Ford Cancels Rear Wheel Drive Sedan Project
Although truck and SUV sales may be on the rise as a result of a dramatic drop in US gas prices, however, it’s clear that Ford has a little more foresight than the average American buyer. Announcing that FoMoCo will be ceasing development on their conceptual rear-wheel drive platform, Ford’s design chief J Mays was quoted in Automotive News/Autoweek saying that “[Ford] has other priorities. We're going down a path right now that is all about fuel efficiency.”
Breaking cover last year, Ford’s original plan was to use the resources of both American and Australian divisions to create an inexpensive and effective rear-wheel drive platform that could be adapted to combat the success of Chrysler’s LX platform (300C, Charger, Magnum, Challenger). Spawning the gorgeous Interceptor show car, the program was slated to have a viable rear-wheel drive sedan in dealerships in both Ford and Lincoln guises by 2013. However, which most drivetrain development programs focussing on efficient, CAFE-friendly front-wheel drive layouts, the proposed rear-wheel drive platform would undoubtedly require massive amounts of funds to outfit with an appropriate drivetrain.
Not terribly surprising, the move does come just a few months after GM’s relative success with their G8; itself an Australian import from GM’s Holden division. However, as much as performance enthusiasts may lament the loss of the Interceptor, it’s worth noting that J May’s announcement pertained solely to Ford and Lincoln’s proposed rear-wheel drive sedans...
