630land

Early Altima gens lasted longer than new ones. Some 1st gens still kicking. But, the 2nd gen flopped when new. Too small to be mid size and too pricey for a compact. Like the Contour.

Those commercials with the "Bros" driving an ATS sure helped sales! And the ads with cars roaming (fake) empty NYC streets, too. As if it's so easy to drive there and park in front of a Starbucks! Where are all the BMW trade ins?

But they're supposed to "take over the car business, overnight" And, Elon Musk is "like Tony Stark". LoL

Ford didn't close any plants in moving Focus out. Just cost too darn much to build low price cars here, and no one is going to take a pay cut. GM should have made the Cruze plant more flexible, to make more UVs, instead of laying off people.

According to all the "know it all's", RWD cars were supposed to be savior of US makers. "Ford should have bring us the Falcon". (Australian buyers quit them, saying for bogans) We'll, look at how bad the Alpha platform belly flopped. And the CT6? Good thing Ford brought out new Navigator instead of a 'Panther' replacement. Tire kickers and lookie-loos at Auto Shows don't add to bottom line. They will demand "cars we like", but don't buy, then complain saying , "I wanted to get a good used one in 10 years!"

Article was from Auto Week, not Motor Trend. "Snappy", referring to MQB and TGNA. And "dubious"? Really?

Some complain about Chinese production, but then shop at Wal Mart and demand the absolute lowest price. And also will say "car companies/dealers make too much money,". What do you think will happen if keep shopping for Wal Mart price points? A "free car" from the Govt?

Auto Week has a story about the new architecture, and in their words "it has no snappy name, yet". So it's not called "C2" officially. It's like MQB at VW. "Scalable", so won't just be 'C' size products. Some will complain about Edge or larger cars using "Focus" design, but it's not 18 years ago.

"Large mid size"? If there's no more full size cars for sale, won't all middle size cars become "large",?

Rebates dilute the brand.

"I thought..." If I had a dollar for every time someone on a car message board said this. ;-) Anyway, Taurus dying off, by now is like when an old TV show is cancelled long after its hey day.

The Focus S has had rear crank windows for 7 years, and first hearing it now? Fiesta S also.

And that's why they are going to come from China. Car buyers demand huge rebates. Escape is a good seller, buyers don't remember recalls from near 20 years ago.

I'm guessing that IL Caprice trooper cars are in rural highways? Most on Chicago area tollways are Taurus/Charger. How hard will it be to get parts for the Holden built Caprice now?

Chinese Escort is like the Nissan Versa sedan, C size at a B price.

C class size in EU is a mid size, sort of like car rentals. The current Focus is not as small as the 80s Escorts.

Press release today, for intro of new gen, says 'later in 2019' for US release. Got '19 Fiestas still for sale til then.

Maybe there will be a "Taurus X" again? Most new Taurus's seen here in Chicagoland are IL State troopers. But, they've been getting more Chargers for highway patrol.

Rental fleets still buy cars, since renting an SUV is still more expensive, and business travelers have cost limits. But also, car buyers expect a "deal", and want rebates or get used fleet cars. So, less profit. But will there come a time when SUV's are at max supply and start losing extra profit margins?

And maybe they will announce US configurations by the LA Auto Show?

Poster here, "MKII", said earlier in this thread [page 3] that Russia and South America are not getting this new generation. Road & Track says "Like the last Ford Focus, [uS] customers will be able to choose between hatchback and sedan bodystyles. There's also a wagon version, but like the last-gen car, don't expect it to be available in the US..." https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/a19730955/2019-ford-focus-pictures-info-pricing/ But who knows for sure?

Don't expect the 60s to ever come back, with annual style changes and 90 percent car sales. Have to get used to it and move on. If gas prices go up, expect more small CUV sales, and maybe a little more cars, but no more "good old days".

We'll probably have to wait until the Detroit Auto show before hearing what North America will get. Hopefully not just sedans. I bet no more stripped S model.

Those expecting a reproduction of the 1966-77 model will be dispppointed.

Detroit News says "8 speed automatic transmission." Also said "all new platform". Which other sites say is C2. So no complaints about 'reusing old platforms' And the Active model has the higher ride height, not called "Crosstrek", that's a Subaru trademark.