‘Huge things’ happening at Ford’s design and engineering centres

[Falc'man]

‘Huge things’ happening at Ford’s design and engineering centres, says Burela

24 September 2010

By RON HAMMERTON

FORD Australia has confirmed it will be the on-going global development centre for Ford’s global T6 light truck platform, which will make its worldwide debut under the all-new Ranger and Mazda’s similarly redesigned BT-50 ute at the Australian International Motor Show in October.

Company president and CEO Marin Burela said at this week’s media launch for the new Focus RS hot hatch that “huge things” were happening at Ford’s Victorian design and engineering centres in Cambellfield and Geelong, where work was progressing on “many derivatives” to be built on the ladder-chassis T6 platform.

As GoAuto has reported, one of those will be an SUV to challenge vehicles such as Mitsubishi’s Triton-based Challenger and Nissan’s Navara-based Pathfinder.

FordRanger center imageFrom top: Current Ford Ranger, Ford Australia president and CEO Marin Burela, Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder engine.

Mr Burela described the T6 project as the “biggest single technical development program that Australia as a country has ever seen in its history”.

“No one in the history of the automotive world in Australia has ever embarked on such a huge tech development of a new car like we have with the new Ranger,” he said.

“The vehicle will be sold in over 180 different countries in the world.

“That’s the reason we elected to do the global launch of the vehicle in Australia at the Sydney motor show.

“So, huge things are happening and huge things will continue to happen.”

Mr Burela said the unveiling of the new Ranger in Sydney would mark the start of “a mind-blaster of a year for us”.

“2011 will be an absolutely incredible year for us in terms of product launches,” he said. “The whole journey starts now, at the Sydney motor show, where we will be launching a new global pick-up truck, the Ranger.”

Mr Burela promised that visitors to the Ford stand in Sydney “will see a few things”, adding: “It is all starting to come together.”

Among the new Ford products confirmed for release next year are the EcoBoost four-cylinder Falcon, liquid propane injection Falcon and turbo-diesel Territory.

Also expected on sale here next year is the new Ranger, which will be built alongside the new BT-50 in Thailand from mid-2011 before export production ramps up.

However, the much-needed all-new Focus small car is only likely to venture Down Under as a 2012 model, first from Germany and later from Thailand.

Mr Burela said Ford’s Australian engineering centre remained a critical part of Ford Asia-Pacific’s growth strategy and Ford Australia was excited about what that meant for Australia.

“We developed and tested and prepared the Indian car, the Figo,” he said.

“Have a look at the raging success it is in India. It is now being exported to South Africa.”

Mr Burela said the way supply of Figo was being outstripped by demand was “almost frightening”.

Ford Australia’s design, engineering and testing centres employ about 900 workers, switching between products such as the T6 derivatives, Falcon and Territory.

Mr Burela said he was extremely confident Ford Australia would report a profit in 2010, making back-to-back years in the black after last year’s return to profit ($13 million).

He heaped praise on Ford Motor Co president Alan Mullaly, saying under his direction and the ‘One Ford’ policy, Ford was a different company to that of a few years ago.

“We went out and listened to our customers, and listened some more, and then we went out and listened again,” he said.

Mr Burela said products such as the Ford Fiesta were an example of Ford’s new direction.

He said the Fiesta – which is now being built in Thailand – had grown Ford’s light-car market share from about 4.7 per cent to between 8.3 and 8.4 per cent now.

“The greatest problem with that car is that we can’t get enough,” he said.

Despite the success of the Fiesta, Mr Burela said he continued to see a healthy future for large cars in Australia, where Ford remained committed to the Falcon.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2577A8002442D5

[FNQracing]

I'll really get excited when they announce Ford Oz and the Falcon will be the global RWD platform.

[jpd80]

Don't get too excited, I think this is restricted to variations on T6 Ranger,
think about all the possible permutations with the following factors;
1) Right hand Drive or Left Hand Drive
2) 3.0 Diesel or 2.0 Ecoboost
3) Low Rider or high Rider.
4) 2WD or 4WD
5) Single cab, Extra Cab or Dual Cab.
6) Pick Up or Cab Chassis/Tray back

There must have been an awful lot of crash tests done to cover the number
of vehicle variations and market requirements needed to cover 180 countries.

Falcon and Territory now look like small projects compared to the engineering development
that went into T6 and the SUV variant. Ford Australia have grown from developing good
products on a shoestring budget to delivering a versatile truck that holds its head high
compared to its competitors on the international stage.

Well done Ford.

[Polyal]

Who it not stand to reason that the profit made from the t6 project would offset any falcon losses in the short term?

Either way it's all good news with jobs being kept and foa's rep being built.

Can't wait to see how t6 actually looks, they msnaged to put a lot of cladding on them. I hope it's more manly than the current front end.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Who it not stand to reason that the profit made from the t6 project would offset any falcon losses in the short term?

What Falcon losses would those be?

The only stand out losses FoA have incurred in the past few years were
associated with redundancies for 600 workers and topping up pension plans.
Things like platform development costs are amortized over the product cycle
and added to the car's price and recovered. Around $2,000 to 3,000 per car.

By comparison, team Red (very apt name btw) significant annual losses since 2005 before
VE was introduced, kinda says something for being a "stay at home" regional only manufacturer.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

‘Huge things’ happening at Ford’s design and engineering centres, says Burela

24 September 2010

By RON HAMMERTON

FORD Australia has confirmed it will be the on-going global development centre for Ford’s global T6 light truck platform, which will make its worldwide debut under the all-new Ranger and Mazda’s similarly redesigned BT-50 ute at the Australian International Motor Show in October.
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2577A8002442D5

Excellent link Falc'man! Ongoing is the really important part of the statement. It means they have proved themselves and will continue getting (more) work!

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Mr Burela described the T6 project as the “biggest single technical development program that Australia as a country has ever seen in its history”.

“No one in the history of the automotive world in Australia has ever embarked on such a huge tech development of a new car like we have with the new Ranger,” he said.

Nice swipe at VE!

Originally Posted by Falc'man

“So, huge things are happening and huge things will continue to happen.”

Mr Burela said the unveiling of the new Ranger in Sydney would mark the start of “a mind-blaster of a year for us”.

“2011 will be an absolutely incredible year for us in terms of product launches,” he said.

Lets hope so. The promise is there.

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Mr Burela promised that visitors to the Ford stand in Sydney “will see a few things”, adding: “It is all starting to come together.”
Among the new Ford products confirmed for release next year are the EcoBoost four-cylinder Falcon, liquid propane injection Falcon and turbo-diesel Territory

They need to come together, but I believe they will.

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Ford Australia’s design, engineering and testing centres employ about 900 workers, switching between products such as the T6 derivatives, Falcon and Territory.

Mr Burela said he was extremely confident Ford Australia would report a profit in 2010, making back-to-back years in the black after last year’s return to profit ($13 million).

Nice to see the point (profit) re-iterated.

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Mr Burela said products such as the Ford Fiesta were an example of Ford’s new direction.

He said the Fiesta – which is now being built in Thailand – had grown Ford’s light-car market share from about 4.7 per cent to between 8.3 and 8.4 per cent now.

“The greatest problem with that car is that we can’t get enough,” he said.

Despite the success of the Fiesta, Mr Burela said he continued to see a healthy future for large cars in Australia, where Ford remained committed to the Falcon.

They are talking about 15% market share for Fiesta. A continued future for Falcon is assured with great engineering and continued profits.

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by phillyc

A continued future for Falcon is assured with great engineering and continued profits.

On that front, does anyone know if they project actually making a profit from the falcon? By profit I mean paying off the $500 million or so they spent developing the FG.

[vztrt]

Good to see more development happening here. Lets hope this is just the start.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by SteveJH

On that front, does anyone know if they project actually making a profit from the falcon? By profit I mean paying off the $500 million or so they spent developing the FG.

That wont happen for awhile. Best guess would be to break it down over the expected life span of the car which would be 2008 till anywhere between 2014-2016 depending on how the wind blows on GRWD. If they need to stretch it to 2016 it'll be an average 8 year cycle and they'll need about $70m in revenue each year to cover development costs. That doesnt consider ongoing development costs, which if you consider when Ford stopped selling BF2 Falcons they possibly had spend as much getting from BA to BF2 as they had on BA originally.

[FPV8U]

2.0L Ecoboost 2 x 4 C/Chassis would be a fun new work rig.

Will the New Ranger Spell the end of the Aussie Falcon ute in the future?

[FPV GTHO]

I dont know if it'll kill of the ute per se, if its got great on road manners it'll go some ways. It might send Ford on a different path with the Falcon ute though, perhaps back to a coupe utility/monocoque construction

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by SteveJH

On that front, does anyone know if they project actually making a profit from the falcon? By profit I mean paying off the $500 million or so they spent developing the FG.

That's what I mean. Sure they might keep their head above water with the falcon in tshe short term but show me that they recoup the development costs. Projects like this take the pressure off other areas.

[Joe5619]

They'll recoup the cost of FG development if they continue to make a profit when FG is for sale... ALL (and I do mean ALL) the FG development costs would be expensed to Ford Australia's P&L during the years FG is for sales... As long as Ford continues to make a profit, they will 100% recoup there development costs...

For example, they are spending 230 million on diesel & I4, none of the is classed as an expense for Ford right now, even though the money is getting spent right now, they’ll start to release this cost to the P&L when these models go on sale



I hope the just make enough profit to get the green light for GRWD!! Please!!

[EgoFG]

The T6 is at a size that is getting close to the F series - that is why they don't want it in the USA.
So it will compete with the Falcon Ute even less that the current Ranger does

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

The T6 is at a size that is getting close to the F series - that is why they don't want it in the USA.
So it will compete with the Falcon Ute even less that the current Ranger does

The current Falcon is bigger than the current Ranger, so if the Ranger grows it will certainly impact on it. The current Ranger has interior room comparable to a Focus or Corolla.

I am worried about the Falcon ute, when the RTV was cancelled MB stated that new hi-rider 2wd Ranger is taking its place in the lineup. In recent history we have seen the wagon and LWB cars cancelled so its certainly within scope. When Falcon moves to a global platform I am fearing the death of it especially if the new Ranger is a good thing (which it will be if Ford AU are developing it).

I personally see room for both of them in the lineup, and the 10,000 Falcon utes a year they build must help Falcon sedan production economies of scale.

[Chopped]

There is a MASSIVE market for these things, look at the Hilux numbers.

Hopefully it will look similar to the BT-50 concept >

[JPFS1]

That is what Mazda's version will sort of look like.

The Ford version is quite different. Let's say more 'Ford' like!!

[Joe5619]

I think I read somewhere that this will be the first time the Mazda & Ford will have very different looking utes, so dont think the Mazda design gives us much clues as to what the Ranger will look like..

[Polyal]

Surely T6 will look like the new explorer.

So, anyword if we can get an aussie FPV Raptor..ill sign on the dotted line now if we can!

[outback_ute]

Not sure there will be that sort of variation - eg multiple wheelbase and tray lengths as per US pickups. I gather the T6 is larger than the Amarok, which is 150mm wider than the current Ranger and only 60mm narrower than an F150.

[irlewy86]

I really love the glaringly obvious stab at the Zeta flop.

[Chopped]

F150 front may be a style guide for new Ranger (wild guess!)

[vztrt]

Another good news story on Ford Australia's Engineering capability.

Figo success a feather in Ford Oz cap

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2577B100815682

Ford Australia praised as the engineering muscle behind successful Indian light car

4 October 2010

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS

A FAR stronger than anticipated reception for the Figo this year has shone a fresh light on the Australian-led engineering and design team’s capabilities that helped to develop the Indian-built light car.

Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s Asia Pacific and Africa president, told GoAuto at the Paris motor show press day on September 30 that the Ford Australia team had earned its stripes as a key design and engineering force in the Ford world with models such as the Figo, as well as the T6 Ranger to be released at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in the middle of this month.

“The Figo has been a phenomenal success in India, and who would have thought that engineers from India and engineers from Australia would have designed a vehicle that breaks through and becomes the story of 2010 in India? That’s fascinating,” he said.

“We have a lot of capability between Broadmeadows and Geelong. And we have been using that capability to support all the work we have going on in Asia Pacific and Africa.”

Launched in India last March, the Figo has continually outstripped initial forecasts, with orders exceeding 30,000 to the end of August, and bettering Ford’s entire 2009 production output in that country.

Figo has also helped triple Ford sales in August, to record a 220 per cent increase over the same month in 2009.

Mr Hinrichs added that the success of the Indian-built light car – a development of the previous-generation B256/WP-WQ Fiesta led by Ford Australia – has put the Broadmeadows team in the forefront of all new-vehicle development, whether it be as leaders in, or support to, future product engineering and design.

“It is not just the T6/Ranger and the Figo before it,” he said.

“It is also many other new programs that we are working on; and we have capabilities there (in Australia).

“It is great that we have input from Australia, India, China, Thailand and other markets, into the product development system, and we’re getting talent and also resources from all around our region – but certainly especially from Australia as well.”

Meanwhile, while he would not confirm details of the next Falcon, Mr Hinrichs was upbeat about Ford Australia’s chances of designing and engineering it at Broadmeadows, with stronger sales in 2010 helping the large car’s cause.

Falcon sales are up by about 4.5 per cent this year – more than double the growth of the large-car segment in Australia in 2010.

“We are very pleased with the performance of the Falcon this year in the market place, and the Australian product development team in Broadmeadows have been working really hard keeping the product fresh,” he said.

“So we’re very excited about that … and the Falcon, Utility and Territory are very important products for our business there.

“We have exciting plans for all the markets including Australia … and our presence in Australia is very important to us, and it’s a good business for us.

“We’re proud of our heritage there. And we have lots of capability there. And we will take advantage of that.

“And we also have to continue to evolve as a company to see where consumers, and where governments and where the economies are going.”

Ford’s global chief financial officer Lewis Booth best summed up Broadmeadows’ new-found standing within the Ford world to GoAuto in Paris: “Don’t worry what we say (about Ford Australia); just watch what we utilise.

“You know what I think about the Australian team: they’re good people doing a good job. They are part of our global asset and they will be used accordingly.”

[Falc'man]

Nice find, Daniel, and a good read. "Just watch what we utilise" can only mean one thing...

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Nice find, Daniel, and a good read. "Just watch what we utilise" can only mean one thing...

Falcon has strong support within Ford, I wouldn't be surprised if the all new 2014 Mustang
isn't a variation on E8 Falcon using some real money to find big weight savings. It will be
arriving in 2013 so I'd say a little handover of developed sub component and engineering
will go on just before the 2012 start deadline for the next Falcon.

A few years back FoA mentioned using light metals in a future vehicle,
maybe USA's involvement and the drive to reduce weight in the next
Mustang by 300 lbs will see an interesting change for the platform.....

[Ohio XB]

You couldn't ask for better praise and accolades for FOA Design Centre. What great articles!

He heaped praise on Ford Motor Co president Alan Mullaly, saying under his direction and the ‘One Ford’ policy, Ford was a different company to that of a few years ago.

I cannot stress that point enough. Ford today is a company that it has NEVER been. Ask any Ford worker and they will tell you Mulally was worth every dollar.


Steve

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Falcon has strong support within Ford, I wouldn't be surprised if the all new 2014 Mustang
isn't a variation on E8 Falcon using some real money to find big weight savings. It will be
arriving in 2013 so I'd say a little handover of developed sub component and engineering
will go on just before the 2012 start deadline for the next Falcon.

A few years back FoA mentioned using light metals in a future vehicle,
maybe USA's involvement and the drive to reduce weight in the next
Mustang by 300 lbs will see an interesting change for the platform.....

Well, FoA want to reduce the weight of their upcoming vehicles. The Mazda2/Fiesta was an example of this. I'd imagine that the Focus will include some savings too. If they are looking at Mustang and want to add IRS and save 300lbs they have a job to do!

IMO adding IRS (control blade type) would add 100lbs over the live axle. So, they need to save 400lbs from a 3600lb (3700lb with IRS) car. That's 11%.

Weight accounts for 70% of fuel consumption, so trimming the fat could save nearly 8% alone.

Ford saved some solid amounts of weight by going with alloy front suspension on the Falcon, so I wonder what they could save at the rear?

Having Mustang using parts of the E8 Falcon architecture will give the Mustang a real head start and in turn, like you've said allow them to spend money on losing weight on subframes etc. This should be a real win for Falcon.

I'm just getting excited at the prospect of a 10% lighter Falcon ie 1550kg Ecoboost up to 1675kg for a GT!