Illusive

Or as I say, what if the Ranger moves to Wayne, Michigan, where it will phase out Focus hatchback & wagon production? The Focus for '08 will return with only a sedan & coupe.

At least Ford will skip the 2010 model year for the Explorer, move production to Chicago for 2011, kill the Taurus X and retool Louisville for Ranger production. Thing though is, the redesigned unibody Explorer will STILL slot below the Flex.

With many companies phasing out truck-based midsize SUVs, similar to what Mitsubishi did with their Montero and what Chevrolet/GMC/Buick is doing with the TrailBlazer/Envoy/Rainier, will Ford kill the Explorer & Mountaineer? I would expect the next Mountaineer as a rebadged Ford Territory from Australia, and the Explorer will be killed for good. The Explorer Sport Trac will either be retained or killed. With Explorer-sized crossovers such as the Taurus X & Flex, there is no longer a role for the Explorer. 2009 would be the last model year for the Explorer & current Mountaineer, as Ford intends to redesign the Ranger and move production to Louisville for the 2010 model year.

Is it okay if you create a photoshop of the Fairlane CUV with the Freestyle badge? I really want Ford to use the Freestyle name on its new Fairlane-based CUV.

They probably won't use the Fairlane name. Freestyle is okay.

But the confusion is over. It's possible if the Fairlane-based CUV to use the Freestyle name. Maybe call it Freedom.

I could see the Fairlane-based CUV using the Freestyle name? They can't use Fairlane, since it brings back memories of an old sedan. It could be okay if they used the Freestyle name.

With the demise of the original Freestyle (as it will be renamed as the Taurus X), will Ford's new Oakville-built '08 or '09 CUV (based from the Fairlane concept) use the Freestyle name?