Harley Lover

I'm not sure how different (if any) the Euro version is, but the picture really verifies the photo we've seen of the next gen Edge. There is a very strong resemblence between their front ends:

The headline is misleading. Ford is not moving production "from" Spain, they are adding capacity at Cleveland. Spain will continue to produce the engine for Europe.

Well, I guess this will give Ford something to moniter in the half ton realm. Money quote from the article:

Fields is not making any promises, other than Ford will moniter the market penetration of upcoming diesel offerings (Cruze), and be ready to respond if the need arises: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130211/AUTO0102/302110431/1148/auto01/Ford-We-can-react-very-quickly-diesel-demand-rises

Interesting news about the Fusion Energi - I recall reading a while back that the C-Max Energi (but not standard C-Max) was specifically excluded from X plan. I guess that has changed if the Fusion Energi is available. Good news!

x2 I wonder if the sales of the Expedition have fallen so much that Ford cannot build a business case to give it a try...OTOH, Expedition could certainly piggyback on the F150 if Ford ever gives diesel a try there.

For the same reason that the average consumer has to visit the dealer to get their oil changed.

I wonder if the German government has a plan to support the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles - perhaps by developing the delivery infrastructure? It seems too coincidental that first BMW inks an agreement for hydrogen fuel cell development with Toyota, and now Mercedes is shopping for partners. To develop this technology and build the vehicles seems daft if there is no delivery infrastructure in place for hydrogen.

I don't disagree with your point, but I would argue that it's not Ford that failed those workers - it's their government leaders who failed. Ford didn't cause the EU market to implode, and has no choice but to deal with the reality of the situation. By and large the Europeans believe in big government, so it would seem appropriate to hold the government to account for what has happened to their economies.

I agree that Ford is not keeping its agreement with Genk, but what would you suggest? It's not an issue of poor products or poor management or poor plant quality, it's an issue of a contracting market. Ford has way too much capacity in Europe. Should Ford continue to lose big money to save Genk? Should Ford put its entire operation in Europe at risk to save Genk? - Or any other operation that has been identified for closure?

Based on forecasts for continued market contraction in Europe in 2013, it might not mean profit for Ford, it might mean survival of the European operation as a whole.

I agree, it would be quite a feat if Ford can sell 100,000 hybrids/EVs in 2013. Not quite at Toyota levels, but a significant step forward.

I'd like to know how many of the sales were retail (I hope all of them were). Not trying to be a naysayer, but I want to be fair in my assessment; recall how GM goosed Volt numbers with GE sales and whatnot. That number is really impressive when taken at face value!

I didn't realize this until reading this story today, but Ford hasn't shipped a vehicle from Genk since the closure announcement on Oct. 24, 2012. This has not been by Ford's choice, but because of protest actions by the union. I guess the upside is that Ford can draw down inventories, but I wonder how this affects Ford's ability to manage its business in 2013. I also wonder if Ford has any legal protection against the actions of the union employees. Does anyone have a sense of Ford's set up in Europe, and how they might be able to work around this situation? If (big if) Ford can work around Genk, why not go ahead and shut it down, citing the actions of the union? <assuming the legal ability to do so> Article here: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130118/COPY01/301189808/ford-production-at-belgium-plant-remains-halted-amid-protests&cciid=email-autonews-daily

If the plant had a flexible line and could assemble the current array of c chassis vehicles (Focus, Escape/Kuga, C-Max (gas engine), and maybe some forthcoming chassis mates, would those products generate enough sales to justify the line investment? I would guess that a line would need 200-250,000 units of sales to justify itself, right? I imagine Ford AU have already examined the business case, but I'm curious to learn more about your market.

The more I look at these pictures, the more convinced I am that this is the mid cycle refresh for the Focus sedan. The tail lights are exactly like the bigger brother Fusion, and the headlights are the same as the Fusion, too. I recall an interview with J Mays in which he said that Ford would be moving away from large headlights to a more refined look (ala Fusion), so everything adds up.

The 2015 F150 concept seems all but confirmed at this point - I even saw it listed in an article in Automotive News.

That's a very good point - the timing of the Evos was such that production models featuring some of its styling attributes appeared fairly quickly after its debut. So, your thought makes perfect sense: debut the "Lincoln Evos" at NAIAS in 2014 ahead of production vehicles that will debut in that year.

Back on topic: it was mentioned earlier in the thread that Mulally frowns upon concepts with no production intent, which is what I have read too. On the other hand, he apparently was okay with the Evos as a demonstration of Ford's styling ethos going forward. With that thought in mind, I would really like/almost expect to see a Lincoln concept that demonstrates Wolff's intention for the brand's styling going forward. Unless the MKZ is the epitomy of what Lincoln styling will be (and supposedly it is not since Wolff came on board too late to do much to it except the grill), then it would make sense for Lincoln to show a concept ala Evos to demonstrate Lincoln's forward styling direction.

Then you would lose that bet. The 1961 Lincoln Continental with the suicide doors? Developed off the Thunderbird chassis, including engines. The reason it had suicide doors was in part because it was the only way Ford could make the 4 door and still use the Thunderbird hard points.

x2 ...or edit out the off topic mess.

My guess was Edge, too. Does this mean that Edge will be growing compared to today's model, with perhaps more space behind the second row? Does this also mean that Ford perhaps has plans for Edge in Europe (or is the Edge merging with an existing Euro product ala Fusion/Mondeo)?

The linked article states that the vehicle in the photos in the next gen Galaxy, and then goes on to speculate about engines, etc.. Would you guys please take a look (especially at the pictures) and give your opinion? http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2013/01/spy-shots-ford-galaxy-van/ I'm wondering if perhaps this vehicle is a mule for some other Ford NA product. The vehicle in the photos reminds me a lot of the Freestyle mule for the Explorer, in the sense that it appears to be an existing top hat cobbled together to cover a reengineered chassis. As we all know, the cobbled Freestyle was in no way a harbinger of the styling of the Explorer. Could this vehicle follow that same path? Please take a look, and render your opinions!

Has anyone found a list of the investments and jobs that occur outside of Michigan? The employee count and investment listed for Michigan falls short of the total amounts announced.

I hope Ford will pioneer hybrid availability in the larger vehicles. Why simply chase Toyota in the C and B size cars?