Ford appointed Jost Capito as director of it's newly formed global performance and motorsports program. Ford SVT will be combined with fords other performance programs world wide all under one roof with Capito as it's director. Not only has ford made a comitement to build cars for the world market, instaed of building different cars for different markets. Thier going to do the same with thier performance cars. Instaed of building performance cars for different markets, thier going to build performance cars for the world market including the U.S. SVT along with RS of europe and austraila will work together on future performance models. The future is bright for ford performance enthusiasts as new models will be fourth comming. Ford also stands by it's comitiment to it's motorsports programs, here and oversea's.

 

Wonder if we will finally get a RS based AWD Focus? I can dream can't I

 

All this can do is make the European and Australian models have less performance, to meet with the North American emission standards. This will hurt performance in many other markets other than our own. I understand the global market is where the future is for family sedans, but not so much for the performance segment.

 

Lets hope they bring this over here then:
Ford falcon XR8 5.4L V8 and 6 speed manual transmission

 

Odly enough the Australian Ford Falcon uses the Modular 5.4, except they call it the BOSS 290(kilowatts). That works out to 390HP. Makes you wonder why ford can only squeeze 320HP out of our 5.4

 

I've been dreaming about the Falcon for years. One of the only cars I would consider owning...

 

It boggles my mind why they don't bring that car over here. especially after GM used Holden's platform to bring back the GTO... i'm sure that falcon would have way outsold the GTO

 

From what I've read about Ford's plans vis a vis CAFE Standards, don't expect any V8''s.

This no V8 jazz includes the Mustang which will only be available with a direct injection (w/or w/o a turbo) V6 in coming years.

 

Now that just Sucks!

 

Fords not giving up on V-8's, thier dedicated to making them better and more fuel efficent. As far as cafe standards, you can flood your lineup with 10 vehicles that get 40-50 mpg and have 3 or 4 that only get 25-30 mpg and still be allright. Some of you guy's think too much. I still believe a car with a 350 hp ecco boost V-6 would still be a fun car. A focus or fusion with a 300 hp ecco boost 4 cylinder would be a fune car as well. The mustang gt is set to get a 400 hp 5.0 V-8, while the mustang pony will get an ecco boost V-6 in the 300 hp range. Ford is going to stop building cars for each market and make one car for all the markets, not that they will only build one car, but you know what I'm saying. This will save them money world wide. The same cars we have here, will be sold in europe, austraila, s. africa, s. america and so on.

 

It's partially t'other way around, Wendell.

What is sold in Europe and Australia will be sold here.

Most will be based on Ford of Europe (Cologne-Germany) designs.

The upcoming Fiesta, for example.

Cars sold in countries like Africa and South America, for example, do not have to meet the stringent EPA & NHTSA standards, so will continue to be built in assembly plants in those countries, or in Mexico (and China), then exported.

The present economic conditions, and upcoming new CAFE standards have sidelined most of the upcoming V8's...several have been placed on hold, several have been canceled.

GM just canceled their Northstar replacement, that they spent millions on developing. It was supposed to debut in 2010.

 

Except last I heard the wonderful little diesel that they use in Europe will not come over here. From what I have read these new CAFE standards are pushing Ford to use the ecoboost gasoline V6 in as many vehicles as possible. So they will use European stylings and not bring the excellent fuel economy that the cars get since they can't use the diesels here.

 

A focus which weighs 2600 lbs would be an INSANE car with 300HP, 8.67 lbs/HP. A 2008 Corvette Z06 weighs 3180 lbs w/505HP, 6.29 lbs/HP. That would be one of the most ridiculously fast small family sedans,

 

There's a big pool of performance cars to pull from in europe and austraila, combine some of thier engines with our cars and we'll be golden.

 

I hear ya.

All we get is the Mexican built Fusion.........

Does anyone know how Ford is making out in Austrailia?