretched s60. I had an awd s60 a few years ago and it was incredible in corners, wasnt too hefty on the weight either.

Maximum commonality of parts to save as much money as possible, early
Fivehundred and later Taurus cars look huge in size due to high hip point.

There is a move to make the next all new Taurus an extension of next Fusion/Mondeo,
that implies it will be more car like and have much less weight, that's in a few years time...

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Most of the additional height comes from larger wheels and slightly raised suspension...
IIRC, the front diff housing is no lower than the lowest part of the rear sump.

Anyone with an AWD Terry able to confirm that?

A picture of underside sump/cross member would be nice...