Big Announcement from Ford Australia?

[WASXAMAN]

Anyboby running a book on all this speculation?

[[Tonko]]

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

Why am I picturing an EA with chopped springs & 14" stockies? :P

lol my first car :
Nah 12 slotters is where its at dave, you should know that! :

[AWD Chaser]

Maybe their "Big Announcment" is going to be about an upcoming announcment...

[Mark351]

There's an announcement today. Additions to the Focus range, namely diesel engined versions. A few details about the Mondeo being added to the range also (no pricing details though, at least not what I read.

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by data_mine

Me and a guy at work, bought new cars about a week apart. Both got dynoed. Both pulled the same number (230.0). Me a BF GT-P, him a VE GTS.

Sounds interesting. The Boss, has always faired well on the dyno.

What would be nice though is if your mate could allow you to drive his GTS. You'd be able to feel the difference (if there is any difference) between the two cars in power delivery/bottom end power.

[BLDNUT01]

the focus will be built here

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by BLDNUT01

the focus will be built here

That's what I think it'll be having thought about it a little more....

It makes sense - Ford Aus' third biggest seller behind Falcon & Territory. And a big chance for HUGE government & Fleet sales - as well as bigger retail sales. It's Ford's highest private seller BTW.

1 in 4 cars sold in Australia is now in the Corolla, Mazda 3, Focus class so if they have managed to make the sums work it's a great opportunity.

Imagine the FPV opportunities with a locally built Focus....

I'm waiting with bated breath !!

[XR8putts]

Originally Posted by BLDNUT01

the focus will be built here

Don't you work for Ford? :

I think the key here will be export opportunities.. if true.

[sleekism]

Why would they build the Focus here??????????????

Ford Oz does not have the capacity, tooling or experience to build the Focus it would cost a fortune to tool up a plant to build the Focus!! It's not like the Territory where they are built on the same platform and share many components it's a completely different car.
There is already a supplier for our region with appropriate economies of scale to build the Focus-South Africa.
Plus there is no profit in building small cars it's a really competitive market with the likes of Hyundai undercutting everyone. I'm pretty sure Ford makes as much profit on one Falcon as they do four Focuses.
In the 70's and 80's it made sense to build cars locally as tariffs were high but now they are virtually non-existant the only way to make money now is to build large cars and SUV's and even the large car market is getting tight as mid sizers like Mazda 6 and Mondeo are getting bigger forcing Holden and Ford to make their large cars even BIGGER!!

I am prepared to eat my words though

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Why would they build the Focus here??????????????

Ford Oz does not have the capacity, tooling or experience to build the Focus it would cost a fortune to tool up a plant to build the Focus!!

Lets wait and see...

The question is will the South African plant be retooled for the all new Focus in a couple of years ? If not it makes sense that it'd either be Taiwan on Australia that gets the Focus....

Who will build the Ranger replacement in this region ? Taiwan ? South Africa ? China ? Maybe Australia ? I doubt Australia though, as it's a small market segment here and Australia will be building Orion Utes.

Ford Australia DOES have the capacity to build another vehicle line, they have downsized by 30 % recently and from what I understand they are still having several downdays every month.

Large cars will NEVER go back to the volumes they enjoyed 20 years ago. Small cars (C-class) are the future if volume is the target. (Unless a BIG export deal for Falcon is forthcoming).

Some plant in this region WILL need to tool up for the new Focus and Ford Australia have a tool building area that builds tools for plants all around the world - so why not do the tooling here in their plant ?

From what I hear there are many new Orion facilities that could also be used for Focus, including a huge new press line they are installing in the Geelong plant. Broadmeadows is one of the most flexible assembly plants in the world and DOES have the ability to do different vehicles along side each other (admittedly with some investment).

So maybe it's a bit of a longshot but I wouldn't discount Focus being built here at this stage.

Don't underestimate the talent of the manufacturing guys at Ford of Australia they do a fantastic job with the designs and a shoe-string budget they've been given. Give them a car to build that has been designed in Europe by the European Product engineering guys (that hasn't been done on a shoe string) and they might surprise some people.

It'd be a real vote of confidence in Australia if it happened. Who knows ?

[majin_andrew]

I would be very surprised if the focus got built here, the profit margins on it would be too small for the effort required IMO. But happy to be proven wrong.

[Martyvan]

They could be going to build the Focus/Mondeo/Falcon/Territory all alongside each other.... If they are tooling for the Focus, the mondeo shares some components with the Focus?

Interesting to see this big announcement....

[Nikked]

Maybe the South African Focus quality is getting on fords nerves...

[BLDNUT01]

just the "rumors" i heard app it will cost the same and if so it would most likely be the next model

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by BLDNUT01

just the "rumors" i heard app it will cost the same and if so it would most likely be the next model

Interesting....

Not trying to get you in trouble, but did you see those rumours here or maybe somewhere where you work ?

[Romulus]

New pricing structure for the BFII is what I think. It's posted on the xr6turbo forums.

A lot of freebees thrown in too.

[MeestaNob!]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Interesting....

Not trying to get you in trouble, but did you see those rumours here or maybe somewhere where you work ?

It's just common sense. The Focus update is here already and Focus III CGI has already been released. 3-6 months to update the factory (at most) is all thats probably required and by then Focus III would just about be here anyway (which we certainly get in Australia).

Chances are this is just an announcement about diesel small cars, but Focus III being built here from mid 2008 is the second most likely scenario.

[Nikked]

wasn't there a focus or similler concept car buil in australia (or austrilasia) recently???

[Paxton]

I would like to add that with Focus, comes its cousin the Mazda3. How would not 2,000 extra cars per month, but 4,000-5,000 extra cars per month sound? Save Broadmeadows?
Factor in the possibility of Mondeo, and Ford Australia have the possibility of exporting RHD Focuses, Mazda3s and Mondeos from Australia, alongside the Falcon. Exciting times ahead for Ford Australia employees. All they need now is to make the I4 and I6 (3.2 and 4.0) Modular engines (fat chance), and Ford Australia are in the box seat for Australian production.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by M6 XR6T

New pricing structure for the BFII is what I think. It's posted on the xr6turbo forums.

A lot of freebees thrown in too.

Thats not it, i posted them from here hehe.

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by Paxton

I would like to add that with Focus, comes its cousin the Mazda3. How would not 2,000 extra cars per month, but 4,000-5,000 extra cars per month sound? Save Broadmeadows?
Factor in the possibility of Mondeo, and Ford Australia have the possibility of exporting RHD Focuses, Mazda3s and Mondeos from Australia, alongside the Falcon. Exciting times ahead for Ford Australia employees. All they need now is to make the I4 and I6 (3.2 and 4.0) Modular engines (fat chance), and Ford Australia are in the box seat for Australian production.

Personally I think there is absolutely no chance of this happening. There is no margin in small cars and with the Aussie dollar where it is it wouldnt make sense.

[The Stylist]

Apparently no Focus or Mondeo will be built in Australia, this big announcement is to do with something else.

However the above statement and the Focus rumour its self should be taken with more than a grain of salt. i.e. It's hard to get sound info.

[sfr rob]

Originally Posted by falzoony

the few pics we have seen of the orion look too much like a falcon to not be a falcon. obviously we dont know what it will look like, but we've all seen the footage of the orion ute, I doubt there will be a mondeo ute.
Unless they go the way of mitsubishi(with the Magna-380) and drop the falcon name but make the same sort of car.
I could make stuff like this up all night!

a mondeo Ute will look about as good as one of those Jumbuck utes.... arghhhh..

[JPFS1]

not required...

[csv8]

as I said before..Ford and Mitsu announce a partnership..next FOCUS is the rebadged 380 !!!!!!!!

[ED Classic]

Wouldnt be the new F6 Territory (in todays Motor Mag) thats going to be released at Sydney Motorshow? Nah this announcement sounds bigger...

[falzoony]

Originally Posted by sfr rob

a mondeo Ute will look about as good as one of those Jumbuck utes.... arghhhh..

the proton jumbucks look great don't they :hihi:

[XR8320]

Originally Posted by ED Classic

Wouldnt be the new F6 Territory (in todays Motor Mag) thats going to be released at Sydney Motorshow? Nah this announcement sounds bigger...

Any Pics

[ED Classic]

Originally Posted by XR8320

Any Pics

There is a couple with F6 Grill, 19 inch wheels and apparently they have opted for all wheel drive only but I cant get them on here. :

[LukeyST]

All this talk of a big announcment is making me feel quite anxious.
Unfortunately i have the gut feeling its going to be something quite minor as usual from ford :(