the t-6 is out

T6: bigger and better
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Details of Ford's T6 global light commercial replacement (designed and developed by Ford Australia to replace the current Mazda BT50 and Ford Ranger) are slowly emerging.

Those close to the project have hinted that the new model would grow in size, in line with the latest Toyota HiLux and Nissan D40 Navara with its width no longer 'tied' to the Japanese 1.7m width restriction that has defined every Ford Courier/Ranger/Mazda B-series so far.

Other 'insider' news indicates it will feature a full chassis and rear leaf springs to meet the work expectations of this type of vehicle worldwide. The challenge currently facing local engineers is to set new ride standards while maintaining a true one-tonne load capacity -- unlike, for example, the D40 Navara which comes in well under one tonne to achieve its softer ride.

As for the current model's torsion bar front suspension, one senior Ford engineer said: "I have never wanted to design a torsion bar front suspension and I have no intention of starting now." Hmmm… It seems it's a safe bet that the new "truck", as Ford boss Tom Gorman likes to call it, will feature double-wishbone coil spring front suspension.

The engineer also noted the passenger car levels of finish and amenities in the abovementioned Nissan's cabin were a direction he saw as an important development.

Like its Holden counterpart, Ford Australia's engineering assets are flavour of the month. With the local team successfully hitting and beating the myriad development gateways of the T6 project, one senior Ford source told CN Confidential that it is increasingly hard pressed to keep up with the escalating demand for its engineering input -- on a whole range of projects.
After these engineering resources were recently boosted to over 1000 personnel, the talent pool is still nowhere near enough, says our source.

To meet this demand, Ford Australia has boosted apprenticeships to 50 and attracted several hundred European engineers left redundant from the many rationalizations of the last decade.

These engineers bring top-shelf experience when they come from Aston Martin, Jaguar, Bentley and others, often via a German company. Especially important is experience in vital areas such as Euro III and IV compliance.

"The arrival of these people and the experience they bring has allowed us to grow much quicker than expected and take on the work which otherwise would have been lost," the senior boffin told CN Confidential.

Further down the track, this must consolidate Ford Australia's new role as the Blue Oval's key engineering centre for Asia and Africa. In the current climate of declining large car sales, it's good to hear demand exceeds supply -- even if it's not measured in cars coming down an assembly line.

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