Looks - Affordable companies - Who wins?

[kman10587]

The 500 is not a Taurus replacement; the Ford Fuzion is. The 500 is just a big-ass traditional American sedan, only without the V8 power or the RWD. :/

[MexSiR]

Ford is changing al big portion of its lineup for this year...see how it goes...

[mason_RsX]

C&D said ford would be making their own rebandaged Mazda 6, plus the new 2L and 2.3L are mazda engines, plus the 500 is based on the volvo platform...but enough about that I really dont care, all I am saying is that Mazdas new cars are being credited with innovative styling, while the 500's styling was called uninspired, and I wouldnt call the taurus a head-turner...but I have to admit, the new mustang looks beautiful

[syr74]

Originally Posted by mason_RsX

C&D said ford would be making their own rebandaged Mazda 6, plus the new 2L and 2.3L are mazda engines, plus the 500 is based on the volvo platform...but enough about that I really dont care, all I am saying is that Mazdas new cars are being credited with innovative styling, while the 500's styling was called uninspired, and I wouldnt call the taurus a head-turner...but I have to admit, the new mustang looks beautiful

What I do not get is how so many people do not get that Mazda is run by Ford now.....period. And, I do not mean this as a flame, because the vast majority of folks seem to hold that very mindset.

This would be good new as far as Fo Mo Co is concerned as this is exactly the idea they want to project. As a matter of fact Ford intentionally under-states the controlling presence they have at Mazda in an effort to not upset the "faithful". (I never understood that as the Mazda faithful is an unfortunately small group)

How do I know this? Several ways .

First, I used to work for a tier-1 auto supplier and we would get visits from corporate big-wigs checking on their "stuff" from time to time. "Mazda guys" (engineers, stylists, product analysts, etc.) walked in wearing Ford shirts as often if not more often than Mazda shirts.

And before you dismiss that I asked, on more than one occasion, "are you not technically a Mazda employee". The answer was always something like "yes, but I transferred here from Ford", or "it is a temporary assignment I normally do Fords"...pick an explanation.

These were Ford guys, a lot of them, doing Mazda's. Mazda has "dedicated personnel, just as Mercury and Lincoln do. But, if you work for Mazda you really work for Ford, plain and simple.

The second reason is, Ford claims control of Mazda, and Mazda as part of their franchise on their corporate site and in press releases. If this is untrue apparently neither Ford, the Japanese governement, or Mazda has caught it yet. Too many people think Ford share of Mazda is not large enough to constitue ownership, but they own the majority stake and that means exactly what it sounds like. They run the show.

When Ford says "Mazda 6 platform", understand this is nothing more than a corporate platform. Mazda engineers are Ford engineers and this is just another Ford platform. And, in the same way Mazda styling is simply the particular style used by one of Ford's brands. Ford owns it, Ford developed it.

The fact that an engineer gets a Mazda paycheck and works in a Mazda office makes little difference when it is Ford's pen writing the check and Ford big-wigs running the show.

I would prefer Ford leave Mazda styling to that brand. It would be a mistake to do so, and Ford really does need to keep these companies more "seperate" than they do now. (I hate the extensive sharing of platforms...Mazda really is becoming a Japanese Ford with a sporty bend) But saying Ford could "steal" styling from Mazda is like saying Ford could steal styling from Lincoln.

[CrzyMR2T]

syr74, yea ford pretty much owns it, but the engineering involves all the companies. the rx-8 is really mazdas engineering, since it was done in japan, and the engine in the volvo s40 is actually volvo engineering, so even though ford pretty much owns it, there are things that are still their own.

[aznxthuggie]

Originally Posted by FordJunky

"Mazda - new cars look fantastic, when will ford steal their designs?"

what maes you say that? if ford were in the market of stealing designs they woulda replaced the taurus with a sleeker looking car (ford 500) o... wait... ya, nevermind but honestly ford wont steal theyre designs (technically they own those designs anyways.), fords are lookin so much better they have no need to (i love how mazdas look but the stang is art)

mazda is owned by ford in the us, so no stealing will be necessary, instead.. use the word... "borrowing" heh

[G35XAndTrailBlazer]

Euro High End
Bmw-M5 is hot, the rest suck
Mercedes Benz-No, go away you overpriced POS
Jaguar-How disgusting
Volvo-You safe liberal POC
Sabb- its SAAB we used to have a 93, it was sweet
Audi-I like the RS6 and Rs4, plus the W12 A8 is hot

Japan High End
Acura (Honda)-Gross, its a Honda
Lexus (Toyota)-boring piece of crap
Infiniti (Nissan)-We have a g35 ITS AMAZING, the SUVs are hot, the sedans are hot.

US High End
Cadillac-I like the new Caddys
Lincoln-eww, you should be shot

European
Mini (Bmw)-I wanted one, WHEN I WAS 12
Volkswagen-AH!!! ITS THE NAZIS'!!!!!!

Japanesse/Oriental
Honda-Worst car maker ever. Go away.
Toyota-The Avalon and Land Crusier are ok. The rest suck.
Nissan-The Best Car Maker out there. i lvoe my Nissans! *huggles them*
Subaru-Sisters BF has an STI, ITS CRAZY FAST!. Legacys are hot
Mitsubishi-Eww, gross, no
Kia-You get what you pay for i suppose.
Isuzu-Your going to run out of buisiness.
Hyundai-Nasty. I just took a Hundai in the toilet.
Mazda-I REALLY like the RX-8
Scion-Gross, go back to Japans ass.
Suzuki-Stick with making the bikes.

U.S
Ford-Never was a Ford Guy.
Buick-OLD PEOPLE!! EWW I CAN SMELL THEM VOER HERE!
Chevrolet-We have two Chevys, a Silverado (sweet) and the Trailblazer (needs a V8)
Chrysler-Ultimate Trophey Mom Van! The Chrysler TOwn a Country Limited =O
Dodge-The Charger and Magnum are sweet.
Pontiac-I do like the new G6