Edstock

Then Ford Racing will get around to offer its tuning kit for the engine management system, which gives the ST an extra 80 ft-lb of torque, IIRC, so it might be good for an extra 100+ in the RS?

You can import a 2-dr Fiesta hatch from Europe. They even make a commercial version with no rear side glass, perfect for that mid-engine Coyote conversion.

From Detroit News: Ford to add 1,550 new jobs for F-150 production Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday it will add 1,550 jobs — 650 of those in Michigan — through March. As a result, 300-500 hourly workers at three plants outside Michigan will receive raises, the automaker said. That's because Ford already has exceeded the number of second-tier hourly workers it's allowed under its contract with the United Auto Workers. Ford's announcement came days after the UAW confirmed 55 hourly Ford workers will receive pay raises this week. Those 55 are counted in the figures Ford announced Wednesday. Of the 1,550 new jobs, 500 will be added at Dearborn Stamping and Dearborn Diversified; 150 jobs will go to Sterling Axle; and 900 will go to Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant. All will support production of the 2015 F-150.

Negatards gotta be negatards. You should know that ST buyers (Focus and Fiesta) have by far the wealthiest demographics of all Ford buyers. The point is they can buy = no wannabe Personal Contract Purchase = any Audi RS3, 1 series M or A-Class AMG they want — and they buy the Ford ST's. You'll have to try a lot harder, dude.

Then there's that chip-tweaker from Ford Racing; maybe they'll have an 'optimized' tune for the RS eventually?

Not too likely to happen, IMHO.

That's right. You see, IIRC, the Fiesta was out in the ROW a year before it arrived in North America. IMHO, the aggressive angled "rake" of the wedge-type styling is getting dated, but I could be mistaken. But that's why I wonder if a new top hat might be in the works.

I don't think this needs a separate thread. Lincoln in China http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2015/02/02/lincoln-scrubs-new-car-smell-china/22724131/ Walk into a Lincoln dealership in China, and you'll find a living room-like atmosphere, with elaborate tea selections, interactive LED televisions and a lounge where you can watch as your car is worked on. If you'd rather leave the dealership, you'll receive a password to access a live video stream from your smartphone, tablet or laptop to watch the work. Lincoln allowed Chinese customers to watch their cars being worked on after learning they are unusually distrustful of dealer repairs.

Isn't the Fiesta due for a new top hat? Anybody know when? Just wondering if the next re-do would be the time for an RS and AWD?

Something like 2-3 years ago, maybe 4 years, now, but I could be mistaken.

Because the WRC is B-size specific, IIRC, because it's ROW-oriented, where people drive B-size, instead of Hemis. Fortunately, Ford makes a 2-dr Fiesta to compete with the 2-dr hatches from the competition. http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/teams/page/18-94---.html

Toyota confirmed today that it will return to the FIA World Rally Championship with a Yaris World Rally Car in 2017. So now there's Toyota and VW and Ford . . . With AWD an essential in WRC, this might help Ford commit to an AWD RS Fiesta. While WRC isn't that big in North America, the Rest-of-the-World market may be sufficient, IMHO.

Sorry for being obtuse.

From Intrepidatious' post: The LincStang chop looks they are going that last mile to turn the horizontal grille into BMW kidneys.

"they are going that last mile to turn the horizontal grille into BMW kidneys." — the Lincoln studio wouldn't do that, yet you suggested they are doing so. English has a built-in vagueness unless you are specific: little, undefined words like "They" and "chop" can be a challenge.

That's not from the Lincoln studio, that's a drawing done by an independent 3rd party, so whether the REAL Lincoln designers agree with you, you'll just have to wait. Chances are they will not be going that last mile to turn the horizontal grille into BMW kidneys.

Platform usage: some vehicles to ponder from CarScoops Future Cars: Propelling Lincoln the Right Way with Mustang-Based Coupe and Future Cars: 2018 Lincoln Continental

ST: 2.7 EB 350 hp followed by (as AWD transmissions allow) RS: 3.5 EB 450 hp

12%? Well, when you look at the Infiniti and Lexus "style", I'm surprised it's 12% for those brands. Woof.

per year Currently, about 100,000 Lincolns are sold per year outside the US. Kinda global already.

Wonderful to see such care on an important vehicle.

I've seen 2 from the era where the owner used the doors and glass from a convertible: no window frame. In each case, the window sill slot was adjusted and extra weatherstripping added, so the window glass was almost flush with the rear window glass. IMHO, really did nice things for the car's shape and definition.

Add completely different firewalls and chassis widths, same platform, alright.

Folks'll buy hovercraft?

So the A-8 is another platform? The Bentley's aluminum, the Phaeton is steel. Amazing how the platforms multiply, sure glad they've got those 'higher margins', at $32K loss per Phaeton, they can afford to sell as many as they can build.