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I don't think it is ugly at all...in fact...I think it is unique and interesting. Can't wait to see these on the road.

I love this ad. It is classy and quietly ambitious. I don't want to see Lincoln going down the silly, "bad ass, " or arrogant routes. Keep things classy, Lincoln.

Does anyone have the video of Ford's press conference from the LA Auto Show? I always enjoy watching them but they haven't added it to the Ford Channel on youtube and I can't seem to find it anywhere. Thanks for the help.

I am so happy that the Fiesta is getting a North American style center armrest-console. That is a problem in the current car, making it a bit less comfortable and look a little cheaper than it should. I also hope the North American version gets the chrome-silver look interior door handles.

No, no recent news on either. However, We'll probably see a production or near-production concept of Lincoln's small CUV in Detroit, Chicago, or New York.

What could this electric vehicle be? The only thing that makes sense ( considering that I have not heard or read of any rumors of such a product ) is that they are going to debut a Lincoln MKZ Energi. I know that Lincoln is not a Ford but "Ford" can also mean FoMoCo.

Did anyone see the mini-article in the Detroit Free Press yesterday that said that Ford will unveil the North American versions of its commercial vans on Tuesday? If so, that means that the autoshow season is officially upon us. It will be interesting to see what the NA versions of the Transit and Transit Connect will be like: what engines, what wheelbases, etc.

Awesome. If Lincoln has more than one major news item to reveal this autoshow season ( multiple new vehicles or one new vehicle and a concept, etc )...I wonder if they will desginate one autoshow "The Lincoln show" to focus the media's attention upon them, or will they will spread out the news in order to create two centers of buzz?

Yes, the Prius "Classic" far outsells the C-Max....and it probably will for at least one generation. But the C-Max has only been on sale for two months, if that. The Prius name has been established for almost 13 years. While I would welcome a Focus Hybrid sedan or hatch ( as well as other hybrids ) I don't think the market can support that many hybrid models at the moment. However, I am a member of an age group of buyers that will be far more "hybrid-prone" than current car buyers and is getting close to buying new cars in large numbers ( late 20's-30s). Once my generation starts to buy cars in significant numbers my guess is that sales of B-cars, C-cars, hatchbacks, and Hybrid models will increase significanty.

You're right. I thought about Territory...but I didn't mention it. Oh well. It makes me wonder what it is doing in Michigan...and now of all times.

I've flipped through one of his books before and I found numerous errors in his lableling of cars of all sorts.

How does Jim Dunne get all this money and attention. First he misses the obvious Ford badge...and then in the article he mentions off-hand that the previous generation Escape was truck-based. *sigh*

AND you can see a Ford badge outline clearly underneath the bra. Jeez. How in the world did they think this was a Lincoln?

Upon closer inspection, if you look at the headlamp on the right it looks very similar in shape to the new EcoSport...hmm. Very interesting. Excellent. I think this confirms my suspicion that the new Edge and MKX will debut for the 2014 model year.

I agree...I would bet this is an Edge. If you use your imagination you can see an Escape/C-Max style "Ford Badge Slip" grille up top...but right below it could be a grille patterened after the new EcoSport. Even the headlamp shape ( admittedly hard to see well ) even looks EcoSport-ish.

CTS is in its last year and is in the midst of it being repositioned to the spot formerly reserved for the STS. The ATS will take on the 3, C, A4, IS, G, etc. CTS against the 5, E, A6, GS, M, etc. The XTS serves as a more traditional american luxury product and more or less replaces the DTS.

I'm esctatic that the C-Max is finding its audience this early in its launch cycle. Before it went on sale I guessed that Ford would be happy with 20-30,000 a year in the US. But now...it wouldn't surprise me to see 50,000 in the US alone. I'd also be interested to see what its year-end sales will be in Canada.

I'm glad that SOMEONE is in charge of Lincoln. Ever since I heard about Mullaly's weekly meetings...I've wanted someone who could "speak for Lincoln." Farley has experience launching Lexus so he has the experience. I just hope he keeps his temper ( I have a feeling he also has an outsized ego ).

I'm not convinced that the Edge and MKX will be 2015 model year vehicles as some say. I still would not be surprised to see come in as 2014s.

I'm so pumped that autoshow season is once again upon us. Ford and Lincoln have several products that they are likely to show off to us from LA to New York. Here are my guesses: - Lincoln small Crossover ( LA ) - Ford Edge ( Detroit ) - Lincoln MKX ( Detroit, or New York ) - Ford Transit ( Detroit or Chicago ) - Ford Transit Connect ( Detroit or Chicago ) - Ford Fiesta/ ST ( LA ) But I wouldn't be surprised to see a Ford and especially a Lincoln concept car. Lincoln could show off a coupe or converitble to show off some of Max and the new team's talents as well as generate some sexy-buzz for the brand. As for a Ford concept...I hope it isn't a mustang preview ( I think they should keep it under wraps until April of 2014 )...but it could be a F-150 or Taurus teaser. I just hope Ford starts to make at least one fun ( non production preview ) concept a year in the US. They are fun and provide some interest to the shows.

The MKS has a different tophat. The MKT has a different top hat. The 2013 MKZ has a different top hat. The 2006 Zephyr had a mostly different top hat. And stop saying "Ford just realized" this and that. Ford has always known that making Lincoln more unique would be good for it. The issue has been the health of the company, formulating a plan, the time it takes to impliment that plan, and creating a team to get it done. Ford couldn't afford a unique Zephyr for 2006...so it didn't make one. Ford could afford it for 2013...so it did. Ford is a much healthier company in every sense and thus can realize a better plan for Lincoln than it could have over the past 10-15 years.

I understand where you are coming from...but I doubt Ford would hold on to D4 ( other than possible Police Versions ) for that long. As I understand it the Explorer's version of D4 wasn't altered heavily from the Flex, Taurus, MKS, etc. Also...Ford needs to gain MPG and drop pounds on all of its vehicles. The easiest way for the Explorer to drop weight would be to changed platforms as soon as possible. I would guess that the Explorer needs to drop 100-200 pounds for the 2016/2017 model years at the very least. I would be shocked if Ford could easily drop that much weigh with the current D4 platform. I am guessing that when the new Edge and MKX are announced/revealed ( this autoshow season?) we might learn a bit of news about how CD4 will be used in CUVs and Minivans.

No. The Explorer came out for the 2011 model year in calendar year 2010. For most segments in the North American market, a car design lasts between 5-6 model years. For instance: 98-2002 Accord, 03-07 Accord, 08-12 Accord, 13-? Accord. There are a few segments where the cadence is a little longer like: Full size cars ( Maxima, Avalon, Taurus ) usually 6 years; Minivans usually 6-7 years, Trucks, Large SUVS, B-cars, and European luxury cars...each which usually last between 6-7 years. But for the majority of C-cars, CD-cars, and CUVS...the cadence is every 5 model years. The Explorer came out in 2010 for the 2011 model year. If it is stays on a 5 model year cadence it will be redesigned for the 2016 model year in 2015. If it goes to a 6 model year cadence it will be redesigned for the 2017 model year in 2016.

I almost forgot...Ford could also export Taurus and Explorer to Australia if they finally decide to cut production in the country.

This is very interesting and surprising news. But we know that D4 has a limited future at Ford because it was always going to replaced after the the current Explorer gets redesigned around the 2016/2017 model year. So...there will be 4 CD4 plants in the future ( if nothing changes): Hermisillo, Flat Rock, Oakville, and Chicago. Here is what we know for the forseeable future: Flat Rock: Fusion, Taurus, Mustang, MKS Oakville: Edge, MKX (assuming Flex and MKT are retired within 2-3 years ) Chicago: Explorer ( and possibly making the police only versions of Explorer and Taurus in current form for a few years ) Hermisillo: Fusion and MKZ. What would make sense to me is if they moved the MKZ into Flat Rock as well as all the Hybrid production of both the Fusion and MKZ because that would localize all Hybrid and Electric production in Michigan ( where the Focus Electric and C-Max are made...just few miles away from Flat Rock ). I could also see the rumored Ford North American Minivan ( FNAM for short ) at either Oakville or Chicago, and the rumored Aviator ( or MKT replacement ) being made in either Chicago or Oakville. Would the Aviator be made in Chicago and the FNAM in Oakville? Would Chicago make up for losing the Taurus with more Explorer production and the Aviator? I would place a large bet that the FNAM would handily outsell the Flex and MKT combined so Oakville would be filled out nicely...it is only Chicago that I'm worried about. I wonder if Ford is counting on export sales of the Edge and Explorer to China, India, Europe, etc to fill up production? Interesting times. I expect the next few months with the LA and Detroit Autoshows ( Ford's usual big-news events ) will offer some new info.