Ford to Launch something new - "corvette killer"

[Spart]

Seeing rumors the grand sport will have a manual

While I'd be happy to be proven wrong, I don't believe it for a minute.

Just the fact that Tremec has released their bolt-in manual trans for the C8 tells me that it isn't happening. GM would need a bunch of those for production use, and while I doubt Tremec did the engineering on that transmission for the fun of it, I'm willing to bet it was a shelved design from the days when the C8 frankenstein test mules had manual transmissions. Tremec is trying to make lemonade out of lemons with that release.

I also think a lot of top people at GM spent soooo much time shilling fake reasons why the C8 couldn't have a manual transmission, that GM can't walk it back now. Pedal box too small (proven wrong) can't put a hole in chassis for a shifter (literally clown shoes argument when almost all mid-engine cars have cable shifters) and those folks will keep the dream dead until they're gone.

I also don't think that anyone at GM with enough leverage to make it happen actually understands enthusiasts. They're too focused on making a Great Value™ Supercar (Compare ingredients to Ferrari!) Ferrari doesn't do manual transmissions anymore. As stupid as it sounds, that's likely the single biggest reason why GM isn't doing manual transmissions anymore.

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[MAGS1]

While I'd be happy to be proven wrong, I don't believe it for a minute.

Just the fact that Tremec has released their bolt-in manual trans for the C8 tells me that it isn't happening. GM would need a bunch of those for production use, and while I doubt Tremec did the engineering on that transmission for the fun of it, I'm willing to bet it was a shelved design from the days when the C8 frankenstein test mules had manual transmissions. Tremec is trying to make lemonade out of lemons with that release.

I also think a lot of top people at GM spent soooo much time shilling fake reasons why the C8 couldn't have a manual transmission, that GM can't walk it back now. Pedal box too small (proven wrong) can't put a hole in chassis for a shifter (literally clown shoes argument when almost all mid-engine cars have cable shifters) and those folks will keep the dream dead until they're gone.

I also don't think that anyone at GM with enough leverage to make it happen actually understands enthusiasts. They're too focused on making a Great Value™ Supercar (Compare ingredients to Ferrari!) Ferrari doesn't do manual transmissions anymore. As stupid as it sounds, that's likely the single biggest reason why GM isn't doing manual transmissions anymore.

My biggest hope is that whatever Ford comes out with has multiple trim levels to compete with the Vette’s various trim levels. And at similar prices as the various Vette trims. If they want to make a beast to go after the ZR1 at $200k+, I’m cool with that. But give us something that will also go after the Z06, GS and base C8 at those price points too. And the weight better start with a 3 and not a 4…

 

[Spart]

My biggest hope is that whatever Ford comes out with has multiple trim levels to compete with the Vette’s various trim levels. And at similar prices as the various Vette trims. If they want to make a beast to go after the ZR1 at $200k+, I’m cool with that. But give us something that will also go after the Z06, GS and base C8 at those price points too. And the weight better start with a 3 and not a 4…

A lot of these companies operating in niche markets need to stop focusing on making 1:1 competitors for cars in the exact same niche market, and instead make something that stands alone and on it's own.

Ford shouldn't make a _______ competitor, they should make a car that other companies look at and say, why aren't we making a Ford ______ competitor.

 

[MAGS1]

A lot of these companies operating in niche markets need to stop focusing on making 1:1 competitors for cars in the exact same niche market, and instead make something that stands alone and on it's own.

Ford shouldn't make a _______ competitor, they should make a car that other companies look at and say, why aren't we making a Ford ______ competitor.

That’s true. I think a lot of these companies are afraid to innovate and fail. The F-150 Lightning program failed and cost Ford a bunch of money, that’s got to be in Farley’s head. And the Ford family’s…

 

[Spart]

I will just say this and leave it alone:

• Dodge killed their manual, front-engine V10, two seater sports car (the Viper.)
• Chevrolet killed their manual, front-engine V8, two seater sports car (the C7.)
• Aston Martin killed their manual, front-engine V8, two seater sports car (the Vantage dropped the manual in 2021 and the special edition cars like the Valour may as well not exist when they only built 110 of them.)

If Ford wants to carve out a space in a market instead of being an also-ran, they should fill this market segment. It still exists. Anyone telling you otherwise is full of it.

Anyone telling you they have to hit a specific 0-60 target or not bother building anything is full of it.

The sales this would compete with would be prospective 911 and Cayman buyers who want something more raw and unrefined, something with more cylinders and less turbos.

Ford should make a modern GR-1, and yes, it should have a manual. Because why would they want to be an also-ran to the Maserati Granturismo, the Ferrari Amalfi, various Aston Martins?

 

[Strokerswild]

A GR-1 at around base Stingray price? Yes, please.

 

[broncoboy22]

Now we’re talking fellas! Completely agree. And this new platform can also be used for next gen Mustang development for some economies of scale

 

[_zOmbIE_]

Dealers are pissed the Escape is gone as some dealers are saying the Escape is like 20% of their sales 2nd only to the F-150. People want smaller cheaper vehicles. Even Farley said that. Yet he's not producing ANY, while killing the only one he has.

The escape is not gone, they just started calling it the Bronco Sport, around here I easily see 3 Bronco Sports for every Escape I see

 

[Strokerswild]

The escape is not gone, they just started calling it the Bronco Sport, around here I easily see 3 Bronco Sports for every Escape I see

While essentially true since they're the same under the skin, not everyone wants a Bronco Sport. I tried steering the wife toward one (hard), but she liked the Escape better. She hated the front end of the Bronco Sport. Escape seemed better built too, which I thought was odd; maybe a case of the Escape being near the end of the product life cycle with all the kinks worked out.

 

[MAGS1]

While essentially true since they're the same under the skin, not everyone wants a Bronco Sport. I tried steering the wife toward one (hard), but she liked the Escape better. She hated the front end of the Bronco Sport. Escape seemed better built too, which I thought was odd; maybe a case of the Escape being near the end of the product life cycle with all the kinks worked out.

Bought my wife a new car yesterday and my sales guy was also lamenting the loss of the Escape. They moved a lot of them. With the Explorer Tremor coming in, he was also pissed that Ford discontinued the TT V6 as an option for the Platinum trim. That was their #1 seller as far as Explorers go (the ST is this dealer’s #2 Explorer seller). They were not sad to see the Lightning go, they basically got to the point that they had 1 or 2 on hand at any one time because they didn’t sell. If someone wanted one from them, they had to special order it.

They had a Maverick Lobo in the showroom in Velocity Blue. Really nice looking truck and it was less than $40k. Ford got the pricing right on the Maverick. I was tempted to get it as a winter car but one vehicle purchase was enough LOL.

 

[13GetThere]

Anybody remember the Pantera from the 70s?
Powered by a Ford 351 4bbl Cleveland, and sold Lincoln dealers. I always thought that was Ford's stab at competing with the Corvette. It only lasted a couple of years. I got a little chubby and drooled every time I saw one.
Just thought I'd throw that out here.

 

[Strokerswild]

Bought my wife a new car yesterday and my sales guy was also lamenting the loss of the Escape. They moved a lot of them. With the Explorer Tremor coming in, he was also pissed that Ford discontinued the TT V6 as an option for the Platinum trim. That was their #1 seller as far as Explorers go (the ST is this dealer’s #2 Explorer seller). They were not sad to see the Lightning go, they basically got to the point that they had 1 or 2 on hand at any one time because they didn’t sell. If someone wanted one from them, they had to special order it.

They had a Maverick Lobo in the showroom in Velocity Blue. Really nice looking truck and it was less than $40k. Ford got the pricing right on the Maverick. I was tempted to get it as a winter car but one vehicle purchase was enough LOL.

I've thought about ordering up a base hybrid Maverick for a runner and park my F150 for the most part many times....

 

[Bob Lob Law]

Anybody remember the Pantera from the 70s?
Powered by a Ford 351 4bbl Cleveland, and sold Lincoln dealers. I always thought that was Ford's stab at competing with the Corvette. It only lasted a couple of years. I got a little chubby and drooled every time I saw one.
Just thought I'd throw that out here.

Caught this guy running around town last year.

 

[-RAC-]

How big will the gas tank be?

 

[MAGS1]

I've thought about ordering up a base hybrid Maverick for a runner and park my F150 for the most part many times....

It’s a nice little truck, I should’ve test driven one. Gives me an excuse to go back LOL

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