[1931Chevy]

Jerry York: Ford should sell Volvo, Mercury


Jerry York, a prominent representative of Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp, said on Thursday he thinks Ford should sell Volvo and sell or kill Mercury. Tracinda famously attempted to arrange an alliance between GM and Renault-Nissan last year, but failed and subsequently dumped most of its GM stock. Tracinda is now increasing its stake in Ford.

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[AmericanRevolution]

Mercury has SOOOO much potential, yet they dont let it live upto it. It's sad.

And I feel bad for Ford that Kirk has turned his attention to them. lol

 

[1931Chevy]

If things go accordingly to the plan Mercury will get and overhaul by 2012 because by that time the Ford and Lincoln brands will have a full line of globalized products and thats when they will focus there attention and I believe Mercurys savior will be Mr Farley, he know mercury has the potential to recapture its mojo maybe as a youth oriented brand just like he did with scion

 

[mgescuro]

Mercury has SOOOO much potential, yet they dont let it live upto it. It's sad.

OK. I'll bite.
What is Mercury supposed to be at this stage in life???

 

[LeSabre]

If things go accordingly to the plan Mercury will get and overhaul by 2012 because by that time the Ford and Lincoln brands will have a full line of globalized products and thats when they will focus there attention and I believe Mercurys savior will be Mr Farley, he know mercury has the potential to recapture its mojo maybe as a youth oriented brand just like he did with Scion

This part makes me concerned. I hope that Mr.Farley doesn't make all Merc's small economisers! The youth market isn't the only market Mercury makes cars for. The senior citizens love their Grand Marquis!! I'd love to see & want to see a new Cougar on the Mustang's platform w/looks harking back to the late 60's original Cougar!!:yup:

As for Kirk & York, they should keep their thoughts to themselves. They are a couple of corporate troublemakers for the domestic(US) automakers!!

 

[MN12Fan]

I suppose "kill or sell" means kill. How could Mercury, a brand created by Ford, exist under the ownership of someone else and still be Mercury?

This part makes me concerned. I hope that Mr.Farley doesn't make all Merc's small economisers! The youth market isn't the only market Mercury makes cars for. The senior citizens love their Grand Marquis!! I'd love to see & want to see a new Cougar on the Mustang's platform w/looks harking back to the late 60's original Cougar!!:yup:

As for Kirk & York, they should keep their thoughts to themselves. They are a couple of corporate troublemakers for the domestic(US) automakers!!

At this point I think Mercury needs what amounts to a fresh start. Some classic names can be revived, sure, but I would want to see unique product. Period. To me something like a new Cougar based on the Mustang sounds like something that would end up being, one, a rebadge, or two, a fad whose popularity Ford couldn't maintain, which I feel is what would happen if it went retro. A new Cougar could share some key elements with the Mustang, such as the platform, certain major mechanical components, and the 2+2 configuration, but a lot of stuff has to be unique. The sheetmetal and interior for one, which I would want to see be totally modern. As for the powertrains, the Mustang could focus on traditional V6 and V8 powertrains while the Cougar goes more sophisticated with turbocharged EcoBoost I4 and V6. The Cougar could set the tempo for the Mercury division, which as a whole should be smaller and more nimble with a tight focus on a sporty/economy niche.

 

[LeSabre]

I suppose "kill or sell" means kill. How could Mercury, a brand created by Ford, exist under the ownership of someone else and still be Mercury?



At this point I think Mercury needs what amounts to a fresh start. Some classic names can be revived, sure, but I would want to see unique product. Period. To me something like a new Cougar based on the Mustang sounds like something that would end up being, one, a rebadge, or two, a fad whose popularity Ford couldn't maintain, which I feel is what would happen if it went retro. A new Cougar could share some key elements with the Mustang, such as the platform, certain major mechanical components, and the 2+2 configuration, but a lot of stuff has to be unique. The sheetmetal and interior for one, which I would want to see be totally modern. As for the powertrains, the Mustang could focus on traditional V6 and V8 powertrains while the Cougar goes more sophisticated with turbocharged EcoBoost I4 and V6. The Cougar could set the tempo for the Mercury division, which as a whole should be smaller and more nimble with a tight focus on a sporty/economy niche.

Mercury being made over into a Scion-like brand is a very bad idea. Mercury has alot more potential to do that to it. I'd rather have it lie w/Plymouth & Oldsmobile than to disgrace it like that.

Long Live Mercury!!

 

[Uzzy]

They were doing the same rabble rousing at GM with Saab and one of the other brands. Volvo is one of the best things Ford has going for it and hopefully they don't much it up. I agree about Mercury, but there is potential there. Hopefully they don't ruin the Mercury name beyond repair by letting it languish the way is has for so very long. Kerkorian's sidekick needs to STFU!

 

[Stéphane Dumas]

Kerkorian's sidekick needs to STFU!

How long we have to wait before Captain Kirk and Jerry York decide to invest in Toyota?

 

[Uzzy]

How long we have to wait before Captain Kirk and Jerry York decide to invest in Toyota?

Probably when they decide that Toyota needs to sell off Scion and their stake in Subaru.

 

[1931Chevy]

Since Ford is bringing the C1 to the states in the Focus maybe they could give Mercury the Capri

 

[Bravada]

Mercury is indispensable to Ford. Why? April's sales results are clear: small vehicles on the up, large - down. Of course, this DOES benefit Lincoln with their lineup "downsized" to being driven by the MKX and MKZ, but I don't think Lincoln should (even if they CAN) go anywhere lower.

In a market where people in North America finally start buying smaller cars (and people around the world are buying them too!), what you make money on are not large vehicles that use ancient technology and cost a few bucks to make but bring in thousands when sold, but premium smaller cars. See BMW 1, MINI, Audi Q5, Fiat 500 etc. etc.

Mercury, be it Scion-like or with an image of its own (but certainly not harking back to their "also ran" heritage, I am sorry), could be a great "vehicle" to once again offer a tarted-up Focus (e.g. a C1 Focus NOW, alongside the cheaper C170), a compact minivan, a Fit-like "expensive" subcompact etc. etc.

 

[t-rex]

For the love of all that is holy, put Mercury (and Pontiac too while you're at it) out of its pathetic misery.

Euthanasia can be dignified.

 

[TheGeneral]

Who would buy mercury? If someone did they would get maybe $500,000 for it.

 

[Uzzy]

Who would buy mercury? If someone did they would get maybe $500,000 for it.

And all they would get is a nameplate. Every single Mercury is 100% rebadged Ford.

 

[Bravada]

Mercury is unsellable at this moment - the best Ford can do is resuscitate, they can only lose money and sales otherwise.

 

[TheGeneral]

And all they would get is a nameplate. Every single Mercury is 100% rebadged Ford.

This captain kirk must be smokin some heavy stuff! If you wanna make money go to railroad stocks or something else not automotive.

 

[Ach]

Mercury needs two things: (1) Meaningful styling differences and (2) Fords to sell better than they presently are. Look, for example, at the mid to late-80's Cougar and Sable, both of which sold very well. Mechanically identical to the T-Bird and Taurus, but looked different enough to not be a twin- the more formal roofline of the Cougar, the semi-fender skirts on the Sable. Just as (or perhaps more) importantly, the T-Bird and Taurus sold like hot cakes.

This formula can work again, but it's going to take some creative styling efforts and, again, much better sales of the Ford sister cars. If the Fusion starting selling at Camry levels, I'd wager that Milan sales would increase by a proportional amount.

 

[Extreme4x4]

Ford doesn't have the capacity to sell the Fusion at Camry levels. Ford doesn't even have the capacity to have all three CD3 cars combined, sell at Camry levels.

Capacity at Hermosillo is 305K per year.

 

[Ach]

Ford doesn't have the capacity to sell the Fusion at Camry levels. Ford doesn't even have the capacity to have all three CD3 cars combined, sell at Camry levels.

Capacity at Hermosillo is 305K per year.

Somehow I think they would make arrangements if the demand were there.