AM222

If there's a standard feature Ford should drop from their vehicle lineup, it's the "guaranteed recall feature".

The Maverick's interior has a more modern 2020s squarish truck/SUV look than the more generic Escape interior. It's interior door panel design looks unique too. About the supposed worse interior materials, the Maverick used to cost as much as an EcoSport.

I think Ford can still call it an Escape even if they made it sort of look like an Explorer junior since that's how it was anyway in the 2000s. The Mustang and Bronco both got a reset (when they went retro) and Ford didn't change their names.

True. I think Ford should have kept the Escape more SUV-like (sort of like a junior Explorer) and just made a separate lower-priced more car-like crossover model like a Corolla Cross or Trax. Ford made the Escape more car-like which it seems is not what the buyers in the segment wanted.

The Mahindra-based SUV would have looked outdated too compared to other 2021+ Fords. The current Territory which was launched in late 2021 as the 2022 Equator Sport in China looks much newer. I still think Ford needs the next EcoSport.

Ford unveils refreshed Territory in Brazil. Slightly different front from the refreshed Equator Sport in China.

Current export market models have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new Territory's interior isn't cheap at all. Ford in China has the capacity to handle production for both domestic and export models. Ford is also positioning China as an export hub alongside Ford Thailand which currently focuses on body-on-frame models. Ford used to export some models from Taiwan back in the day before Ford started exporting from China. PS: It seems that Ford it is still interested in turning India into an export hub after it put its India-made BEV plans on ice.

True and it sucks. North America is probably the least affected by the termination of the more affordable smaller ICE models. Who are the ones that are hugely affected? The rest-of-the-world markets of Ford, not just Europe. Again, rivals continue to build and improve on vehicles in segments Ford abandoned or plan to abandon.

I remember when the Fiesta was discontinued Europe, sales of small hatchbacks there were actually up. People just went for hatchbacks from another brands. I think the "Cheap rental spec" image of a small non-hot hatch hatchback is an American thing because this is smaller and more affordable than what many consider as standard. In Europe and Asia, subcompact cars and their crossover derivatives are popular.

I think Honda is only ending Type-R sales in Europe, Ford on the other hand will kill off the entire Focus range by November, first to go is the ST.

Not everyone wants a pickup truck or Transit though. The only reason a Focus or Escape is not very profitable for Ford is: A. They need major updates (rivals are beating them) B. Ford isn't selling them in many markets. Toyota for example developed a new Rav4 and will sell it in 180 markets. Ford tends to develop models for certain regions only and sell unrelated vehicle to fill in the blanks like in the old days. Example: Escape and the unrelated Territory. The One Ford philosophy would have saved Ford a ton of money. The only Ford left that follows the One Ford philosophy is the Ranger. Many of Ford's rivals have followed and are still following this "One" idea. You also have to think about how Ford developed three Ford-branded C2 models, the Escape, Bronco Sport, and Maverick that their combined sales is still less than the Rav4's sales in the USA. You also have to consider the fact that the Rav4 is sold in several dozen more markets than Ford's compact SUVs.

They will probably stick around but as a commercial vehicle maker. When you're a Focus or Escape/Kuga owner, you don't care much about commercial vehicles. I would choose a car or crossover from a rival brand who hasn't quit making cars or 2-row crossovers.

It's China exporting RHD Territory units to South Africa though, makes sense if they would also be the ones to export the new Territory to other potential RHD markets. I believe JMC-Ford has the extra capacity to produce more export models. Not even sure if Ford in Taiwan exports vehicles.

About keeping Changan for exports. The only Changan-Ford exported is the Mondeo where it's badged as the Taurus in the Middle East. The most exported Ford model from China is the JMC-Ford Equator Sport, where it's badged as the (new) Territory for export markets. Unlike the Changan-Ford-built sedan, the Territory is sold in LHD Southeast Asian markets, South Africa (first RHD market), Middle East, Mexico, and South America.

Ford actually owns 32% of JMC. It's also interesting that the JMC-Ford JV is more independent than the Changan-Ford JV. They have their own JMC-Ford-specific platforms and engines.

China-sourced Fords tend to still cost more than similarly equipped Chinese-branded models. Ford launched a PHEV version of the Equator Sport (Territory) and it costs more than its BYD-rival which is priced like the non-hybrid Equator Sport (Territory). A new global Escape model that looked more SUV-like, offered better interior room and offered more utility, it might just work. Without the 2-row Edge, Ford can move the Escape up a bit in terms of sizing. For markets in Asia and South America that need something cheaper, the Territory can fill the lower C-segment space. In China, the JMC-built Equator Sport (Territory) is positioned below the Changan-built Escape. The Chinese Ford Escape has no entry-level base trim, all trims get the 2.0 EcoBoost, even the FWD models. In terms of pricing, only the Equator Sport PHEV models overlap with the Escape.

I think Ford targeted the markets that needed more affordable models right away. In the Philippines (one of the Territory's strong markets) the PHEV BYD Sealion 6 is gaining market share and Ford's Territory sales are down. Coincidence? They have similar pricing. Electrified vs traditional ICE.

More people would accept any Mustang if its price started under $30K. I think this would apply to ICE, BEV, or anything in between. I just realized that when you add Delivery Charges to the base Maverick and base Escape, they both cost over $30K. Ford no longer has passenger vehicles priced under $30K in the US, not unless you have some kind of discount. Totally different era 4 years ago when you could get a $20K base Maverick.

EcoBoost engines are also made in China, so it's not just a local supplier thing. JMC wanted to make lower cost alternatives to the traditional EcoBoost engines since the existing Ford engines could drive the cost of the vehicles up. The JX4G15 and its larger derivatives were developed to the standards of Ford. The JMC-Ford 1.5T has a cast-iron block. Other things I found out is it has a side-mounted direct injection layout and a timing chain just like the larger 2.0 EcoBoost. The Equator Sport which is exported as the second gen (CN) Territory uses a larger more powerful 1.8-liter version of the JMC-Ford 1.5T in select export markets.

Will anyone buy a 200hp Mustang? Maybe Ford should just make a smaller lower-priced coupe. Kind of like how BMW has a 2-series coupe below the 4-series coupe.

The Mustang is getting much heavier too even if it hasn't really grown much in the past 2 decades. I'd prefer if Ford made the Mustang smaller and lighter instead of adding another coupe (but if they will, I'd choose a Euro Capri coupe revival over the Probe). Imagine if Ford applied the Mazda MX-5 formula to the Mustang. 2025 Mazda MX-5 2.0 6-speed manual Dimensions: 154.1in x 68.3in x 48.6in Curb weight: 2366lbs 1994 Mazda MX-5 (Miata) 1.8 5-speed manual Dimensions: 155.4in x 65.9in x 48.2in Curb weight: 2293lbs (by 1994 it had gained dual airbags) 2025 Ford Mustang GT 6-speed manual Dimensions: 189.4in x 75.4in x 55in Curb weight: 3827lbs 1994 Ford Mustang GT 5-speed manual (SN95) Dimensions: 181.5in x 71.8in x 53.1in Curb weight: 3276lbs *Note the SN95 was close in size to the original Mustang, it just had a much shorter wheelbase than the first gen model.

The Equator Sport aka new Ford Territory does not use an old Mitsubishi engine. Completely different. The JX4G15 JMC-Ford engine just contains "4G15" as part of its engine code/ name so people automatically think it's a Mitsubishi engine. The JMC-Ford engine was originally developed with AVL, an Austrian company. Here's an early version of the JX4G15 engine used by the JMC-Ford joint-venture compact SUV, the Yusheng S330, which later evolved into the first gen CN Ford Territory. Bore & stroke: 79mm × 76mm Uses a timing chain. The exhaust is on the firewall side like modern Ford & MZR engines. 4G15T engine of Mitsubishi. Bore and stroke: 75.5mm x 82mm Uses a timing belt. Exhaust is on the radiator side.

After reviewing all the bad decisions Ford made since 2016 that affected not only their US lineup but their global lineup, a medical plan or therapist might be required.

Ford hasn't been making much sense for the past 7 or so years... Apparently, trucks are the only thing they know... and even those things are getting recalls. I mentioned this in another thread, when Ford loses market share in a segment, they quit and blame the segment. They quit making sedans like the Focus and Fusion and kept their crossover SUV spinoffs (Escape and Edge), then they discontinued the Edge, and now plan to kill the Escape. Many Ford models that were discontinued were global models.

Toyota has room to make spin-offs built on the same platform because their core models sell in much larger numbers and are offered globally. The Rav4's 2024 US sales numbers alone are higher than the Escape, Bronco Sport, and Maverick combined. The Venza aka Harrier in Japan/Asia is actually built on the Rav4 platform, same wheelbase. The 2026 Rav4 is based on the same TNGA-K platform as the outgoing model, they just added reinforcements to make for better structural rigidity. Ford has many C2 models but non-are global models.