Drew Dowdell

Last month we reported that Ford was apparently working on another version of the Mustang with a more powerful Ecoboost 4-cylinder. Well apparently Ford is preparing to show that Mustang at an event during the New York International Auto Show. The new Ecoboost Mustang could possibly wear an SVO badge, going back to the days when one of the hotter Mustangs was also powered by a Turbo-4. Ford is looking to fill a gap in the Mustang lineup. Currently, there is a 125 horsepower gap between the current Turbo-4 powered car and the V8 Powered GT. Chevrolet fills that space with a 335 hp V6 in their Camaro, while Ford's base powerplant offers just 310 hp only when using 93 octane. Over at the Focus desk, Ford has tuned the same 2.3 liter turbo to 350 hp, so we know the drivetrain can handle the extra boost. We expect, if this SVO does come to pass, some suspension and chassis adjustments to handle the extra power. Possibly even an updated fascia like the original SVO had. We'll find out on April 17th. Related: View full article

Rhymes with Bone.

The bad news: There's no easy way to fly to the less touristy ones.

The 3008 looks like a good vehicle for Peugeot to start with in the US. It hits right at the core of the US market.

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing those over here.

BMW is committing to keeping their V12 in production until at least 2023 according to BMW Powertrain Executive Michael Bayer, and he thinks it will be possible to make the engine compliant with the next round of Euro emissions regulations. That means it will stick around for the rest of the current generation of the 7-series sedan. Unfortunately, there will still not be a V12 offered in the 8-series coupe. We've already reported that Mercedes plans to cut its V12 out of the S-Class sedan after the 2020 model year. By doing so, it will make BMW the standard bearer for the final V12s in regular production. Audi already canceled its W12 engine starting with the 2017 model year though it is still in use in the Bentley Flying Spur. One possible reason for BMW keeping the V12 around is its use in Rolls Royce vehicles until they make the big leap to full electrification. View full article

High prices for low standard features

Not sure what the front differential on those is for... but A for imagination.

Nice to see Lincoln there with a good bump. Aviator should help there even more soon.

They sold more Cayannes than they sold of all of their cars.

In what is being called a highly unusual turn, Japanese prosecutors have arrested Carlos Ghosn again while he was out on bail on suspicion of trying to enrich himself at Nissan's expense. Ghosn has called on the French government for help. Ghosn was free on $9 Million bail at the time. Prosecutors say that Ghosn had caused over $5 million in losses at Nissan Motor Co in a breach of his legal duties to the company with the goal of personal gain. The losses come from the alleged shifting of funds through a dealer in Oman into an account that Ghosn owned. Prosecutors visited Ghosn's residence on Thursday for questioning and later took him into custody. Ghosn remained defiant, saying through a spokesman "Why arrest me except to try to break me? I will not be broken" and that the arrest was "an outrageous and arbitrary attempt to silence him". Prior to his arrest, Ghosn said on Twitter that he would hold a press conference on April 11th to tell the truth about the allegations against him. Prosecutors can hold him for 22 days without charge under Japanese law. View full article

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.