Ford Future Thread

http://www.rallye-magazin.de/r/wm/d/...ung/index.html

Question what raise in my head: What does Ford in 2009? Ford has a 'contract' with WRC until 2008. In August Ford make a decision.
What could they do? S2000 is the future. But Ford didn't have S200 plans (or it is a big secret). The WRCars who M-Sport make is in few years over. What is a change of Focus N4? This car could do it...
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/17/e...begin-in-2009/

But is a N4 a good step? What would they do? What is a good thing?

I think Ford goes further with N4. It is a car who can fight with Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Subaru Impreza WRX.

I think I read somewhere that they plan to make a S2000 based on the new Fiesta.
Although I would love to see an N4 Focus,this class needs a new manufacter

Ford has made the right decision keeping away from the 'yawn' class group N...hopefully they will build a S2000 car with the stunning new Fiesta.

Hopefully they build both!!!

Hopefully they will remain in the top level of rallying whatever the name and specifications are.

Malcolm said for czech magazine Rally that they are already building Fiesta S2K and they would like to launch it in 2009.

At the end of 2004, Ford extened their commitment for 4 more years with hope of getting back to the top. They struggled in 2005 with outdated car but their Focus WRC06 and WRC07 have turned out to be successful enough to win two manufacturer's championships, which is probably a bigger priority for Ford than the driver's title. And now with two talented drivers under contract, there is possibility of becoming even more successful manufacturer in upcoming years, so I don't think they will pull out at the end of this year.

I hope Ford will make their decision early enough to allow M-Sports to develop the next Focus or Fiesta or whatever they are planning to use in the future, so they won't have another year like 2005.

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Originally Posted by Karbonyl

Malcolm said for czech magazine Rally that they are already building Fiesta S2K and they would like to launch it in 2009.

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Did they print/publish that anywhere ? If so could we get a translation ?

Make sense to do a S2000, as long as they dont have a 4wd Focus.

It was in GPWeek, last week, that Ford will make their decision in early August

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Originally Posted by Sulland

Did they print/publish that anywhere ? If so could we get a translation ?

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In was in that magazine maybe month or two ago. I don't have that issue with me now, but I'll try to find it ASAP.

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Originally Posted by ste898

Ford has made the right decision keeping away from the 'yawn' class group N...hopefully they will build a S2000 car with the stunning new Fiesta.

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Is it really a good decision that they have never properly tried to exploit their rally successes with a proper 2ltr turbo 4wd road car? Are you really glad they haven't? Only reason they are not in N4 is they dont have the car which is a loss to Blue oval fans everywhere(even those who live in the WC of the UK(Cumbria :-)))

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Originally Posted by Karbonyl

In was in that magazine maybe month or two ago. I don't have that issue with me now, but I'll try to find it ASAP.

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I am very interest in that interview/article too

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Originally Posted by cut the b.s.

Is it really a good decision that they have never properly tried to exploit their rally successes with a proper 2ltr turbo 4wd road car? Are you really glad they haven't? Only reason they are not in N4 is they dont have the car which is a loss to Blue oval fans everywhere(even those who live in the WC of the UK(Cumbria :-)))

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From marketing view I don't understand nothing about S2000. All what I see is little cars. Maybe technical the best solution for S2000. (I don't know.) The most cars on the way is the class of Golf, Astra, Focus, C4. Why should Ford (and other factoryteams) put a lot of money in a car that not sell enough.

I think is a good idea for Ford to go further with the Focus in N4 or if it is possible to make a step with that car in S2000. That is the best, in marketing point of view.

I strongly wish Ford to enter the S2000 world !!! :D

Maybe Ford flower power next year? :cool:

http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk...0Flower%20Show

Pics:
http://www.worldrallypics.com/fotowe...5397/12209.jpg
http://www.worldrallypics.com/fotowe...5397/12210.jpg

I belive Fords and also Citroens future in WRC depends on the response they get considering the letter all manufacurers did send to FIA conserning the event calender changes the manufacturers want in 2010.

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Originally Posted by Tomi

I belive Fords and also Citroens future in WRC depends on the response they get considering the letter all manufacurers did send to FIA conserning the event calender changes the manufacturers want in 2010.

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Yes together with ISC/North One they made a proposal to FIA for new calendar format. They were proposing that starting from 2010 there would be 14 events, 8 permanent and 6 rotating in the calendar. Unfortunatelly this proposal was leaked all over the world before it was finalized and now it is used to do politics inside FIA, does not look good...

Jarmo Mahonen, member of WRC council, is afraid that if FIA won't change the calendar as manufactures want there will be two of them leaving WRC in 2010 and those two may very well be Citroen & Ford. He also says that he has never seen manufactures being so united as they are now.

He is also wondering the behaviour of some FIA leaders who have been critical about Loeb's outlook at the same time when the president of FIA has been seen in his own adventures...

More about his thoughts over here, only in Finnish... http://www.nesteoilrallyfinland.fi/s...r/default.html

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Originally Posted by cut the b.s.

Is it really a good decision that they have never properly tried to exploit their rally successes with a proper 2ltr turbo 4wd road car? Are you really glad they haven't? Only reason they are not in N4 is they dont have the car which is a loss to Blue oval fans everywhere(even those who live in the WC of the UK(Cumbria :-)))

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Ford are bring out a RS Focus (about time) but hopefully they wont waste their time on a Group (Yawn) N car......

Your name is so fitting to you B.S

No, I think Ford has some huge plans to give some new product for this year rally

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Originally Posted by ste898

Ford are bring out a RS Focus (about time) but hopefully they wont waste their time on a Group (Yawn) N car......

Your name is so fitting to you B.S

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Focus RS means what exactly? I was talking about 2ltr turbo 4wd cars, anything I have read tells me that the RS wont be any of this, and as a guy who likes cars I think this is a shame, I had a Puma 1.7 before but no blue oval product has appealed to me for a while, I had hoped they would have made a real car again this time round but sadly it seems not :-/

oh, and thanks for the complament :-)

The new RS Focus wont be 4 wheel drive as they reckon the extra weight would dent the performance and add too many £££s. Will cost about £23k but am holding my breath as to when it will appear as too many Ford projects have bitten the dust in the past..

It's a shame they never built a 4 wd car after the last Escort other than the Focus WRC as a lot of clubmen and National drivers have ended up in rice munchers as a result.

U fortunately is is true that Ford are going to cut corners on the new Focus RS ans waste a great chance to make up ground on the Impreza and EVO.
It is a real shame that Ford dont have the balls to make a proper high performabce car now.........

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Originally Posted by ste898

U fortunately is is true that Ford are going to cut corners on the new Focus RS ans waste a great chance to make up ground on the Impreza and EVO.
It is a real shame that Ford dont have the balls to make a proper high performabce car now.........

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Would they sell any - especially in the UK where cars and fuel are taxed to death!!!!!

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Originally Posted by ste898

U fortunately is is true that Ford are going to cut corners on the new Focus RS ans waste a great chance to make up ground on the Impreza and EVO.
It is a real shame that Ford dont have the balls to make a proper high performabce car now.........

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This is what I can't understand. If Subaru and Mitsubishi can make money, and keep churning out models of the Impreza and Lancer, then surely Ford can do the same. Personally speaking, this new car coming out is not a RS whatever it says - it's just a glorified ST. 2.5 L Turbo (Same engine from the Volvo ).FWD - Wow - how exciting. What's wrong with a 2L Turbo 4WD - So it's like the WRCar. An opportunity missed I think.

Yep totally agree a wasted opportunity......as for the fuel and tax if someone wants one badly enough they will have 1.

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Originally Posted by AndyRAC

2.5 L Turbo (Same engine from the Volvo ).

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Try that out sometime... It's mated to a big 2000 kg frame which makes it somewhat sluggish compared to World Rally Car but it still pumps out 210hp and lots of torque. I make do with 170hp 2.4liter and that's fast enough for old pop like me...

New officiall photos of the new RS
http://www.automagazin.co.yu/vesti.p...%20fotografije

It says it will have 280 BHP on front wheels......that is TOOO much ,the car is probably going to be a nightmare in handling

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Originally Posted by urabus-denoS2000

New officiall photos of the new RS
http://www.automagazin.co.yu/vesti.p...%20fotografije

It says it will have 280 BHP on front wheels......that is TOOO much ,the car is probably going to be a nightmare in handling

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No, it's okay - it'll have a trick LSD - That will make all the difference.

Absolute madness - I've always said that any more than 200BHP should really be 4WD or RWD. On a competiton car it's a bit different, but on a road car - No!
A new RS - pah!! It's a glorified ST.....

..An opportunity missed, AGAIN!!

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Originally Posted by AndyRAC

..An opportunity missed, AGAIN!!

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Agree,I was REALLY looking forward for the succesor of the Escort RS Cosworth

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Originally Posted by AndyRAC

No, it's okay - it'll have a trick LSD - That will make all the difference.

Absolute madness - I've always said that any more than 200BHP should really be 4WD or RWD. On a competiton car it's a bit different, but on a road car - No!
A new RS - pah!! It's a glorified ST.....

..An opportunity missed, AGAIN!!

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Like the original Focus RS the trick LSD will probably make for bad driving on the road. I don't get the ST badge. If you didn't know much about cars you'd think it was just another name for poverty spec. RS means something! ST doesn't.

All teams are waiting for the meeting on june 24 to see the new wrc rules.

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Originally Posted by Sulland

All teams are waiting for the meeting on june 24 to see the new wrc rules.

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Was the meeting yesterday? Any news?

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Originally Posted by Roy

Was the meeting yesterday? Any news?

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Two day meeting, yesterday and today, no news expected until late this afternoon. Autosport.com bill it as possibly the most important meeting regarding world rallying's future, with the series promotion and technical rules being decided (yesterday) and ratified today in the meeting with FIA.

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Originally Posted by Roy

Was the meeting yesterday? Any news?

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I found something. no decisions yet.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68604

Both Citroen and Ford have confirmed they will walk away from the sport if the right decisions concerning the future of the World Rally Championship are not made in Paris this week.

Ford of Europe's motorsport director Mark Deans said: "This is a watershed moment for the World Rally Championship. It's impossible to overstate the importance of this week."

Deans' counterpart at Citroen, Olivier Quesnel, is in complete agreement.

"At the moment, the promotion of rally is nothing," he said. "Look at other sports, it's incredible. Look at DTM, it's so much more than WRC."

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Originally Posted by Roy

I found something. no decisions yet.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68604

Both Citroen and Ford have confirmed they will walk away from the sport if the right decisions concerning the future of the World Rally Championship are not made in Paris this week.

Ford of Europe's motorsport director Mark Deans said: "This is a watershed moment for the World Rally Championship. It's impossible to overstate the importance of this week."

Deans' counterpart at Citroen, Olivier Quesnel, is in complete agreement.

"At the moment, the promotion of rally is nothing," he said. "Look at other sports, it's incredible. Look at DTM, it's so much more than WRC."

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While I understand Citroen's gripe about lack of promotion, they aren't really helping themselves are they?
When was the last time you saw an advert promoting their success? Same with Ford, the last 2 years they have won the Manufacturers crown - yet would you know it?
Look at Peugeot in Sportscars - they've won 3 LMS races, and have advertised the fact the day after taking up a whole page in newspapers.

If the WRC is to survive and then grow, then the Manufacturers are going to have to embrace change. Simple cheap cars - S2000, which are easy for Privateers to get hold of, spectacular to look at and noisy. Currently, although great technology, are as boring as hell, and sound like strangled farts. Also, each event needs to be different instead of the identikit events we have now. If no changes are agreed, then the WRC is dead, simple as. At the moment, there's just no interest here in UK, an event passes without any mention in the mainstream media - that can't go on.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/...exclusive.html
Wilson in a interview at Crash.net

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Crash.net:
Have Ford set a time scale for when they want a global promoter appointed?

MW:
We are working with the FIA now. We need to make sure something is in place as soon as possible - the sooner the better really, because to make the decision to continue for the longer term, then, it's late now. But the important thing is we can work with the FIA now and get exactly what the sport needs, what Ford needs and what the other manufacturers' need, to take this sport to where it should rightfully be.

Crash.net:
How much longer can Ford and the other manufacturers' wait for it?

MW:
We have been given the green light that they are going to appoint a promoter and I know they are having meetings with promoters at the moment. You have got to get the right promoter. You have got to get the right people. It is not something that is going to happen overnight. As I said, we are working with them, because it is so important for everybody, that when it is announced, we want it to be right. At least we are having some input with the FIA and that is the important thing.

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