bzcat

Imagine the profit margin on those Platinum models

Ford sells FWD 2.0Ecoboost non-pursuit rated PI call SSP http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/brochures/2015/2015_SSP_Hero_Card.pdf Or if place large enough order, Ford can deliver custom Fusion hybrid with police prep package

Sergio is basically saying car companies should share development of key components like platform, engine, transmission to "save costs", because other industries do the same. I'm not aware of any mature manufacturing industry where the top 5 or 6 companies share development of key product differentiation attributes like Sergio says.

Also, this is not a zero sum game... Sure, Ford can probably sell 50k Ranger easily but it would be foolish for Ford to cancel one of its model, set aside a production line to build Ranger in the NAFTA zone, when it has bigger fish to fry. Would Ford be better off profit wise with 70k Bronco sales that could easily reach $40k ATP... or 70k Ranger in the $28k ATP range that will cannibalize a good portion of F-150 or Transit Connect volume?

GM has sold 37k unit Canyonado since inception, and is on pace to maybe 75k for a full year. Canyonado is basically all-new truck designed specifically for North America and GM ended fullsize van production (a very lucrative business for Ford at least) to make room for the trucks. Ford is on track to also sell about 60k Transit Connect vans this year... Just to put things in perspective... local production of Transit Connect is probably going to be a lot more lucrative and makes much more sense for Ford than to try to skim in the midsize truck market.

Well, we are talking about Tacoma which is also a US-centric product and doesn't use Hilux's IMV platform so GM is basically following Toyota's playbook. It's not something Ford is likely to do under the current regime. That aside, the point I made about midsize truck buyers is that they are primarily motivated by lower acquisition costs. That is true of both private and fleet buyers. So $3,000 additional costs in a Tacoma is a hurdle in a market segment that is very sensitive about acquisition costs. And I think you have way undershot the cost delta of a diesel Tacoma... Toyota doesn't sell any diesel in the US so this would be a major investment for the company. Starting with supply chain, and all the way down to certification issues, which most likely will be problematic because no one at Toyota USA will know a thing about how to manage the EPA process for diesel. There are no suitable automatic transmission in the Toyota inventory, no urea injection parts to raid. Everything will be starting from scratch and they will need to hire a full team of engineers. Toyota will be losing money like crazy if it only charges $3,000 for a diesel engine option on Tacoma. The alternative is to buy an off-the-shelve engine, like Chrysler did or what Nissan is planning to do. That seems very un-Toyota like approach. Just my 2 cents on this subject.

This is why I don't like using Govt rebate to subsidize pickup trucks. People who buy these will do so because they can get Sec 179 depreciation not because they want a big truck. And when the vehicle is fully depreciated they will go back to whatever is cheap then. Argument sounds pretty silly when you change "green vehicle" with something else eh?

Not if it end up costing more than a F-150 or Tundra. We'll see how GM and Nissan do with their midsize diesel... I'm of the opinion that average midsize pickup truck buyer in the US is mainly concerned about price. Size is secondary concern. Capability is probably distant third. Fuel economy is way down the list.

Seriously? Come on... http://www.ford.com/crossovers/transitconnectwagon/?gnav=header-suvs

I'm sure the data will support his claim. 10 years ago, CUVs sales barely exists in Europe. Now there is an entire brand (i.e. Nissan) that mainly just sell CUVs in Europe. Also look at the product offerings. All the B-segment wagons have pretty much disappeared in favor of CUVs and MPVs. No more Opel Corsa wagon. No more VW Polo wagon. No more Renault Clio wagon. C-segment CUVs are also much more popular than just a few years ago in Europe.

Agree 100% Zephyr is a terrible name to recycle for MKZ. Someone else mentioned Versailles... that's another LOL WTF were they thinking name. Manhattan is ok name for a small Lincoln but does Ford really want to invite the inevitable comparison to West coast version? (Chevy Malibu) Lincoln Mariner and Aviator are the only old name that is worth recycling in my opinion.

How about this: MKC --> Mariner MKX --> Aviator MKT --> Grand Aviator (this will be a new one based on the CD6 Explorer) Navigator --> Navigator Navigator LWB --> Grand Navigator

Ford didn't say this Taurus is China only. Just a couple of media hacks that have about as much information as we do. For all we know, those guys read about this Taurus being China only on this forum.

Subaru sold 139k Outback in the US in 2014 but Subaru doesn't have a midsize SUV crowding the showroom. Ford can probably sell a decent number of AWD Mondeo wagon with 1 inch suspension lift and extra cladding in the US, but it will likely come at the expense of cannibalizing some Edge sales. It will have to be imported from Spain so now you are talking about plant utilization and where else Ford can sell those Mondeo... the math is not exactly clear. Or it could just steer those buyers towards an Edge and not lose sleep over the handful of wagon diehards like us.

Citation needed.

Not all historical names are equal... some like Continental are going to fit with the new Lincoln. Some like Zephyr or Versailles is best left in the dustbin of history. MKC --> Mariner (yes, I know it was a Mercury but it fits with theme with Aviator and Navigator) MKX --> ??? I'm stumped for another transport occupation related name... MKT --> Aviator Navigator --> Navigator Compact sedan --> Archipelago... ok, just kidding. How about Lincoln Atlas? MKZ --> Peninsular... ok kidding again. How about Lincoln Cosmopolitan (Cosmo? It's a historical Lincoln name and one that doesn't sound very fuddy duddy like Zephyr) MKS--> Continental Fullsize sedan --> Globe... ok I will stop myself. How about Lincoln Galaxie? (I know it is a Ford name but it kind of works especially if you go with Cosmo... yes?)

"And while I have criticized GM repeatedly on this forum, I don't think there's anyone at GM stupid enough to go along with this again." Added emphasis at the end... Remember, GM paid Fiat $2 billion dollars in 2005 unwind the GM-Fiat pre-merger. GM got nothing for its $2 billion while Fiat got to use GM's Epsilon (Fiat Croma and the stillborn mid and large size Alfa) and Gamma (Fiat Punto, Alfa Mito) platforms. http://www.autonews.com/article/20080914/OEM/309149839/awkward-gm-fiat-alliance-had-benefits-but-was-doomed-to-fail

The 6.0 diesel fit but not the newer 6.7. Ford stockpiled a bunch of 6.0 V8 for the E-series cutaway cab chassis for fleet order only after the retail option was eliminated in 2010 on vans. There were still officially 2010 model year but some were sold as late as 2012.

Not that surprising considering Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand are the only potential markets and the three of them probably adds up to less than 30,000 units?

Another new Ford product added to the expanding Ford line up in in China. This is in addition to the 3rd and 4th generation RWD Transit that Jiangling Ford already sells in China. The local production of FWD Ford Tourneo Custom will give Ford a foothold in the rapidly expanding upscale business van market in China. Local production will begin in 2016 and the initial engine choice is limited to 2.0 Ecoboost. Although I suspect diesel will be added soon there after.

Full size is an EPA classification based on interior volume. It's not subjective.

Mexican Rangers are built in Argentina. If the US-Thailand FTA went thru, I have no doubt Ford would be selling Ranger now. So would Mitsubishi Triton. heck, Mazda would be back too with rebadged new B series. Nissan would have shut down Frontier line too and source them from Thailand instead.

That's one inch longer than Toyota Avalon which is the retail sales leader in the full size segment. It is also identical in length to Buick Lacrosse, the number two retail sales car in the full size segment. It is 1 inch shorter than Chrysler 300, the number 3 retail sales car in the full size segment. It's obvious that customers told ford the current Taurus is too big (outside).

Lots of photos here: http://www.autohome.com.cn/advice/201504/869013-all.html?pvareaid=101380#p0 Length 4,996 mm Wheelbase 2,959 mm Compare with Audi A6 Length 4,950 mm Wheelbase 2,912 mm 6th gen Taurus Length 5,154 mm Wheelbase 2,868 mm So the 7th generation is 15 cm (just under 6 inches) shorter overall but with longer wheelbase for improved interior space.

I expect 2.0 EB will be base engine for both China and US I would wager that the US Taurus take aim more at Avalon or Lacrosse... More comfort than luxury, so maybe not many of these features will make it