Ranger SUV images

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

I'd be curious what, other than refinement, the 3L V6 can offer over a 3.2 I5.

Twin turbo packaging is another, but i think that wouldnt be seen on a commercial platform anyway.

Just some feedback, as the owner of a SZ diesel and VW van with I5 diesel that sit's east-west, I can say the refinement of the Terry V6 is outstanding in comparison. The I5 would not really be acceptable in a Terry and a definate backward step powertrain wise. As good as the I5 is in the Ranger, imho, you would also need better in a Ranger SUV, especially based on what they currently sell XLT/Wildtrack's for now.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

labour alone does not make a car.
I would guess the cost of locally sourced components would be more expensive here than overseas.

And Companies can't really make a business plan for what things 'may' be in the future.
People have been saying the $AUD will drop for a long time now and it is still staying strong.

This may be true however with any overseas sourced components and the more expensive ones likes engine, transmissions etc would be OS supplied these would be cheaper while the AUD remains high.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by rdmr

It doesn't all come down to cost.
There is no point building a vehicle in country X if the product they build is not up to Fords quality standards. And perhaps country Xs plants are not flexible enough to build a variety of vehicle platforms.
Broadies is one of the most flexible Ford plants globally.
Ford Aus is ready and wanting to do more.

Glass half full people.

So true. Other factors not always obvious but recently highlighted were the Thai floods which showed that natural disasters, while not something you can predict now need to be considered in high rainfall/flood prone countries. Another to be considered is civil unrest/political stability. No point having the cheapest production plant when it's under water or starved of supplies, or it's workers are in civil protest.

[XR Martin]

I want one with an ecoboost 3.5.
Forget the soot chucker crap.

[FPV GTHO]

I reckon they'd be looking at an Ecoboost 2L/V6 3.5-3.7 before that.

Unless they feel most buyers seeking that sort of engine option are just taking the 3.2 diesel.

[Bossxr8]

One thing i'd like to know is, can a full chassis vehicle be built on the same line as monocoque vehicles. Cause the construction methods would be quite different in terms of building the shell. Monocoque's are built as one piece, whereas a full chassis vehicle has the body fitted over the chassis.

Does Broadmeadows have the ability to build both types, at least without ripping half the place apart to do it, or have to run two body shops.

[Road_Warrior]

In theory it could build both types, but as you've said, its always been configured for building monocoque cars which means a big $$$ spend on plant modifications and new machines to build B.O.F. cars.

I havent been inside a car plant that makes BOF vehicles, but I have been inside Broady and can't imagine BOF vehicles being built there on the same line as monocoque cars as I don't think there is simply enough room in there to accommodate the machines to build both, not to mention the chaos in trying to harmonise all the build processes, ugh

[FPV GTHO]

There's a program on NatGeo called Megafactories, and they went through the F150 plant. It was basically 2 smaller lines, a chassis line that had all the running gear and some electrics and then the body went on and had already been partially built up.

I know the monocoque cars put the engine, transmission and front suspension all in as one. Some factories even do the rear end and out it all in as a jig.

I don't think you could build them one after the other though.