Where should ford target overseas? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

IPhido · 03-18-2003, 18:15

Recently Ford OZ has been shipping cars to the US to obviously target some form of US colaboration of some sort. Either with further part sharing, or platform sharing. However so far we haven't heard any positive signs from FoMoCo US executives.

Should Ford OZ also perhaps look at europe and send a few cars over for the press and executives there to get a feel of falcon based products. UK and Ireland are RHD so we could feed directly some cars over there in small numbers quite quickly. Small numbers would all that would eventually end up as the falcon is a big car and they don't sell in enormous numbers over there, but reputations carry a bit further.

This could also lead to a smaller rwd car based off the falcon platform. ~3 series, simular to a mondeo in size, which could also be sold here. As well as forging the reputation for the Territory which will most likely be exported in small numbers.

Should they continue with a US focus, or shift focus to Europe?

dave_au · 03-18-2003, 18:28

Greatest problem with europe is the fuel price. Apparently the pommy grey importer of HSVs has just gone bankrupt in the UK. then there is the emission laws.

FordAus to that regard can only really target where holden currently is - Middle East, US, South America. and to a limited extent South Africa.

threefiftyone8 · 03-18-2003, 20:59

Yeah a large car like a falcon wouldent be very feasible in parts of europe, especialy with those emmision laws.

RPO83 · 03-18-2003, 21:28

If Ford Australia sunk money into making a C/D car off the Falcon platform as you suggested I would seriously question their sanity.

In regards to this post, Ford should focus on Australia and let HQ decide if there is a place out there for a Falcon platform.

Bluedriver · 03-18-2003, 22:05

Thats right Rpo83, Oz still needs lots of doctoring, let HQ USA deal with the rest for now..........

xageetee · 03-18-2003, 22:29

I read a while ago that Ford OZ were exporting LPG 4L engines to the UK to go in a cut price cobra replica, and from what I've read LPG is getting bigger over there, and current oil prices are pushing this along.

Couldn't hurt them to send over a couple of LPG Falcon's for eval - there's no Left hand conversion to worry about, and assuming it meets crash testing requirements t would have to be the easiest export target, in Europe in least.