"JarrodL" (jarrodl)
04/15/2015 at 21:13 • Filed to: None
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"JarrodL" (jarrodl)
04/15/2015 at 21:13 • Filed to: None | 1
| 24 |
So, here I am, minding my own business and browsing all my favorite cars sites at lunch, and I see some new photos of a Ford Taurus prototype. "Cool," I think to myself, having always had a soft spot for these cars. My first car was a '95 Taurus, and I've always had an SHO until just a few months ago. But, what do these photos have to do with that Continental Concept we've all seen?
It's pretty well known that the next Taurus will be based on the current Fusion, so one should expect some similarities. But something else looked very familiar to me. There was something I had seen before, and it wasn't on my wife's '13 Fusion in the driveway.
Then I figured it out. The proportions. The overhangs. See the below photos.
From what I've read, nobody has confirmed yet if the Continental would ride on a new, bespoke platform, or on a modified platform from the FoMoCo stables. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a good idea now.
Milky
> JarrodL
04/15/2015 at 21:21 |
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Not to be an ass, but this is probably the most obvious not confirmed thing in the auto industry.
Conti concept is clearly FWD based and the Taurus has the largest chassis.
Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
> JarrodL
04/15/2015 at 21:26 |
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HammerheadFistpunch
> JarrodL
04/15/2015 at 21:30 |
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Lincoln - Weren't not just fancy Fords...I swear!
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JarrodL
> Milky
04/15/2015 at 21:49 |
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Sorry, found something interesting, and thought I'd share. Hadn't seen it anywhere else, so I figured I'd write it up.
JR1
> JarrodL
04/15/2015 at 21:51 |
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If the Continental is FWD it will break my heart.
And by the way learn to spell our name correctly man. Get it together.
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JarrodL
> JR1
04/15/2015 at 21:58 |
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I'd imagine it will be AWD, though a FWD-based system. They just look too much alike for me to believe it's a different platform.
Obviously, the hospital had a mishap and there was a typing stutter on my birth certificate. But, alas, I am a little more unique for it.
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JR1
> JarrodL
04/15/2015 at 22:01 |
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I am hoping they release more info her in a couple weeks at the China Auto Show and then we will hopefully hear that it is indeed AWD.
And unique indeed I have never seen the double R treatment. But I get the cool nickname Ja-Rod. Therefore I am basically ARod
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JarrodL
> JR1
04/15/2015 at 22:09 |
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It is unique, but I had someone get the spelling correct the first time this week for the first time ever. There must be another.
And there can be only one....
ranwhenparked
> JarrodL
04/15/2015 at 22:15 |
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Yep, that's right. Not totally sure if the new Taurus is getting sold here or not. Obviously both the Taurus and Continental are being designed primarily for China, but I haven't heard confirmation that the Taurus isn't going to wind up exclusively for China.
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ranwhenparked
> JR1
04/15/2015 at 22:16 |
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Oh, it is going to be on a FWD-based platform alright. The only RWD platform Ford has that isn't going away is the Mustang, and they clearly aren't going to do any sedans off that.
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JR1
> ranwhenparked
04/15/2015 at 22:22 |
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They could always build a new one. Maybe... Or it could be based off of the Falcon made by the Aussies
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ranwhenparked
> JR1
04/15/2015 at 22:31 |
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The Taurus and MKS sold just over 70,000 units last year combined. Obviously, Ford wants the new ones to do better than that, but still, nowhere near enough volume to justify a bespoke platform - let alone converting a whole factory to build just it, when the Chicago plant can turn out the slow selling full-sizers on the same lines as the crazy profitable Explorer, thanks to the shared platform. Also, the Falcon platform is already well confirmed as dead, Ford hasn't invested significant money in it for a long, long time and it was never really intended for markets outside Australia.
wafflesnfalafel
> JarrodL
04/15/2015 at 22:47 |
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I thought the new Taurus was supposed to be on a stretched Fusion platform. Think of the new Conti at an Audi A8.
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JarrodL
> wafflesnfalafel
04/15/2015 at 22:50 |
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I'm sure the new Taurus is on a stretched Fusion platform, but it looks to me like the stretched Fusion platform also underpins the Continental.
Blake Noble
> JarrodL
04/15/2015 at 22:59 |
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The Continental also replaces the current MKS.
Think about that for a moment.
Your boy, BJR
> JR1
04/15/2015 at 23:44 |
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Yeah, because a FWD, Taurus based Continental would be so below ford. Not even THEY would stoop that l.....
.......oh.
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JR1
> Your boy, BJR
04/16/2015 at 08:37 |
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And lets not forget the Mercedes SL "fighter"
Wait a minute wasn't there a company that made cars more abysmal than Lincoln? Yes I think there was...
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JR1
> ranwhenparked
04/16/2015 at 08:39 |
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Stop using logic to crush my hopes and dreams. You are making too much of a good argument.
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Your boy, BJR
> JR1
04/16/2015 at 10:30 |
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1) Catera- I hate it, consider it tied with the Cimmaron for awfulness, but it is RWD and drives kinda sporty (not making excuses, can't state enough how much I hate that car)
2) Allanté- pretty, pretty car. The '91 and '92 northstar cars were genuinely good and competitive for the time, but FWD and the (admittedly shit) HT4500 sullied the public's taste.
3) Eldorado- now you're just taking the piss. (Although I prefer 4 doors) it is probably the most sought after N* car (behind or ahead of the 2003 DTS, depending on who you ask).
Either way, I just got you to call Lincolns "abysmal", so I win.
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ranwhenparked
> JR1
04/16/2015 at 19:32 |
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Oh, I know it's sad and frustrating - especially when they theoretically could do a sedan on the Mustang architecture if they really wanted to - it is on the same family tree as the Lincoln LS/Jaguar S-Type/Jaguar XF, and the addition of IRS makes it even more feasible now, plus even with Flat Rock as a secondary Fusion production site, they probably still have some spare capacity in the system.
But, I accept that that just isn't where Ford is right now. Lincoln's starting from a much weaker position than Cadillac and they just don't want to gamble on the expense of adding more platforms. Plus, Audi has shown that FWD/AWD luxury cars can be taken seriously as long as the overall product is good.
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JR1
> ranwhenparked
04/16/2015 at 21:55 |
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I just hope if it is AWD/FWD the Continental won't be offered FWD at all. Lincoln can be taken a lot more seriously if the car is solely AWD.
I must say I did not know Audi cars were FWD bias
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JR1
> Your boy, BJR
04/16/2015 at 21:57 |
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Hey at least they have a cleaner record than Cadillac. And honestly FWD isn't the end of the world. Considering you own a FWD luxury car I'm sure you agree
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Your boy, BJR
> JR1
04/17/2015 at 00:29 |
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Cleaner record than Cadillac? Dude I get that you like them but you're INSANE. Literally the first half of the '60s and the second half of the '80s was the only time Cadillac has been behind Lincoln. Cadillac has consistently had more advanced tech and better sales than Lincoln.
And the original post? I was simply pointing out that the last 3 continentals were Taurus based, this one probably will be too. I wasn't throwing any opinion in, wasn't questioning their quality, just stating. While I was stating fact, you decided to attack Cadillac. But in the words of Avon Barksdale "you come at the king, you best not miss".
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JR1
> Your boy, BJR
04/17/2015 at 09:21 |
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Cleaner record doesn't always mean better sales. Lincoln has mad some bad cars but it never made a Cimmarron
Cadillac is the king of American luxury I'll admit it and Lincoln has a long way to go to catch up. But it can be done. Only if Ford gets their heads out of their ass