The Future of Ford

[mustang84]

from the press release today, detailing product plans and plant changes through 2011:

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=28660

Also, Ford lost $8.7 billion this quarter, most of it being due to special one-time charges related to the transformation plan.

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?...p;make_id=trust

[CSpec]

Cool, I'm glad the Big 2 finally kicked the truck bucket.

[loki]

New Ford Mustang – coupe, convertible, and glass-roof models – in early 2009

T-tops? or like the corvette?

2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ sedans, on sale in early 2009, with Fusion’s and Milan’s four-cylinder fuel economy expected to top Honda Accord and Toyota Camry

that would be a tad surprising, but then again, they are kinda different classes... avalon is dead right? and nothing above the accord.

[regfootball]

what is important. a clear plan detailed for all to see. as compared to GM. Ford at least is good in showing the financial community that they are grabiing this by the nuts and are acting quickly with big firm plans.

note to GM, it may do you good to try the same thing.

[mustang84]

T-tops? or like the corvette?

that would be a tad surprising, but then again, they are kinda different classes... avalon is dead right? and nothing above the accord.

It's a glass roof that stretches the full length. I think it also has a sunshade of some type.

Edited July 24, 2008 by mustang84

[smk4565]

I like Ford's plan, if the products are good their turnaround will be a success. At least Ford has realized that lightweight vehicles that can use ecoboost 4 and 6 cylinders and hybrids are the way of the future. If they can get 32 mpg combined form the Escape hybrid, the Fusion with the same powertrain should be good for 35, which is very good.

Slotting the Explorer in between the Edge and Flex could be tough, unless the Explorer is rear drive based and more truck looking. I think it is funny how the Zephyr was out 1 year, then refreshed to the MKZ, and after 2.5 years it gets redesigned again. At least they aren't shy about investing money into the car. I like the new Lincoln look, but would like to see a unique product that isn't a dressed up Ford.

[regfootball]

wouldn't an ecoboost focus or fusion with hybrid be cool?

[Northstar]

GM really needs something like the Beat or Corsa. Not making them meet US crash standards is one of the dumbest moves GM has made.

Beat, Corsa, Aveo, Cruze, and Astra will potentially make up a huge number of sales if gas continues to rise.

[FAPTurbo]

I was pretty miffed when I read that the Beat was not made to meet North American standards; Ford is really shaking up its image, and the media are not ignoring it, often highlighting the European vehicles that will be entering our markets soon.

[pow]

All these new upcoming global Fords absolutely *need* volume. You don't need 10-12 different niche models, or 4-5 variations on the midsize family sedan... concentrate resources on making one damn good vehicle the best it can be, and proceed to sell lots of them..

Basically let's hope the global Focus doesn't become, say, an ASTRA.

[loki]

wouldn't an ecoboost focus or fusion with hybrid be cool?

yes, but the tranny to handle those power plants would be much larger, most likely, and heavier just to handle the torque... unless you're talking about something like BAS where it would eliminate unneeded idling, and provide extra torque for low rpms, untill the turbo built up enough boost.

[regfootball]

yes, but the tranny to handle those power plants would be much larger, most likely, and heavier just to handle the torque... unless you're talking about something like BAS where it would eliminate unneeded idling, and provide extra torque for low rpms, untill the turbo built up enough boost.

a 1.4 ecoboost hybrid i dont think would strain a tranny too much.

emp- you're right about volume models, but remember it was like only 3-5 years ago the media and everyone was bleating about manufacturers needing to have so many niche models. now the media has flip flopped again and is singing a new tune.

[cire]

I still think that the upcoming Fiesta and Focus lines should also offer a 3-door in addition to a sedan and 5-door. There are still customers out there who believe that 2 side doors make a vehicle sportier than 4 side doors regardless of the increased utility that the 2 extra side doors offer the owner. Since the development money has been spent to offer the 3-door configuration elsewhere, why not make it available in the U.S.?

If Ford is attempting to make themselves leaner and meaner, then why are they choosing to continue to support Mercury? I thought that if they discontinued Mercury then they would expand Lincoln's lineup into the premium compact vehicle segment. It almost looks like they might be planning to split the premium segment between Mercury and Lincoln in the future; Mercury would handle premium products that are compact or smaller while Lincoln would handle premium products that are midsize or larger. I am assuming this because I don't recall seeing any plans for smaller Lincoln products in the linked article (unless I missed something). If this is their intention, I think it is a little excessive since Lincoln would be more than competent at offering premium compact class products. Why waste the marketing money supporting 2 brands when one brand could handle the entire premium segment? Since there are no stand alone Mercury dealers left, how hard can it be to discontinue this brand?

Overall, it seems like Ford has moved ahead of GM as far as having a decisive and definitive plan of attack to make themselves competitive and relevant in the future. I have faith that they will survive well into the future.

[Robert Hall]

And Mazda fits into this mix somewhere also..

[loki]

a 1.4 ecoboost hybrid i dont think would strain a tranny too much.

emp- you're right about volume models, but remember it was like only 3-5 years ago the media and everyone was bleating about manufacturers needing to have so many niche models. now the media has flip flopped again and is singing a new tune.

I can agree, i just don't remember what size ford will be using. a 1.4L turbo should beable to use ford's 2.5L tranny pretty easily.... since we're talking about fords future. but if it was a 1.8L+ i don't know.

[Oracle of Delphi]

GM really needs something like the Beat or Corsa. Not making them meet US crash standards is one of the dumbest moves GM has made.

Beat, Corsa, Aveo, Cruze, and Astra will potentially make up a huge number of sales if gas continues to rise.

On that I agree with you 100%.