Ford ready to go.

[piece-itpete]

"The Michigan-based automaker said Thursday it's on the brink of "the fastest and most aggressive manufacturing expansion the company has undergone in 50 years." It plans to add 5,000 new jobs in the U.S. next year, including 3,300 salaried positions.

The company also plans to open new factories in Brazil and China, and will introduce 23 new vehicles globally.

......."

http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/12/news/companies/ford-jobs/index.html

.-.-.-.-.

Pete

[Dondilion]

Yeah the auto industry has definitely turned for the better.

[JJIII]

http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2014-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500_100435873_l.jpgWith this in the stable, how could they not sell more cars?:)http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_large/hash/39/bb/39bbbe1d371eccbd77bbc8c17affab76.jpg?itok=moOVUFVV

[MrPots]

Here' the 2015 world version:

http://files.americanmuscle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2015-Mustang-GT-Full-Car.jpg (http://blog.americanmuscle.com/vote-ford-official-2015-mustang-photo-gallery-hot-or-not/)[/IMG]

[MrPots]

I like the retro version better I think, but the world version could grow on me.

[d-ray657]

Sweeeet. So is this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfuHgzu1Cjg)

Regards,

D-Ray

[bobabode]

Ride Sally ride!!:D

[bobabode]

A little west coast vibe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6DrMkLNYKw :cool:

[BlueStreak]

BEWARE!

Sometimes the folks in the boardroom take on an "If you build it, they will come." mentality that gets them into deep trouble. I saw this when I worked at Federal-Mogul. Rapid expansion funded with heavy debt and built on the assumption that better times lie ahead can be a colossal disaster. Building more factories does nothing to ensure that you will have the sales volume to support them.

That being said, it would be wonderful to see the American automotive industry rise again. I hope it goes well.

Dave

[whell]

This is about my speed, sadly.

http://images02.olx.com/ui/2/50/29/18104129_1.jpg

[Bigerik]

This is about my speed, sadly.

http://images02.olx.com/ui/2/50/29/18104129_1.jpg

Don't worry. The trickle down stuff will hit any time now, and lift you right into the new Ford of your choice.

[Bigerik]

http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2014-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500_100435873_l.jpgWith this in the stable, how could they not sell more cars?:)http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_large/hash/39/bb/39bbbe1d371eccbd77bbc8c17affab76.jpg?itok=moOVUFVV

Meh. The Mustang has been somewhat underwhelming.

[Bigerik]

Here' the 2015 world version:

http://files.americanmuscle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2015-Mustang-GT-Full-Car.jpg (http://blog.americanmuscle.com/vote-ford-official-2015-mustang-photo-gallery-hot-or-not/)[/IMG]

A huge disappointment to me. They had a great new car design in the Evos. But they went pseudo retro again. Just shows a lack of styling inspiration on their part.

[JJIII]

A huge disappointment to me. They had a great new car design in the Evos. But they went pseudo retro again. Just shows a lack of styling inspiration on their part.

Or maybe a response to pressure from the market that doesn't want electric toy cars?

[whell]

Don't worry. The trickle down stuff will hit any time now, and lift you right into the new Ford of your choice.

It ain't about trickle down, its about need. Sadly, you can't fit all the kids in the Mustang to take them to basketball practice.

[icenine]

I had one of those 2.3 Liter underpowerd Mustangs...a 1989 Model. Whell is right those cars have no space for anything..the trunks are real small.

Actually Whell my dad worked for Ford for 42 years and he was at the plant that made Econoline Vans...you just moved up a notch on my cool meter....to .05 lol;)

[merrylander]

It ain't about trickle down, its about need. Sadly, you can't fit all the kids in the Mustang to take them to basketball practice.

Try an Impala and the trunk is huge, belts for three in the rear seat.

[MrPots]

A huge disappointment to me. They had a great new car design in the Evos. But they went pseudo retro again. Just shows a lack of styling inspiration on their part.

True, the Evos has wicked styling. Ford has a huge base of customers around the world loyal to traditional Mustang styling they didn't want to alienate. It's an emotional tie and a strong one. They had to pay attention to that base and the Mustangs styling history and take care not to alienate that base. So there are cues from several model years incorporated into the new design. At the same time they wanted to take the car international in appeal.

I think they made an OK compromise, although I wish they'd made the front more unique. I don't agree with incorporating their new trademark grill, after all it's about the same as the Taurus and Fusion. Mustang styling has always been a set aside from the rest of the Ford line up. Now it blends in too much.

I have seen this model in blue with racing stripes and ground effects and it looks pretty hot. I wish they'd put the in-grill driving lights on it.

http://beforeitsnews.com/mediadrop/uploads/2013/50/b02dbc41bd9e5ae19de0b259c4df3df0143ba60a.jpg

[MrPots]

It ain't about trickle down, its about need. Sadly, you can't fit all the kids in the Mustang to take them to basketball practice.


Sure you can, it you chop them up small enough.....

[Charles]

This is about my speed, sadly.

http://images02.olx.com/ui/2/50/29/18104129_1.jpg

OMG, is that yours?

I had one of those once. HVAC was a bad joke, if you tried to pull anything with it, it would puke out all of the transmission fluid.

The best thing about it was whenever the solenoid locked up and the motor was trying to tear out both the starter and the flywheel, it was easy to access when I cut the battery cable in half with a set of side cutters. Time was of an essence, and I could get to the side cutters quickly.

After I did that I got way back, because the battery was making some strange boiling noises, and I've had one of them explode before. Pretty damned exciting when that happens.

Chas

[Charles]

Sure you can, it you chop them up small enough.....

Yeah, but where do you mount the ladder racks?

Chas

[bobabode]

Ford F150 Aluminium ;)

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-detroit-auto-show-ford-truck-20140112,0,1291156.story#axzz2qKWq9kkK

[BlueStreak]

An aluminum pick up?

MISTAKE.

Even 6061 aircraft grade aluminum dents too easily to be used in a work truck.

Dave

[mpholland]

I was bending some titanium this morning that had dents in it. Bending 4" x .049" wall titanium tube on a 4 1/2" centerline radius was not my idea of a good time today.

[BlueStreak]

People have some weird misconceptions about these metals. They have their specialized uses that they work very well in.

The trick is found here: "Pound for pound, stronger than steel."

However;

A pound of aluminum is a whole lot more material than a pound of steel. The aluminum on that truck would have to be pretty thick to match the strength and dent resistance of steel. And, it they're doing it to reduce vehicle weight.......Guess what?

Dave

[hillbilly]

People have some weird misconceptions about these metals. They have their specialized uses that they work very well in.

The trick is found here: "Pound for pound, stronger than steel."

However;

A pound of aluminum is a whole lot more material than a pound of steel. The aluminum on that truck would have to be pretty thick to match the strength and dent resistance of steel. And, it they're doing it to reduce vehicle weight.......Guess what?

Dave

It'll wrinkle like foil if it's not thicker nuff. And if they are doing it to reduce weight it's not going to match that pound for pound strength. And though it won't rust like steel, I've seen thin ga. aluminum sheets with holes in them do to corrosion.

[donquixote99]

Hmmm...my wife had an English Ford with an aluminium body way back when, before we were married. I saw it in the late 70's and it was old then. Looked good--none of the rust you expected in those days, and no particular signs of body weakness.

Can't say if was lightweight. I had the idea that corrosion control was the big benefit.

[BlueStreak]

It'll wrinkle like foil if it's not thicker nuff. And if they are doing it to reduce weight it's not going to match that pound for pound strength. And though it won't rust like steel, I've seen thin ga. aluminum sheets with holes in them do to corrosion.

Yep.

Oh, aluminum corrodes. It sometimes even corrodes from the inside out in the thick parts. I've seen that. Let it come into direct contact with concrete and watch what happens to it.

Dave

[BlueStreak]

Hmmm...my wife had an English Ford with an aluminium body way back when, before we were married. I saw it in the late 70's and it was old then. Looked good--none of the rust you expected in those days, and no particular signs of body weakness.

Can't say if was lightweight. I had the idea that corrosion control was the big benefit.

So long as the paint is good, it should be alright. But, that's true of steel too. I saw an old motorcycle once that had aluminum fenders. No major dents, but they were also very thick.

Aluminum doesn't turn brown when it corrodes either. It puts off a white powdery substance and the surface roughens. In extreme cases it exfoilates, the grains separate and pieces flake away.

[MrPots]

An aluminum pick up?

MISTAKE.

Even 6061 aircraft grade aluminum dents too easily to be used in a work truck.

Dave

While reading about the truck it was mentioned that the aluminum alloy used is actually stronger than steel at resisting dents.

Undoubtedly the durability of the all aluminum truck was top of mind when developing it as that would make or break the truck. And when you've got the best selling vehicle 30 years running, you don't make changes like this lightly.