Assimilator

I'm curious to see what happens to Oakville, they don't have much going on until 2023 when they would presumably get the new Edge/Nautilus. I think it makes more sense to build entry-level utilities in Hermosillo where costs are more favorable. Canada is an increasingly more expensive place to manufacture, with a more volatile exchange rate so I can't imagine a Fusion replacement being made there unless it costs more than the Edge. I don't see Oakville being assigned any new products on the information I have anyway, it's all US and Mexico. Hermosillo is getting the new Transit Connect vans which was originally slated for Flatrock. Flatrock is instead getting the new Midsize BEVs.

You also have to remember Ford lost quite a few vehicles, they are just replacing them with new products to restore some of their customer diversity. I think it's a little more complicated than just another Crossover, that space occupies a huge variety of products and customers now. Ford has shift a huge portion of their volume to fewer and fewer products as they transition, but they have to get back to some variety.

I'm pretty sure the Escape mule behind it is an outdated Mach E mule. And my information says that Fusion remains in production until 'at least' 2021. The production timeline was extended, likely to overlap with these new products. There is a suggestion that the CX430 (Bronco Mini) is actually going to Louisville alongside the Escape instead of Hermosillo. This might be used in the UAW negotiation to restore a shift to that plant which was cut ahead of the 2020 Escape launch. That might have changed the timeline on Fusion production.

It's too bad we didn't get the Puma, but my guess is that they couldn't make it fit the global marketplace for whatever reason, it could have been cost or factory utilization. I'm willing to bet they simply didn't even consider making it a global product because they need to get this right for one specific market. Ford is going back to locally developed products to speed things up.,

Most people here agree it's a car? I see no reference to such a product in the development codes, at least for North America. The other mystery is what happens to EcoSport, NA is not on the sheet for the next-gen replacement. I wondered if this code was the replacement, but this C-Segment product doesn't look cheaper and I don't think a Fusion replacement would bridge that gap. So there is still one more question in the lineup for me, what happens to EcoSport.

I'm definitely of the belief that Black Label should be reserved for only the maxed out configurations. When you buy Black Label, the only thing you should have to select is the theme. The only thing I don't want standard is Trailer Tow, and if there are exotic powertrains like PHEV. AWD should also be standard on BL. The fact you can buy cheaper BL vehicles than Reserve makes no sense and diminishes the sub-brand while increasing costs to the dealer and diluting the value of exclusivity. I think they are starting to fix this now and scaling back BL to only certain high-end vehicles. I bought a fully-loaded BL Nautilus and love it.

I'm not sure why they are basing a C2 Crossover mule on a C2 Focus either, they would have to do less butchering with the new Escape as its basis. So it doesn't make much sense to me. But the only remaining Crossover code mystery is the CX758...and here is a mystery new crossover mule. I was also under the assumption that the CX758 was going to be an affordable small utility, the one Ford is promising for 2022. So I'm still not clear on what the lineup is going to look like by 2022/23. But Fusion remains in production through 2021 so this is right on time.

I think this is probably the CX758, which is essentially the Crossover companion of the compact pickup (P758). Those are suppose to arrive sometime in 2022 to be assembled at Hermosillo. The lengthened wheelbase would probably serve both vehicles well, but I didn't picture the CX758 as a low-slung Fusion replacement, but that would explain why the pickup has a crossover companion in the project code. I like the potential here, but obviously it depends on the final product. The mule tells us nothing about the final product besides the wheelbase.

Autonomous driving is another area where there is a ton more UX (User Experience) benefits besides surrendering the car to the computer. A good example is Lane Centering tech on the newest Fords. I have it on my Nautilus and the benefit is more relaxed and effortless driving. It's clear to me that I'm still in control and the car is just helping me along so I don't have to stay as tense while driving. It also encourages more relaxed and consistent driving, especially with Adaptive Cruise thrown in. So I think there will be lots of benefits of Autonomous tech to improve safety and comfort, but it probably won't be driving you from A to B anytime soon. And even if it could, people don't have to use it but can benefit from the ways it can make driving more pleasant. It's one of those things you have to experience, because if you explain it you can't really illustrate the real nuance of driving with these systems. At first you think it works like crap because it's not taking over all steering effort. The engineers have done a good job keeping the driver from being too disengaged but just enough to help them along. It works best when you don't know it's there, but you miss it when it's not. Still, there is allot of room for improvement but I don't feel confused by the capabilities of the systems on the Fords.

I don't thing Ford and Lincoln's IQS ratings are going to look great for 2020 or 2021.

Both parties seem to think in extremes. I love Teslas, but I can't stand the blind overzealous ignorance of the Tesla evangelists which has thoroughly turned me off to the brand, I don't want to be part of that community. But similarly I can't stand the Ford fans who won't allow themselves, under any circumstances, to acknowledge the numerous and hard-earned achievements and innovations of Tesla. What they've done is extraordinary and it doesn't make Ford less for acknowledging it, just as Tesla fans shouldn't talk about what other carmakers should be doing when they don't understand the reality of the industry at all (or care that Tesla is held afloat by investors and personality and haven't created a great working environment). But I stand by my belief that Tesla is the most influential carmaker since Ford. It's like the iPhone, there might have been smartphones before iPhone, but they were terrible and nobody liked them. Tesla (like iPhone) created a product so brilliant and innovative that it becomes the archetype of everything that follows. I don't think people really understand why Tesla is so innovative. Ford fans tend to just see the car, something any automaker could clone if they don't care about profits. They don't see the sales and service model which is handled easily online, solving a very old barrier to car purchasing and servicing. The charging infrastructure not only includes fast charging innovations, but a navigation system that calculates range and schedules charging visits down to the minute. The electronics system on a Tesla is another innovation, it's de-modularized and centralized with the ability to update all vehicle systems like a smartphone making it the only automotive system that can consistently ADD and IMPROVE the car without buying the next one, further increasing value and longevity. And then there is autonomous tech and AI, which is the most controversial aspect of Tesla but it's also another industry movement where they can take full responsibility for creating. There is just so much amazing innovation coming from Tesla whether you like the company or not, they've influenced allot of new thinking and are definitely a solid decade ahead of the global automotive market. As a Detroiter who was long told that America makes old school garbage, Tesla finally shut them up.

I was considering the Aviator, but my dealer got a loaded Chalet Black Label Nautilus right when I was eligible for a new lease so I grabbed it and never looked back. It's still the right vehicle for me in-terms of size and pricing so I'm just going to stick with it.

The 202A package is kinda like the way Apple treats storage upgrades on their most expensive iPhone, they make 64GB standard so they force you to spend way more on something that doesn't cost nearly that much. It's good business I know, but it makes you lose interest in Explorer pretty quickly when you realize how much you have to spend to make just one step up on XLT. Essentially the real price of the Explorer is XLT+ 202A. Nobody is going to buy the fleet special. The only Explorers that stand out to me is the ST, you won't find competition that can compete with that. The Platinum is less convincing with Aviator, especially with the significantly detuned version of the 3.0T. The Hybrid also doesn't make any sense unless you're a fleet customer that drives primarily city. It's an interesting Hybrid because it's more capable, but the fuel savings are almost negligible and worse with AWD. I'm curious about towing economy, but that's also a niche application. But for the rest, Explorer offers a great base drivetrain with excellent economy with most of the amenities people expect...just nothing more despite the huge price increases. So if your'e going to spend this much on Explorer, might as well check all the boxes. Otherwise, you can probably find better products for the money elsewhere...until they start rising prices too.

I actually don't think the Platinum or ST are that unreasonable, but the Limited configuration is typically the sweet volume spot and it's just way too expensive, especially if you add AWD ($2,000) which becomes more of a necessity with RWD in snowy climates. That puts the base AWD Limited where the old Platinum topped off. The most egregious thing is really the XLT 202A package which is a $5,140 upgrade for synthetic leather, powered passenger seat, remote start, and LED fog lights. That really skyrockets the price of Explorer for most shoppers and where the price increase is most apparent. I don't know how they are going to retain volume with that pricing, but it would be awesome if they do.

I was excited about the prospects of a RWD architecture with all the new Hybrid tech, but I didn't quite expect the lack of substance in the vehicle across the lineup. I was concerned the platform was too expensive for the Explorer and it turns out that might very well be the case, especially since it's the only product riding on this architecture besides Aviator. Essentially it's hard to ignore that all models of the Explorer are paying the price to use a platform good enough to support the Aviator and the 3.0T PHEV. And with a strut suspension and lack of adaptive dampers or distinctive luxury technologies, the most expensive Explorers seem overpriced among the luxury competition (even Lincoln). It's a weird niche they are in, but maybe it's the right one? Maybe they'll be able to shift more of their sales volume toward Platinums and STs and make more money on the same or less volume. I get the feeling Ford was out to achieve an engineering objective and wasn't necessarily customer focused because they didn't seem to have much new to offer on the inside. They didn't even put power-ports or USB connectors in the 3rd row of a NEW 2020 family vehicle, let alone any other clever family feature like seat monitors that tell you if you left somebody in the vehicle. All of this isn't necessary and maybe Ford has a reason for keeping it very basic and prioritizing more driver-focused improvements. Maybe Explorer shoppers don't wan't overtly family-oriented vehicle, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is their primary target believe it or not.

Ford was very busy during the Mullally years with innovations that became the standard industry wide, like hands-free lift gates, capless fuel doors, assisted parking tech, BLISS, Cross Traffic alert, and many more little things. Today Hyundai and Kia seem to be that innovator, creating clever new features which surprise and delight (my favorite is the blind spot camera). There are a few things Ford is doing that help like Phone as Key and HUD, but it's all tied to exclusive trims in certain vehicles as opposed to the full-scale roll-out that all customers could benefit from. Ford does seem to be getting the big ticket items right, like fuel economy, performance, drivetrains, etc. Ford is still interested in standing apart, and there is more to come. As for Explorer, I don't get it. I haven't understood this program since I learned about it and the final product leaves me even more perplexed. So much value in the vehicle is intangible, it's not particularly clever or luxurious. I ultimately need to see how this sells, or doesn't sell.

I'm generally unmoved by Ford design right now, although the company's engineering excellence has never been better. I would like to see more innovation on the customer tangibles and amenities.

It's a Kia Sorento! Here is a version with those rims specifically.

Look at the A-Pillar and compare the greenhouse elements, cut lines, and side mirror. They look broadly similar, but they are not the same. The side view mirror was actually the first giveaway to me, that is not a Ford part. But then you look at the Edge's current greenhouse and you'll see that there is a larger A-Pillar trim piece with a cutline pretty far back. The A-Pillar also has a fender joint where the Ford design does not (it use to in the first generation).

This is not a Ford vehicle of any kind. The 2023 Edge is still in early development and is based on their FWD architecture (I'm not clear on the platform at this point, which is not the same as "architecture"). The team that designed the 2020 Escape is working on the new Edge, I actually got to talk to lead designer and they are still workshopping their direction on design. You won't see vehicles running around for a few more years. BTW, that greenhouse has no parts visibly recognizable as a current Ford, take a look again at a Ford Edge, very different. Ford will have a 3rd Midsized utility BEV for 2023 to be built at Flatrock alongside a Lincoln version. It's a larger more premium utility than the Mach E. Something to consider when you think about the scope of their midsize lineup by 2023.

Personally, I actually enjoy keeping the engine off as long as possible when stopped, ha. If you're running A/C, it does a better jog managing that as well, it will start up automatically if the A/C needs to run, but the system is well engineered enough to keep cooling even while the engine is off. The automatic climate control sensor do their job making sure you don't feel a thing, which is also a big improvement over the Ford systems I've used previously. I assume all Fords are being updated with the better systems.

I just got a 2019 Nautilus with Start/Stop and at first I thought I would hate it, but now I've grown to love it. This is my first Lincoln with the tech, but not my first Ford. The system works much better than others I've used before on Fords and I've never turned it off. The system operates almost imperceptibly, but the biggest difference is that the engine starts anytime you just twitch your foot on the brake pedal, so the engine starts well before you've even released the pedal. That's different from the 2018 Ford systems which only start after fully releasing the brake. The starter is extremely quick and it feels absolutely smooth, I don't feel like I'm harming anything. I really would not consider this a problem at all, and fuel savings is noticeable for me. On my 2018 MKX I was only getting around 19MPG, now I'm getting nearly 22MPG (the new AWD system and 8-Speed also has something to do with that). If you want to eliminate the Start Stop, in the Nautilus it turns off if you're driving in "Sport" mode. I assume the same for Aviator with "Excite". But the Aviator lacks a fixed button I believe, unlike the Nautilus. And to my knowledge, all Fords at this point have Start/Stop standard which can't be permanently defeated...easily anyway. But go Hybrid if you want to avoid it altogether. But I can't emphasize enough how much of a non-issue this really has become with better engineering.

Timberline is debuting with SuperDuty, I've speculated that it's their luxury trim line but it could be their off-roading version. I've been waiting to see a Ford's "Denali" trim-line instead of their generically badged Platinum and Limited series. But it would certainly make sense if they wanted a rugged line that isn't a Raptor. FX4 Max seems more likely for that purpose however. Bronco's Hybrid was suppose to arrive a year late, but the Hybrid was jeopardizing their launch schedule on-top of being costly, so they axed it from the program. It's encouraging however that the Ranger arriving in 2-3 years will still be a hybrid. The Mach-E is actually arriving the same time as Bronco. I don't think it's a big deal, it will happen eventually and the Bronco isn't exactly targeting hybrid buyers in the first place. I will be departing this board. I'm doing my honest best here and I keeping getting abuse for it despite giving a tremendous amount of accurate information which was just proven with the debut of Explorer and Aviator and will again be proven accurate with the debut of Escape and Corsair. This hast just turned into a shitty place to waste time, haha. I want to protect my sources, they don't need me sharing this anyway. The good news is that nobody seems to be taking it seriously anyway.

I've learned that Ford has cancelled plans for a Bronco Hybrid due to cost cutting. A 2.7L EB Hybrid was scheduled to launch a year later but it has been dropped or delayed further. Next-Gen Ranger is getting a Hybrid however, at least at this moment.

I think Expedition and Navigator will eventually get a Hybrid, hard to believe it won't. The Navigator could use the torque from a motor for sure. I assume the MCE will bring this tech but it's not on my radar yet.