Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 14, 2026

Ford DEW platform

The Ford DEW platform is Ford Motor Company's midsized rear-wheel drive automobile platform. The D/E nomenclature was meant to express an intermediate size between D- and E-class vehicles, while the W denoted a worldwide platform. The platform was developed by both Ford and Jaguar engineers, and debuted in the Lincoln LS sedan. Its de facto predecessor in Europe was the DE-1 platform which underpinned the 1985 Ford Scorpio, however this vehicle was cancelled in 1998 without a direct replacement as in the European market, buyers were increasingly turning away from executive class cars manufactured by mainstream manufacturers.

Last revised
Jun 14, 2026
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Ford DEW platform
2005 Ford Thunderbird one of the vehicles based on the DEW platform
Overview
ManufacturerFord
Tata Motors
Also calledDEW98
Production1999–2015
AssemblyUnited States: Wixom, Michigan (Wixom Assembly)
United Kingdom: Birmingham (Castle Bromwich Assembly)
Body and chassis
LayoutFR layout
Body styles4-door sedan
2-door convertible
5-door Wagon
Vehicles1999–2008 Jaguar S-Type1
2000–2006 Lincoln LS2
2002–2005 Ford Thunderbird2
2008–2015 Jaguar XF1
RelatedFord D2C platform
Chronology
PredecessorFord DE-1 platform

The Ford DEW platform (or DEW98) is Ford Motor Company's midsized rear-wheel drive automobile platform. The D/E nomenclature was meant to express an intermediate size between D- and E-class vehicles, while the W denoted a worldwide platform. The platform was developed by both Ford and Jaguar engineers, and debuted in the Lincoln LS sedan.12 Its de facto predecessor in Europe was the DE-1 platform which underpinned the 1985 Ford Scorpio, however this vehicle was cancelled in 1998 without a direct replacement as in the European market, buyers were increasingly turning away from executive class cars manufactured by mainstream manufacturers.

Ford's use of the platform ended in 2006, but Jaguar continued to use DEW98 after Jaguar was sold to Tata Motors in 2008, building the XF on it. Jaguar's use of the platform ended in 2015 with the introduction of the second-generation XF using the Jaguar Land Rover iQ[Al] (D7a) modular platform.3

Vehicles

This platform was used in these vehicles:

Cancelled vehicles that were to use this platform:

  • Jaguar S-Type
    Jaguar S-Type
  • Lincoln LS
    Lincoln LS
  • Ford Thunderbird
    Ford Thunderbird
  • Jaguar XF
    Jaguar XF
References

References

  1. Hutton, Ray (2013). "Jaguar's faded glory". Jewels in the Crown: How Tata of India transformed Britain's Jaguar and Land Rover. Elliott & Thompson. ISBN 978-1908739834.
  2. Connelly, Mary (7 August 1999). "New Blood Brings Pulse Of Change". Boca Raton News. p. RR11.
  3. Fung, Derek (26 March 2015). "2016 Jaguar XF revealed". caradvice. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  4. Institute of the Motor Industry (1996). "The Yanks are Coming". Motor Industry Management: Journal of the Institute of the Motor Industry.
  5. DeLorenzo, Matt (2004). Mustang 2005: A New Breed of Pony Car. Motorbooks International. p. 22. ISBN 978-0760320396.