Jump to content
Create New...
  • 💬 Join the Conversation

    CnG Logo SQ 2023 RedBlue FavIcon300w.png
    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has been the go-to hub for automotive enthusiasts. Join today to access our vibrant forums, upload your vehicle to the Garage, and connect with fellow gearheads around the world.

     

  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Volkswagen's CEO Says A Badge-Engineered Version of the Ranger Could Happen

      This could make a number of people happy

    Since Volkswagen and Ford announced a new partnership back in the summer, there have been rumors flying around if it could expand into other areas. The two said it would primarily focus commercial vehicles, but they were open to other opportunities. As we reported last week, the two are discussing the possibility of expanding into autonomous tech and electric vehicles.

    Recently, Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess gave an interview to Automotive News. He reiterated that the focus of the partnership is for commercial vehicles, but could expand.

    “There’s nothing signed yet with Ford. We are in talks. Most of the talks have been centered around our light-duty vehicles — our small commercial vehicles business in Europe, where we found huge synergies. We are both relatively small in size against our peers, so what we’re talking about is sharing a few platforms and manufacturing sites there, which makes sense. And within the dialogue, we are also touching other options, but this will be the main focus if we come to a conclusion,” said Diess.

    One example Diess brought up is using the Ford Ranger as a replacement for the Volkswagen Amarok. The current truck has been on sale since 2010 with a range of diesel engines to compete against the likes of the Ranger, Toyota HiLux, and Nissan Navara. Developing a new model would cost a fair amount of cash that Volkswagen would like to use elsewhere. This is where Ford could in and allow Volkswagen to use the Ranger as a basis for a next-generation Amarok. This may allow Volkswagen to sell the Amarok in the U.S. Of course, there is also the Atlas Tanoak concept shown at the New York Auto Show earlier this year that Volkswagen is considering sending into production.

    “If the Ford relationship works out well, we would have an Amarok successor, which would be then appropriate for sales worldwide — potentially as well for the United States. The other option is a unibody pickup, which is something for America, which is probably still a bit risky,” said Diess.

    This is one of many decision that Volkswagen might make in the near future. Another is allowing Ford to use their MEB toolkit for electric vehicles.

    Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    22 minutes ago, dfelt said:

    I honestly have not figured out what is so great about VW products. German heritage but clearly my American self just does not like the bland blah looks, feel, driving dynamics of the Nazi cars. 

    True, Henry Ford's cars underwhelm...

     

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    45 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

    Maybe Ford could get a badge-engineered Taurus from the new Arteon.

    That's just about as wrong as interbreeding a cat and a dog and calling it a cog...

    42 minutes ago, dfelt said:

    I honestly have not figured out what is so great about VW products. German heritage but clearly my American self just does not like the bland blah looks, feel, driving dynamics of the Nazi cars. 

    When one needs to look 70 years back in the past to dislike something...hmmm...why not just say they are not your thing? no car is for everyone.

    20 minutes ago, frogger said:

    True, Henry Ford's cars underwhelm...

     

    The current generation, yes...but for Decades they built wickedly cool stuff. It's almost as after the late 1970's they took a Canadian snowstorm as inspiration for their products. Bland.

    • Like 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    3 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

    That's just about as wrong as interbreeding a cat and a dog and calling it a cog...

     

    Replacing one largish fwd sedan with another largish fwd sedan, seems straightforward enough.   And there have been Fords rebadged as VWs and VWs rebadged as Fords in S America, so not a new concept...

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    20 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

    That's just about as wrong as interbreeding a cat and a dog and calling it a cog...

    When one needs to look 70 years back in the past to dislike something...hmmm...why not just say they are not your thing? no car is for everyone.

    The current generation, yes...but for Decades they built wickedly cool stuff. It's almost as after the late 1970's they took a Canadian snowstorm as inspiration for their products. Bland.

    COG = :roflmao:

    I get the point your making, but my comment is what I feel spot on for the bug history that to me never really did it and I feel that same passion from that era continues today at that company. Maybe I would feel different if after WWII they had closed VW and required it to start up as another auto company name. My issue, point made and I understand what you are saying my friend.

    I get what your saying in regards to Ford. They had some amazing products, but the mass market versions of cars for the most point did underwhelm.

    • Like 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    20 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

    Replacing one largish fwd sedan with another largish fwd sedan, seems straightforward enough.   And there have been Fords rebadged as VWs and VWs rebadged as Fords in S America, so not a new concept...

    Yeah...but Ford will really loose what is left of their American automotive identity if they start selling Euro Sedans as Fords.

    The bland nature of current product from most car makers is why I have moved back into being a railfan and a fan of vintage Woodworking tools from being an automotive fan.  As an enthusiast getting excited about most of today's cars is nothing short of impossible.

    Either start building passionate interesting products or we really can go to an era of self driving appliances.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    17 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

    Yeah...but Ford will really loose what is left of their American automotive identity if they start selling Euro Sedans as Fords.

    The bland nature of current product from most car makers is why I have moved back into being a railfan and a fan of vintage Woodworking tools from being an automotive fan.  As an enthusiast getting excited about most of today's cars is nothing short of impossible.

    Either start building passionate interesting products or we really can go to an era of self driving appliances.

    Well, they already have several Euro sedans in their line...the Fiesta, Focus, the Fusion/Mondeo, and the current Taurus is on a old Volvo-derived platform. 

    Edited by Robert Hall
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

    Well, they all ready have Euro sedans in their line...the Focus, the Fusion/Mondeo, and the current Taurus is on a Volvo-derived platform. 

    ...and that is one reason their corporate identity is dilluted and I rant on endlessly so.

    • Haha 3
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Well, if it gives Ford at least one other carin the line up, it would sure help! 

    Both automakers are battered and weak, so sharing a few products for now would not be a bad thing....

     

    I mean, how much worse of a car could it be than a 80s Ford Escort? Now that was bland......

    • Haha 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    11 minutes ago, daves87rs said:

    Well, if it gives Ford at least one other carin the line up, it would sure help! 

    Both automakers are battered and weak, so sharing a few products for now would not be a bad thing....

     

    I mean, how much worse of a car could it be than a 80s Ford Escort? Now that was bland......

    A modern base spec fiesta is just as much of a pentalty box to drive.

    • Haha 1
    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    2 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

    A modern base spec fiesta is just as much of a pentalty box to drive.

    Yep, that is quite true.....

    And then they finally have a fun compact to drive in the latest Focus, and you can’t get a tranny to last more than 30k.....

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    8 hours ago, daves87rs said:

    Yep, that is quite true.....

    And then they finally have a fun compact to drive in the latest Focus, and you can’t get a tranny to last more than 30k.....

    Awkward back seat layout and ungainly styling from the rear kill the current Focus for me.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    10 hours ago, daves87rs said:

    Yep, that is quite true.....

    And then they finally have a fun compact to drive in the latest Focus, and you can’t get a tranny to last more than 30k.....

    I mean... my car has 34k on it.. ?

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    21 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

    I mean... my car has 34k on it.. ?

     

    Obviously you are a man who enjoys a walk on the wild side and taking chances...

    Just kidding.

    My beef with Ford is not that they build bad transmissions, it is that they need to be building more class leading product.

    • Haha 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    They've had the same transmission with issues since 2012. They should have made a more drastic fix to it. I definitely get the shutter but the warranty has been extended on the transmission to 100k because they know they built a POS. 

    • Agree 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

    They've had the same transmission with issues since 2012. They should have made a more drastic fix to it. I definitely get the shutter but the warranty has been extended on the transmission to 100k because they know they built a POS. 

    My friends Focus has like 60K on it...shifts a bit awkward, but not terrible. He likes the car and drives it everywhere....he had a Saturn before the Focus.

    If you blame Ford for all of the crappy transmissions they put in Focus and Fiesta, you have to give them credit for the decent transmissions they put in everything else IMHO.

    And while we are bitching about transmissions, how about many of the older Nissan CVT transmissions? Those made the Ford Focus and Fiesta seem as smooth as 20 year old Scotch by comparison....and yet few people ever pan them.

    • Like 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Actually, I am FOR Ford replacing their current CARS with VW-built ones (excluding the Mustang!).  Think about it: no one really buys Ford CARS anymore (SUV/CUVs yes, cars no), so it seems that Ford and VW should do what they do best. 

    As for the Routan, the idea was sound but the execution was not there.  Anybody with a clue knew it was still a Chrysler minivan with a VW logo on it.  As we have seen, there were few if any takers when they existed on dealerships, excluding those that were heavily discounted.

    One question: is VW build quality as good as (or better than) Ford build quality?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I’m split on that. Because Ford cars do decent in Europe and Ford is well differentiated from VW. 

     

    The Polo is simply not a Fiesta. The Focus is far more fun than the Golf. The Golf is more, Golf.

    The Transit is the best or nothing in terms of cargo vans.

    Electric vehicles I think Ford has the edge here too. They don’t have to produce nearly as many for compliance, and they have 300 mile plus crossovers in mind from the very beginning . I think Ford is eyeing Porsche’s 800KW charging tech.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    On 11/5/2018 at 3:49 PM, A Horse With No Name said:

    Yeah...but Ford will really loose what is left of their American automotive identity if they start selling Euro Sedans as Fords.

    1

    They've been doing that for decades.  The original Focus, the Contour, the final Cougar, even the current Fusion.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    13 hours ago, riviera74 said:

    One question: is VW build quality as good as (or better than) Ford build quality?

     

    For both, it highly depends on which plant they come out of.  VW's Chattanooga plant seems to do good work, every Passat I've driven has been very solid and well built.  Their plant in Mexico, not as much. 

    • Agree 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Support Real Automotive Journalism

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001, Cheers & Gears has delivered real content and honest opinions — not emotionless AI output or manufacturer-filtered fluff.

    If you value independent voices and authentic reviews, consider subscribing. Plans start at just $2.25/month, and paid members enjoy an ad-light experience.*

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • They didn't even show a vehicle though, just said that in 2 years we'll have a pickup around $30,000.  Which probably means $30,990 plus a $1995 destination charge and you are at $33k before any options which will quickly push it to $40k.  They already have the Maverick in this same space. I don't see this as a "Model T" moment.  It would have to be $5k cheaper than the Maverick to get people to really start buying EV's en masse.  And where do they go with this, the Chinese already make midsize EV pickups for $25,000, so you can't see it overseas because the Chinese will win on price.   The Model T had years where it sold over a million units.  If Ford wants their new age Model T, then the vehicle has to be so good at such a price that you can't pass it up for a Rav4 or CRV.  This will be like the Equinox EV that was going to be $30k, but ended up more like $35k base and $40k for most of the ones at dealers and when the tax credit goes away sales will dry up.
    • Yup. The Canadian Premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (just before his resignation and our elections) decided to retaliate and target Red states because of tariffs and most importantly, the 51st state rhetoric. So...whiskey production and headquarters are mostly at Red States.  So off came the American booze from our Province owned and run liquor stores.   Jack Daniels CEO laughed at that as he said Ontario and Canadian liquor sales is but a mere 1 or 2 percent of Jack Daniels sales. Then he realized that his product is OFF the phoquing shelves and then he complained foul game play... But its definitely fine when his President declares annexation towards Canada...   Its OK for tariffs...  Maybe Jack Daniels might not be suffering too much, but the smaller Kentucky distilleries are in danger. Some are filing for bankruptcy. 9 billion dollar industry and one man has destroyed it.   Not too forget the tourism industry.   New York, Maine, Florida, Nevada and even California is feeling the pinch when Canadians decided to give Americans the middle finger.   Red States or even Blue...  When Trump STILL threatens annexation and most Americans are oblivious of that fact, never you mind empathy towards us Canadians...the middle finger and avoidance of anything American is a proper response from us Canadians. What is even sadder, American rights and freedoms are being stripped and yet not push back from American citizens.  THAT is just UNACCEPTABLE.   Fight for your rights people. Soon you wont have any.        Big Three CEOs and accountants keep begging Trump to ditch the tariffs. He wont ditch them.  He wants to control the Canadian steel and aluminium industry.  He cant and wont be able to.  For many reasons.  But he will destroy the American automotive industry waaaaaay before the US gets a smidgen of Canada's industry which will be a moot point at that juncture.  And Im afraid the damage is already done world wide.  Who in the phoque will buy GM, Ford or even Tesla EVs when the WORLD is hatin' on the US???!!! When the Chinese EV industry is already engulfing the planet with really affordable EVs...
    • @oldshurst442 You are so right about the auto industry. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/whitmer-told-trump-in-private-that-michigan-auto-jobs-depend-on-a-tariff-change-of-course/ar-AA1Kd8Y9?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=5ad67b9cbe604a80b8b7a0853d63f085&ei=75 Since Trump returned to the White House, Michigan has lost 7,500 manufacturing jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In this story, you have this, but it is only a matter of time: Detroit Axle, a family-run auto parts distributor, has been one of the more vocal companies in Michigan about the impact of the tariffs. The company initially announced it might have to shut down a warehouse and lay off more than 100 workers, but later said it would be able to keep the facility open, at least for now. The fact is Idiot47 seems to think he can issue a statement and the next day all those jobs will appear and all work just fine. Fact is even with saying manufacturing must be done here, it will take years to build the factories, line up supplies and start building the products. Nothing can just happen overnight, but Idiot47 does not understand that.
    • Guess in this case my news feed was right as I have not read the story yet, but saw about the proclamation to remove all U.S. booze and return it. Taking away a market from the U.S. companies, one would hope would get these idiot CEOs to wake up and stop supporting Idiot47.
    • Sorry to hear that. 58 is young.  Too young to pass away.  
  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search