Ford to stop making cars by 2020

[George Bokros]

Do you have a legitimate source on your Mustang claim? I’ve not seen that, strange since the factory that builds them is nearby.

The new Ecosport isn’t much bigger than a Focus. I was behind one the other day at a light and it was definitely smaller than my Fusion. There’s also a small crossover coming.

Current plan is to not discontinue the Mustang.

[Jim Becker]

You may be surprised how relatively easy it is for the manufacturers to augment both the intake and exhaust note of the vehicle. Some have been doing it in production since the mid 2000's.

I'm not surprised at all since that's often a topic at another forum I help moderate in the Jeep word. But despite intake and exhaust modifications, the smaller, turbo engines still sound a bit different than a big-block from back in the day.

[George Bokros]

We looked at Mustangs last year. I can't remember which - engine or transmission - but one of those was already made in China.

Engine or trans could be made in China but the car is assembled at Flat Rock MI. It may be the 4 cylinder engine.

[Bob Turkovich]

I'm not surprised at all since that's often a topic at another forum I help moderate in the Jeep word. But despite intake and exhaust modifications, the smaller, turbo engines still sound a bit different than a big-block from back in the day.

There are four major contributors to the sound note of an accelerating vehicle: intake, exhaust, combustion and mechanical. Intake and exhaust can be tuned within those system components (but with potential side effects in performance, emissions and FE). The other two: not so much.

In the mid 2000's, Honda ran into a problem with sales in the "Street Racer" market in SoCal. They had difficulty maintaining market share because potential customers considered them slower than the competition. Side by side comparisons showed their acceleration curves were comparable. They were, however, quieter.

Honda quietly released an underhood speaker system for that market that augmented the noise more to the customers liking (adding about $3000 to the manufacturing cost of the vehicle - at least that's what their supplier quoted the company I was working for) . As a result, their market share increased back in line with expectations.

The other OEM's took note and have since implemented similar techniques elsewhere. It's become a rapidly growing business with multiple suppliers involved.

Either Mustang or Camaro has a "dial-a-note" option on some of their packages which actuated a valve in the exhaust. (I have had a ride in both recently - can't remember which one had it ).

[Art Mann]

Almost all SUVs made these days are of unibody construction and are adapted from car platforms anyway. It sounds to me like they are saying that they are only going to make cars that are SUV shaped. There really is no distinction other than that.

[Bruce Wrenn]

It's going to hard to make the exhaust from a turbo four cylinder sound like a Mustang V-8. At work, even though we are a half mile from stop light, you can tell when it's a Mustang coming off the line.

[Bill Dufour]

Honda quietly released an underhood speaker system for that market that augmented the noise more to the customers liking (adding about $3000 to the manufacturing cost of the vehicle - at least that's what their supplier quoted the company I was working for) . As a result, their market share increased back in line with expectations.

Are you saying Honda added external speakers and plays sound loops of boy racer engine noise? Model railroading was just getting into this when I got out.
Could be an option for a Tesla.
Bill D

[Bob Turkovich]

It's going to hard to make the exhaust from a turbo four cylinder sound like a Mustang V-8. At work, even though we are a half mile from stop light, you can tell when it's a Mustang coming off the line.

Technology already exists to do that. (I experienced that in a prototype Mustang a few years ago...) The issue is if that you're going to market both Powertrains, why make them sound alike?

Honda quietly released an underhood speaker system for that market that augmented the noise more to the customers liking (adding about $3000 to the manufacturing cost of the vehicle - at least that's what their supplier quoted the company I was working for) . As a result, their market share increased back in line with expectations.

Are you saying Honda added external speakers and plays sound loops of boy racer engine noise? Model railroading was just getting into this when I got out.
Could be an option for a Tesla.
Bill D

In Honda's case it was to accent the intake note (which is a primary contributor while accelerating) without redesigning the entire induction system and going thru retooling/recertification.

As far as electric cars are concerned, I believe speaker systems are already being used so cars can't catch pedestrians by surprise. (I may be mistaken but it's either a Federal requirement - or about to be one - for electric vehicles in urban areas.)

[Curt Harms]

Ford will “...start rolling out two new light truck models: the Ranger pickup and the Bronco SUV — both reviving nameplates that Ford had dropped in years past. All told, the automaker plans to add five new SUVs over the next two years, as well as the midsize Ranger pickup.“ -NBC News

And the Focus will be available to the US market but made in China.

Quite a change up at Ford! Thx for the heads up.

I don't know if it'll be the same vehicle but the Ranger has been available overseas for some time, including a diesel version. I read that Ford felt the Ranger sales in the U.S. were coming at the expense of much more lucrative F150 sales so that version of the Ranger never made it to U.S. shores.

[lowell holmes]

Driving habits change. My daughter and family live 10 minutes away from our house. There are four vehicles between the
two households. None of them are sedans. There are three SUV's and one pickup truck. I'm sure the automobile makers
make what will sell.

[Jim Becker]

I don't know if it'll be the same vehicle but the Ranger has been available overseas for some time, including a diesel version. I read that Ford felt the Ranger sales in the U.S. were coming at the expense of much more lucrative F150 sales so that version of the Ranger never made it to U.S. shores.

The new North American Ranger pick-em-up truck does have some roots in the vehicle that's been available elsewhere in the world, but they've also done a bit of work above that, too. GM did the same for their mid-sized pickups that were re-introduced to the market not so long ago.

[Stan Calow]

I went to look for a new Ranger in 2013, and found out Ford was not making them anymore. I read that they were expecting to up-sell Ranger buyers to the newly redesigned F150 with the new ECO-boost engine that would give better mileage than the Ranger. I can't fit a F150 in my garage, and didnt want a full-size anyway, so no sale. Happy with my Honda, which had a higher percentage of US parts than Chevy or Dodge. Oh, and not fooled when they say "North American".

[Al Launier]

I hadn't heard of this until this thread, yet it had to come. I say this because the SUV line of vehicles offers such utility & flexibility for different regions of our country, in addition to their popularity.

Frankly, I've often thought there simply is way too many choices for consumers among all the different vehicle models and accessories offered by auto manufacturers. How many different models & options are there; hundreds? Why do we need so many? It's beyond time to get reasonable. Capitalism is great in my book, it brings out the best in us, but it seems our competitive nature has focussed a bit too much on vehicle models & the tweaking of profits. There's a limit on style, engine performance, and efficiencies based on the internal combustion engine.

Let's get on with future designs of travel. How about one-person or family helicopters, or vehicles that can both drive on the roads and fly?

[Jim Becker]

Al, "back in the day", there was a little more differentiation between brands (especially within one major overall name, like GM), models and the markets they targeted. That got diluted a whole lot over time and as a result, so many name-plates disappeared. Back then, you could also order most options "a la carté" which for most brands/models in the mass market is very much a thing of the past. GM, FCA, others and now Ford have had to re-jigger things and it's not surprising to me that the bullseye is now on reducing less popular models and embracing what the public wants to buy, especially since it's not about the product/customer/employee anymore in business, but rather about Wall Street and short term financial results.

In some ways, the SUV and crossover revolution has ushered in an era of more practical vehicles for many drivers and that's without seriously limiting style and comfort for those who want it. Check out the new Rolls Royce SUV that is about to debut.

[Matt Meiser]

Like many vehicles that are focused on the performance market, the Mustang will evolve relative to drive train just like every other vehicle, and most likely will adopt turbo technology along with smaller displacement engine(s), providing for the dual purpose of increased fuel economy without sacrificing overall performance. And don't count out electrification, either...some of the fastest vehicles in the world are 100% electric and even hybrids have a big edge "off the line" because of the massive torque that electric motors have available from a standing start. Ford, GM and FCA all put a lot of effort into reintroducing their classic muscle cars in recent years with strong emphasis on historical style combined with modern underpinnings and I doubt any of them will abandon these vehicles unless the market for them drops significantly. How they "sound" might change over time, however.

Mustang is already available with the Ecoboost 4 cylinder. Pretty easy to mod them into an 11s 1/4 mile car. Ford has already indicated the hybrid powertrain is coming. Wouldn't mind having one if it wasn't for winter. And Michigan insurance.

The new North American Ranger pick-em-up truck does have some roots in the vehicle that's been available elsewhere in the world, but they've also done a bit of work above that, too. GM did the same for their mid-sized pickups that were re-introduced to the market not so long ago.

I don't know about the Colorado/Canyon, but the Australian Ranger is pretty much what's coming here. Obviously changes were made to meet regulations and move the steering wheel to the other side. I guess the sheet metal is pretty much all different since they had to build new tools anyway. A friend posted a picture several weeks back of the first to be built at Michigan Truck Plant (by hand) and its a good looking truck. Depending on what we decide to do when we become empty nesters in 2 years, I could see leasing one as my next vehicle. Kind of like the new Colorado too but I had one of the previous gen ones and had more than acceptable level quality issues and since I get Z-plan as long as mom is around, makes it hard to buy anything else.