Ford has given the green light to a new vehicle platform that will underpin several new cars, insiders familiar with Ford’s plans have reported. The architecture will be used for the next Mustang, plus a number of Ford brand and Lincoln sedans. Also significantly, Ford has apparently moved development from Australia back to the United States.
Rumors about the new platform have been circulating for the past couple of years, and the longstanding story has been the architecture would be developed in Australia, where such vehicles are particularly popular. Due to the weak U.S. currency, however, R&D has been shifted to the United States, according to the Detroit News. That said, the next Australian Ford Falcon is still expected to use the new platform.
The move would explain why RWD Ford prototypes have been spotted recently in America.
Exact details of the new architecture remain unclear, but it is widely expected to offer independent rear suspension and significantly improved handling over the Mustang’s chassis. Its target, of course, will be GM’s Zeta platform, which is used on the Pontiac G8 range, plus the forthcoming 2010 Camaro and possibly other new vehicles.
Aside from the Mustang, a Ford-brand rear-drive sedan is very likely, taking inspiration from the Ford Interceptor concept. Lincoln will undoubtedly also get a variant, and there have even been rumors of a RWD coupe from the luxury brand.
The first cars are expected to arrive for the 2012 model year.
