FORD'S BALLSY MOVE: C1 Focus, CC, Kuga, CMax, TransitConnect, Transit, F100 approved!

[BrickTamland]

Holy freck monkeys! I have not heard of anything this ballsy since Weird Al got Lasik and quit wearing glasses. This kind of decisiveness is what Ford is in dire need. If this proves to be true, just the sheer gutsiness of it is impressive, not to mention the very aggressive timetable and the strength of the vehicles.

[blank disk]

Did someone above really think that there is no market here in the US for a lightduty Transit van?

WOW!!!

[mustang84]

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

Sounds great on paper. HOWEVER big questions remain:

These Euro models may be fuel efficent, but how will American consumers respond to vehicles without supersized cupholders, etc.

Will Ford have the marketing $ necessary to back up such a huge new product offensive? Even with closing down Mercury, that's a lot of new models to foist on the airwaves all at once. Saturn has tried the same thing, and without the marketing $ to move the product and let people know they exist, and the results have been less than stellar. Of course the Ford brand has far more market awareness than Saturn has, so that could help.

I wonder if exporting these vehicles to Europe is part of the plan, with the falling $ vs the euro?

Or sell them as Mercurys.

Think about it; Ford for the longest time has said they are "committed" to Mercury without giving us any specifics; now we get the news that European Fords will be on sale alongside North American Fords. That's a lot of overlap for one brand to carry, and how do you deal with two Focuses on sale at the same time?

Perhaps Mercury will be revived after all.

[Strapping.Young.Lad]

Its about time.

[Ttple]

It's good to see an American car company doing the obvious.

[Extreme4x4]

And doing it quickly. That is what is flooring me. Frankly, I think it is way cool.

[460ford]

Awesome, It is shocking and exciting to see someone in Detroit finally have a set and make a quick good decision ( something they haven't seemingly been capable of forever).

[2b2]

Originally Posted by mustang84

Or sell them as Mercurys.

Think about it; Ford for the longest time has said they are "committed" to Mercury without giving us any specifics; now we get the news that European Fords will be on sale alongside North American Fords. That's a lot of overlap for one brand to carry, and how do you deal with two Focuses on sale at the same time?

Perhaps Mercury will be revived after all.

I'm wondering about this too - and not just cuz all I think about is Mercury
ex:
kinda believe the euroFocus-Cabrio could be a Lincoln not a Merc.
And the Escape will stay Escape and Kuga will become a Lincoln...
as well as an exported Volvo?
but
Mariner might have its name on the C-Max while Merc gets a new more rugged SUVlet too
and maybe a Fomoco/Mazda plant could build CX's & a Milan-ish version?

Tho the main thing is... think I'll have to stop ranting for an immediate Mercury-Focus
cuz
my C2-Merc might show up sooner than even I hoped

[The Law]

Originally Posted by mustang84

Or sell them as Mercurys.

Think about it; Ford for the longest time has said they are "committed" to Mercury without giving us any specifics; now we get the news that European Fords will be on sale alongside North American Fords. That's a lot of overlap for one brand to carry, and how do you deal with two Focuses on sale at the same time?

Perhaps Mercury will be revived after all.

May actually be smarter to switch Fords brands; Mercury American Div. and Ford Europe turned loose globally built in NA.That way you have the products available throughout the world like VW Group Seat...under VW brand and Audi above.

[Michael_S]

I have a separate question. The CAFE standards start increasing each year from 2011 to 2020. When the standards were first announced, many automakers noted that it would be extremely difficult and expensive to meet the requirements because Americans preferred really big vehicles.

I wonder if that's still an issue? With so much of the market moving from minivans to sedans and SUVs to minivans and sedans to compacts, I'm wondering if most automakers are already on track to meet to sell at 2015 CAFE standards this year.

Originally Posted by FStephenMasek

Vehicles such as the Transit and Sprinter are far more useful for almost anything contractors / workers do - they are easier to load and unload, less tippy, so handle better, more secure, and can be had in passenger, or mixed passnger and cargo, versions. They are also more efficient designs in terms of use of space and steel, so offer better fuel efficiency.

I agree. The domestic fullsize minivans are built for towing. The Transit and Sprinter can't tow as much - but most buyers do not need the extra tow capacity.

A plumber, appliance repair man, electrician, or FedEx delivery truck might cart around hundreds of cubic feet of stuff, but the total weight isn't particularly heavy.

[460ford]

I think the transit connect is a great idea and will save lots of business's money in the end, Every day in Boston during my commute I see a flower company with E-250's rolling around everywhere. I don't see how in the future a company as such could justify buying big vans for hauling flowers when they can buy something that can do everything they do now and get double the fuel mialege.

[Ach]

The European model that may not make it over here in terms of production, and therefore sale, is the excellent Ford Mondeo. Product planners are having a tough time figuring out where it would fit, price-wise, and even though Mulally is fan of the car, its price point may be problematic.

Does this mean that the Fusion/Mondeo platform merge may not happen?

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by pgill00

I think 24 months from today is "at least 2 years".

OK, But by industry standards thats lightening like quick. Given where they're at and and what they want to do its even faster that - like warp 12.

Good for them, they're not only getting better, they're getting quicker.

[1931Chevy]

Originally Posted by Ach

Does this mean that the Fusion/Mondeo platform merge may not happen?

they will merge for 2012 as the original plan was set, this means 2010 refreshed fusion and by 2012 new fusion based on the new 2012 mondeo

[ARCANGEL]

Bring It On!!!!!!! Love Ford Europe's Cars!!!!