Could the FLX semi-sub-brand be a way to get around dealer-legalities to
sell these cars online??
Fairlane + Bronco + Fusion (shrink to 161" ovl) = Bbox
click for larger
a euro-spicy citycar?
some based on the Faction concept
Faction3
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< Senku concept > Focus 3 door? < reFLeX concept > |  |
wrong for Ford but perfect for Merc?
Ok, enough visual aides. Here's an idea for a modular platform. Have 2 sizes of both the front (engine compartment) and rear (passenger compartment). Mix&match produces 4 configurations that could be adapted for a wide range of 'sub-Fusion' vehicles...
f r wlb ovl 39" 122" 98" 161" (short/short) 39 129 102 168 (short/Long) 50 122 100 172 (Long/short) 50 129 104 179 (Long/Long)The short-front would be Fwd only (Ford, Mazda) 1.7, 2.0, 2.3 liters; Fwd-Awd for the Long-front (Ford, Mercury, Mazda) 2.3, 3.0, 3.5?:
ss = B-box [B405], 3 door citycoupe (Fiesta)[B403], Mx2 (sport) Depending how you count'em, that's up to 16 vehicles! All buildable on the same assembly line. Interiors could be mainly shared with unique IP's, trims, fabrics, and door panel inserts for plug'n'play differentiation. Add a small, rugged off-roader (Bronco) built on a renewed Ranger/Escape platform - all use the Bronco-concept front end and micro-Hummer square body-lines - and the small segments are taken care of... FLX also uses a suite of styling themes, not individual model styles: tuFF Bronco-style: B-box-Forté, Bronco, Escape, Ranger swoopy RefleXX-style: Mx2, CX2, reFLeX, XR3/Capri (balanced/in-between styling) Fiesta, 400/Milanetto taLL Faction-style: Mazda2, Focus, 400-Xover taLL SAV-style: MicroSpace* * similar to the MetaSpace, tho Mercury's larger (& lower) CD3 'vanwagon' is more carlike in its proportions.Would a blue oval emblazoned "flx" be a good sub-brand badge for Ford's small 'car' assault? If Volvo can use variants of the C1 for their entire lineup, from the C30 to the next S80 (reportedly), there's no reason Ford can't create a B/C 'FLeX' platform!
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news update: "...We are using the so-called "top-hat" strategy of putting differentiated hats on top of common vehicle platforms and architectures. And even some of our new platforms can be adapted to different sizes. So, it's a new economy of product development for us..." ( Bill Ford @ http://yahoo.businessweek.com/autos/content/jan2006/bw20060111_202833.htm)
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