Drew Dowdell

I always blame finance department on my projects also.

But they're building it anyway for other markets. Why not sell it here anyway?

FORD MOTOR COMPANY 1ST QUARTER 2019 U.S. SALES SALES BY BRAND 1st Quarter % 2019 2018 Change Ford 565,274 577,119 -2.1 Lincoln 24,975 22,462 11.2 Total vehicles 590,249 599,581 -1.6 SALES BY TYPE Cars 98,265 128,794 -23.7 SUVs 213,086 202,927 5 Trucks 278,898 267,860 4.1 Total vehicles 590,249 599,581 -1.6 FORD BRAND Fiesta 15,943 12,298 29.6 Focus 10,349 35,046 -70.5 C-MAX 17 2,789 -99.4 Fusion 41,683 43,176 -3.5 Taurus 5,731 7,647 -25.1 Police Interceptor Sedan 1,899 1,870 1.6 GT 84 40 110 Mustang 16,917 19,164 -11.7 Ford Cars 92,623 122,030 -24.1 EcoSport 12,879 6,096 111.3 Escape 60,702 67,350 -9.9 Edge 30,920 32,654 -5.3 Flex 5,557 4,875 14 Explorer 53,306 54,131 -1.5 Police Interceptor Utility 8,616 8,673 -0.7 Expedition 21,773 13,450 61.9 Ford SUVs 193,753 187,229 3.5 F-Series 214,611 214,191 0.2 Ranger 9,421 0 N/A E-Series 10,791 13,893 -22.3 Transit 31,842 30,351 4.9 Transit Connect 8,940 6,638 34.7 Heavy trucks 3,293 2,787 18.2 Ford Trucks 278,898 267,860 4.1 Ford Brand 565,274 577,119 -2.1 LINCOLN BRAND MKZ 4,287 4,359 -1.7 Continental 1,355 2,405 -43.7 Lincoln Cars 5,642 6,764 -16.6 MKC 5,787 4,896 18.2 Nautilus/MKX 7,835 6,228 25.8 MKT 1,242 512 142.6 Navigator 4,469 4,062 10 Lincoln SUVs 19,333 15,698 23.2 Lincoln Brand 24,975 22,462 11.2

Porsche Reports Record U.S. Retail Sales in March First quarter sales are up 7.7 percent compared to 2018Atlanta, Georgia. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of the Porsche 911, 718 Boxster and Cayman, Panamera, Cayenne, and Macan model lines, today announced March retail sales of 4,779 vehicles, a new all-time high for the month. Following record months in January and February, sales for the first quarter are up 7.7 percent from a year ago to 15,024 vehicles sold. “It has been a month of celebrations for Porsche. First, we claimed the No.1 spot in the 2019 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study, followed by a record March. This is a testament to our 191 U.S. dealers and their employees, who help ensure our customer experience lives up to the same superb quality as our cars,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA. “I am grateful customers are already showing this level of Porsche passion at the start of an amazing year that will feature a new 911, a refreshed Macan, and our first purely electric sports car, the Taycan.” March results were driven by strong demand for the new Cayenne, with a notable 76.2 percent increase compared to March 2018. Porsche 911 deliveries were up 15.3 percent year-to-date to 2,894, ahead of the next-generation’s arrival later this year. Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales in the U.S. totaled 2,280 vehicles in March, up 12.6 percent year-over-year. Model March Sales Year-to-Date 2019 2018 2019 2018 ALL 911 803 883 2,894 2,511 ALL 718 239 489 665 1,352 ALL PANAMERA 703 704 1,689 1,916 ALL CAYENNE 1,647 934 5,559 3,287 ALL MACAN 1,387 1,746 4,208 4,888 GRAND TOTALS 4,779 4,756 15,024 13,954

Sales in Europe are not declining year over year. Not sure where you're getting that information from.

I agree with you that they don't advertise enough. They also don't have enough dealers. But $550 v. $625 a month is certainly enough to move the needle. I just think people don't know about the Stelvio.

That c-pillar is not enough to get me to not buy the car. I have no problem with it.

According to a report in Automobile Magazine, the Ford Mustang could move to the CD6 platform that underpins the 2020 Ford Explorer, but the soonest that would happen is 2026. The CD6 platform also underpins the Lincoln Aviator and will be used in the next generation Ford Edge. One of the side effects of moving to the new platform is that the Mustang would become much larger and heavier than the current S550 platform car, possibly up to the length of the Dodge Challenger. Currently, the Mustang is 188.3 inches long and rides on a 107.1 inch wheelbase, while the Challenger clocks in nearly 10 inches longer at 197.9 inches with a 116.2 inch wheelbase. The widths of the two cars are pretty much dead on. Part of the reason the Challenger is so large is because it is built on the same full-size sedan platform as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. Chevy had the same issue with the 5th generation Camaro which was built on a full-size sedan platform shared with the Pontiac G8. While Ford would be taking that a step further by using an SUV platform, the CD6 architecture is said to be flexible enough to build a 2-door sports coupe upon. Sources differ on when this CD6 platform Mustang, code-named S650, will appear, but they range from 2026 to 2029. So either way it is clear that the current car has a lot of life left in it. Ford apparently has a major refresh planned that will include all new sheet metal and underbody work. That refresh will also be where the hybrid Mustang appears. There is also the second Ecoboost 4-cylinder coming that we have yet to get details on. You can read more below. Related: View full article

I just priced one on the website and it came out about $75 a month cheaper than the GLC optioned to the same price. That's before any discounts on either.

Mercedes-Benz will use the Shanghai Motor Show to introduce a concept version of the upcoming GLB small crossover to slot between the GLA and GLC in the lineup. Ahead of the show in two weeks, Mercedes has released a rendering of what the interior of the concept might look like. It shows a very boxy interior with deep HVAC pods, the MBUX wide dual-screen dash, and a 3 point star without the ring on the airbag cover. The controls on the dash, steering wheel, and door look very familiar to existing Mercedes products, leading us to believe that this concept will be very close to the production version. Spy photos of the GLB indicate that the exterior is just as boxy as the interior and that it may be taking a styling queue or two from the king of the Mercedes SUV lineup, the G-Wagon. Like the GLC, expect a 2.0 liter turbo as a base engine with an up-tuned AMG 35 version to come later. View full article

Ford revealed during a debut event for its European electrified models that the as-yet-unnamed Mustang inspired electrified crossover will have a range of 370 miles when it arrives in 2020, but those are using the WTLP cycle, and the EPA range rating could be lower. Ford has previously stated they were targeting a range of 300 miles, so a good guess for the EPA range would be somewhere between those two numbers. Ford has recently trademarked the name "Mach-E" and "Mustang Mach-E". Could this be a name for this new EV crossover? Time will tell. Earlier in 2019, Ford stated that all future vehicle will have an electrified version, something borne out by yesterdays unveiling of the 2020 Ford Escape with two hybrid variants. Ford also teased us with the Puma, a compact crossover set to slot between the Ecosport and Kuga, the Euro version of the Escape. The Puma uses a 48-volt batter and a belt-alternator-starter system mated to a 1.0 liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine. No word yet if the Puma will make it to the U.S., but with pint-sized crossovers selling so well in the U.S., we'd not be surprised to see it here in the near future. (Click image to enlarge) View full article

It really depends on what they decide to bring over. Fiat is even more niche than failing Mini. Alfa already has a reputation for poor reliability. I don't think those two things will apply to Peugeot... at least at first.

Infiniti will be debuting the Qs Inspiration concept at Auto Shanghai 2019. The concept uses an all-new flexible architecture designed specifically to enable the use of electrified powertrains. The Qs Inspiration foreshadows the design direction of Infiniti cars. It features an uncluttered driving area and spacious and peaceful passenger zone. The Qs Inspiration follows on the QX Inspiration Concept that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Auto Shanghai begins April 16th. View full article

We previously had reported that Peugeot was planning on returning to the U.S. by 2026. After having been turned down by FCA for an offer of a merger, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Peugeot is accelerating its plans for a US return to happen in 3 to 4 years, that means as soon as 2022. One advantage they have is their recent acquisition of Opel from General Motors. Through that acquisition, Peugeot gained a number of engineers who have experience designing vehicles for the U.S. market. According to PSA CEO Carlos Tavares, anything Peugeot currently builds is up for consideration to bring to the US market, though it has been hinted that the initial offering will be in the mid-size and compact segments. Peugeot is also looking to disrupt the sales process as well. While they still may use a dealership network, executives appear focused on a new method of vehicle delivery, perhaps using a methodology similar to Carvana where the process is primarily completed online. View full article

Yeah, I do like the R/T. I won't be buying new though, so it's harder to find an R/T used with the options I want. Right now, I'm looking at the 300S with AWD and adaptive cruise. I'm finding 2018s with like 20k miles on them for about $25k

The Enclave/Traverse and the Honda Pilot are the roomiest crossovers you can buy at the moment. The Durango has some length to it, but it's relatively narrow.

I think it was just corporate inertia. There was never an intention to do a Yaris sedan in the first place. It was the Scion iA which got changed to a Yaris Sedan. The Yaris hatch just soldiered on until its demise a few months ago. Mazda had a ready-made Mazda 2 hatch that just needed the right badging and the updated nose.

Apparently not that hot. Their exteriors are nice to look at, but their interiors leave me flat.

Americans are also getting fatter. I get it too. I have an Encore and its fine for just the two of us on a road trip, but now we have the in-laws who we have to cart around a lot also and the Encore is just too small. We won't go as big as an Enclave, but a Durango isn't out of the question. More than likely I'll end up in a big sedan though since I can get one so cheap and it's probably my last chance for a new(ish) 300.