I found this cruising the internet today over on Thunderbirdnest:

Not sure how accurate it is because i do know that a 4 seat Thunderbird was actually proposed some years ago as a followup to the 2 seater plus, it's a little early for prototypes for MY2012. However, with Alan Mullany aware enough of the equity built up in the Taurus name to bring it back, I am positive he is also aware that the equity involved in the historic Thunderbird name is simply wasting away and should probally be brought back on something as quickly as possible.

I can easily see a shortened modified SN197 chassis serve as the platform for a Ecoboost V6 powered turbo 'Bird.

I'd put this in the "Definate Maybe" file.

 

Mazda Miata platform mate maybe?

 

Will this 2-seat 'Bird actually go toe-to-toe with Corvette or is it supposed to be another boulevard cruiser? My guess is the latter.

Well then, price it in the stratosphere and/or saddle it with gimmicky, feminine styling and I can't see how it wouldn't be a failure like the last one.

 

At least it would give us memorable headlines like, "Not Much Thunder in New T-bird" and "New Ford 2-seater Lays an Egg".

 

That would be interesting, but they would probably run into the same problem the GTO did.

 

I think the T-bird could work as a lower cost competitor to Z4, SL and 350Z, etc. Most of these cars are not sold in "high performance" iterations so the T-bird wouldn't have to be a direct corvette fighter.

 

I would much rather a 4 seat T-bird in the mid-late 80's Turbo Coupe fashion. That car was awesome in that it was a longer Mustang that you could haul your family around in..but it also fairly light and efficiant at ~3400lbs.

At the bare minimum, make the T-bird a 2 seater, and then make a 4 seat Cougar (provided Mercury, and or Ford lasts that long).

 

I was just wondering what generation of Tbird fans are going to love this car? 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or 00s?

 

That'd be my guess, I would really be surprised to see a 2 seat vette competitor called Thunderbird, with the exception of the turbo/super coupes, Ford has really crapped on the name for the entirety of its life. when I think T-bird, I think luxo-barge (aforementioned turbo/super cars aside). IMO Ford would be better off divorcing the name Cobra from Mustang and using that for a proper vette fighter.

 

that is assuming Ford even wants a Corvette fighter..

 

That might be asking for too much. Seems none can build a proper corvette competitor. But the GTR (please don't flame me) shows that a proper corvette competitor can be built although on a smaller more limited scale and in the upper-z06 bracket range. Still nothing to really contend with the base 42k c6's.

I'd be just as happy with a skyline redline/z4/z4M/s2k/BoxsterS competitor. Can you imagine them taking the miata chassis and stretching/modifiying it out a bit or just starting off with the larger and equally sporty rx8 chassis, giving it a unique and stylish exterior, and throwing in a 350hp Eco-boost 3.5 and pricing it for around 36-38k? If they can keep weight figures under 3,3XXlbs (preferably in the 3,100-3,200 range), that'd make for a really nice performance 2 seater.

If they want it to be successful, the next TB will need a very good dose of modern sleek styling and high-performance. Screw luxury, soft rides, and cruiser styling. Give us a stylish, affordable, high-performance 2 seater.

 

Honestly, when I hear "Thunderbird", I don't have a clear picture. The car has tried to be so many different things just over my lifetime.....but yeah, I mostly think of the "aero" 4-seaters from the 80's and 90's.

 

Agreed.

At this point, Ford needs to pick a theme for the car and stay with it, or kill it for good.

Same went with Capri. It was originally an import compact meant for cheap transportation in a bit of a sporty wrapper. Then came the Fox-Capri with the turbo 2.3 and venerable 5.0 that was a Mustang with square fenders and a bubble-back hatch. Then there was the 2-seat convertible versions oof the 90's that looked more like a retarded Toyota MR2 with a ball cap on it than a Ford product. It's just been too widely used.

New T-bird needs to be a semi-luxury cruiser, intended to sell 20k units/year on an existing platform like DC2, D219, or S197. We'll see.

 

I'm not sure why it seems like every thread needs a reference like this. We have enough educated and reputable people on this board that we don't need to appeal to the lowest common denominator that would find this humorous. I won't mention the car-on-car "rape" references. /mini-rant

 

Nobody can make a better Corvette so why should Ford even try. I think they would be better off making the T-bird a hybrid only vehicle. Ford's Prius, except cool looking. That is something the Corvette and everyone else don't have.