akirby

The standard is that all orders count against dealer allocation. Ford instituted a program called Retail Order Verification where each order is verified using the buyer's driver's license (to prevent dealers from "inventing" retail customers) but it's only used on specific vehicles. I believe the early Fusion orders were done with ROV but not sure if the current orders fit that bill. Even so it may not apply to the Energis. I think Ford should use ROV all the time so that unsuspecting buyers don't get caught waiting because a dealer doesn't have allocation.

Did you miss the discussion about CRs highway test and why the Fusion and CMax did so much worse? CR's highway test is done at a constant 65 mph. The Ford hybrids can go on battery alone up to 62 mph. Most of the EPA testing is done below 62 mph so in normal EPA tests the Ford hybrids have an advantage over the other hybrids that can only go up to 42 mph or thereabouts. Had CR's highway test been done at 60 mph the results would have been much better and closer to EPA. Go look at CR's city test mileage and you'll see that the Ford hybrids are either right in line or better than the other hybrids.

As long as they're only using it to move the ones already on the lot then I suppose it's ok. They're just using the $10K tax credit to subsidize the lease just like the Volt. I don't like this practice because I think a 2 or 3 year lease defeats the long term purpose of the tax credit.

If they lose that extra width and track for the production version that would be very disappointing. I see no benefit for Ford/Lincoln to do that. In fact it will garner more criticism about Lincoln not being unique enough and about Ford toning down pre-production concepts. I just don't see Wolff doing that - at least I hope not.

Nuff said. I tried to explain to the then Senior Editor at Edmunds why the Lincoln LS V8 was 3.9L and the Jaguar S type V8 was 4.0L even though it was basically the same engine. The answer is that the Lincoln had a 1 mm shorter stroke than the Jag. His response was "What does stroke have to do with displacement?". Which is like saying why does a tall glass hold more water than a short glass of the same diameter. Idiots.

I've never seen anyone refer to Ford's AWD system as rear biased. The actual torque split may vary depending on the vehicle and how it's programmed.

I agree those won't be the production doors and I didn't realize they were that thick. But I don't expect the outside to change - I expect the inside to be enlarged to match the outside. Obviously that part isn't ready yet so they padded out the doors for the concept.

Richard rant in 3......2........1........

It's a Transformers thing (Decepticons vs. Autobots).

Can't really blame the dealers for wanting to make a decent profit on a limited supply vehicle. OTOH it's good PR and would probably gain more in the long run than a few thousand in extra profit on a few Energis.

That's the only way. Only the dealers can do a state or region wide search. You could try Build and Price and I think there's an option for Ford to find a vehicle for you but I've never used it or heard how it works.

Most importantly it had a totally unique interior that looked nothing at all kike the Explorer. Which is the main reason most people would not think they were related. To most people a different front end and interior means different car. The problem with the old MKZ and Fusion is not so much that they shared too much it's that what they shared wasn't very exciting. The side profile of the MKZ was not very appealing. At least the new Fusion and MKZ are both appealing designs to begin with and do not look dowdy and cheap.

Somebody has to design, build, install, service and program all these automated solutions and everything that supports it. The transistor made vacuum tubes virtually obsolete but it opened up an entirely new and huge personal electronics industry.

I still maintain if you took a 2003 Explorer and a 2003 Aviator and put them side by side in a mall parking lot and asked the first 100 people about them at least 80 would not know they share anything and another 18 might know but wouldn't care and only 1 or 2 would see it as a detriment. The automotive media and enthusiasts simply do not represent the average car buyer. Most people don't even know whether they have FWD or RWD or AWD of 4WD or what type of engine.

I often wonder what the media would say if Ford never said a new Lincoln was built on a Ford platform. If the dimensions are different and you're using different drivetrains I don't think they'd say a word about it.

I would be absolutely shocked (and dismayed and disappointed) if they made such a drastic change. I think the only thing they'll change is door handles, mirrors, seats and possibly the roof.

You make some puzzling conclusions based on little to no evidence or logic. Why wouldn't the doors make it to production?

They were critical of the Focus electric, even though they recommended it over the Mits.

They do. Right there on media.ford.com. This is for the Escape but it's the same system and they've published similar articles on the Fusion and MKZ in the past. http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=35940

Status checker has always been buggy even before MFT.

Very easy. Download to usb drive. Start car. Do a master reset. Insert USB. Wait 45 minutes.

More like 95+ to the front wheels until slip is detected or the computer thinks you might cause slippage (hard acceleration, acceleration while turning, etc.). It can send up to 90% of the torque to the rear for short periods. I believe all Ford FWD based vehicles use the same AWD system now.

Dry heat.

Did you turn it on?