Ford Panther platform

The Panther platform is one of Ford Motor Company's full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan automobile platforms, the other is the Australian Ford Falcon. Today, it is the oldest platform still in use in the United States and Canada. It uses traditional body-on-frame construction, and a live rear axle. It was introduced in 1978 for the 1979 model year as a response to the downsized GM full size offerings. As downsizing continued in the 1980s, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick, as well as AMC and Chrysler dropped out of the traditional full-size segment entirely. During trying periods for Ford it was scheduled for cancellation on several occasions, as early as 1985. It has outlasted its GM counterpart, the B-platform which was used for the Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster, along with its extended-wheelbase version the D-platform used for Cadillac Fleetwood, until their cancellation in 1996. The Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis are among the most commonly used fleet vehicles, including police interceptors and taxicabs. The Lincoln Town Car appeals largely to older clients and is the most commonly used limousine in the United States and Canada. The Panther platform is still in production as of 2006 and is currently committed to production until at least 2010. [1] The first Panthers were the Ford LTD and Mercury Marquis. Both were available in coupe, wagon, and sedan bodies. In 1980, the Lincoln Continental and the Continental Town Car were introduced on the Panther platform. The following year the Town Car became a model line of its own as the Continental name was applied to the Mark VI for 1981. While Lincoln coupes based on the Panther platform were discontinued in 1983, Ford and Mercury coupes lasted until 1987, and wagons were manufactured until 1991. After that, and an extensive redesign of the Ford and Mercury bodies, only full-size four-door sedans were produced. The Town Car's body was extensively reworked for 1990 and again for 1998. The Panther platform is currently produced only at Ford's St. Thomas Assembly plant in Canada. Prior to its closure on May 31, 2007, the Wixom Assembly plant was also a Panther assembly site (Lincoln Town Car). Assembly of the Town Car will resume at the St. Thomas plant in January 2008 following paint shop and other upgrades. Ford says they will continue the platform until least 2010.

Vehicles that have used the Panther platform include:

• Lincoln Continental Mark VI (1980–1983)
• Ford Crown Victoria (1992–Present)
• Ford LTD (1979–1982)
• Ford LTD Crown Victoria (1983–1991)
• Mercury Grand Marquis (1983–Present)
• Mercury Marauder (2003–2004)
• Mercury Marquis (1979–1982)
• Lincoln Town Car (1981–Present)
• The Aston Martin Lagonda Vignale concept of 1995 also used a modified Panther platform.

2009-2010

Chrysler and General Motors have begun moving back toward rear wheel drive for their premium models, whereas Ford never changed its Panther-based models. While there is no real evidence and conflicting reports on the future of the Panther platform, Ford is rumored to be considering replacing the Panther platform with the next-generation Australian Ford Falcon (that will be a left-hand drive Orion chassis debuting for the 2009 model year in the Australian market) in the United States for the 2010 model year. The Ford Five-Hundred and Taurus (fifth generation) is also internal competition as it also falls in the same internal volume class, though does not offer a V8. The new Ford Taurus offers a 260 horsepower (194 kW) V6. While an AWD version of the Taurus will be available it is unclear if that will be preferable to the 239 horsepower (178 kW) and 287 ft·lbf (389 N·m) of torque RWD Panther design. The Ford Interceptor concept (Ford D2C platform), debuted at NAIAS in 2007, was rumoured to be a replacement for the Panther platform, but nothing has been announced. For the 2008 model year, it appears Ford is simply carrying over the 2007 model.

External links

• CrownVic.us
• GrandMarq.net
• MercuryMarauder.net
• CrownVic.net