Trader 10

You’re killing me!! Actually, I think you’re correct. Going forward, all of Ford’s new models will be based on the Escape’s looks. It will be Ford’s take on “the beatings will continue until morale improves”.

Even with improvements in driver aids, it seems like Ford’s big investment in autonomous vehicles is a poor decision. You know that the autonomous vehicles likely to be available in 10 years will as RMC mentioned, run on extremely controlled routes which will be limited in total scope. Those vehicles will be the ultimate commodity vehicles as companies will run them only if the low cost option (and just use conventional cars with drivers otherwise).So even if Ford does develop a successful autonomous vehicle, it will be under intense cost pressure. Hard to see an 8% return on this investment.

Certainly a lot worse off given the current environment. Unfortunately, the billions allocated to mobility services rperez referred to are weighing heavily on Ford’s financial health now.

It will be years before any BEV products will reverse the market share erosion, especially given their premium pricing. What Ford needs to help with market share is a vehicle that will sell 100,000 or more units/year - like a C2 based Fusion sedan.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/04/08/2021-ford-f150-interior-hybrid-details/

Wouldn’t surprise me if Bronco gets delayed to early 2021 due to Covid-19. Fuzzie may have some insight.

There’s nothing weak about the 2.0 Eco. Car & Driver’s test of the 2.0 Escape had a 5.7 second 0 to 60 run and a 14.3 quarter mile. Those are V-8 pony car numbers from just a few years ago.

I guess it depends on how you look at it. The other side of the coin is that Escape is Ford’s only CUV/SUV that suffered double digit losses. It sold less than half of RAV 4’s volume, which was up 16% and was 23,000 units behind Honda CRV. Hopefully Bronco Sport can begin to turn the tide for Ford.

Explorer sales look pretty good but a disappointing quarter for F series which was outsold by the GM twins. Fusion holding up pretty well in its last year.

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2020/04/02/ford-1q2020-sales.html

According to Ford’s website the 3.3 in the F150 has 290 hp with 265 torque. The 3.5 in the Transit has 275 hp and 262 torque. Both engines are PFDI. I don’t know why the bigger engine has less power and torque (maybe rated at lower RPM’S) or why Ford would spend the money to develop and certify two engines of the same family with such similar displacements and output.

The 3.5 NA is the standard engine for the Transit Van. I hope the hybrid F150 is more efficient relative the other engines in the line-up than the Explorer 3.3 hybrid is, otherwise why go to the trouble of engineering it?

Climate change??? Wow! Time to take the tin foil hat off. You want to get aboard the climate change bus? This is the type of thinking you’re signing up for.

Seems to be an excellent power plant. I’m assuming it will be available in the Fusion Sportswagon and possibly the NG Edge.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/03/27/2020-ford-escape-hybrid-drivers-notes/

Thank God for BLIS.

Re-reading your post akirby, maybe you meant I6 not v6.

I assume you mean V8. The Ranger has an excellent engine. I agree that people complaining about it are just bitching. The 1.5 engine by all accounts isn’t refined enough for the Escape/BS. Making the 2.0 standard with the 2.3 and/or the 2.5 hybrid would seem much better choices, especially if the BS is premium pricing compared to Escape.

Remember that dividends are not guaranteed but can be reduced or eliminated at any time. I’m not suggesting that Ford will do so, but it is often used by companies to conserve cash in hard times.

That is certainly true now, but not in February. JPD mentioned a “rumor” that Escape sales were down 16% in February. That apparently came from a Ford executive’s comments. He also mentioned that Ford’s overall sales were up 2.4% in February and SUV retail sales were up 11%, Lincoln was up 27%, Ford trucks had their best February since 2004 and vans their best Feb. since 1979. Other than cars, everything else saw sales increases except Escape. I don’t see Escape doing as well once Bronco Sport is on dealer lots. Lots of damning with faint praise - “it looks better in person”, it’s not that bad, it’s just not class leading”. I think Ford will struggle keeping two shifts running at Louisville without big rebates.

That’s definitely an issue with the current Edge - it’s a pig. Hopefully the NG model loses 300 or more pounds.

I highly doubt many in the auto industry believe that statement.

Isn’t the electric SUV Rivian is building in 2 years supposedly going to be named Continental?

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/02/04/ford-mustang-next-generation-2023/

0r are they? A Mondeo 5 door will be part of the new model line-up. A sedan could be slotted into North American production fairly quickly and it looks like Ford will have excess capacity to build such a model.