Quote:
Originally posted by Kieron
I don't see a problem myself. Ultimately who is going to buy it? mums and dads wanting a softroader.
As for costing Ford sales, maybe they score 300 more sales/year but what did it cost them to develop A V8 4wd and will it ever recoupe this cost?
Can't see that huge heavy V8 helping handling to much with the 4WD's higher centre of gravity neither.
Ford now has its hero models, no need for big arse V8 4wd's to take that role.
I say well done Ford for reading the market for a soft roader correctly.
Kieron
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Hmm can't agree with you here old friend! A V8 Territory would indeed be lardy, but so is the I6. None of them are lightweights by any stretch.
Back to the main point though - it seems to me that they are trying to re-define the segment forcefully, according to their commitment to dropping the V8 out of all non-sedan/ute applications, but all they are doing in reality is painting themselves into a corner, and giving Holden a free ride by not offering any direct competition. Simply telling people that they don't buy V8 AWD's is a pretty lame argument, and hardly a convincing solution. It is hardly going to stop Holden from marketing theirs, and no doubt, very successfully.
Another thing to take into consideration is todays news regarding the commitment of Holden to the SSV. This is a great concept, and I would be sorely disappointed if Ford took this opportunity to again offer no alternative to that model.
I'm starting to wonder exactly what crystal ball the product planners are looking into, because it sure as hell doesn't reflect any hopes and thoughts that we have about future models!
