ausrutherford

Well I doubt they would use Escort. If we are talking about a platform-sharing sedan to the Mustang, then Falcon would be the logical choice.

I can't imagine the Ranger going anywhere since we have the Bronco. The only thing I would wish is for the Ranger to move to TAP, add the Everest, and an Everest-based Lincoln. This would open up production for the Bronco in MAP with the potential to add the shelved Bronco pickup. This would allow Ford to add a competitor to the 4Runner, GX, and Gladiator all in one stroke.

If it is going to be sub-$30,000, then I wonder if it would actually be smaller than the Maverick. Fiat Strada sized: I mean if you are going to expand the truck lineup, then subcompact is the only way to go since you already cover compact, mid-size, full size, etc.

So, when is the media day for Ford?

Or the Mustang II 🤪

Looks like F-150 production at Dearborn is back to normal, KC is still down, but Super Duty production is mostly back. Hopefully January is fully back to normal for all.

What's with the crotch shot?

Let's stop the doom and gloom for a minute about loss of Ford nameplates. Right now, Ford has more global nameplates that what it did in the 1960s. Yes, compared to say the 1980s and 1990s, it has less. But those years were very inefficient when you had two compact cars, two mid-size cars, and two full size cars at times in the same markets. And that is not even global.

The UEP does appear to be much like the Model T (or Model A too) in which the same vehicle could be used for like 6 different body styles. That appears to be something similar to what Ford appears to be doing with the UEP. Remains to be seen much bodywork they will share.

Gas, Diesel is still above $3 here.

$2.14 for a US Gallon here today. 😁

I wasn't aware the E-Series got a new grill for MY26 until today.

Explorer and Capri were the right segments to invest in...just not executed well at all. If a next gen Focus does arrive, I would imagine it would be like the latest Renault Megane that is lifted hatch. I too wish the BS and Puma were global products, but that doesn't mean not investing in the Focus was not the right decision. All companies have resorted back to market-area niche products outside of a handful of products that are global. Yes, Toyota does have one global Rav4 and one global Corolla...however, the Hilux and Tacoma never merged. Yet, Ford has one global Ranger. Toyota has not merged the 4Runner and Fortuner. Toyota has two different Yaris Crosses - one for established markets, and one for emerging. Same goes for the Yaris. Toyota has about 8 subcompact crossovers globally when you include the Suzuki rebadges in India and Africa. Hyundai is not far behind in such regards. Hyundai even invested in Indonesia-specific MPVs, which have not been successful.

I wonder if the next generation Ranger will move to Tennessee Assembly. That would free up space at MAP for the Bronco and maybe allows the Everest to be made at TAP with the Ranger.

Has Ford scheduled any extra weekend shifts to catch up on production?

Kia K4 sales are down this year even compared to K4/Forte sales last year and Kia overall hitting record sales in the US in 2025. Kia used to have two compact cars between the Forte/Cerato and the Ceed. The global compact market is so bad that the K4 has replaced both. Why should Ford invest in a dying market with little return?

In other EV news, Geely just had to bail out Polestar again: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/polestar-secures-600-million-loan-majority-owner-geely-holding-2025-12-16/

Remember that this was a decision for Ford Argentina. Since Ford ended Brazilian production of the Ka, Fiesta, Focus, and EcoSport, they have the Ranger/Everest in Argentina and the Transit in Uruguay. They also import in the Maverick, BS, Mustang, Territory, etc. But they do not make cheap vehicles anymore.

The car companies reacted to Government direction, which was not the direction the market wanted. I do not blame Ford, GM, Stellantis, VW, or any other automaker for investing where they were told to invest. I blame the politicians and bureaucrats in DC and certain states that made it happen. That is where the true fault lies.

A few easy reasons for this: 1. Its cost is amortized with Europe where the E-Transit (family) is needed overall. F-150 Lightning will not be produced there. 2. The engineering costs to switch it from gas to electric where not as extensive as the Lightning. 3. Manufacturing costs are also lighter. Whereas, the Lightning had to be produced on its own line in Dearborn, I believe the the E-Transit uses basically the same line as the normal Transit. 4. EVs are the future for short route delivery operations like UPS, USPS, and FedEx so they will have sales.

I know a Ford Lincoln dealer and he confirmed the Corsair will come from China. My guess is that the Maverick based crossover will be called Escape.

It's the same T6 platform length down to the exact inch.

FCA dropped the Renault based vans once they merged with PSA to form Stellantis. The only rebadges Renault now has are with Nissan.

ahemmm....

I think part of the problem the A and B segment hatch segment is no where near as big as it was just 10 years ago. Half the volume has switched to crossovers like the VW T-Roc, T-Cross, Puma, Duster, Yaris Cross, Aygo X, etc. The volume is just not there to support 2 Ford models. VW Group, Stellantis, etc. can support many different vehicles over 5 different brands.Toyota allows Mazda and Suzuki to rebadge certain models in Europe. Neither Renault nor Ford have that support moving forward so it makes sense to team up. Renault also lost Lada when Russia invaded Ukraine. The Nissan/Mitsubishi tie up will eventually end. I see Ford using the Renaut 5 as a Fiesta and the new Twingo as the Ka. Now, if Ford could partner with some Dacia-based models...