Ford and Mazda Divorce

[Svttour]

Fiesta looks better

[kellen302]

They had to, and wanted to invest heavily in piston engine development a few years ago. That's one thing that has seriously diminished their working capital. Mazda bought back Ford's shares with an agreement to make them available to Ford again at some point in the future. It was a move by Ford to raise liquid cash, and by the Japanese government to bring ownership of Mazda back on shore.

That's good to hear, I hadn't read that. I really hope that Ford and Mazda make it work because I want to be an engineer for both!

[FB71]

That's good to hear, I hadn't read that. I really hope that Ford and Mazda make it work because I want to be an engineer for both!

yeah, you won't hear that outside the company (Ford). I'm blessed/cursed with being a former Ford contract employee, so I still hear things... Some of it was leaked to Automotive News when the deal went down, but Ford downplayed it and Mazda denied it (fear of loosing stock value).

[geezerstiva]

Been kind of disappointing lately to look under the hood of a Mazda and see a Ford motor... I don't really care much for any of the cars (or engines) built by Ford in the 90s to early 2000's. Course the only Mazda engine I know much about is the b series so I don't really have much room to talk lol.

[leapin]

Mazda engines? Since the late 90's, Mazda had been using Ford engines till recently... The only engine Mazda built was the Renesis. And Mazda does care. They had to, and wanted to invest heavily in piston engine development a few years ago. That's one thing that has seriously diminished their working capital. Mazda bought back Ford's shares with an agreement to make them available to Ford again at some point in the future. It was a move by Ford to raise liquid cash, and by the Japanese government to bring ownership of Mazda back on shore.

This is for sure. Take a look at most of the stampings in any Mazda part, "FoMoCo". There is a lot of parts Mazda doesn't even bother repacking, just a sticker with a Mazda part number over the Ford label will do.

[festyfreak39]

I should really start to invest my time into researching the financial statements and what stake each company has in each other, And it doesn't surprise me that Mazda is not doing so well.

[FB71]

geezer
^^^
The Duratec family is fantastic. They were developed by Ford of Europe with input and refinement by Mazda. From day one they were intended to be global engines, used in all major markets. The new EcoBoost line engines are built directly off of the Duratec platform. Very tough, quiet and efficient. Ford wasn't stupid. They knew they needed help building world-class engines, and got that help from within. Ford's North American Operations learned all those leasons, and have really taken it to the next level. Look at the Coyote 5.0L. The new GT500 Mustang Cobra, in stock trim, puts 609hp to the wheels. Its rated at 660 at the crank... And, FRP says there's still more hp that can be had safely (just not legally on public roads)... and then there's the Raptor F-150 6.2L...

[FB71]

I should really start to invest my time into researching the financial statements and what stake each company has in each other, And it doesn't surprise me that Mazda is not doing so well.

subscribe to the Automotive News, if you can afford it (almost $200/year). All that is typically reported by them.

[geezerstiva]

Yeah Ford has really taken it up a notch. Several notches lol. I had heard the duratecs were good engines.

Maybe I should be careful when posting in a thread with the Ford master :notworthy:

[Nerd Racing]

Fiesta looks better

if you are blind and have no taste! lol. I parked next to a puke green one with my nice green 2, hands down no contest on looks.

[Nerd Racing]

geezer
^^^
The Duratec family is fantastic. They were developed by Ford of Europe with input and refinement by Mazda. From day one they were intended to be global engines, used in all major markets. The new EcoBoost line engines are built directly off of the Duratec platform. Very tough, quiet and efficient. Ford wasn't stupid. They knew they needed help building world-class engines, and got that help from within. Ford's North American Operations learned all those leasons, and have really taken it to the next level. Look at the Coyote 5.0L. The new GT500 Mustang Cobra, in stock trim, puts 609hp to the wheels. Its rated at 660 at the crank... And, FRP says there's still more hp that can be had safely (just not legally on public roads)... and then there's the Raptor F-150 6.2L...

the one owner's wife at work has a GT500 SVT and a Raptor... it makes me sick...

[FB71]

Yeah Ford has really taken it up a notch. Several notches lol. I had heard the duratecs were good engines.

Maybe I should be careful when posting in a thread with the Ford master :notworthy:

now, now... compliments will get you EVERYWHERE!!!!

[kellen302]

Our Taurus X has the 3.5L Duratec. Great motor. Wish they kept making the car it's very nice but they only ran it for 2 years, plus 2 earlier as the Freestyle. It's a large station wagon type crossover thingy, seats 7. AWD gets 21ish mpg