Just saw this article on a ford concept car...

http://www.gizmag.com.au/go/4510/1/

I guess it's taking the rx8 just one step further...

 

Look like you can connect the engine to those doors and it will fly!

 

Hmmm.. it is a beetle

 

I guess it's not so surprising given that Ford owns Mazda. I think as time goes on, the concept will look less and less like an RX-8, however, similarities might remain to convey their idea of "DNA". However, the Ford Focus doesn't look much like the Mazda 3 even though they're built on the same platform.

Drifting off topic only ever so slightly, did you also note the article in Gizmag on the 350km/h Maybach Exelero? This monster was commissioned by Fulda to showcase their new Exelero tyres (the ones I just bought for my 8).

 

There are also references to the RX-8 in Mazda's new CX-7 Crossport, the crossover SUV scheduled for production in 2006. Looks like it might have freestyle rear doors, too.

 

ford also owns jag right..?
anyone remember that jag's version of their rx-8 concept car :p

 

I don't mind the exterior, especially from the rear but the front air intakes are a bit heavy handed and let's face it, those doors would be a pain in the *** in a tight parking spot.

The interior is naff, especially the wheel and head rests. And the colour - yeech!

Man, labrat, you've gotta get over your Fulda obsession! :D :D

 

i found the 8 is the same..... picked up mum and dad from the airport once in the 8, it was quite difficut to open the rear doors...

 

repost

 

in Australian regional forum...? where? :p

 

What Ezzy said.

I don't have time to trawl through all the crap the yanks go on with so I'm always glad to see stuff being (re)posted here.

 

Go easy on the seppos. I don't think that everything posted here qualifies for deathless prose either, and I'm quite happy to include myself as a frequent offender.

(....perhaps it's just because it's Friday, and you've run out of people to sue for the week?)

 

Probably came across harsher than I intended. I just meant there is so much stuff in the yank threads that I find it tiring to sort the wheat from the chaff. Call me xenophobic (or maybe just time poor)! :p :D

Yep, you're a frequent offender alright. 'Scuse me while I double over with a belly laugh at your highly original take on my profession.

 

have you read some of the crap in this section?




of course this is only a design study- not a prototype for a future model by any means. Ford Family companies are doing something interesting this year for the Car Shows. The Regional Design Centers get to show their own thing. So at Franfurt you have themes and concepts from the European design centers. While in the US and Japanese shows you will see stuff fromthose respective design centers. In the past they would sort of merge the ideas into one concept/theme. I liek this approach better.

 

Ford = crap... it has been proven once again

 

the modeo is a nice car and well liked in europe

 

I've done my penance (see my response to labrat).

And I wasn't talking about the crap in this section. I was talking about the crap in the seppo section! :D :D

 

You don't mean the Mondeo do you??!!!

Oh hahahahahahahahaha <really laughs this time>

The Mondeo is an overstyled heap of ****. I wouldn't let my worst enemy be carted to his funeral in one. :D :D :D

 

Part of the reason why our allies, the US, sometimes accuses us of reposting is because they inadvertantly overlook timezone differences, and that we actually might 'see' something reported in a publication before they do. We read the newspaper website editions of their major dailies usually a good 6 hours ahead of them ('cos they're sleeping ). Have found this time and again in dealing with partners on projects where some of the team is in the US.....

....back on topic. I tend to agree with Revolver re the Mondeo. Both is and the Focus are marvellous successes in Europe, but have failed here. Why? Because they tend not to compete with a lot of the Japanese equivalents we have in this country, eg, Mazda -- which has very low market penetration in Europe.

It is also very hard for the Mondeo to compete against the established Australian ethos for the Falcodore style of family car, the segment in which it competes.

I'd like to see Ford bring out something this radical, but I'm not holding my breath. By the time the beancounters -- who outnumber the engineers 3:1 in Ford these days -- finish, it'll be a ho-hum four door coupe style desperately trying to imitate Merce's effors.

 

LOL.

Really the Mondeo is thought of rather highly in europe. it gets good reviews and sells well year after year. But like timbo says - the markets are different and each car cant possibly do well in its segment everywhere.

 

Seriously, you're right. The Mondeo does do well in Europe but it just doesn't translate well to either our roads or our taste in design (which is the biggest driver in sales of course).

Indeed, there have been a number of cars that sold like gangbusters in Europe but didn't really trouble the scorer here. We've also had some American imports that have struggled (Chrysler Neon anyone?).

It has also taken Australia a long while to start buying diesel passenger cars (which again sell huge in Europe). However, we're now getting some really good diesel cars and they are doing well in the most recent sales figures. I really like the diesel Golf actually - great little car and beaut torque.

 

Seen the price of diesel lately - turbo diesels can chew as much as a petrol engine, but the fuel is around 10c/litre more up here...