Ford 4WD programme still waiting

Ford Australia's four-wheel-drive programme is still waiting for the green light from headquarters in Detroit.

The project is called Raptor and centres around an off-road version of the Falcon ute.

Ford Australia boss Geoff Polites is hoping the financial setback the parent company in America is suffering over things like tyre recalls won't mothball the $250 million Australian programme.

Meanwhile, the row between Ford and Firestone over who was responsible for more than 200 deaths and 700 injuries - blamed on either Firestone tyre faults or a design deficiency in the Ford Explorer - has swung against the tyremaker.

American road safety investigators have urged Firestone to recall millions of tyres.

Ford earlier spent more than $7 billion recalling and replacing Explorer tyres but could recoup some of the cost if the American government forces a tyre recall on Firestone.