Article: Details on Ford Workers' sneak peek at future cars

[nadepalma]

We kind of started this conversation on a previous thread, but this seems to be the official take from our friends in the media. Thought it would compliment the previous discussion.

SOURCE: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...11280373/1148/

Workers get sneak peek at future cars

Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News



DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. workers and retirees got a glimpse of the company's future Monday -- including an all-new subcompact car, the next-generation F-150 pickup and a re-imagined Explorer sport utility vehicle-- during a series of morale-building forums at Cobo Arena.

The event was closed to the media and Ford required attendees to sign confidentiality agreements, but The Detroit News spoke with a number of employees and retirees afterward. Most came away enthused and confident that Ford has enough hot new vehicles in the pipeline to help fuel a turnaround.

The event, called "Showroom of the Future," was a first for Ford and offered a look at vehicles that will go into production between now and 2010. Many had never been seen outside of Ford's closely guarded design studios in Dearborn.

Topping the list of surprises was a prototype for a Ford subcompact car that would fill a glaring hole in the automaker's lineup.

Mark Fields, president of Ford's Americas group, has been talking about building a small, stylish and fuel-efficient "B-car" since taking over the automaker's domestic operations last fall. But he had yet to offer so much as a sketch of what that vehicle would look like until Monday.

The four-door sedan features a three-bar grille and wraparound headlamps. It's powered by a four-cylinder, 1.8-liter engine already used in Europe, though new options could be available by the time the car goes into production in 2009 or 2010. It is designed to compete with the Honda Fit.

"If they brought it out now, it might hit the mark," said analyst Jim Hall of AutoPacific Inc. in Troy, who is familiar with the vehicle. "But they can't bring it out now."

Ford also unveiled two redesigned versions of its stalwart F-150 pickup Monday. The new F-150, which is expected to go into production in 2008, borrows from the bolder look of Ford's Super Duty pickups.

"It's an in-your-face (grille)," said Hall, adding that it will take more than good looks to guarantee the F-150's future success.

"A lot of it is going to be determined by how it drives and how it does in fuel economy."

The F-series is facing stiffer competition than ever. General Motors Corp. has new versions of its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra coming to market right now and Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. is about to introduce its first true full-size pickup.

In addition to substantially refreshed styling, the revamped F-150 will offer new powertrain options, including a diesel engine. However, that will not be offered on the initial version.

Ford also showed a photo of a next-generation Ford Explorer codenamed ORE -- which stands for On-Road Explorer. The design was more sporty than rugged and the vehicle was based on a car platform rather than that of a truck.

Also shown for the first time was the production version of Ford's "people mover," a full-size crossover based on the Fairlane concept shown at the Detroit auto show in 2005.

The unnamed vehicle still features the Fairlane's squared-off sides and a white roof.

Ford also unveiled refreshed versions of its Focus compact car -- with a chrome two-bar grille -- the midsize Fusion sedan, the Five Hundred large sedan and the Mustang coupe.

"We're definitely delivering the product," said Bruce Whittle, a supervisor in Ford's chassis section, who was excited about the vehicles he saw at Cobo but wouldn't reveal details.

The Lincoln brand's new MKS flagship sedan was a favorite of some attendees. A prototype was unveiled at last year's North American International Auto Show, but participants got to see the production version Monday, which will not arrive in showrooms until 2008.

No Mercury vehicles were on display, but photos were shown of refreshed versions of Montego and Milan sedans and the Mariner SUV.

The highlight of "Showroom of the Future," most agreed, was the tiny new subcompact.

Ford insiders say it will be built on a new platform being developed by Mazda Motor Corp., which Ford controls. Known internally as the B2E platform, it will also provide the basic architecture for the next-generation Ford Fiesta and Mazda2.

Other versions are also planned for the U.S. market, including a small crossover.

Ford spokeswoman Sara Tatchio confirmed that the company did unveil "one possible design" for the subcompact Monday, but would not discuss details of the vehicle.

"We'll get a B-car as fast as we can with the right design and right business case," she said.

Ford was already well on its way to delivering a subcompact SUV for the U.S. market when Fields took over last year. But he killed that project, saying it was designed to compete on price alone, not on style or quality.

MORE HERE

[nadepalma]

Ford also unveiled refreshed versions of its Focus compact car -- with a chrome two-bar grille -- the midsize Fusion sedan, the Five Hundred large sedan and the Mustang coupe.

What sense does this make? I know we've seen the spy photos of the '08 Focus and that it has 2 bars -- but I thought that it was the camo covering up the third bar.

Why have a family look for a brand if you're not gonna use it across all lines?

If the next Focus has only 2-bars when the family look is 3 bars then I kinda wonder what Ford is up to. Honestly that's a dumb move. Why they'd do something like this in light of the 3-bar grille just having been launched on the Fusion. Makes no sense to me at all. The only stupid excuse I can think of is that there "wasn't enough room on the front end" for 3-bars. But then you'd have wonder why they didn't shrink it to fit!

Sorry, just thinking out loud....

[Member17739]

Could the unibody Explorer replace the Freestyle in the lineup?

[FordFan]

On Road Explorer? WTF?! you already have too much On-Road vehicles, how about OFF-Road Explorer?

[Aerodynamix]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

What sense does this make? I know we've seen the spy photos of the '08 Focus and that it has 2 bars -- but I thought that it was the camo covering up the third bar.

Why have a family look for a brand if you're not gonna use it across all lines?

If the next Focus has only 2-bars when the family look is 3 bars then I kinda wonder what Ford is up to. Honestly that's a dumb move. Why they'd do something like this in light of the 3-bar grille just having been launched on the Fusion. Makes no sense to me at all. The only stupid excuse I can think of is that there "wasn't enough room on the front end" for 3-bars. But then you'd have wonder why they didn't shrink it to fit!

Sorry, just thinking out loud....

That's what I was wondering too. The only other explanation I can think of would be that they're planning on using 3 bars for their midzide & larger vehicles but the compact Focus and new subcompact, they'll use 2 bars.

[Media!]

Originally Posted by Aerodynamix

That's what I was wondering too. The only other explanation I can think of would be that they're planning on using 3 bars for their midzide & larger vehicles but the compact Focus and new subcompact, they'll use 2 bars.

It says the subcompact sports a three bar grill.

So that leaves only the focus with 2.............................

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by Media!

It says the subcompact sports a three bar grill.

So that leaves only the focus with 2.............................

yup sounds pretty stupid to me !

[TiburonJT]

I bet a three bar grill was too large for the front end of the Focus. The vehicle is only a refresh of the exterior design, and even if it looks quite significant, the front end is not very large, so I suspect three bars would require very small bars that might not look good. Regardless, the lack of consistency is annoying.

[elderon]

Why so much debate over bars in the grill?

Anyways I truly hope Ford has some good things planned. I'd hate to see them go by the wayside just as much as the General.

[jlt0x]

Originally Posted by FordFan

On Road Explorer? WTF?! you already have too much On-Road vehicles, how about OFF-Road Explorer?

I agree and disagree with ya.

Ford does have quite a few SUVs already, but the Explorer is probably one its best sellers and the most recognizable. It would make sense to drop the Freestyle and replace it with a car-based Explorer. How many people take their Explorers off road? Maybe not that many in comparison to those who know they'll never go into the wilderness with their Explorer.

Making the Explorer a softer AWD SUV does make sense. But this moves leaves a hole open for the return of the Bronco or some other off-road-oriented vehicle.

It also looks like Ford is stacking its SUV lineup to really see which one takes off in the consumer market. And it's a possibility that many of these SUVs will be marketed globally as Fords, Mercurys, Lincolns, and Mazdas.

[throwback]

I'm disappointed that the Reflex does not seem to be part of the new model mix. Unless it was one of the cars they did not show.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

For needs to follow GM and Mopar and create some nicley styled RWD products, other than the 'Stang, I mean.

[ohmywrd8]

Just wait til all these cars go through the dumbing down processes. Sounds good now but we will have to see how they turn out. Ford really needs to do some work on the center stack of the Fusion to make it more suitable for the nav system. Where the nav system is now is a little too low.

[johnny smallblock]

Only 2 bars in the new Focus grille?!?!?!?! That's just more proof that Ford is full of idiots who are trying to drive their marketshare further into the toilet. No one will know it's a Ford. People will be confused. They're practically handing Toyota sales!!!!!! So stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Butz]

Mark Fields, president of Ford's Americas group, has been talking about building a small, stylish and fuel-efficient "B-car" since taking over the automaker's domestic operations last fall. But he had yet to offer so much as a sketch of what that vehicle would look like until Monday.

The four-door sedan features a three-bar grille and wraparound headlamps. It's powered by a four-cylinder, 1.8-liter engine already used in Europe, though new options could be available by the time the car goes into production in 2009 or 2010. It is designed to compete with the Honda Fit.

Ford NA needs the B-Car. I wonder if they'll bring the european version and reskin it to fit Ford NA design language, or they'll build one from scratch?