BORG

The boxy and bulbous front-end, from the beginning the designers wanted to lower the fascia but couldn't because of pedestrian crash regulations in Europe. The Mustang has always struggled to look lean and modern and this is definitely a signifiant jump forward. Although I like the louvered taillights, the hard vertical design didn't do the back any favors. The new sculpted c-shapes flow much better with the carved out back end. I still think the interior is WAY too retro dopey and over designed, it certainly won't age well, but it has its charms. The new instrument panel makes a huge difference.

I can't tell you the last time I saw an 80's Escort in Michigan, they completely dissolved along with all other 80's Fords which rusted the moment they hit their first winter. Living in Michigan you quickly recognize which brands have better corrosion protection.

The update really fixes all the things I didn't like about the last design.

Part of CAFE's function is stabilizing fuel consumption so price fluctuations don't drive instability in the economy. Other countries do this mostly through straightforward taxes while the US prefers to do it through very complicated regulations since it shifts the burden away from the consumer and gives private industry an opportunity to innovate their way through it (which they've done brilliantly). I'm not sure Trumps Anti-Environmentalism administration wants to encourage unsustainable consumption but I'm sure we'll see de-regulation. Whether the automotive industry actually changes because of it remains to be seen, ultimately consumers decide based on fuel prices. Tesla didn't come out of Germany or Japan after all and the Prius didn't become one of the best selling cars in the US because of regulations. I think the biggest issue will likely come on the world stage where the US will likely withdraw from cooperating on global carbon emission and regulations which isn't really an obligation anyway. I'm honestly more concerned about other environmental matters such as wildlife protection and conservation programs.

Also a great comparison of the differences.

Here is a video of the car's unveiling on the show floor today.

You'll find a White 2018 Mustang GT at the AutoShow now. This launch is a little weird, it's being done somewhat sloppily with no fanfare. It seems like they wanted to just bury this as a press release and not openly talk about it at an event which was only a few days ago. At a show with so few attention-seeking unveilings, a new Mustang could have drawn some significant press. I can't help but wonder if this has something to do with Ford's concern that fanfare around old-school gas-guzzling V8 vehicles like F-150 and Mustang could send the wrong message from a company thought to be falling behind on efficiency and electrification which is why their AutoShow presser focused on those plans instead of product. Ford is exceptionally good at handling the press and tend to lead the way so it's always fun to try and read into their intent.

Does the Ranger have EPAS? I know that's something all US Fords currently have which is critical toward improved efficiency and some of the assisted driving/parking technology. Based on the reviewer, it sounds like it probably doesn't. I have a feeling Ford needs to toss out everything but the frame and body to bring it up to code for the US but we should see some evidence of this work being done.

Automation will also continue to play the biggest roll in manufacturing job losses. The US Steel industry is a good example, they employ 75% fewer workers but make the same amount of steel. So there is just no way to get ahead of this but it also makes final assembly more sustainable in the US. And besides, final assembly is just a small part of the production, parts come from all over the world and there is no way to shift those supply chains to the US. Once cars move to electrification and automation, the hands needed to make cars will continue to decline sharply. This is one reason I'm glad Ford is holding the line on expansion far more aggressively than anybody else despite their obvious need to expand in areas. The move toward automation is actually driven by the Chinese economy, until recently there hasn't been an incentive to invest heavily in automation when workers were so cheap but now China's cheap labor force is gone and manufacturing is driving the move toward automation.

I hate to say it but almost all of the improvements to this Mustang can be attributed to the 6th gen camaro from the Magnetic Suspension system to the variable exhaust. That's the amazing thing about competition, GM is finally giving Ford a kick in the pants to evolve the Mustang. Ford can no longer take it's costumers for granted. I remember when you could count the lifecycle of the Mustang platforms by the decades and a solid rear axle was considered acceptable on a sports car in the 21st century. In any case, I'm a big fan of the updates. http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/2018/?hptid=fv-2554-mustang-rvl%3Abillboard%3Aslide0%3Aford%20explorer

I would get confirmation on that first.

I kid you not, I heard people joke about Mathew McConaughey in the Lincoln exhibit no less than 3 times while I was there. And of course I think that's the first thing people see when they think Lincoln now. It really is brilliant marketing, the campaign is incredibly successful and a lesson to the industry. Obviously there is a shelf-life to such a phenomenon but they are keeping it fresh which is also no small thing.

Here is the thing about PR, it's never as simple as the headline that the company wrote for the reporters. Ford has actually substantially reduced it's outlook with the recent announcement by dropping a significant amount of capacity for cars and simply continuing ahead with their planned FlatRock electrification. So yeah, Ford's announcement was actually in-line with the bubble bursting. I'm not taking a close look at GM or Hyundai but remember Ford did not return any car production back to the US. So Ford's announcement really was part damage control (canceling expansion) and it worked brilliantly.

It's funny because I was just mentioning how dated Ford's Instrument Panels looked compared to everybody else and this Mustang is the first to get a 12-inch screen...although I'm pretty sure it's the same one in Lincoln and global Fords (Explorer Platinum).

Essentially it's very rough riding with heavy steering which are things that can be overhauled.