[Lutz reveals a 4 door Elcamino for GMC]

call me silly, but I think they are on the right track here...if the platform is shared, costs are probably not too devastating if it flops- but if it flops or not will depend mostly on the styling- if it looks like the old holden, it looks like a lumina with the rear chopped up- if it even remotely resembles a early elcamino it just may have a chance. Gas is going to get so high soon a lot of the light truck market will evaporate- tradesmen/shoptucks, no they need a BOF truck, and dont care as much about fuel costs as the neighbor that hauls some landscaping stuff once or twice a year but still 'needs a truck'.

 

I really think station wagons(of a different name) will return as a common car soon, if they do it right, make a removeable rear roof for occasional hauling, you'd have what they have here- as a very low cost to produce option on a station wagon chassis. add self levelling air springs, decent load rated underpinnings, it might become the 'next SUV' type craze. I wont be in line for one (I had a elcamino back in highschool) but I think the market will start leaning far more that way than to fullsized pickups- and a lot of folks still feel safer in a bigger car- keep it wide/roomy enough to feel crown vic sized(ranchero based on tired old crown vic???) and keep the mileage good(at least with base engine) it could be a good alternative to whats out there.

I think Ford is going to need to play catch up first with the GM hybrid tranny- a easy hybrid retrofit to many current models might be a smart tooling investment.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't GM's hybrid a mild hybrid system, while Ford's is a full hybrid system? Unless you're referring to the Volt which in that case Ford would be behind, but as far as a more thorough hybrid lineup, I believe Ford has the advantage there. Also, Ford has more hybrid models coming out within the next year or two, adding to that advantage.

[What's one more?]

he is trying to spin it that, his Ford Service worker only worked 20 hours.. nothing to fix.. but him at toyota worked 56 hours, alot to fix...

 

hmmmm.. sorry to early, i must be reading into that wrong right?

 

Sounds to me like Toyota vehicles have more problems than Ford vehicles.

[New Taurus in "the next year or two" ?]

Has anyone heard anything regarding the Sable?

 

Nothing that I know of or have read.

[MKx11]

I like the front end, but I'm not sure if the rear tire hump is necessary (this generation of cars was before my time) to me the whole hump thing looks a bit odd. Also, maybe the rear canopy angle is a bit too sudden. I think it'd be more aerodynamic if it swooped down at a angled rake.

 

I agree with both of your comments.

[MKx11]

It should have been MK XII....for no particular reason. It's from a stretched Mustang BTW.

 

I usually do 2 or 3 variations, this one is maybe a little better (and renamed it LOL)

 

I didnt realize that was a stretched Mustang, good work.

[Bring the Cougar back!]

Nice, Time and I need to be friends.

 

I don't really understand what you're saying unless you mean that you don't have time to do much of anything, then I understand you perfectly.

[One Year Blip]

LOL Cheapskate. My guess is that even though Fords numbers are the lowest the numbers overall are probably within 15 to 20 days of that. I think last I heard Dodges numbers were 125 or something like that.

 

I don't blame him, there are many times when I don't feel like looking something up when somebody asks me to.

[One Year Blip]

What really confuses me is that nearly everyone's full-size pickup starts above $20,000 or more, but also has $5000 in incentives on the hood. In actuality, the full-size pickup class starts about $17,000, where the stripped F-150 and Silvy "work truck" live, which has to kill compact/mid-size pickup sales.

 

That's why nobody buys midsize and compact trucks, you can get a larger, more capable truck for the same price and sometimes less than a compact/mid-size truck.

[One Year Blip]

if I may ask, do you work at sunrise?

 

You're not referring to King Dodge on Sunrise Blvd in Fort Lauderdale are you?

[One Year Blip]

GM has the bestselling Full Size line in the country, the F-150 wins by a technicality. However, Ford has a relatively exciting and fresh new entry for 2008/2009, I don't understand the argument that they will loose it to the Silverado.

 

They're referring to it losing sales in 2008 (while the F-150 is still selling the current body style) and losing the crown for 2008. Now that I'm thinking about it, though, the F-150 will be on sale when? Next fall? Early or late? Depending on when it goes on sale, it could help boost F-series numbers at the end of 2008.

[AutoExremist Views of 2008 NAIAS]

As for Ford, I think he is right about them being on the right track, but wrong in comparing them to GM of 2003. Ford is in better shape product wise than GM was in '03. Sure it would be great to have the '10 models ready now but they are 12-18 months away. I can't think of many ground breaking successes GM had ready to go for '05.

 

I agree.

[Edge Hybrid?]

Expected in 2010--

 

Goes like this:

 

2005: Escape

 

2009 (early): Fusion/Milan

 

2010 (likely): Edge/MKX

 

Would a Taurus Hybrid come out in the same timeframe as the Edge/MKX then since they'd share powertrains?

[Ford Ka spy shots]

Im thinking its going to look like a mini Verve

 

I read in some article that the Ka was the 3 door version of the Fiesta. I knew it was wrong when I read it. The Ka is smaller. Anyways, I'm sure there'll be a bit of Verve influence in it's design.

[Ford Ka spy shots]

Looks alot less ugly then the current Ka...

 

I agree.

[Glimpse of Flex VistaRoof]

Looks similar to the Jeep Commander second row skylights:

 

 

 

The handles in the bottom picture is for a shade as well.

 

Edit: In Richard's picture, you can just barely notice the large sunroof over the THIRD row as well. Looks like it will be a "Vista" type roof with glass covering the entire roof but the bracing won't be seen from the outside.

 

I didn't know that was an option on the Commander.

 

I wonder if the top of the roof on Vista Roof Flexes will be painted black or is it all a big glass piece?

[Glimpse of Flex VistaRoof]

Remember all that "OMG!!!! No Vista Roof in teh Flex!!!! Ford sux" noise from a while back?

 

Okay, so maybe you don't.

 

Anyway, for those that are curious, here's a glimpse of how the Flex Vista Roof works:

 

Per the caption, that is Senator Debbie Stabenow.

 

Without speculating too much, it looks like you can pop up the individual panels over the 2nd row seats.

 

Those may be handles to pull shades over the glass. It appears the third row panel has that too.

[Edge to be Sold in Brazil]

Just to inform. The Fusion has been picked as the best family-size sedan in Brazil for the second consecutive year with more than 40% of all votes. The poll was made by one of the most reliable car sites in the country.

 

Good work Fusion.

[Seen the new F150 at the West Virginia auto show]

In 1997 Ford seperated the F150 styling and platform from the Super Duty now they are keeping the vastly different platforms but are trying to style the F-150 as close as possible the the Super Duty.

 

I suppose this new F-150 style is to prepare the truck for a future diesel engine. Maybe Ford will go all the way and cut fender gill vents when the diesel finally arrives.

 

The fact you thought the Super Duty picture was the new F-150 may not be good for personal use Super Duty buyers, some of them buy the truck because it doesn't look like a "half ton."

 

I wouldn't be surprised if you saw fender vents on diesel models.

[Seen the new F150 at the West Virginia auto show]

My initial impression of the new design is more favorable than that of the previous (current) design, which grew on me in time. There are little quibbles (the droop in the headlights, the shape of the taillights), but nothing that would stop me from buying one. The fact that none of them seat seven is the deal-breaker (but that's what SUV's are for). I'm officially out of the pickup market until a couple of my kids grow up (unless Ford comes through with a killer 4x4 Ranger redesign I can claim as my daily driver; I'm not holding my breath).

 

The new Super Duty frontend took a while to grow on me, and now it's not so bad. Except for the stripped models, which look like something out of the Special Olympics. I get the purpose of the lower headlights, but, yeesh!!!

 

How would a truck seat 7? (besides putting people in the bed or 3 rows)

[Ford Taurus X middle row console]

Hi everyone,

Long story short, my wife ordered a Ford Taurus X in the Alloy colour and we've been told to change our colour as the Alloy has been "balanced out?" :shrug:

So we found exactly what we wanted through a dealer trade except it has the middle row console that we didn't want. (with two car seats in middle row it would be way more conveniant to have the middle open for access to the back)

So, any idea if this console is easily removed and what is underneath it?

Thanks

 

What in the world does "balanced out" mean? Is it just a fancy way of saying it's not available anymore? If so, why? That seems strange.

[Edge Hybrid?]

this year Ford is releasing the new Escape/Mariner/Tribute Hybrid, and the Fusion/Milan hybrids - both will use the 2.5l I4 and full hybrid.

 

The Escape trio will deliver about 35/31 (FWD) and 30/28 (AWD) mpg

The Fusion duo should get about 2 mpg better so let's say 37/33 (FWD) and 32/30 (AWD)

(compare to Camry;s 33/34 (FWD))

 

Next Year (2009) or the year after, Ford is supposed to begin a rollout of the V6 Hybrid - 3.5l Cyclone V6 mated to a full hybrid system. This system was assumed dead for a while, but then some reports claimed it was resurrected. Ford has never commented on it. This system would make it to the Taurus, Edge, and Flex.

 

Igor

 

Those are Camry Hybrid numbers right? If so, that's impressive. The Camry has a slight (1 mpg) advantage for hwy mileage, but Fusion has a 4 mpg(!!) advantage for city mileage. Good work Ford!!

 

How much you wanna bet no media outlet will tout that it's higher than Camry's mileage?

 

What kind of improved mileage figures could we expect from an Edge/MKX hybrid? Taurus hybrid?

[2008 Edge vs. 2008 MKX]

RMC, was that MKX you test drove fully loaded with everything? Did that salesman know that Lincoln was getting a version of the Flex? and did he saying anything reguarding Mercury about their current lineup?

 

Honestly, I knew more about the car and Ford's future than he did.

 

I will give him a bit of reprieve though, since he just began selling Lincoln/Mercury vehicles, though (he changed dealers and sold only Fords previously).

He didn't even know heated rear seats were available on MKX.

 

No the MKX was missing the Nav system, the Vista roof/BAMR, heated rear seats, and I'm sure some other things. I don't think he knew Lincoln was getting a Flex, but could be wrong. He did say that he was going to buy a Flex when they become available, though. And no, he didn't say anything about Mercury, but as I said, I knew more about future products than he did.

[AutoExremist Views of 2008 NAIAS]

autoextremist is far from being pro-toyota, it hardly is a sign of things to come.

 

the media are a bunch of crowd pleasers

 

they won't change their tune until audiences enjoy bad press for Toyota.

 

Well I enjoy bad press for Toyota.....does that count?

 

Yeah for bad Toyota press!!

:cheerleader:

[What's one more?]

Why is it so bad?

 

The tactic works and was a clever solution.

 

It's not their fault Detroit was dumb enough to not think about doing that first.

 

At least Ford is able to admit that there's a problem and issue a recall. With Toyota, it's a "warranty adjustment" even though it should be a recall.

[Lutz reveals a 4 door Elcamino for GMC]

What I do know, is that this:

 

 

Looks eerly like this:

 

 

Nearly a decade later.

 

And that Ute doesn't look a day newer.

 

I agree, they are very similar, although I do think the GTO looks nice, but doesn't have "GTO" styling.