If I along with a few of you here controlled Ford, this is what must be done to turn them around:
Badge-engineering - every automaker has done it, and sure enough the trend has gotten to the point where the general public has caught on. We all realize that a Lincoln Navigator is a dolled-up Ford Expedition, a Cadillac Escalade is a dolled-up Chevy Suburban, and the previous-generation Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring are all one in the same. What Ford should do is stop the badge-engineering in its entirety!!!! GM has already begun designing their cars so each line is different from one another, such as Chevrolet having conservative body styles differing from the more streamline aerodynamic sportier style that Pontiac would have or the hard-edged angular body of a Cadillac. Same goes for Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep with case in point being the Charger vs. Magnum/300 where they absolutely do not share sheetmetal.
With that being said Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury have not learned from this (look at all their product line). Each line should have their own style to distinguish them from one another and to attract a certain consumer demographic, such that Ford caters to the younger consumers and Mercury caters to the middle-aged and up (such as consumers who buy Buick today). As for Lincoln try to come up with better designs and compete with the likes of Cadillac/Saab, I haven't seen a major change with Lincoln in years with the exception of the Lincoln-badged MKX.
Also with the current products offered by Ford I'd say eliminate cars that internally compete with one another, such as the Ford Crown Victoria and the Ford Five Hundred because they are near similar size, in this case I'm leaning towards the Ford Five Hundred due to its bland styling. Also get rid of the Freestyle because that competes directly with the Explorer and Edge. Renaming the Five Hundred and Freestyle "Taurus" and "Taurus X" won't sell cars.
Anyways offer your insights here, I'd say the only way Ford as with any company can increase their profit (without increasing revenues) is to obviously cut costs, in this case cut unneccessary product. And for them to profit greatly as an automaker is to design distinguishable product.
Badge-engineering - every automaker has done it, and sure enough the trend has gotten to the point where the general public has caught on. We all realize that a Lincoln Navigator is a dolled-up Ford Expedition, a Cadillac Escalade is a dolled-up Chevy Suburban, and the previous-generation Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring are all one in the same. What Ford should do is stop the badge-engineering in its entirety!!!! GM has already begun designing their cars so each line is different from one another, such as Chevrolet having conservative body styles differing from the more streamline aerodynamic sportier style that Pontiac would have or the hard-edged angular body of a Cadillac. Same goes for Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep with case in point being the Charger vs. Magnum/300 where they absolutely do not share sheetmetal.
With that being said Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury have not learned from this (look at all their product line). Each line should have their own style to distinguish them from one another and to attract a certain consumer demographic, such that Ford caters to the younger consumers and Mercury caters to the middle-aged and up (such as consumers who buy Buick today). As for Lincoln try to come up with better designs and compete with the likes of Cadillac/Saab, I haven't seen a major change with Lincoln in years with the exception of the Lincoln-badged MKX.
Also with the current products offered by Ford I'd say eliminate cars that internally compete with one another, such as the Ford Crown Victoria and the Ford Five Hundred because they are near similar size, in this case I'm leaning towards the Ford Five Hundred due to its bland styling. Also get rid of the Freestyle because that competes directly with the Explorer and Edge. Renaming the Five Hundred and Freestyle "Taurus" and "Taurus X" won't sell cars.
Anyways offer your insights here, I'd say the only way Ford as with any company can increase their profit (without increasing revenues) is to obviously cut costs, in this case cut unneccessary product. And for them to profit greatly as an automaker is to design distinguishable product.