jasonj80

They usually show Lincolns at the NY show so I would guess there -- however with the LA show being when it is now you might see it shown there, showing it in LA would also be much closer to its actual launch. They are going to try to show cars then have them available a few months later, no more of this showing, and waiting 9 to 11months like they used to. (Edge, Fusion) The reason they didn't show the Five Hundred as a Taurus in Detroit was that the market research was still on going if the name change would be something positive, after seeing what people thought and knew of the Five-Hundred it became pretty clear that it was a good idea.

The Outlook/Acadia is 1.5 inches longer, 3 inches wider and 7 inches taller, it also is 1,000lbs heavier, they do have 2.5 inch more ground clearance though. The extra cargo area is the width and the height. They also are much more expensive. More Explorer/Expedition competition than Escape/Edge. I do see with this change that the remaining Montego/Five Hundred/Freestyles are going to be very difficult to move.

I got them from the ford website -- I just looked at the URL string and played around with it and got the pictures, I just figured it out for the overviews so here are those. Taurus Taurus X 2008 Sable

found the articles -- FORD TAURUS, TAURUS X, MERCURY SABLE RETURN AS UPGRADED 2008-MODELS DEBUT THIS SUMMER CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2007 – Ford Motor Company today announced it is bringing back the well-known Ford Taurus name, introducing a new name – Taurus X – for its three-row crossover and returning the Mercury Sable to the lineup as upgraded 2008-model versions of all three vehicles go on sale this summer. “Taurus has been an icon for Ford’s family sedan for more than two decades, and it’s time to return this powerful name to where it belongs,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s President of The Americas, at the Chicago Auto Show. “Consumer awareness of the Taurus name is double the Five Hundred that it’s replacing, and awareness of Sable is triple that of Montego. “By giving these vehicles the names that consumers recognize at the same time we’re making significant upgrades, we’re confident that even more people are going to be attracted to these great products in the future,” Fields added. The 2008-model Taurus sedan will go on sale this summer, replacing the Ford Five Hundred. The new Taurus features a Ford Fusion-inspired exterior design, a new powertrain with 60 more horsepower, a new all-wheel-drive system, more standard safety features – including standard electronic stability control – and other refinements to make it more distinctive, quieter, faster and safer. The 2008-model Taurus X crossover will go on sale late this summer – replacing the Ford Freestyle – with the same design, powertrain and safety upgrades, as well as three row of seats, one-touch flip-and-fold second-row seating and an available power rear liftgate. The 2008-model Mercury Sable also goes on sale this summer – replacing the Mercury Montego – with extensive design, powertrain and safety upgrades, as well as unique touches that make it a Mercury. They include Mercury’s signature satin aluminum waterfall grille, jeweled projector beam headlamps, distinctive LED tail lamps and a two-tone interior trim with unique accents. Customers preferring a technical appearance can opt for Cyber Carbon – a deep, high-gloss accent resembling carbon fiber. More traditional sophistication is available from two modern wood grain accents – Guitar Maple and San Macassar. Ford Taurus: An Automotive Icon The Ford Taurus was a milestone in automotive design when it was introduced in 1985. It was the best-selling car in America for five straight years, starting in 1992. At its peak, Taurus posted annual sales of more than 400,000 units. When production of the original Taurus ended after 21 years on Oct. 27, 2006, nearly 7 million cars had been sold – and an estimated 3.5 million Taurus models remain on the road today The Taurus name remains powerful today. In fact, it is one of top three most recognized Ford nameplates, behind only the F-Series and Mustang. Consumer awareness of the Taurus nameplate remains at an impressive 80 percent. “The Ford Five Hundred has been a solid product, and it has one of the highest satisfaction rates in our lineup,” said Cisco Codina, Ford’s group vice president of North America Marketing, Sales and Service. “Once people discover the vehicle, nearly 60 percent end up buying a one. “The Taurus will be even better thanks to significant upgrades – and, now, a name that people know. Going forward, we’re going to cherish this iconic name with the same clarity, confidence and intensity as we do with F-Series and Mustang,” Codina added. The new Taurus X crossover builds on the strength of its namesake, while underscoring Ford’s commitment to leadership in crossover vehicles. Crossovers already have surpassed SUVs in annual vehicle sales, and Ford predicts they will become the largest or second largest segment in the U.S. by the end of the decade – with sales of 3 million units. The three-row, seven-passenger Taurus X will complement the sporty and popular two-row, five-passenger Ford Edge in the lineup. The two crossovers will be joined by yet another large Ford crossover – based on the Ford Fairlane concept vehicle – which will debut later this year and go on sale in 2008. “The Taurus and Taurus X draw design cues from the Fusion sedan and Edge crossover. This family relationship will be a huge asset. The Fusion is an unqualified success, and the Edge is off to an even faster start than we saw for the Fusion,” Codina said. Sable Returns to Mercury The Sable name today maintains an impressive 60 percent consumer awareness level. With the new 2008-model, Sable will offer the same differentiation that already is proving to be a success in the marketplace with the Mercury Mariner and Mercury Milan. “Our newest Mercurys are attracting new customers and doing a great job at appealing to women,” Codina said. “The Mercury Mariner attracts more new customers today to Ford and Lincoln Mercury than any other nameplate, except the Ford Mustang. And about half of Mercury Milan customers are women, which is a higher rate than for the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry or Volkswagen Passat,” Codina added. Mercury’s signature design cues – including satin aluminum accents, high contrast interiors and upscale trim and detailing – will differentiate the new Sable from the Taurus in the same way as the Mariner and Milan.

The Mercury Wagon version should have the Boss in it and be called the Turnpike Cruiser.

FORD EDGE AND LINCOLN MKX CROSSOVERS EARN IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK RATINGS DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 5, 2007 – The 2007 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers have earned Top Safety Pick ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the first of a line of Ford Motor Company vehicles to benefit from the company's strategy to accelerate the rollout of its exclusive roll stability control system and advanced crash protection systems. To earn a Top Safety Pick, vehicles must earn good ratings in IIHS' high-speed front and side crash tests, and in evaluations of seats and head restraints. An added requirement for 2007 is that vehicles must also offer electronic stability control. “Earning a ‘Top Safety Pick’ is great news because the Insurance Institute’s tests are some of the most demanding conducted outside of our own laboratories, and customers are increasingly relying on them when choosing a new vehicle,” said Sue Cischke, vice president of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "The Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX also earned the government's highest 5-Star ratings in recent side impact crash testing.” Cischke added that every new Ford, Lincoln and Mercury SUV and crossover launched since the 2006 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer now has standard electronic stability control and side impact protection. By the end of 2009, every Ford retail vehicle will feature these cutting-edge technologies. Ford Motor Company and its global brands have built 4 million vehicles globally with electronic stability control systems. More than 1 million of those vehicles feature Ford's industry exclusive, AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control® (RSC), the world's only system with two gyroscopic sensors to actively measures and help control both yaw and roll movements. The Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX offer Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac with RSC®, front seat-mounted side air bags and Safety Canopy™ air curtain system with rollover detection – all as standard equipment. Both vehicles also come standard with Ford’s Personal Safety System, which includes dual-stage driver and front-passenger air bags, a driver seat position sensor, passenger seat occupant classification sensor, and load-limiting safety belt retractors and pretensioners. The air bag system uses front passenger classification sensing to determine if the seat is occupied, and if so, whether the passenger is an adult, a child or a child in a child safety seat. Air bag deployment is tailored – or altogether suppressed – to help provide the proper level of protection. Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ also earned the highest individual ratings from IIHS for frontal crash test performance. In addition, Fusion and Milan achieved top performance in the IIHS side impact test. All three vehicles come with standard front seat side impact airbags and 1st- and 2nd-row side-impact air curtains. The Right Products at the Right Time The Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX are now arriving in dealer showrooms, hitting the fast-growing crossover vehicle segment. Crossovers are on target to become the largest vehicle segment in the U.S. with sales of 3 million units by the end of the decade. Both Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX have been building buzz among consumers since being unveiled during last year’s auto show season. More than 55,000 dealer orders have been placed. There have been more than 2.3 million visitors to the Edge Web site (www.fordvehicles.com/edge) and the Lincoln MKX launch Web site (www.lincoln.com/reachhigher) is averaging 34,000 visitors each day.

The Mountaineer does have LED taillights, It just doesn't' look like it -- got them for the '06 upgrade http://www.sylvania.com/AboutUs/Pressxpres...leunvieling.htm I'm guessing the Malibu probably is using the same system. That's the problem with them, people don't know the car actually features them. Osram Sylvania’s Joule LED lighting system, which has a standardized, plug-and-play design, is to be used for the first time on the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer. The Joule system is a bulb-type fixture that aims to make LED technology more accessible in the marketplace by providing OEM designers with a reliable, industry-standardized LED light source to simplify the design process. With its integrated mounting and thermal-management approach, Joule can be used on many vehicle platforms for rear combination lamp (RCL) assemblies. “The Joule system will allow OEMs to offer their customers LED lighting without the complexity and cost of a custom LED assembly,” said David Hulick, global auxiliary product manager. In the Joule fixture, several LEDs are mounted beneath a circular cap (shown at top in the photo), and the light is directed towards a metalized optic. The large circular base features a wrap-around heatsink, with an integrated USCAR electrical connector. The LED light source is hidden from direct view, and this makes the Joule system ideal for use with clear-lens RCL assemblies. The system has an input power of 4.8 W and a rated flux of 64 lm. The number and type of LEDs used in the Joule system can be customized based on customer preference and performance requirements. The 2006 Mountaineer is equipped with a Joule system containing eight LEDs, while future system variations may use more or fewer LEDs. A combination of colors can be used within a single Joule fixture. The 2006 Mountaineer uses two fixtures, one on each side. -- http://download.iop.org/led/led_01_02.pdf

They may still be LED -- Look at the Mountaineer, it has LED tail lamp but the assemblies do not look like it. Speaking of tail lights I saw an Edge last night on the road, that vehicle needs LED tail lamps, the cover they have on the bulbs to make them red makes them look more pink at night or when they stop, I'm surprised that the Federal government certified them as they don't look to meet color requirements.

I was there on Wed for the supplier day, a '08 4 door Focus on display on the floor (right across from the super duty) as well as a '08 Five hundred on the floor, you could get into the 500 but not the Focus. They must have removed them as well, you know I didn't think the Focus looked that bad for what else is on the market at that price point. The Supplier day is a great day to see what the competition thinks is the next great car, The Edge, Malibu, new DCX Vans, and Tundra were swamped with people looking under it and going over every detail (some of it is funny when you hear someone going on for 3 min on the headliner material) some like the CX-9 and Veracruz had a few people going over it. And others like Nissan and Scion were largely ignored.

After looking at your pictures I noticed that you didn't have pictures of the 4door '08 Focus, or the '08 Five-hundred that were on the show floor? Did those get removed as well? -- I read in the paper the Jaguar concept did, that was a spectacular car. The Malibu is a very nice car, except from the back end, i think the program ran out of money or something back there.

What is a Fleet sale? 75% are not bad. Too many people hear fleet and think rent a Car. The F-350 that Waldridge Aldinger is using on the construction site, the police car that sits on the Southfield Freeway everyday at Fern, the Van that the contractor sell, hell even those customized F-150 that some dealerships sell are Fleet. FWIW a Saleen Mustang counts as a Fleet sale.

It was the Nasser years they could have been making $2500 per unit but he/managers put that next to a Explorer/ranger/f-150 and would say these units are making $10,000 per unit as that what he thought every vehicle sold should make. You also had managers who's bonuses that were tied to how much they could cut, give the right facts at the meetings and you've got yourself a six figure bonus on "saving the company money" Plus the market was all about SUV's. 1998 was the year all cars (1999 trucks) had to have dual airbags, this was also the second generation airbag rules took effect. 1997 was the first big push for Side impact rules as well.

All but the Aerostar had dual airbags for years, (probe '94, aspire '95) Each had its own reason, the probe just became the next Cougar. The Tbird market demographic was headed toward SUV and was a shrinking market, Aspire was a Kia which went bankrupt in '97 and was bought by Hyundai who actually out bid Ford. The Aerostar was out dated 1986-1997 with no updates!!! Wait - flush headlights in '92... and all red tail-lights a few years later also they had the Windstar then that was one of the best minivan's on the market.

I think it is "you are full of shit" remember that is fake canadian french not real french they speak in france

This could be huge for Ford depending how they price it. I'm kinda nervous on the news last night they said it may be a $1,000 option, that would turn a lot of people off from buying it.

BMW actually make perfect sense -- 3 is the series, 30 is the engine size(though they have strayed from this of late), x means AWD and i is for a gasoline engine. They change the model for the engine. It is all the other ones that mean nothing. Also, from the human nature part it would be wise for them to all adopt a common model trim level. Everyone would know that their neighbor just got the cheap level Camry and that the other neighbor just got a loaded Malibu. Human nature (keeping up with the jones) would allow manfuactures (both domestic and import) better margins on product. As for the SEL Plus -- I don't know why they just didn't call it a Limited.

The whole "F" and "M" name idea was though up by a grandchild of a former board member, he was the one that pushed for the name changes as that was the greatest idea ever! -- The whole name thing killed the Windstar/Freestar. And had it not been renamed/equipped/ and marketed correctly it sill would be selling 100,000 units a year today. The name was a major factor in its decline. The Five Hundred should have been called the Taurus 500 -- People know the Taurus name and the 500 would have shown it was a different car. The Fusion would have been a disaster had it had the Futura name -- no one under 35 would ever buy one. Also it had been talked about to do that -- a 300, 400, and 500. What I can't figure out is the model differences, on the Five Hundred you have SE, SEL, and Limited, on Fusion you have S, SE, SEL. the Edge you have SE. SEL and SEL "Plus", and the Focus you have S, SE. SES. ST. They need to be consistent. But at Ford all the manages had/have their little empires and have to be different than anyone else.

They don't have a problem with a certain race, just if those 2 races want to get together -- they also have MAJOR issues with non-Christians (Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc.) They are a hate group.

Why do Ford Brakes suck so bad now when you compare them to the competition. Navigator is bad, Edge is bad, Escape is bad. Though one thing is still true with brakes, yours are only as good as the person following you's are. The Engines could have easily remained the same and just have a 5 speed auto with the 4 cylinder, and upgrade the V6 to a six speed. Look at where the competition is going. It is really to bad when Ford continues to do 90% Engineering, to many people our neighbor has taken the Edge off the list for its very poor braking ability -- he test drove it and said it is a wonderful car but the brakes are "mush" and lead you to have 0 confidence in them when you need them. Most people know the difference in Disc and Drum brakes, even my ex who knew nothing about cars, she knew discs make her stop better in the rain. Ask someone out west and they know Disc's are less prone to losing the brakes when going downhill. They need to Switch back as soon as possible, not in '09 but in 5-6 months. Ford used to have innovation, look at the original escape -- it was a great car (though it could have been in development another 6 months to work the bugs out) but it led, the company used to lead. Ford needs to upgrade their brakes, people will live with brake dust if it makes them stop better -- or go with ceramic pads, way less dust better stopping, better heat dissipation. Braking performance can be key to a car buying decision, car sales men use it for the fear factor.

I agree 100% but GM should have done what Ford did with the Edge and MKX let them sit for a month and see if anything comes up -- to a technical person it is nothing -- to someone that doesn't know cars -- look GM still can't engineer cars well.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...NEWS99/61211025

This car is much smaller than the current Camry, Dealers in Europe actually want the current US Camry to be imported as a larger model for the Passat/Mondeo/607/Laguna crowd. Toyota currently doesn't sell anything directly at that market in Europe and they used to sell the previous American sized Camry.

They have had the same Ad agency for 50+ years. Must throw some kick ass Christmas parties. They should do one showing the Ridgline and the Sport track and how one is a real mans truck and one isn't

and fields, old airports, warehouses, old factories...

Why is there no Stability Control on the Hybrid version? That is a Major oversight on that model.