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bzcat

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Posts posted by bzcat

    Taiwan's Escape gets unique grill.

    in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum

    Posted

    Didn't that thing just get those 3 bars last year?

     

    I know it's not our currency, but sheesh, $779,000 or whatever it was? Just sounds like a lot...

     

    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.

    Mercury availability outside the US

    in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum

    Posted

    I was perusing the Ford global website and I see that Ford has intro'ed Mercury in the middle east....I also see it available in Mexico....interesting ideas here Ford....hope you continue to grow that marquee.

     

     

    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.

    Ford to Build Kuga/Escape in Louisville

    in Ford Motor Company Discussion Forum

    Posted · Edited by bzcat

    One of the big selling points of the Escape is that, unlike most of its competition, it still looks like an SUV. It has become a pretty hot item over the past few years, I think Ford needs to make sure that it still has the appeal that it has today. I'm almost 100% sure the Kuga is far better dynamically, but that doesn't mean it will sell better. I say they should keep the Escape name and boxy SUV styling, and sell the European styled Kuga as the next Mercury Mariner. That way, we get both products and a Mercury model that looks substantially different than its Ford sister.

     

    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.

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