

Harley Lover
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Everything posted by Harley Lover
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It's interesting that Ford adopts the C pillar orientation of the Escape on the Explorer, and has abandoned the more upright treatment traditionally used on the Explorer. This choice should really give a stronger family resemblance between the Escape and Explorer (assuming the Escape retains the treatment in the next gen, which it most surely will), firmly establishing the Escape on the SUV side of Ford's ledger in the general public - in contrast to the Edge, which is firmly established on the CUV side. Very nice.
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From Bimmerfest:
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Ford also faced tremendous investments to bring them into compliance with fuel economy/pollution regs coming later this decade. While an argument could be made that Volvo might not cost as much as it could be further integrated into Ford's global strategy, Jag and LR represented deep pits of investment in the coming years.
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305hp and an official EPA rating of 19/31mpg!
Harley Lover replied to atvman's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Didn't that Fiesta have a 4 speed? Wonder what it will get with the 6 speed? -
Ford should kill Lincoln - keep Volvo?
Harley Lover replied to kris_norway's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
... and the cost to wind down the L/M dealerships would be astronomical. Even attempting to integrate the Volvo dealers with the L/M dealers would be a daunting task. At the end of the day, Volvo's unwillingness to integrate with the Ford empire sealed their fate. -
I guess we'll know for sure early next week, but these figures are tremendously encouraging. I don't really care if Ford eventually outsells GM (except for bragging rights), but based on their discipline WRT pricing, these results would continue their progress toward sustainable profitability. My other big question: if the GM projections are correct, why in the world are they cranking up their production, when the sales just aren't there to justify it? Will those idiots ever learn?
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See ya 2007 CV Sport, hello 2010 SHO
Harley Lover replied to Bob Rosadini's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Time for a new avatar! -
CV PI Replacement
Harley Lover replied to Bob Rosadini's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Isn't Avon Lake getting the full size Transit in a couple of years? -
This article is about sales through mid month, focusing on retail. I hope the geniuses at GM finally figure this out, and quit pissing in the market and messing up price. From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100221/AUTO01/2210308/1148/Study--Toyota-s-loss-is-Honda-s-gain#ixzz0gC9NONkh
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I think it's an 'either/or' choice for the Lincoln or Mercury. Based on their past comments about emphasizing Lincoln over Mercury, I think they might lean towards Lincoln being the sister product instead of Mercury. OTOH, L/M showrooms have both the Milan and the MKZ, so there is certainly a precedent for having a version for both brands in the showroom. If the Escape gets bespoke sheetmetal (a 'trucky' tophat), my thoughts that the Kuga could be a Lincoln are twofold: that Ford will go down the path of giving Lincoln the product instead of Mercury, and Ford's stated intention to no longer have Lincolns share sheetmetal with Fords/Mercurys. The MKZ doesn't count since the triplets haven't been through a true model change yet - just a mid cycle update.
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Are there enough sales for Ford to build the business case for 2 distinct tophats? I think the Kuga is more likely to be a Lincoln - the Mariner will be a sister to the Escape in the same way the Milan is to the Fusion - and there are certainly enough sales to justify a "U.S. only" body for the Escape/Mariner.
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From Automotive News: "Ford will debut production versions of the new C-Max and Grand C-Max compact minivans at the Geneva auto show on March 2. The automaker also will discuss its global C-car strategy and introduce an additional Focus model. " Elsewhere in the article, the global Focus is mentioned. So, the wording here makes it sound like either the 3 door or maybe the CC will be shown. I'd love it if they really surprised us with something unexpected for the C family.
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Lambostang or Mustborghini
Harley Lover replied to Mark B. Morrow's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
It's certainly the ultimate sleeper - at least until he makes the pass, and the victim catches a glimpse of the rear. -
Fords sales surge in China up +128%
Harley Lover replied to Ford Jellymoulds's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Everyone's sales are surging in China. I hope Ford can accelerate their expansion plans there; GM and VW have a huge head start, and Ford will have to work to overcome the neglect of this market by the regimes that preceded Mulally and company. -
The complaints about the 2010 Prius relate to the regenerative braking and Toyota's chosen programming for controlling it - the problem is not related to the CTS issue. Nonetheless, it's a bruise on Toyota's starlet (pun intended), and I haven't read what they are doing to improve the programming for that feature.
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Ford earns $2.7 billion in 2009
Harley Lover replied to Sherminator98's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
Read the results more closely instead of treating the entire year as having the same performance month to month. Ford has already turned the corner on cash flow: "Ford reported $3.1 billion of positive cash flow in the fourth quarter from automotive operations. With a positive cash flow in the second half of 2009, Ford's total cash burn was $300 million for the year, compared with $19.5 billion in 2008. Ford expects positive cash flow in 2010." -
What about a Ranger based on the Escape?
Harley Lover replied to atvman's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
This is not meant as a challenge, but is a real question: do you want a unit body small pickup? Built on an Escape chassis, you would essentially have a smaller version of the Honda truck (at least in concept). Would that be okay? -
I don't think it is - unless the new 3 is on the new platform too. I'm pretty sure this is a reskin, as the greenhouse appears to be untouched.
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This excerpt from Automotive News was contained in a article about the Focus intro: "Ford says seven other models will be developed for North America on the Focus platform. They include the seven-passenger C-Max van, the next-generation Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner crossovers and a Mercury sedan. Three other models have not been announced. A Lincoln model has been discussed, triggered by the introduction this decade of small, lowered-priced models by BMW and Mercedes-Benz." So, the article introduces the possibility of a Lincoln C car. The article previously discussed the Focus BEV, so that is not considered one of the 3. What might they be?
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Ford's Outlook for 2010
Harley Lover replied to FordBuyer's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
^^^ Wouldn't it be lovely if Ford showed a Lincoln concept at next week's NAIAS based on the Falcon chassis? -
Where is any news about 2010 Detroit?
Harley Lover replied to JagXFRGuy's topic in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum
The Focus goes on sale late this year - I doubt they would hold it until LA.