S550Boss
Well-Known Member
The CD4 rumors were further fueled by the statement of another person that the CD4 suspension and the S550 suspension were one and the same: identical parts. That may have started this entire chain of CD4 ridiculousness, along with the coincidence of the CD4 being built on some parts of the multiple assembly and sub-assembly lines in the same building. Remember that the last generation Mazda6 and the S197 were built in the same building... and that doesn't make them riding on the same platform.
While the general suspension design might be related (there aren't enough hard images to verify this yet one way or the other), there is one image available that disproves the claim that the parts are identical (never mind the absurdity of putting several lb-fts thru Fusion bits!).
Here is a CD4 (Fusion) lower right control arm:
Here is the S550 lower right control arm:
Clearly not the same identical parts, the S550 varies in several significant areas. without an S550 prototype to measure, it's still very obvious visually. The casting is different in several major points. The spring and shock are in similar locations. The sway bar mounts are slightly different. The Mustang doesn't have the mounting locations for the MKZ's suspension sensors. Any kind of upper arm can't be identified from the available pictures. And the mounts for the sub frame itself are entirely different. So while it might be the same general suspension design family, it's not - as claimed - "a Fusion suspension".
So the engine compartment is different, the hard point locations are different (FWD vs. RWD), and the rear suspension is not identical (but may be of the same general layout - or may not be). Heck, the wiring looms might be similar... but the S550 is not a CD4. Lets put that to rest and figure out what the S550 is.
What counts here is cold hard data... and we have the S550 mules and prototypes to measure. That's exactly what I've done, so the conclusion based on about 30 points of data is that the S550 is simply an evolved S197. This is based on measured facts, it's not a put-down and shouldn't be an affront to anybody. Some people could say this is a bad point (is this the best the Ford engineers can do? Is this all they can do in ten years?), some would say it's a good point (spending money on what counts - the IRS and the improved engines coming later).
But the net-net of it remains to be seen. The introductory magazine articles next spring will all blather on endlessly on how terriffic it is, but only the longer-term road tests and comparisons will discover the truth (http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...opar-community-regarding-our-cherokee-review/). I don't go for those types of introductory articles myself, The Truth About Cars exposed that type of reporting very well. So readers here can either fall into that trap (as Ford marketing wants you to do), or - like TTAC - report the truth and call it as it is.
And, for gods sake, stop making a fool out of this forum in front of Ford's engineeers, and stop telling the Camaro folks they are going to be competing against a Fusion!
While the general suspension design might be related (there aren't enough hard images to verify this yet one way or the other), there is one image available that disproves the claim that the parts are identical (never mind the absurdity of putting several lb-fts thru Fusion bits!).
Here is a CD4 (Fusion) lower right control arm:
Here is the S550 lower right control arm:
Clearly not the same identical parts, the S550 varies in several significant areas. without an S550 prototype to measure, it's still very obvious visually. The casting is different in several major points. The spring and shock are in similar locations. The sway bar mounts are slightly different. The Mustang doesn't have the mounting locations for the MKZ's suspension sensors. Any kind of upper arm can't be identified from the available pictures. And the mounts for the sub frame itself are entirely different. So while it might be the same general suspension design family, it's not - as claimed - "a Fusion suspension".
So the engine compartment is different, the hard point locations are different (FWD vs. RWD), and the rear suspension is not identical (but may be of the same general layout - or may not be). Heck, the wiring looms might be similar... but the S550 is not a CD4. Lets put that to rest and figure out what the S550 is.
What counts here is cold hard data... and we have the S550 mules and prototypes to measure. That's exactly what I've done, so the conclusion based on about 30 points of data is that the S550 is simply an evolved S197. This is based on measured facts, it's not a put-down and shouldn't be an affront to anybody. Some people could say this is a bad point (is this the best the Ford engineers can do? Is this all they can do in ten years?), some would say it's a good point (spending money on what counts - the IRS and the improved engines coming later).
But the net-net of it remains to be seen. The introductory magazine articles next spring will all blather on endlessly on how terriffic it is, but only the longer-term road tests and comparisons will discover the truth (http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...opar-community-regarding-our-cherokee-review/). I don't go for those types of introductory articles myself, The Truth About Cars exposed that type of reporting very well. So readers here can either fall into that trap (as Ford marketing wants you to do), or - like TTAC - report the truth and call it as it is.
And, for gods sake, stop making a fool out of this forum in front of Ford's engineeers, and stop telling the Camaro folks they are going to be competing against a Fusion!
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