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  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Rumorpile: Ford Plans On A New Lifted Wagon to Replace Three European Models

      ..Is expected to be sold in the U.S. and other markets..

    Ford is planning a dramatic change to their European lineup. Autocar reported yesterday that the automaker will be replacing the Mondeo (Fusion to us), Galaxy, and S-Max with a new "single crossover-style estate model" - think Subaru Outback.

    Not many details are known about this new model. It is expected to use Ford's C2 platform which underpins the new Fiesta and Focus. A range of gas and diesel engines will be available, along with 48V mild-hybrid system. The new wagon is expected to arrive in early 2021 in Europe. Autocar notes that this model is expected to be sold in other markets such as North America.

    While this model is quite different from three it will replace (a midsize sedan/hatchback/wagon and two vans), it is expected to outsell all of them. Last year, Ford only moved 50,000 Mondeos, 24,000 S-Maxs, and 12,000 Galaxy. Numbers according to Autocar that are too small to make any profit.

    As for the U.S., the reason is likely due to Ford to possibly keep sedan buyers in the showroom. Last July, we reported that Ford was considering doing an "Outback competitor" with the Fusion name. 

    Quote

    Ford needs a way to keep their current sedan buyers returning their showroom after the Fusion sedan drops out. Analysis done by Kelly Blue Book revealed the less than half of Fusion owners are loyal to the brand. KBB also found that the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 were the most popular SUV models that Fusion owners would consider.

    “Ford has a hard time moving people from their cars to SUVs,” said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst with Autotrader.

    Source: Autocar

    Edited by William Maley

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    Strange that Fusion owners would consider a CR-V or RAV4, but not an Escape. 

    I do hope the Fusion CrossSportXTouringEstate comes here.

    Edited by Drew Dowdell
    needed my tea
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    6 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    Strange that Fusion owners would consider a CR-V or RAV4, but not an Escape. 

    I do hope the Fusion CrossSportXTouringEstate comes here.

    That is weird.  Why would they not look at an Escape or an Explorer?  Whatever happened to the Flex?

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    6 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

    That is weird.  Why would they not look at an Escape or an Explorer?  Whatever happened to the Flex?

    Flex is still around apparently even though Taurus isn't. 

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    35 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    Flex is still around apparently even though Taurus isn't. 

    I think the Flex could sell in adequate numbers(enough to pay for itself) if it got a good update for the first time in awhile. It's one vehicle where the owners absolutely love them but a lot of people don't even think to look at them in the first place, for whatever reason.

    They're almost minivan-like utility in the low entrance height and interior space but probably too wagon-like for people to look too hard into. 

    The most recently updated ones look really good. If I needed the additional space, I would have given them a solid opportunity. My issue would have been wanting the 3.5TT and those are probably a little costly trims still. 

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    6 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

    I think the Flex could sell in adequate numbers(enough to pay for itself) if it got a good update for the first time in awhile. It's one vehicle where the owners absolutely love them but a lot of people don't even think to look at them in the first place, for whatever reason.

    They're almost minivan-like utility in the low entrance height and interior space but probably too wagon-like for people to look too hard into. 

    The most recently updated ones look really good. If I needed the additional space, I would have given them a solid opportunity. My issue would have been wanting the 3.5TT and those are probably a little costly trims still. 

    I've had them as rentals a few times and they're great vehicles. 

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    16 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    I've had them as rentals a few times and they're great vehicles. 

    How is the ride comparing to car/van/suv/cuv? It looks like it should ride more like a car but isn't it on the same platform the Explorer and Taurus were? I don't know if that means good or bad, lol. 

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    5 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

    How is the ride comparing to car/van/suv/cuv? It looks like it should ride more like a car but isn't it on the same platform the Explorer and Taurus were? I don't know if that means good or bad, lol. 

    They ride like a car. Smooth and stable.  They're really just a Ford Taurus wagon, though never marketed as such.  The regular V6 version I had got reasonable mpgs for a 7 seater, above the EPA highway rating of 23.  The Explorer was a great driving and riding SUV as well.  I had one on a trip from Pitt to Syracuse NY to Edison NJ to Pitt and it was great.  The only thing a little wonky is the seating position, but I experience that in most Fords. I can never seem to get the seats low enough for my preference. 

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    41 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    They ride like a car. Smooth and stable.  They're really just a Ford Taurus wagon, though never marketed as such.  The regular V6 version I had got reasonable mpgs for a 7 seater, above the EPA highway rating of 23.  The Explorer was a great driving and riding SUV as well.  I had one on a trip from Pitt to Syracuse NY to Edison NJ to Pitt and it was great.  The only thing a little wonky is the seating position, but I experience that in most Fords. I can never seem to get the seats low enough for my preference. 

    Syracuse, eh? My family is from Utica, about 45 minutes east of Syracuse. 

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    2 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    Flex is still around apparently even though Taurus isn't. 

    Had a new Flex as a rental for 2 weeks. Really loved the interior space, I could even sit comfy in the back. The hard part was just that, all the hard plastic on the interior. The Flex is a great little station wagon that really just needs a modern update as I believe it will continue to sell well.

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    3 hours ago, ccap41 said:

    I think the Flex could sell in adequate numbers(enough to pay for itself) if it got a good update for the first time in awhile. It's one vehicle where the owners absolutely love them but a lot of people don't even think to look at them in the first place, for whatever reason.

    They're almost minivan-like utility in the low entrance height and interior space but probably too wagon-like for people to look too hard into. 

    The most recently updated ones look really good. If I needed the additional space, I would have given them a solid opportunity. My issue would have been wanting the 3.5TT and those are probably a little costly trims still. 

    Looks are why. In 2020 the flex would need better mpg numbers too. 

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    10 hours ago, ccap41 said:

    How is the ride comparing to car/van/suv/cuv? It looks like it should ride more like a car but isn't it on the same platform the Explorer and Taurus were? I don't know if that means good or bad, lol. 

    I wouldn’t mind an Eco Boost Flex AWD in dark gray with the white roof. Very sharp look to it in the right trims. 

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    12 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

    I wouldn’t mind an Eco Boost Flex AWD in dark gray with the white roof. Very sharp look to it in the right trims. 

    Dark grey with white roof? I don't think I've seen that combo but it sounds sharp. I only really recall black roofs. 

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    6 hours ago, ccap41 said:

    Dark grey with white roof? I don't think I've seen that combo but it sounds sharp. I only really recall black roofs. 

    Not quite the shade of gray I’m referring to but this is one with a white top. The white models with black tops were sharp as well. 

     

    EAC8E013-34CF-4F0D-8940-BFD163B3DF48.jpeg

    8620A4B0-975A-4913-A186-ABC383D7A9E6.jpeg

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    23 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

    Not quite the shade of gray I’m referring to but this is one with a white top. The white models with black tops were sharp as well. 

     

    EAC8E013-34CF-4F0D-8940-BFD163B3DF48.jpeg

    8620A4B0-975A-4913-A186-ABC383D7A9E6.jpeg

    I definitely liked the white with black but I didn't know they made a white top. The white on grey looks pretty sharp. I think I'd prefer a darker grey/silver though. 

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    7 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    Looks like Ford may be canceling the Flex soon. 

    I can understand this, even with a 36.8% increase in sales for Q2, being on track to sell only 25,000 a year is not a money maker I would bet. Course that could also be very different if Ford marketed the auto right. I never seen any marketing even when it came out years ago. It really amazes me that they build an auto and then leave it to the dealers to sell with no marketing. Yet we are all about the Truck and SUV Company Ford and GM are.

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    2 minutes ago, dfelt said:

    I can understand this, even with a 36.8% increase in sales for Q2, being on track to sell only 25,000 a year is not a money maker I would bet. Course that could also be very different if Ford marketed the auto right. I never seen any marketing even when it came out years ago. It really amazes me that they build an auto and then leave it to the dealers to sell with no marketing. Yet we are all about the Truck and SUV Company Ford and GM are.

    Keep in mind that the Flex used to share a platform with the Taurus (now dead) and Explorer (Now on a different platform). Now it only directly shares with the MKT... another vehicle on borrowed time.  There just isn't the business case to keep that line rolling. 

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