Ford Planning Lincoln And Mercury Versions Of Kuga Crossover

[OrlandoGuy80]

Meanwhile, a new compact crossover based on the European Ford Kuga is set to arrive in showrooms by late 2011, with production tipped to start in Ford’s Louisville, Kentucky. Redesigned versions of the Kuga will be sold as both Lincolns and Mercurys, while the Kuga itself will replace the current Ford Escape.

More:
http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1...kuga-crossover

[johnstarnes]

I sure hope that they aren't lame rebadges.

[Bravada]

OK, what's the point of BOTH Lincoln and Mercury versions?

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by Bravada

OK, what's the point of BOTH Lincoln and Mercury versions?

Agreed...that is why I really hope they are not rebadges of Kuga or each other.

[BrickTamland]

Originally Posted by Bravada

OK, what's the point of BOTH Lincoln and Mercury versions?

They would both benefit greatly from new compact crossovers, but I join in preaching to the choir in the hopes that these cars share no body panels.

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by Bravada

OK, what's the point of BOTH Lincoln and Mercury versions?

Well, there is the Fusion-Milan-MKZ trio.

This gives the Ford fans a chance to back-pedal and use the words "platform sharing" to describe things like this, (while the the next big Cadillac is a "rebadge".)

[Simon says]

Originally Posted by megeebee

Well, there is the Fusion-Milan-MKZ trio.

This gives the Ford fans a chance to back-pedal and use the words "platform sharing" to describe things like this, (while the the next big Cadillac is a "rebadge".)

Equinox + Terrain + SRX anyone?

And be assured, if Pontiac and saturn had survived, we would be talking about a Torrance and a VUE too.

[2b2]

Originally Posted by johnstarnes

Agreed...that is why I really hope they are not rebadges of Kuga or each other.

I'll be very surprised if both Mercury & Lincoln get "kugas",
partly due to the C3 platform coming in more versions than before as shown by the 2 wheelbases of the C-Maxes;
but IF they do,
I'd expect the Lincoln to have unique sheetmetal & interior
and the Mercury to share 'much' with the Ford version
unless
somehow they'd come up with (& AFFORD) new looks for Lincoln & Ford and gave Merc (95% of) the euro version...
...but I really don't expect that

(actually I wouldn't mind if they kept the existing Mariner's look around for a while
since it's the Best Looking SUVlet on the planet! imho)

[Extreme4x4]

Originally Posted by megeebee

Well, there is the Fusion-Milan-MKZ trio.

This gives the Ford fans a chance to back-pedal and use the words "platform sharing" to describe things like this, (while the the next big Cadillac is a "rebadge".)

Ahhhh, you mean like the Flex is to the MKT?? How about how the Taurus is the the MKS??

When the triplets are redesigned, instead of just a MCE, they will share nothing but platform.

However, all of the GMIers can argue the semantics of the differences between the platform on the SRX vs the Equinox and Terrain. Or, the differences between 3-5 different Lambda versions (existing and upcoming)............... as if it is somehow different from what Ford does, or Toyota does, or Nissan, or ..............

[ohmywrd8]

Ford needs to work on getting it's luxury straight. They are all mixed up when it comes to Lincoln. This would be OK as a Mercury but as a Lincoln, I am not so confident. Lincoln needs to work on genuine good designs and not just throwing a bunch of chrome on a Fusion, an Edge or whatever. They aren't bad cars but they hardly live up to competing with an RX or a C-Class Mercedes. Ford has the talent they just need to apply it to Lincoln.

[K-1]

Originally Posted by Simon says

Equinox + Terrain + SRX anyone?

And be assured, if Pontiac and saturn had survived, we would be talking about a Torrance and a VUE too.

SRX isn't a Theta II. The Torrent was slated to die in favor of the Terrain anyway. And the VUE was on a shorter wheelbase. So, under the assumption that everyone lived, we have 2 LWB Theta IIs (interiors in common), one Theta-Epsilon (nothing in common), and one SWB Theta I (nothing in common).

Contrast that with Ford: 3 C1s, Ford/Mercury sharing an interior, and the Lincoln being unique.

Neither is exactly "platform sharing" done right.

[SullyND]

I'm still hopeful Kuga goes to Mercury while Lincoln and Ford NA get unique tophats. Kuga is not an Escape.

[ford&holden]

The GM fans are touchy buggers these days, i wonder why?

How about we just wait and see, i'd bet the house they won't be mild rebadges.

[Bravada]

Well, there is the Fusion-Milan-MKZ trio.

I understand the sense of Milan and such are to given L-M dealers access to Ford models, but I have also thought Ford will be heading towards Chrysler-style integration, which makes Ford-doubling Mercuries redundant. Which is why I would be suprised to see BOTH Lincoln and Mercury "Kugas".

[K-1]

Originally Posted by ford&holden

The GM fans are touchy buggers these days, i wonder why?

How about we just wait and see, i'd bet the house they won't be mild rebadges.

See posts from wescoent, who's been pretty spot-on when it comes to Ford. I'd "bet the house" that Ford/Mercury will be mild rebadges (continuing to blur the lines between the brands), and Lincoln will be a proper platform share.