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Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego
3623 messages, Last post on Feb 13, 2011 at 9:08 AM
You are in the Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego Forum.What is this discussion about? Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, Sedan
#230 of 3623 3.5L future by buckwheat
Jan 17, 2004 (1:32 pm)
Right now there is no CVT for Fords' approx: 245hp Duratec 35 engine (which is also not available yet). The CVT, for the recently reportedly improved Duratec 30 with 200hp & 200lbs of torque, can handle no more than 220lbs of torque. The Duratec 35, obviously exceeds that torque range, sure the six speed automatic wil mate up fine but is only offered for FWD. So when the Duratec 35 debuts it will need a CVT mate.There is no doubt in my mind that since Ford began design work on the 3.5L Duratec 35 engine in early 2000 they should be more advanced in four years but still this engine is not due out until the end of 2005 or the start of 2006.
Ford says this 3.5L engine is a clean sheet design and is the forerunner to a family of engines based on the Duratec 35 architecture with a view towards a 3.8L and even a 4.0L derivative.
What makes the delay harder to understand is Fords' touted "flexible machining lines", the ability to retool in less than half the time with minimal incremental cost. This process is already in place at some facilities and will be at the Lima, Ohio plant where the production of the Duratec 35 will begin in late 2005, slightly under two years from now. That sounds like a lot but on the other hand the first Five Hundred - Montego - Freestyle probably won't be out before the fall of 2004. Currently the Lima plant produces the 3.L Vulcan OHV V-6 for Ford Taurus & Mercury Sable as well as the 3.9L V-8 that powers the Lincoln LS & the Ford Thunderbird.
Is this timetable set in stone, you're guess is as good as mine..
#231 of 3623 by ANT14
Jan 17, 2004 (2:56 pm)
"So when the Duratec 35 debuts it will need a CVT mate."They already have plans of buying CVT's from Nissan, for the 3.5L since it's HP and TQ powers will be similar to their 3.5L VQ engine.
"Is this timetable set in stone, you're guess is as good as mine.. "
Actually they'll be another vehicle where the 3.5L will officially debut in, when that vehicle is introduced itself (in other words, totally new vehicle, with totally new engine)...THEN the 3.5L will be phased into the 500/Montego/Freestyle, etc. and trickle in numerous other Ford Lincoln Mercury vehicles.
"lame and very GMlike for Ford to not have the 3.5 ready to go at launch."
It could be worse though, at least Ford uses sophisticated and refined OHC engines over GM's OHV's....
#232 of 3623 ANT14 by buckwheat
Jan 17, 2004 (5:46 pm)
Anything is possible but as far as purchasing CVTs from Nissan I'm sure you will be able to show us where that is written. For me I highly doubt it especially since ZF & Ford have a joint venture just for making these types of products and not for Ford to outsource them, although Ford & ZF have licensing agreements with UK based Torotrak for Toroidal CVTs which are capable of accomodating higher torque.Regardless of which vehicle by Ford the 3.5L appears in first it still will not be anytime soon since production is not set to begin until late 2005.
#233 of 3623 by regfootball
Jan 17, 2004 (10:58 pm)
"It could be worse though, at least Ford uses sophisticated and refined OHC engines over GM's OHV's.... "Yes, but Ford is falling behind these days.
And ok, are there ANY GM cars that do come out with the prime motor right from the intial model launch?
#234 of 3623 by tomcat630
Jan 18, 2004 (10:51 am)
"people are expecting big perfroming engines in sedans these days"People EXPECT, but then what do they actually BUY/DRIVE? Honda fans brag about the 240 HP, while they are really driving a 1996 Civic or 99 4 banger Accord.
#235 of 3623 Price fpr this thing?????? by beer47
Jan 18, 2004 (11:49 am)
Does anyone know what a base 3Litre "500" will go for? What will be the starting point before they start dressing them up? I like the size of the 500 but I hope it will be priced reasonably. If it is to much I'll look at a 2nd year Kia Amanti. Sleeper car, loaded w/featues at a decent price. I would like nothing better than to p/u a domestic next time but it always comes done to voting with your dollar. You buy what you feel is a good value for your $.#236 of 3623 Montego/Five Hundred by setzer
Jan 18, 2004 (12:07 pm)
For everyone who has seen photos of the Five Hundred but not the Montego, go to ford.com and there are photos of it. It looks pretty much like the Five Hundred. I'm thinking about purchasing a 500 or a Montego when they come out.#238 of 3623 Front Legroom by chevyguy657
Jan 18, 2004 (1:31 pm)
Is listed at 41.3. Us GM fans sqwalked at 41.9 (same as my '00 Malibu) in the new Malibu (realize that doesn't compete with the 500) until we found out about the power pedals. Still, looks to me like too much attention was paid to rear passengers (same in the new Malibu and Malibu Maxx). I could still use another 1/2 inch in the '04 Malibu, with the power pedals.I trust power pedals will be available (or standard) in the 500, but they better have a LOT of travel.
Friends Santa Fe has 41.6 (without power pedals) and I can't fit in the driver's seat.
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