Whether it's from the www, the latest motor show or the back doors of a carmaker near you, Carsales Network Confidential features the good oil other sources either won't publish, don't care about or don't know. Heard an automotive rumour or new model tip? Then let us know at editor@carpoint.com.au
Ford to the letter
Owners of recent Ford models will have received a letter direct from Tom Gorman, President of Ford Australia spelling out the facts behind recent announcements, many of which were distorted by the media. The final point of the letter ends with the assurance: "Importantly for you, as we have always done, we will continue to support parts and accessories for all our vehicles."
Sadly, this has a similar ring to it when Mitsubishi was forced into a similar stance following inaccurate media speculation. The Ford letter is in effect a historical marker for the most fundamental change facing local Australian manufacturers since the first Holden went into production in 1948. It also serves as a warning to all commentators that all the old rules, certainties and prejudices no longer apply when it won't be the last from a local manufacturer.
One of the biggest obstacles for Ford in getting its message across has been the ill-informed speculation by some national media that Ford Australia was about to assemble the Ford Focus (or derivative). As a result, some have been then less than forthright about clarifying what is really happening.
The company is in fact going to manufacture the next Focus here with the same local content as any Commodore or Falcon with guaranteed export markets on a separate, purpose-built assembly line that will employ an additional 300 workers. Because it will draw major components from the same Geelong stamping plant as the Falcon and Territory then join these larger models on a new combined final assembly line, Ford's large family cars are protected against further market shifts. Ford's assurance in its latest letter about continuing to employ 5000 Australians is backed by substance.
Less than 14 Australians out of 100 still buy an Australian large car compared to almost 30 in 1997, a market that still has to be split four ways. When this has the potential to drop to 10 or below by 2010, Ford's latest announcements leave its local workers better protected than most. Ford's factory at Campbellfield will be one of the few in the world that can swap between large rear drive and small to medium front-drive vehicles according to market forces.
As for the demise of the Geelong engine which was inevitable under these market shifts and future fuel and emissions demands, Ford's three year heads-up over its 2010 closure of engine operations has left plenty of time to generate a range of options to keep this facility alive.
If it results in substitute activities more sustainable than a big and heavy six-cylinder engine, then everyone's a winner. Meanwhile, the Ford letter also lists Ford's $200 million investment in the Geelong area over the past three years, including its new global R&D centre due for completion late in 2007.
V8 for Territory?
Could Ford be considering V8 power for the Territory SUV?
The current model is limited to an inline six by its front suspension layout, but come 2011, the Territory and Falcon will both adopt the V6 'Cyclone' engine (more here) imported from a plant in Ohio.
Information to hand concerning the upcoming 'Project Orion' Falcon suggests it will boast the same front suspension layout as the current Territory -- and since sales of XR8 Falcons are a lucrative little earner, expect this suspension to be re-worked for V-configuration engines.
Even if that doesn't happen for the Territory immediately, the medium SUV will have to make the jump to a V6 when the Cyclone is introduced. Once the engine bay and front suspension have been rearranged for the V6, it's a relatively simpler proposition to fit a V8.
Is this the point being made by Ford president Tom Gorman when he said "Once you package that 'V' design, you do get some economies of scale in other 'V' engines, so that might be diesel power"?
It might also be V8 petrol power... And it potentially paves the way for LHD exports.
FPV and Ford on a firmer footing
When Prodrive gave FPV's management their marching orders in January, it ultimately brought Ford and FPV closer together
Relations between Ford and FPV were never in doubt, according to Ford president, Tom Gorman -- but Ford would have handled the January management shake-out differently.
"I'm proud of the way the team acted aggressively and quickly, but we might have done it slightly differently, had it been a Ford-only operation, but we have a great relationship with Bryan; we work closely with Bryan Mears at Prodrive.
"Since we made the change, the integration back into Ford on the important things -- the product integration -- is much, much stronger than it was.
"I'm not saying that it's because we changed management, but I can tell you that it is stronger today. And that's critically important to us going forward."
BMW doesn't 'own' M
Nissan has won the right to use 'M' as a prefix for its model nomenclature, much to the displeasure of BMW.
Nissan Canada and BMW Canada have spent two years in court trying to establish whether Nissan's use of the letter 'M' when promoting its Infiniti M35 and M45 product range was infringing on BMW and its use of 'M' to signify its hi-po products.
According to Canada's Financial Post, BMW won an injunction earlier this year that would prevent Nissan from using the 'M' letter, but this was overturned on appeal last month.
Nissan argued that when Infiniti was originally unveiled, BMW expressed no objection to the naming of the "M35" and "M45" models. But when Nissan Canada launched an advertising campaign announcing "the M is coming", BMW executives raised concerns and decided to take legal action.
BMW will now have to either petition the Supreme Court to hear the case or alternatively come to an agreement with Nissan, BMW spokesman Jochen Frey said this week.
Shareware: SUV owners need not download
Favourite of newsrooms everywhere, the shareware Word Web dictionary has just updated to version 5.0 but users are asked to 'agree' to help create a greener planet before installation.
The enviro-friendly programmers include a directive before installation of the program, reading:
Welcome to the WordWeb dictionary-thesaurus.
All users may use WordWeb for 30 days for evaluation purposes. After 30 days it may freely be used only if you personally:
Take at most four flights (two return flights) in any 12 month period
AND do not own an SUV (sports utility vehicle).
Click Accept to start installing.
If the Carsales Network's boffin brigade is anything to go by, there seems to be no shortage of petrolheads who are also propellor heads. We think the Word Web coder crew doth protest too much...
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