The Handler

You could slap the Michael Kors name and logo on a broom, and it would sell like hotcakes. It would work as long as agreements are made with relevant fashion houses. Givenchy is still very relevant, unlike Pucci and Bill Blass.

Ford gave up on sedans 20 years ago after they dropped the ball with the Taurus redesign. Ford is simply better off focusing on its strengths like maintaining its leading position in the truck market and gaining traction (hopefully) in utilities.

1967 Mach 2 Concept

The wider molding is interesting. I wonder if there's an Eddie Bauer-like trim in the works. Timberline?

It looks longer, lower, and wider.

It's a neo-feudal, company town kind of model.

Agreed. Lincoln could really use some pizazz, and I don't think a niche coupe may even be necessary to deliver that. They ought to take some notes from Range Rover. That new Velar is very stylish and eye-catching for an SUV.

That's a beautiful color combination. It's a shame Ford quit offering white and silver for roof color.

Most companies don't have any choice but to fire the accused in order to avoid bad publicity. In today's America, you're guilty until proven innocent. This is how insane our society has become.

I got a lot crap over the years for saying that, but it's true. It's simply a reengineered and restyled Freestyle/Taurus X with an elaborate offroad gadget to give it some SUV credibility. Ford's marketing dept. really did an outstanding job with the reveal and launch of it. That was one of the best marketing campaigns I've witnessed from Ford, IMO.

Same here. I still have my '09 Eddie Bauer. I hate the thought of replacing it. There's just nothing out there that would be a good replacement for it. The only suitable replacement is the hideous 4Runner. The current Explorer reminds me of the old, quasi-minivan Freestyle. It sits a lot lower than the old Explorer, and I agree with your wife about its visibility. The new Expedition is great, but it's really pricey.

Exactly. A brand that's supposed to be for the common man is now producing $50k-$80k Expeditions. That's way too much for even an upper-middle class family. The ones that can truly afford those prices aren't even looking at Fords. It's the gotta-haves, middle class debtors buying these things.

I thought the cloth felt premium, and the dash is much more "civilized" than the industrial-looking dash of the F-150. In case you're wondering, I do have sour grapes over the price increase. These things are already overpriced to begin with. Some of us just want a truck with a wagon body. Now it's become some kind of status symbol. It's so absurd and unnatural for there to be a sizable market for $50-$80k trucks and SUVs. This wouldn't be possible without middle class debtors. I completely agree. The Expedition has always been the superior choice for hauling cargo and people. And towing. It can do just about everything. Unfortunately, none of that has translated into more sales and even market dominance. It's truly an underappreciated vehicle.

Yup. I just looked at the new Expeditions and nearly had a heart attack. A whopping $52k for a base XLT. The slightly cheaper Yukon SLE I looked at had a far nicer interior.

Exactly!!!! I am so goddamn tired of the constant need to idiot-proof EVERYTHING. It's a sign we've truly transformed into an idiocracy. This nonsense has only made cars more expensive, heavier, and ugly.

Can you imagine the amount of excitement and attention Lincoln would receive if they did bring back suicide doors? We'll have to see how the Bronco turns out before we start believing pie-in-the-sky rumors like that.

The Bronco faithful is expecting a hardcore offroader, not a comfort-oriented SUV like the 4Runner. If it turns out to be 4Runner competitor, that's great news for me. It might not be a flop as long as it looks like a Bronco.

These things seem to be getting absurdly larger each generation, so I wouldn't be too surprised if the next-gen GM twins caught up with the Expedition in size. I'm sure the piggish middle class debtors they appeal to will be thrilled. Codpiece Fever. Personally, I'd be thrilled if the Explorer was a proper midsize BOF SUV again. Same size as the 4Runner. Nothing bigger. A return to normalcy would be even better....

https://www.trademarkia.com/timberline-87751950.html If I had to guess, it's a premium outdoors-themed trim for its SUVs. Eddie Bauer replacement.

During the Mulally years, I got the impression that Bill Ford became a changed man. Well, I think it's safe to say that was all bullshit. They pretty much kept their dysfunctional corporate culture under the radar while Alan was saving their butts. Just wait until things go south or Bill doesn't get his way, Hatchett will be thrown under the bus just like the others. Hatchett will soon find out Bill really ain't his buddy. If you don't kiss the family's ass 24/7, you're a goner. It doesn't even matter how well you perform or how loyal you are. I'm sure Don Petersen can attest to that. Old habits die hard.

This industry has really gone to hell. It seems like today's stylists are deeply committed to shoving ugly, brutal designs down our throats. Beauty is what lifts the human spirit. Our environment has an effect on how we feel. For centuries, humans used to create beautiful objects that we still admire to this day. Now it seems like we can only produce countless strip malls, Wal-Marts, and Toyotas. All of which are brutal, ugly, and cheap. How is that progress?

So, is this what the Model E was supposed to be? I'm not crazy about them using Mach 1.

The next F-150 will probably launch in 2020 as a 2021 model. Still lots of vaporware.

I still don't care for the styling, but it will be the best looking truck in its class.

Meh. The kinetic theme has really run its course, especially now that other brands have adopted similar cues.