xcel
03-15-2007, 03:11 AM
New small cars will ride on Mazda2 Platform. (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070314/FREE/70312010/1528/LATESTNEWS)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Mazda2_Side.jpgAmy Wilson - Automotive News - Mar. 12, 2007
Next generation Mazda2 in the limelight at Ford.
GENEVA - In one of his first big product decisions at Ford Motor Co., CEO Alan Mulally is merging far-flung B-car development teams into one global program team.
Teams in Europe, North America and Asia were consolidated into one team based at Ford of Europe in January, said Joe Bakaj, Ford of Europe vice president of product development. Mulally made the call, he said.
B-cars are smaller than the Ford Focus. The segment, with such new entries as the Nissan Versa and Honda Fit, is growing in the United States. Ford lacks a U.S. entry.
Ford already had decided to share one B-car for Europe, North America and Asia. Now, having one team will eliminate cost and reduce the number of engineers, Bakaj said. It also will minimize changes as the car is modified for each region.
"The danger there is if you don't coordinate that centrally, you end up after a while with three vehicles that are nominally the same vehicle but don't actually share many of the key parts or technologies," Bakaj said.
"We've seen that happen way back in Ford's past. Engineers always like to think they can make something better by changing it."
New Ford-brand B-cars will ride on the same platform developed by Mazda that underpins the Mazda2 unveiled at the Geneva auto show. They will go on sale in Europe, North America and Asia from 2008 to 2010, Bakaj said.
The European car will come first, Bakaj said. He wouldn't specify when the B-car would go on sale in the United States or Asia. Suppliers and analysts most recently have expected Ford's U.S. B-car to go on sale in 2009.
The global B-car team will operate in Germany under Marin Burela, a Ford of Europe veteran. Team members are working on modifications for individual markets.
In addition to satisfying regulatory requirements, they will tweak vehicle tuning and design to satisfy local tastes.
"Americans prefer a less aggressive grille than Ford has on its cars in Europe. They want a basic entry-level car," said Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's executive design director. "Europeans want a stylish car. Chinese buyers want a vehicle that looks sophisticated - for example, with chrome fittings."
The B-car development team soon will start choosing suppliers for the Asian and North American versions, Bakaj said.
Suppliers already have been chosen for the European car.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Mazda2_Side.jpgAmy Wilson - Automotive News - Mar. 12, 2007
Next generation Mazda2 in the limelight at Ford.
GENEVA - In one of his first big product decisions at Ford Motor Co., CEO Alan Mulally is merging far-flung B-car development teams into one global program team.
Teams in Europe, North America and Asia were consolidated into one team based at Ford of Europe in January, said Joe Bakaj, Ford of Europe vice president of product development. Mulally made the call, he said.
B-cars are smaller than the Ford Focus. The segment, with such new entries as the Nissan Versa and Honda Fit, is growing in the United States. Ford lacks a U.S. entry.
Ford already had decided to share one B-car for Europe, North America and Asia. Now, having one team will eliminate cost and reduce the number of engineers, Bakaj said. It also will minimize changes as the car is modified for each region.
"The danger there is if you don't coordinate that centrally, you end up after a while with three vehicles that are nominally the same vehicle but don't actually share many of the key parts or technologies," Bakaj said.
"We've seen that happen way back in Ford's past. Engineers always like to think they can make something better by changing it."
New Ford-brand B-cars will ride on the same platform developed by Mazda that underpins the Mazda2 unveiled at the Geneva auto show. They will go on sale in Europe, North America and Asia from 2008 to 2010, Bakaj said.
The European car will come first, Bakaj said. He wouldn't specify when the B-car would go on sale in the United States or Asia. Suppliers and analysts most recently have expected Ford's U.S. B-car to go on sale in 2009.
The global B-car team will operate in Germany under Marin Burela, a Ford of Europe veteran. Team members are working on modifications for individual markets.
In addition to satisfying regulatory requirements, they will tweak vehicle tuning and design to satisfy local tastes.
"Americans prefer a less aggressive grille than Ford has on its cars in Europe. They want a basic entry-level car," said Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's executive design director. "Europeans want a stylish car. Chinese buyers want a vehicle that looks sophisticated - for example, with chrome fittings."
The B-car development team soon will start choosing suppliers for the Asian and North American versions, Bakaj said.
Suppliers already have been chosen for the European car.