Ford Australia Overhauls It's Biggest-Selling Models

[JoeT]

Ford Overhauls Biggest-Selling Models

Jez Spinks
2 July 2007
www.drive.com.au

Ford Australia is fighting falling sales with price reductions and equipment upgrades for Falcon, Territory, Ranger and Focus.

Ford Australia has announced an aggressive pricing and equipment overhaul for its most popular models as it tries to halt sliding sales.

The local car maker’s sales are nearly 10 per cent lower than this time last year despite the overall Australian new-vehicle market heading for a record one-million units in 2007.

Revised pricing, safety equipment upgrades and additional features have been applied to four Ford models: the Focus small car, Falcon large car, Territory SUV, and Ranger utility.

The total saving per vehicle ranges from just $50 on a Ford Territory Ghia AWD to a significant $6,025 on a Falcon XR6 six-speed auto.

Ford Australia is the sixth worst-performing brand out of 41 car makers in terms of year-to-date sales.

Compared with May 2006, Falcon sales are down 24 per cent, Falcon ute down 11 per cent, Territory down 12 per cent, and Fiesta down one per cent. The Escape (up 39 per cent), Focus (up 8 per cent) and Ranger (up 8 per cent on Courier model it replaced) are the Blue Oval’s positive movers.

Click here to continue article

Ford Falcon, Territory, Focus & Ranger

[hq308]

^^^^^faulty link above

try this one
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...eID=41378&vf=2

[mikmak]

I test drove a BF yesterday (XT and Sebring reviews coming soon ) and it is quite a good vehicle. I would be as confused as Ford Oz as to their poor showing. Focus is as good as if not a little more drab than the Mazda 3. More confusing is the increase in Ford Escape sales. I have seen little in the way of advertising and I really think they are quite uncompetitive in respect to the rest of the market. It's getting to be a very old platform.

[Monaro Mad]

Won't all the Ford buyers simply just be waiting for the new 'Orion' model later this year? I wouldn't have thought it was too much to get concerned about for Ford. I'm sure the same thing happended to Holden with the imminent release of the VE.

[ford&holden]

Falcon being the oldest large car locally is the biggest problem. Updated focus range with cabrio and new mondeo before the year is out should help sales out, but the big boost won't come until the new falcon arrives early next year.
Also I've heard corolla was the top selling car last month...

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25730D00069FB2


It would appear Ford AND Holden have a big fight ahead with Toyota.

The mondeo seems to be getting very good reviews so far...

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...2&pg=2&IsPgd=0

[mikmak]

RE: Mondeo review, Riddle me this Batman; How can the mondeo, with the XR5 powertrain, post the same 0-100 figure of 7.5sec when I am assuming it adds a few kegs (perhaps 150?) into the equation. Still, as the article says, it should sell when if priced right. As for competing against the new Mazda 6, isn't it virtually going to be the same monster? (sort of a moot point considering Focuses performance against the 3 though)

[ford&holden]

Originally Posted by mikmak

RE: Mondeo review, Riddle me this Batman; How can the mondeo, with the XR5 powertrain, post the same 0-100 figure of 7.5sec when I am assuming it adds a few kegs (perhaps 150?) into the equation. Still, as the article says, it should sell when if priced right. As for competing against the new Mazda 6, isn't it virtually going to be the same monster? (sort of a moot point considering Focuses performance against the 3 though)

Agreed, but thats the performance they are quoting, maybe the engine is tuned differently? the mondeo won't look anything like the new mazda 6.
I'm not sure if the new mazda 6 will be on the same chassis as this new mondeo or if the new mazda 6 will use the existing chassis, but the new 6 will be bigger like the mondeo, much the same size as Ford NAs fusion model.

[JoeT]

Ford’s $10 Million Small Car Sales Push

Joe Kenwright
5 July 2007
www.carpoint.com.au

Ford dealers have been told to get ready for a $10 million sales push to support the revised Focus range.

Tired of getting sand kicked in its face, Ford Australia is about to roll up its sleeves and make a $10 million marketing impression in the small car market.

Indeed, the Blue Oval's dealers have already been told to prepare for the marketing push which will support the revised Focus range due in August.

The first stage in the new small car sales drive was this week's announcement of a new $19,990 starting price for Focus with ABS on all models.

A more logical model sequence with the same levels available in sedan and hatchback body styles peaking at $30,000 is also part of the new strategy.

A new diesel in both sedan and hatchback body styles at a surprisingly competitive $27,000 (more soon at The Carsales Network) followed by the Coupe Cabriolet, in conjunction with the existing XR5 Turbo, will generate one of the widest single nameplate ranges in the small car segment.

Significantly, reports of the latest marketing push suggest that Ford Australia has recognised that these latest pricing and range revisions will not be enough to achieve sales success alone.

For some years, dealers have questioned whether Focus should have been rebadged as a Laser on its 2002 arrival.

Click here to continue article

[ford&holden]

The updated focus range, the diesel seems pretty good, apart from no auto option.


http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...8?OpenDocument

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2573130012D663

[TDi]

Originally Posted by ford&holden

The updated focus range, the diesel seems pretty good, apart from no auto option.


http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...8?OpenDocument

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2573130012D663

As long as the European market doesn't demand it, an auto option, it wont be sold in Australia either.

I have a feeling this time round, the Focus will be more competitive and should sell in better numbers.