Ford is just about to launch the new Taurus and now comes word that the next Taurus could be built off the same platform as the next Fusion/ Mondeo. Ford is currently working on plans to consolidate three different platforms that are the foundation of the automaker's mid-large size vehicles worldwide.
The next Fusion is expected to use an evolution of the European C/D-class platform which underpins the Ford Mondeo and Galaxy in Europe. The next Taurus could also use a version of this platform, although it would be longer than the Fusion, but smaller than the one that is about to be launched.
If Ford does go ahead with these plans, it would still be a few years off. Ford is currently working on an all-new Explorer that will share the same platform as the Taurus.
GM is also looking at a similar strategy by moving the Chevy Impala to the same platform as the Malibu. Although GM won't confirm it, the automaker is considering moving the Impala to the Epsilon II platform that is expected to be the foundation of the next Malibu.
Comments (8)
It's about time. Full-size sedans are ridiculously large these days. It's sad that what used to be a full size sedan 15 years ago is now on the small end of mid-size.
Posted by Totenglocke | July 13, 2009 3:13 PM
Posted on July 13, 2009 15:13
Yeah but they still can't touch classic cruisers from the 70's....
I think it's about time that car companies bring all car sizes down. Of course the one issue is all the safety BS that has to be in place now. It's not like you could roll an 88 Civic off the line and sell it...or a Dodge Omni.
Posted by Brian | July 13, 2009 3:21 PM
Posted on July 13, 2009 15:21
@Brian
ya but even little cars now have pretty good safety features most of the cars built, no matter the size, are getting 4 and 5 star safety ratings in every category, so its not going to hurt the safety rating much if any by downsizing just a bit. And in four to five years when this actually happens safety technology will be even farther along. Not to mention that Ford is the most advanced in safety out of the big auto manufacturers, so im not worried about it with their vehicles. (ownership of Volvo is probably the reason lol)
Posted by Phil | July 13, 2009 6:15 PM
Posted on July 13, 2009 18:15
It's about time. Full-size sedans are ridiculously large these days. It's sad that what used to be a full size sedan 15 years ago is now on the small end of mid-size.
Um, what? A '94 Chevy Caprice was 214.1 inches long overall, compared to 191.8 for a 2009 Malibu and 200.4 for a 2009 Impala. The smaller end of mid-size nowadays is about two feet shorter than the full size of 15 years ago.
Posted by Jonathon | July 13, 2009 6:41 PM
Posted on July 13, 2009 18:41
Why don't Ford just use the Australian Falcon as a base.
It is RWD and can be turned into an AWD platform AKA as the Ford Territory.
Its about 5m long in falcon guise which is pretty much a full size car.
Posted by LukeK | July 13, 2009 7:11 PM
Posted on July 13, 2009 19:11
How's anyone over six feet tall supposed to drive one of these cars? I'm 6'3" and I don't fit in ANY modern car with the exception of something beefy like the Challenger. I have to drive a truck just to feel comfortable in the cockpit.
A modern full-size car is not a full-size car at all (think old Impala, Fairlane, etc, those are full-size), and now "full-size" cars are going to become just another midsize-compact.
As for building the Impala on the same platform as the Malibu... why bother? They'd just be the same car with different badges from the same auto manufacturer. GM should just build the Malibu, and rename the G8/Caprice model as Impala.
Posted by Quint | July 13, 2009 11:08 PM
Posted on July 13, 2009 23:08
I am 6’1” and have no problem driving a very small car. My old car was an original Rover Mini. It all comes down to what you are used to.
Good move to try and consolidate platforms.
Posted by gecko | July 14, 2009 6:26 AM
Posted on July 14, 2009 06:26
I'm all for downsizing the "boats" out there... and Quint, I don't know how you're built, but I'm 6'3" as well, and I have next to no problems driving in about 95% of the cars out there, no matter the size.
I drove nearly all sub compacts when shopping for a new city car, the only one that was a no go was the Yaris hatchback, the sedan was fine, but the seat on the hatch wouldn't go far enough and it was impossible to get in.
I ended up buying an '09 Fit Sport 5-speed, and I don't have a single discomfort rowing gears.
Height actually has very little impact with the spacious oriented cars we have now... it's WEIGHT that's a problem, if you're fat, you're screwed (that would be 26% of the US population now!!!).
Posted by Dechy | July 14, 2009 8:06 AM
Posted on July 14, 2009 08:06