New 'Birds?

[cool57]

Do you think FoMoCo will introduce another Thunderbird any time soon?
What do think they'll offer? What would you like to see?

[Sandman]

Re: New 'Birds?

We went thru this before,but here it is again.

[My Raven]

Re: New 'Birds?

In this economy in a word NO time soon ...

[Treken]

Re: New 'Birds?

Since the big 3 have their late 60's retro muscle cars out there now, that might be it for awhile, I think...

At least our birds are classics already being retro 50's...

[jerrym3]

Re: New 'Birds?

TBird lovers are aging. Market's shrinking. (Yes, there are some younger TBird lovers, but not enough to warrant a new version.)

I can't see Ford making anything similar to the retro Birds, but possibly the name will be on a much different vehicle.

A silver 04 Bird with $23,999 pricetag has been on a local Ford lot for about a month. 6K mileage. Last week, a new Camaro was parked next to it.

The Camaro's gone.

[steelblue5505]

Re: New 'Birds?

I believe the Ford Thunderbird will return. It was thought by those in the auto industry that 1997 was to be the last year for the Bird. 1998 the showrooms were empty of T-Birds.

Then came the 02-05 Birds five years later.

Will the 5 year gap occur again? I think so. Why? The trademark laws. A trademark is protected for only 5 years. Some sources quote that trademark laws only cover 3 years. Either way, if the trademark can be proven in a court of law to have been abandoned by the trademark holder, than that trademark can be lost and used by another.

There is a lot more to the trademark law & I'm sure Ford has the Thunderbird name well protected for many years to come.

But I really do think the T-Bird will live on, maybe it will come back as a electric . One never knows.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: New 'Birds?

I believe the Ford Thunderbird will return. It was thought by those in the auto industry that 1997 was to be the last year for the Bird. 1998 the showrooms were empty of T-Birds.

Then came the 02-05 Birds five years later.

Will the 5 year gap occur again?

Within a year after the Ford Thunderbird was discontinued in 1997, Ford promised that the "Thunderbird would fly again". So while it disappeared from dealer sales lots for a few years, it wasn't long after it was discontinued when we first started hearing about a model being developed and by 2000 the Thunderbird concept was unveiled. At present, I doubt Ford has any Thunderbird under development at all. If they were to bring back the Thunderbird name though, I would hope it would be a nice 2 door coupe that seats 4. That's really the car the Thunderbird was for most of it's existance and that's when Ford sold the most. While I love our retro T-Birds, I would love to have a Thunderbird more like the 1977-1997 Thunderbirds as they were nice cars that were a little more practical and easier to live with on a daily basis.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: New 'Birds?

But I really do think the T-Bird will live on, maybe it will come back as a electric . One never knows.

Then would it be a "THUNDERVOLT" ???

[yelobird2002]

Re: New 'Birds?

Think it is time for a Turbo Coupe or Super Coupe again with a EcoBoost V8, about 450 H.P. two door four place to compete with Cadillac.

[Chuck]

Re: New 'Birds?

I'll bet that the Thunderbird name will be back, I do believe the car will look nothing like our retros. Probably a hybrid or something groundbreaking. Remember you're dealing with the #1 US based auto manufacturer, I'm sure they will want to stay there. They only way to stay there is innovation, hopefully they've learned that they can't just sit back and ride it out this time around.

[tbird6t4]

Re: New 'Birds?

The end of the world will be 2012, so it won't matter.

I guess I will drive mine straight to a "hot spot" , but then again most of my friends will be there so I won't be lonely!

As has been said, "they can pry my cold or should I say hot dead fingers off the steering wheel."

Gord

[EllisonCal]

Re: New 'Birds?

I'll bet that the Thunderbird name will be back, I do believe the car will look nothing like our retros. Probably a hybrid or something groundbreaking. Remember you're dealing with the #1 US based auto manufacturer, I'm sure they will want to stay there. They only way to stay there is innovation, hopefully they've learned that they can't just sit back and ride it out this time around.

I agree Chuck. In addition Mulally knew that the Taurus name was important to Ford and I'm pretty sure he knows that the Thunderbird image is important too.

Since he wants profitability, it will most likely be a 4 seater. Something that could face off against the new Cadillac CTS Coupe. The Ecoboost 3.5 liter six is detuned in the SHO to limit the torque to 350 ft./lbs at max rpm. If it were allowed to develop its real potential, a V8 would not be needed in a 4 place Tbird. Figure on a $49,995. MSRP, and a Lincoln spin-off ala Mark VIII.

Cal

[Leroy]

Re: New 'Birds?

If Ford did put out a new TBird, it would probably be pretty hard to get one for MSRP for the first year or so. I don't think you can buy new a Camero yet or MSRP. Leroy

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[BADOS]

Re: New 'Birds?

I think the Thunderbird will be back at some future time. I do believe they should stick to the original spirit of the first generation, that is more of a "sports" type car to complete with Corvette as they did in the '50's. This more defined approach would put them more in a category definition as opposed to mixed category which didn't work.

[15AGAIN]

Re: New 'Birds?

This is from Ward's Auto Interiors Conference 2010 e-mail I recieved, He might give some idea which way Ford is headed.


J Mays to Keynote

We're pleased to announce many key industry figures have signed on to speak at our 2010 conference.

J Mays, Group Vice President of Design and Chief Creative Officer, Ford Motor Company, will deliver the keynote address at 10 am, giving insight into Ford's vision for its new interiors.