rperez817

I didn't make any predictions for Escape and Explorer sales numbers. 48k Escape sales in the U.S. last quarter seems very reasonable. Escape has been a pretty popular vehicle in the U.S. since it came out 20 years ago, and there are a lot of Ford loyalists who should find the 2020 model adequate. Same deal with Explorer. But as T-Dubz mentioned, Escape sales are well below the standard bearers in the compact crossover class, RAV4 and CR-V.

The cost to Ford of not having Jim Hackett as CEO is much, much greater than Hackett's compensation since he joined Ford in 2017. Hackett of course has a lot of work ahead of him getting Ford fit again. And investors and analysts are justified for criticizing him and other Ford executives for the slow pace of things at the company. But fixing any organizational culture as messed up as Ford's will take time, no way around it. $17.36 million is trifling for the job Hackett has to do at Ford. And Hackett is the only person who can successfully do it right now.

No sir, I don't personally know anyone who purchased a 2020 Escape. So I don't have any evidence of that kind to share. In any case, someone who cares more about price/payments and looks probably wouldn't consider new Escape. The model is rather pricey for what you get, and the styling inside and out is bland even for a crossover type vehicle.

Thank you T-dubz sir, this is good info. Even more impressive for RAV4 is that the hybrid version comprised a quarter of all Q1 2020 RAV4 sales. RAV4 Hybrid actually outsold Toyota Tundra for the quarter!

Thank you dlghtjr90 sir for sharing this data from goodcarbadcar. Interesting to see GM widen its lead over everyone else in Q1 2020.

Yes sir bzcat, 1.5L 3-cylinder in 2020 Escape performs adequately. Main issue with that engine is noise and vibration. Bronco Sport customers may not find that as bothersome as Escape customers though. Bronco has a more rough and tumble image.

There are many apartment dwellers who own an EV. Community and public charging options are usually sufficient for these owners. But if not, the tenant should talk to his landlord or property manager about dedicated EVSE options from a company like EverCharge. Here is a case study of what one apartment complex in Los Angeles did. https://evercharge.net/evercharge-case-study-3

Thank you HotRunrGuy sir! That's good news. How close is ZIP code 60185 to the plant where Ford Explorer is assembled?

Yes sir, 2020 Explorer 100A is hard to come by right now for retail consumers. More of them should be available in the spring and summer though. My salesman at Autonation Ford said the dealership ordered a few 100A Explorers. He also said the massive rebates Ford put on Explorer 200A and 202A in the past couple months are helping alleviate some of the "sticker shock" that consumers experience with those models. Bill Utter Ford in Denton has a Explorer 100A available for sale.

Good point AGR sir. GM and Honda partnered on fuel (fool) cell stuff in 2013, saying they'd do "joint development of a fuel cell system both companies intend to deploy in next-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles around 2020." https://www.autoweek.com/news/technology/a1813721/gm-honda-partner-build-hydrogen-fuel-cells-2020/ Wonder if that will ever happen?

Being stuck in the ICE age is what really sucks. As the automotive industry globally goes 100% electric, collaboration among automakers will be essential. In addition to this arrangement between Honda and General Motors, Ford is working together with VW and Rivian, Toyota with Subaru, Suzuki and Mazda, and BMW with JLR and Daimler on BEV development.

Once the all electric Bronco comes out, we'll see a combination of performance and efficiency like never before.

Car and Driver tested 2020 Escape AWD 1.5L in the December 2019 issue. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a30514411/2020-ford-escape-by-the-numbers/

Also, the peak torque number for 2020 Corsair 2.0L Ecoboost is achieved 500 rpm lower than 1998 Mustang GT V8.

Oil companies will need to invest in renewable energy (non fossil fuel) if they want to stay relevant 20 years from now. Many already are. Also, some oil companies are already providing EV charging products and services, directly or through partnerships.

Yes sir Trader 10. The 2nd generation 2.0L Ecoboost 4-cylinder with twin scroll turbo is peppy. Plenty of giddy up and go. It's a little noisy when revved, though that's not a big deal in an SUV. Also, the 2.0L doesn't suffer from the vibration and harshness issues that the 1.5L Ecoboost 3-cylinder does. All in all, 2nd gen 2.0L Ecoboost 4-cylinder is perfect for Bronco and Bronco Sport.

It may be a risk for Toyota to devote this much production capacity to a single model. But for all its faults, Toyota is very agile when it comes to manufacturing processes and plant utilization. If sales of RAV4 collapse over a long period of time, I'm sure Toyota will be able to adapt the TMMC and TMMK facilities for other products fairly quickly.

In North America, Toyota now has 3 plants that assemble the impressively popular RAV4. TMMC Woodstock - dedicated to RAV4 TMMC Cambridge - RAV4 production added 2Q 2019. Also assembles Lexus RX. TMMK - RAV4 Hybrid production added in 1Q 2020. Also assembles Avalon, Camry, and Lexus ES. RAV4 for markets outside North America are assembled at plants in Japan (Takaoka) and China (GAC and FAW).

Yes sir, that's certainly a possibility. Unfortunately, none of these 3 companies reported fleet sales as a percentage of total sales by model in their Q1 2020 U.S. sales press releases. Ford and GM didn't disclose overall fleet % at all, while FCA reported that 31% of overall sales went to fleet.

Yes sir, GM and FCA are the big winners in terms of full size pickup truck sales for Q1. F-Series U.S. sales in Q1 2020 are down 13.1%. https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North America/US/2020/04/02/sales1q-2020.pdf Other full size pickups. Toyota Tundra, down 13.7% Nissan Titan, down 40.8%

Volvo Cars announced yesterday it is siding with California and the higher Obama era standards. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-emissions-volvo/volvo-cars-in-talks-to-reach-emissions-deal-with-california-idUSKBN21I34L

Other than as a crate engine maybe, I don't think anyone is clamoring for inefficient, large displacement (>6600 cc), gasoline powered pushrod V8s in anything other than heavy duty trucks and vans. For passenger cars and light trucks, that's last century's technology. And even heavy duty vehicles are now heading down Electric Avenue. Here is the final rule Phase 2 fuel economy rule for heavy duty trucks/vans, requirements to take effect in 2027. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-10-25/pdf/2016-21203.pdf

Yes sir Justdatdude, the long term future of the automotive industry is 100% electric. Ultimately, the lower CAFE standards that took effect March 31 may have a minor impact on what certain automakers do short term to meet regulatory requirements in the U.S. market. Beyond that, automakers are getting ready for the end of the ICE age.

$4,995 over the 3.3L V6, $4,000 over the 2.7L turbo V6, and $3,000 over the 5.0L V8.