bzcat

I think it is a forgone conclusion that the next generation Transit will cross the Atlantic and replace the lower spec version of E-van (probably E-150 only). But as I read about the raging debates here in the archives about how "one-van" solution for Ford is going to make Transit "too big and too heavy" for Europe and "too small and too light" for North America etc. I couldn't help but think... isn't that what a Transit is currently? A "in-between" van that is both a mid size van and a full size van in Europe? So what's with the "too heavy/too light, just right" (that sounded like a Bud Light commercial... :D ) arguments? Now clearly, you could engineer a lot of shared commonality between the 2 size vans as most of the European companies do (i.e. engine/transmission/interior etc) but seems to me that the debate about whether Transit is the right vehicle to replace the E-van in North America is a false argument... The proper question to ask is whether Ford will finally produce a serious full size van for the European market (i.e. something like the Mercedes Sprinter), now that it will have combined volume from the US heavy duty van side of the business and European large van markets that it has been able to steal from the super-sized LWB Transit. Are I right or smoking crack? As a point of illustration, here are what I mean by mid size/full size European vans: Mid size: VW Transporter, Mercedes Vito, Fiat Scudo, Citroën Jumpy, Peugeot Expert, Renault Trafic, Opel Vivaro, Nissan Primastar, Hyundai Starex, LDV Maxus Ford Transit FWD, short/medium wheel base Ford Transit RWD/AWD medium/long wheel base Full size: VW Crafter, Mercedes Sprinter, Fiat Ducato, Citroën Jumper, Peugeot Boxer, Renault Master, Opel Movano, Nissan Interstar, Iveco Daily The point here is that the full size Euro vans actually is bigger and generally more capable than the current Transit. For example, the Sprinter is sold in the US as "2500" series van with dual rear wheel option. If Ford thinks the Transit will make a good E-150 replacement (and I tend to agree... it'll probably do fine in light duty use), wouldn't it make sense now to take the remaining E-250/E-350 volume and combine it with some of the most heavy duty European Transit applications and make a 2nd van that is more similar to the Sprinter and all of Ford's other competitors?

Kuzak is the one who said Fiesta 5 door and 4 door will reach 600k units worldwide by 2012.

The Ford booth area was definitely hopping with people. The Fiesta was a big hit... everyone there has checking it out. I also drove the Euro spec Fiesta and Ecoboost Flex outside the convention center. First time in an Ecoboost car... the power on tap was very generous... :D

Let see: (sales numbers completely made up but that I believe to be reasonable guesses based on current sales trends) Fiesta sedan+5 door hatch = 600k Fiesta 3 door hatch ~ 50k B-Max ~ 80k Grand B-Max ~ 40k EcoSport ~ 100k Transit Connect Mini (pure speculation on my part... but B-seg commercial van is big in Europe) ~ 30k Bantam/Currier ~ 30k Fiesta convertible (pure speculation) ~ 10k Puma (wish list...) ~ 60k Volvo C10 (wild card!) ~ ??? That's 1 million units without counting the Volvo C10 wild card... Of course Kuzak may also be fudging the numbers a bit... you can get to 1 million units much faster if you also include all the B-cars build on the old Fiesta platform(s): Ikon, Figo, and Fusion, all 3 of which I'm sure will live on for an extended tour of duty in India and maybe even South America.

That is a pretty interesting tangent... clearly if Ford can find say 50k unit sales in a midsize FWD based pickup, it would go a long way to make a business case for separate D4 replacement (D5?) apart from CD4/EUCD. Realistically, Flex+Explorer+MKT+F-100 may top 250k units by themselves and could definitely be a separate program from CD4/EUCD. Further savings could be achieved if Ford can ensure power train commonality between D5 and CD4/EUCD.

So 305hp is confirmed then? That's going to smoke not only the much heavier Camaro, it's also going to give BMW 335i a quick run for the money.

I guess part of the huge increase in production is due in part to replenish stock at dealers who are apparently out of many hot selling models (I heard Escape and Fusion is hard to come by pretty much across the country)... so that implies Ford is optimistic about the economy at least. But the bulk of the increase must be new model build up: let see... Fiesta, Super Duty, Mustang with new engines, Edge, Explorer... Still, seems like a crazy number (200k units) when not long ago, all the news was about reducing capacity.

The weight issue needs to be address of course... MKT/Flex/Explorer do need a serious diet (Edge/MKX too) and not just because they will have to ride on CD4. Weight loss is independent of platform discussion I think... the cheapest and easiest way to make sure Ford meets CAFE requirements is to make the cars lighter. And also, let's look at what other company is doing... VW is moving towards 2 platforms for volume cars: one (MLP) for models with longitude engines (Audi A4, A5, Q5, A6, A7, Q7, A8, Bentley Continental) and one (MQB) for transverse engines models (VW Polo, Golf, Passat, Tiguan, Audi A1, A3, plus Skoda and SEAT variants). If VW can figure out how to balance the weight problem between C/D size cars (A4/A5) with D+ segment SUV/limo (Q7/A8), I got to think Ford can do it too. Also see Nissan FM platform (Skyline/Fuga/370Z/EX/FX/GT-R) or Honda's midsize car platform (JDM Accord/US Accord/both Odyssey/TL/Ridgeline) which all appear to be very adoptable and modular in nature.

Current Explorer or D4 Explorer coming next year? I've been to Australia several times for work and vacation in the last 6 years and actually drove a rented Territory around Noosa/Sunshine Coast for about 10 days on one of my trip. It didn't really feel that big... I have trouble understanding how it comes close to Expedition. Ford Flex seems vastly bigger inside than the Territory.

What is the latest word or speculation on what is going to happen with CD3, D4, and EUCD? Are we still expecting them to merge into one single architecture starting with 2012 or 13 Mondeo? How does Volvo sale affect the volume and outcome? Will Mazda participate? Will Ford Australia be on board this time (seems like a waste to have Explorer and Territory on separate development track...)? Will there actually be a GRWD and what does that mean to CD4 (assuming that is the replacement for CD3 and EUCD)?

But it comes without penalty to MPG or drivability vs. existing V6 so why complain about it? The likely Mustang buyers may not need 300 hp but they sure as hell won't mind having it. The same can be said about all modern cars... who needs a 175 hp Fusion with giant 2.5 liter engine when a 1.6 100 hp engine is plenty adequate for daily driver?

The only problem with the stretched Mustang theory is that WAS the original Ford Interceptor concept, which morphed into the Taurus. Ford ruled out using stretched Mustang platform because it couldn't justify the cost based on Taurus volume. The Police Interceptor will at most sell 50,000 units per year, far less than the Taurus... how on earth could Ford make the math work on that when it couldn't make it work on the Taurus?

I was referring to the next Everest, which I'm sure is part of the T6 program (like the current Everest is a T5). But that's a moot point as it appears that the US won't be getting the T6 afterall. Also, Everest is not meant to compete with Prado... Ford designed the Everest with Toyota Fortuner in mind as the primary competitor. Fortuner is a SUV based on the Hilux platform... what the 4Runner used to be until it morphed into a Prado in drag.

I know the 2.0 turbo was in the Explorer America concept but I have trouble believing that Ford will launch the new Explorer with this engine. Leftlanenews.com has the credibility of The Onion but without the funny. I do however, think it is highly possible that we will see the 2.0 Ecoboost in the refreshed 2011 Edge as the new base engine, and surely as the optional engine on the 2012 Escape (replacing the 3.0 V6). I'm pretty sure the 3.5 Ecoboost will be the up-level option for the Explorer. Afterall, this is still a going to be marketed as a SUV that will require 5000+ lbs of towing capacity.

Seems to run in opposite direction from Mulally's "One-Ford" idea... why can't they take the T6 and make it a little wider with V6 option for the US market? Is it too late in the game to make the chassis more flexible? I mean this is a BOF truck right? Shouldn't be that difficult. But then again, I guess if they had to make ANY change to T6 to adopt it to US tastes, might as well scale down a F-150 (as oppose to enlarge a T6)... F-100 it is then...

I assume a new Everest is part of the T6 Ranger program? That means we could get it eventually... maybe as the new Bronco.

Since Europe has no spare capacity, I could see Fiesta derivatives (i.e. B-Max and EcoSport) be exported from the Americas to Europe. Similarly, I would expect Ford to produce several C2 derivatives besides the ones we already know (Kuga/Escape, C-Max, 2nd Gen Transit Connect) and some of them could conceivably be supplied worldwide from US plants (i.e. Kuga). It's the advantage of having an integrated product offering and production systems. VW supplies Jetta worldwide from Mexico... it's not rocket science. Ford could do the same as well... the 4 door Focus will be the big seller here but will barely move the needle in Europe. Why not have all the 4 door Focus roll out from Wayne and leave the Belgium and Germany plants to produce more hatchback and wagons? In return, Ford could import the RS... :hyper:

Wouldn't MKC be based on the Focus instead of Escape (Kuga)? And yes, it is kind of semantics since Kuga/Escape will be a C2. I assume the MKC will not be a traditional 3 box sedan but I doubt it will be a high riding CUV. Maybe something based on the C-Max. The Concept C was a 6 seater based on the upcoming C2 platform with 2 rows of 3 side-by-side seats.

The video is also up on Hulu, which is much easier to use.

Apparently Conan O'Brien has a skit on his show tonight about him shopping for a new SHO or something to that effect. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/the-ton...omes-2010-tauru

Since the Taiwanese Escape is 10 years old, Ford Taiwan gives it an annual nip and tuck. It's been like that since year 6. Every 18 months or so, a "new" Escape (and Tribute) appears. The price is not that bad... exchange rate is about NT$34:US$1 so the MSRP is just a shade under $23k - but the interior quality is vastly superior to the US-spec. VW-grade soft touch plastic and leather covers the inside.

And the CD4E 4 speed clusterfuck

Mexico gets Mercury mainly because Milan is made there so Ford sells it as a premium version of Fusion replacing Mondeo's previous position as the premium midsize sedan. The also get the Mariner but that is just for window dressing. I'm not too optimistic about Mercury's line term viability in Mexico if next generation Fusion/Milan/MKZ assembly moves to the US. I guess it will all depend on Mercury's supposed product revival in the US. I don't see why Mexico wouldn't get a Mercury version of Focus or Fiesta if they are destined for the US market too. The Middle East market get Grand Marquis and used to have Mountaineer but both are going away (or already gone)... probably won't see them around anymore. And Ford used to sell the Sable in a couple of different random places (like Taiwan!) but that's all gone as well.

That makes some sense. Maybe Ford will design 2 different tophat... one more boxy called Escape and one more sleek called Mariner (Kuga)... sort of like what they did with Galaxy/S-Max. Also, I see no indication that Ford will let the Europeans take charge in redesigning the Escape/Kuga. Why does everyone here assumes so? This is a niche car in Europe but meat and potato product for North America. The fact that Kuga production is moving to the US suggests to me anyway that this may be a North America centric car. Also, let's not forget that the Taiwanese version of Escape actually outsells Kuga as well. Ford sells the Taiwan assembled version of Escape in Russia, China, Australia, and throughout Southeast Asia. Ford Taiwan did an incredible job of adopting what was a purely US focused product to global tastes. I'm sure the Ford Taiwan engineers are sitting at the big boys table this time around on the C2 Escape/Kuga.

So what will Kansas City get instead of Escape?