Ford Can't Reinvent the Model T; GM Moving Fordward

How else are we supposed to spin this? The Detroit News reports that Ford engineering veep Paul Mascarenas has announced an "international campaign (?) with five universities to develop a car that is simple, lightweight, practical and priced below $7,000." Something like, I dunno, the Tata Nano? Of for God's sake, you say, stop picking on these guys. The Model T redux is part of that national transportation [s]week[/s] weak deal, and a laudable effort to encourage and reward young engineering talent. What's this then? Mascarenas says the program, which will award an $25k to the winning university, is more than an academic exercise. "The Model T has assured its place in history; perhaps 100 years from now, someone will be standing here honoring one of these cars." Which cars? The cars they haven't built? Or the cars that Ford won't be building? Or the ones Ford will be building, after all the paperwork's been signed. Meanwhile, GM's global sales veep has a thing or two to say about the whole past – future thing. "GM is venturing into the future with some ambitious plans, a solid determination, as we launch into our second century," John Middlebrook intoned. "We believe strongly about what we will deliver." For what they are to deliver, may the federal bankruptcy court make us truly thankful. Amen. [thanks to MgoBLUE for the link]