bzcat

Escape overlaps with Edge too... Edge overlaps with Explorer. Earth revolves around the sun. The world doesn't end... $20k Ecosport is a step up vehicle for people coming out of a $17k Focus from a few years ago. Just like $25k Escape is similarly positioned vs. midsize sedan replacement buyers.

Relevant news: Nissan will introduce SWB Qashqai to complement LWB Rouge. That makes Nissan the 4th company in the US to sell both short and long version C-segment CUVs in the US. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport + Outlander Subaru VX + Forester Jeep Compass/Patriot + Cherokee Nissan Qashqai + Rouge http://www.autonews.com/article/20150713/RETAIL/307139917/nissan-will-boost-production-by-100k-units-add-two-variants BTW, Nissan is projecting 300,000 unit sales for both Rouge and Qashqai...

Encore sales is slowing because it is a 3 year old car now... it's supposed to slow. Trax sales is probably negatively impacted by Honda HR-V. EcoSport is based on the Fiesta so it's not inherently "cheap". It's just the design and execution fell short of 1st world expectation.

Ford sold 643 Fusion in Brazil in June 2015, down 33% from a year ago (so it sold about 1,000 units in June 2014). So I'm guessing Ford probably sold around 10,000 units last year. It is the best selling large sedan in that country. Focus and Ranger are made in Argentina for the Mercosur countries. Ka, Fiesta, Ecosport are made in Brazil for the Mercosur countries.

Ford lists Ecosport in India as under 4 meter (3,999mm) but the rest of the world, it is longer than 4 meters (4,245mm everywhere else). I wonder if the the India number includes the spare tire? I'm sure Ford will do exactly what you are saying next time but without playing games with the spare tire. We already seen it with the new Figo Aspire sedan, which is identical to Ka+ sedan in Brazil (4,254mm) except it has a much shorter trunk to get the overall length under 4 meter.

The bottom line is C-segment CUV market is not any different than the C-segment car market... Some people will prefer a hatchback size CUV, some people will prefer a wagon size CUV. Ford would be foolish to ignore this market trend development, especially since Ford is a major player in Europe where this segment divergence is already very far down the road. C-segment "hatchback" CUV: VW Tiguan, Opel Antara, Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar, Mitsubishi ASX (Outlander Sport), Peugeot 4008, Citroen C4 Aircross, Subaru XV, Jeep Compass, Hyundai iX35 (Tucson), Kia Sportage, Skoda Yeti, Ford ???? C-segment "wagon" CUV: Chevy Capitva7, Nissan X-Trial (Rouge), Renault Koleos, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, Jeep Cherokee, Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav4, Ford Kuga

We are talking about a potentially new one based on C-car platform

True too... the stillborn Chrysler 100

Well, not really. A tall Focus will be a hatchback CUV. Escape is more of a wagon CUV. They are two distinct markets; but both C-segments. Neither will offer what Ford needs in the B-segment CUV market.

Correct... I don't see Fusion moving out of Hermosillo. And it makes sense to do the 2nd Escape plant in Cuautitlán for the same reason.

First, none of those vehicles are likely to be only 25-50k a year. They would all be more than 50k a year easily. Second, you do realize all those vehicles are basically just the same car with several different body styles right? Not any different than what's going on now with Focus hatchback, sedan, and tall wagon (C-Max). They will be all based on the same platform, and share similar drivetrain, and most of the interior trim.

Well, I'm sure C-Max will land in China eventually. But we won't be getting it from China anytime soon. Ford can't build enough cars in China to satisfy demand there so they are a long ways away from exporting cars from China.

Ford is probably expecting the new C3 hybrid/PHEV to be a big seller. Let say 100k worldwide? Seems achievable. Ford is selling 50k Transit Connect in the US now with a very long supply chain. If production is localized (therefore, better inventory mix) and let say Ford wins the USPS van contract, you can easily see sales reach 75k a year. Plus Canada and Mexico (I'm going to guess 15k). Now add Transit Connect pickup truck, which add 30k a year? Maybe a little more? Now we are up to 220~230k... enough to keep MAP busy.

Thanks... I've corrected my post

I forgot FCA but it does offer a C-segment hatch with Jeep Compass. Mitsubishi is not mainstream. It barely exists.

Let me consult my sources... My sources say it will be US Spec Taurus. \

But that's what European customers want - a higher riding hatchback. And it's also what American consumers want... judging by the smashing debut of Honda HR-V. Ford was actually ahead of the curve with the original Fusion (the high riding Fiesta, not the midsize sedan) but instead of improving the car with better styling, it decided to replace it with Ecosport, which was going in the opposite direction where the market is headed. The B-segment CUV was and still is trending more car like, not faux butch SUV.

My guess is it MAP will get the new C3 platform hybrid and PHEV + Transit Connect and upcoming compact pickup truck. C3 hybrid in 2017 while Focus winds down. Next generation Transit Connect and pickup in 2018 after Focus completely vacates MAP. That will keep the plant busy with 2 shifts. ~~~ Or ~~~ Alternate hypothesis... The timing seems to suggest the new Explorer (2018). What that says about Chicago... I don't know.

Since about 2002, but 2016 Maxima grew an inche longer (but Altima is due for update in 2017 so it could regain the lead in length). There is basically no functional difference in size between Altima and Maxima... the relationship between these two models is similar to VW Passat vs. CC or Mercedes E-class vs. CLS... Maxiam is the "4 door coupe" version of Altima. Maxima is not a full size sedan like Taurus or La Crosse (or Avalon, Impala, Charger etc). Fusion and 2016 Taurus have meaningful difference in size - different wheelbase, half a foot difference in length, etc. Previous gen 2007-13 Altima L 190.7" x W 70.7" x H 58" Wheelbase 109.3" 2008-14 Maxima L 190.6" x W 73.2" x H 57.8" Wheelbase 109.3" Current gen 2014 Altima L 191.3" x W 72" x H 57.9" Wheelbase 109.3" 2016 Maxima L 192.8" x W 73.2" x H 56.5" Wheelbase 109.3" vs. Ford 2015 Fusion (US spec) L 190.6" x W 72.2" x H 56.9" Wheelbase 107.4" L 191.7" x W 72.9" x H 58.1" Wheelbase 112.2" 2016 Taurus (Chinese spec) L 196.8" Wheelbase 116.1"

More like Buick Regal vs. Buick LaCrosse. Maxima is actually marginally smaller than Altima.

Nissan will be the only mainstream car company in the US to not offer at least 1 C-segment 5 door hatchback in 2016 model year so I think it's clear to most car companies that younger buyers have a preference for hatchback and they all want to be on the consideration list. Ford: Focus GM: Cruze (2016), Volt Toyoya: Scion iM (2016), Scion xB, Prius, Lexus CT Honda: Civic (2016) Nissan: nada Hyundai: Elantra GT Kia: Forte5 Subaru: Impreza, XV Mazda: 3 VW: Golf, Audi A3 (2016)

That's not a big surprise... EcoSport will guarantee higher transaction price and margin than Fiesta and B-segment growth is all going to be in CUVs. But I hope we will continue to get Fiesta from somewhere. And if the market trend continues, C-segment CUVs are going to grow at the expense D segments cars so it makes sense for Ford to plan more C-segment capacity in NAFTA zone.

Visualize the rear 1/4 of the new 2016 Volt with the new 2016 Cruze front 3/4

Read the report yourself. Page 52 has the scope which includes "MCV" + "LCV" - basically class 4-8. What you should note is the sheer amount of trucks sold in China... how many class 4-8 trucks does Ford sell in China? Remember, this is a global ranking. http://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/de/Documents/strategy/DELO_Truck-Studie-2014-s.pdf

Yes, but not this generation. I'm sure Robert has been asked to generate some opinion on this... Make sure the next one is designed for US consumption from the beginning please. Ford really needs two different tiny CUVs... one that is less than 4 meters long for India, and one that is a full B-segment size to compete with other offerings in the class.