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22-12-2008, 06:23 PM | #1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Its official, just heard on Channel 7 news in Melbourne, will be based on delta platform and be produced in two years. Kevin Rudd was in Adelaide today to announce green car funding.
Australian manufacturing now feels a little more secure. Be interesting to see if Ford announce anything to do with Focus, maybe some pics? |
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22-12-2008, 06:24 PM | #2 | ||
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22-12-2008, 06:29 PM | #3 | ||
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Yup.
It was only a matter of time before Holden did this. They are bleeding funds on VE (especially exports), and are about to cut their third shift, this can only help to bolster the output at Elizabeth. The only problem is, they're going to beat Ford to the punch, and their Marketing machine won't let the Australians forget it. The million dollar question is, will Toyota now follow? I think they will. On the flip side, Holden will only have a Hatch and a Sedan. We are getting Focus Hatch, Sedan, Wagon, and Kuga. Holden doesn't have an answer to Kuga, not even with their European connections. Lastly, what does this mean to Astra, and why wouldn't Holden want to build their Euro car here, like Ford?
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22-12-2008, 06:36 PM | #4 | |||
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22-12-2008, 06:42 PM | #5 | |||
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Shows how far my knowledge of Holden runs.
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22-12-2008, 07:43 PM | #6 | |||
BF XR6, oh yeah!!
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Curious about the Focus Wagon you mentioned, since they've never sold the previous Focus Wagon here do we know if they will be building the new wagon here?
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Current ride: 2005 BF XR6 Sedan, Lightning Strike, ZF Auto Previous ride: 2001 AUII Futura Sedan, Narooma Blue |
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23-12-2008, 10:02 PM | #7 | |||
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26-12-2008, 10:49 AM | #8 | ||
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One thing that concerns me about Ford and Holden making small cars is the potential loss of sales for the large cars in Falcon and Commodore.
They are cars in different classes but surely they will end up taking even more sales from the large cars that are already struggling? Government fleets may move from the large cars to the smaller more environmentally ones, and some diehard Ford or Holden buyers may still want to buy Australian but they might want to downside. Surely that will happen, and if large cars sink even more that that possibly result in the death of them? Its a question that needs to be asked. If Falcon sales sink any lower then it will never justify the expense needed to upgrade it, sales are that low at the moment, if it goes any lower it surely can't survive? |
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27-12-2008, 01:55 PM | #9 | |||
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Fit current technology LPG system to it. Fix the issues with the car. Yes I know its a darn sight better car then BF, but there are still shortcuts and engineering compromises that can be improved on. Raise build quality if at all possible. I won't say fix dealer network, as Ford will fail in Australia, before they will do that apparently. Start replacing it is probably more appropriate. So.. Launch new marketing campaign with a slogan like: No Compromises Performance of a six and fuel economy of a four. Follow up main ads with examples of where a Falcon will be a much nicer place to live and play, then a Corrolla etc. Hammer it at every advertising outlet, until all our ears bleed. Change the fundamental thinking of Falcon from a fuel hungry car (common misconception) to a fuel saving car. McDonalds convinced people its a healthy place to eat if you want - so bigger miracles have been performed. Also lower price for retail customers. Days of getting premiums from retail customers are coming to a close. Alternatively offer extra equipment at no charge for retail customers. Either way, make the cars price/value equation dam hard to go past for retail customers. Finally shake up the network. Sell online or through online brokers. Appoint service only dealers - especially in country locations, to stimulate better standards of service through competition. Hold new appointees to much higher, vigirous and enforcable standards of presentation and customer satisfaction. Pay all dealers reasonable compensation to fix warranty repairs. Give them a reason to give a about doing the job right. Pay out whinging old dealers, who whine about changes and support those who recognise that Chrysler went out of the Australian market three decades ago and its time to update the business model and thinking from the big three, to holy **** we are in a twenty something brand market now and people don't give a crap our grand dad who made a mint starting this car selling business. Breakup monolopies like Kloster Ford et al. They do no good for the Ford brand. You need business that throw their hat in the ring with you - not one who thinks you are just one more brand for the sales machine to sell. Also get rid of the ego maniacs who think they own their patch and haven't got their sales or their attitude adjusted in thirty years. They are redundant and hold the company back. In short get fresh blood. Customer focussed, hungry to achieve and totally dependent on mutual success for survival. Treat them well, but have the rules in place to drop them the instant they look like being a liability to the brand. Reward employees inside company both financially and in status, for consistent improvements in systems, quality and service. Make it more then a "employee of the month" type show and get serious about it. Let the stars and Ford fans in the company shine and reward them accordingly. Give them the responsibility and opportunity to change the business at the most fundamental levels. Rinse and repeat until bad wood and negative cultural and institutional patterns of behaviour are removed from the company and its supporting infrastructure. Ford Aust will never rise above its current position in sales and will in all likelyhood, continue to decline unless the culture of the company is changed. We had glimpes of what could be done with Polites, but that didnt work in all areas of Ford. Now its do or die. Focus in my opinion is not about to turn things around - a short reprieve maybe. Daniel |
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28-12-2008, 12:43 AM | #10 | |||
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The FG is a better car then the B-series and the problems with the FG are much lower then the BA had. Also from what I've seen the FG is put together sooo much better then the B-series. So they are getting there, but what you have to remember is that these cars are built to a budget. The Falcon is not worldwide car and the R&D costs can not be spread out like they can with a Camry or a Mazda 6 or a Lancer etc.. So for the money that the engineers have here they do a pretty good job and the cars are getting better and will continue to do so. Toyota didn't get to were they were overnight either. The only issue Ford now faces is selling the car, if it doesn't sell then it wont be built anymore.
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22-12-2008, 06:29 PM | #11 | ||||
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Link works buddy, but DAMN, thats one ugly artists impression!
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22-12-2008, 06:31 PM | #12 | ||
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I dare say that its the Chevy Cruze in another thread?
It's a shame that Holden are doing this but it's Ford's fault for not implementing the idea earlier. The Herald Sun link suggests that Focus won't start till 2012! Come on Ford, get your finger out......... |
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22-12-2008, 06:32 PM | #13 | |||
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From the age - http://www.theage.com.au/national/ho...v.html?page=-1
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22-12-2008, 06:39 PM | #14 | |||
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Hmmmm FWD Torana..oh well they stuffed the Calais and the SS name might go for No.3
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=59840 Quote:
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22-12-2008, 06:49 PM | #15 | ||
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i thought that almost a year ago ford siad it would build the focus here from 2010...
lol at torana, SLR 1800?
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22-12-2008, 07:08 PM | #16 | ||
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yeah i heard the media saying they could be diesel,hydrogen and any other fuel to name but they forgot one and that is holden have got that much of it they could run their fleets on it for years ,probably be like most of their announcements full of hot air ,afterall they did have a blimp
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22-12-2008, 07:13 PM | #17 | |||
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E85 will be the other fuel. Holden are bringing an E85 Commodore to the market in 2010. It is a shame for them that none of the big Fuel companies are interested in selling E85. I know there aren't any companies flogging it near me.
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22-12-2008, 07:20 PM | #18 | |||
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United has a couple of pumps in Oz, but very little as you said. But one good thing is that E85 can run normal fuel.
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22-12-2008, 07:23 PM | #19 | ||
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I highly doubt Holden will be ready to start production in the third Qtr of 2010. The articles imply they have yet to begin designing!
Paxton, I was not aware the Kuga will be produced alongside the Focus in 2011, in Australia. Is this a theory (since it shares the same architecture as the focus) or has it been officially anounced? - If you are correct, the Kuga will be an excellent advantage to FMC Australia |
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22-12-2008, 07:47 PM | #20 | |||
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22-12-2008, 08:14 PM | #21 | |||
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Guess we'll find out soon enough. |
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22-12-2008, 09:13 PM | #22 | ||||
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As for Focus wagon, the only reason we don't have it, is because South Africa don't make it. Ford Australia is going to bring the whole suite of Focus into production.
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22-12-2008, 08:35 PM | #23 | ||
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Exactly, they have already announced possible CNG for this car???????? What about refuelling stations, maybe in ten years but not 2011, but thats what Holden does best, they say they are looking into something and that as far as it gets. But Joe Blow is all excited because Holden are going to make his SS run on CNG.............
Just like in 2000 when Holden said they are looking at cylinder de activation on the Gen 3 motors, now they are saying maybe next year????????????? That's 9 years!!!! |
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22-12-2008, 09:13 PM | #24 | ||
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Not to mention Diesel HSVs, TwinTurbo Alloytec VEs, Monaro 427s, Toranas, Ecomodores (electric), DOD and theres plenty more!
Thats half the reason this anouncement hasn't had the same impact Ford's Focus anouncement had with me. Don't get me wrong, I believe it will happen, just not in that time frame and it will be cheap and tacky in comparison to the all new Focus. |
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22-12-2008, 09:27 PM | #25 | ||
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And Marin Burela is the man to make sure the different variants make it over here. You could not ask for a better man in charge right now.
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22-12-2008, 09:59 PM | #26 | |||
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23-12-2008, 07:03 PM | #27 | ||||
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Its strange as the old production line use to be a dangerous place. Quote:
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23-12-2008, 08:55 AM | #28 | ||
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Down in Geelong he actually used to run the Stamping Plant and he also grew up in Geelong. Also, being of a euro descent and growing up in Geelong, everyone knows him. Respect for him could not be higher and he is regarded as another Geoff Polities.
Morale is steadily going up however we just had a massive round of redundancies so obviously that will take time to pass over. However, it feels like a breath of fresh air has come through the place. Exciting times ahead I hope? |
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23-12-2008, 09:48 AM | #29 | ||
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Sheesh they [GMH] like being in the news!!
Like they don't make small cars now?? The head lines don't say hybrid etc.. So the small cars they make in "Asia" now are not efficient ?? Or small ?? ... News folks Holden are making a small car.. yes the popes a catholic too ...
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23-12-2008, 10:04 AM | #30 | ||
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Will it be called the Camira?
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