Ford to cut Mustang options

Given engine choices, interior trim level choices, color choices and other packages and options, a single Ford Motor Co. vehicle like the Mustang can literally come in thousands of configurations.

Now Ford Motor Co. — taking a page from its Japanese competitors — is moving to drastically reduce its vehicle configurations, a move that could save money and reduce complexity in purchasing and manufacturing.

The goal was outlined in a new internal document titled "Ford North America — 2007 Objectives at a Glance," a copy of which was obtained by The Detroit News.

The one-page report offers a summary of each department's goals and objectives for the year in four key areas that CEO Alan Mulally has identified as the pillars of his turnaround plan: resizing the company to match the reduced demand for its vehicles, accelerating product development while reducing manufacturing complexity, securing financing and improving teamwork.

It has been nearly a century since Henry Ford told customers they could have their Model T in any color they wanted, as long as it was black. Today, Ford offers motorists a dizzying array of trim lines, options and packages on vehicles.

For example, there are currently 16,000 buildable combinations of options and color offered on the 2007 Ford Mustang V-6 deluxe model. More at Detroit News