Does Ford actually expect the Flex to be a success???

[mooseman]

^^Do you consider the Flex half hearted, or are you simply critical because it is 15 months away?

 

I do not disagree with you actually, I am just providing information I have about Ford's pipeline.

 

Let me know about the Flex.

 

Igor

 

 

No, I love the Flex, I speaking more specifically about brand managment and how the corporation itself is organized. There seems to be too much turf guarding to make the kind of lasting changes that Ford will need to get back to the top of the heap.

 

They have done a superb job with Land Rover, Volvo, Mazda, and Aston. Now they need to find a dinstinct market for Ford and Lincoln. I'd love to see European Ford's over here, but I'm not sure it makes sense to bring them as competition with their own brands that are currently profitable. The S-Max is great, bring it over as a Volvo.

 

And Ford really has a great brand with Mustang, they should do more to make their Ford Racing line of cars more distinct and upscale, maybe creating another boutique line. Create major market only stand-alone retailers that deal in nothing but cars like the defunct Ford GT, the GT500, the 500KR, and whatever other SVT/Ford Racing vehicles Ford has planned. People will gladly pay for higer end Ford's, but they're gonna expect better personal attention and service than you'll receive at your local Ford dealer. Many of my car nut friends have listed customer service as one ofthe key reasons they aren't big on ever purchasing a Stang versus a Mini or BMW.

 

The 500KR is a wünder-car, but you'r egetting the same kind of service that the guy with the 5 yr old Focus gets. For $50-60k you expect latte's, loaner cars, nice digs, etc.

 

I'm just saying Ford needs to get more focused and aggressive. They have the talent and ability to make and market world-class vehicles, but they need a real short and long term goal nad I have yet to see much evidence of that.

 

They seem to have a new "Plan" every 18 months. I'm just looking for some continuity.

Edited April 11, 2007 by mooseman

[igor]

^^^Well then you should be a little excited about the future .. The Flex is the first car approved under Fields..

 

Sure Fields has been in power since Fall 05, but Explorer, Moutaineer, Edge, MKX, Expedition, Navigator, Escape, Mariner, Tribute, Focus, Taurus, Taurus X, Sable, Super Duty, E-series - they were all approved well before he took over. The Flex was first car significantly developed under guidance from Fields, and there are no more cars scheduled for release without significant input from him and the new management. The new Mustang will be half way because it is a mere refresh, and there is a good chance pieces of the F150 were also frozen before Fields. But the MKS, the MKL (or whatever the Lincoln people mover will be called) the Fusion refresh, the new B-car, and everything going forward was promised to be designed with as much enthusiasm as the Flex .. let's hope they deliver.

 

Igor

[bolita]

Well thats part of the "problem"...most of Fords assembly plants are already building what they are building..there is no real room to move around things...plus a small truck is cheap enough to build in the USA to make a profit on it.

 

When does Twin Cities Close? Thats the end of the Ranger as we know it now.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Cautitlan plant build the old F150/F250 as well as the ancient Ikon?

 

I was under the impression that this plant was to receive a huge investment before the Mexico plan was leaked...

[RichardJensen]

Rather than sort of make a big deal about the coming of Mark Fields, I would like to point out the leaps that Ford's PD has made going from the Five Hundred to the Flex--clean sheet products have been dramatic improvements over previous clean sheet efforts.

 

As far as updates are concerned, that's more of a mixed bag: the Expy /Navi updates appear to have been very well executed, my opinion is that time will validate what Ford's done with the Escape/Mariner, but the Explorer/Mountaineer efforts were not solid, and the jury's still out on the Focus. I think it might do very well--but that's contingent on it appealing to a totally different class of people than the kind of people that have been buying Fords in the past. The Mustang, OTOH, has been a standout, as have the F-Series (but then again, those areas have been Ford strengths about as long as I've been alive).

 

Anyway, point being, Ford's brass have told us not to view the Way Forward as anything other than furthering the steps taken with the original 2002 restructuring. I see no reason to dispute that. The 2002 restructuring impacted assembly, and contained the seeds of global platform sharing (although Europe nixed the EUCD, and D3 architectures).

 

Key is appreciating that not only did Ford have no product to speak of in the pipeline in 2000 (just a new sedan, Mustang, and F150), they also may have had the worst QC in the industry. The 2001/2002 restructuring went a long way to preparing the foundation for the efforts today.

 

If Padilla and others had not radically rebuilt NA QC, there would be no point speculating about the Flex--Consider that the first year Escape and Focus, combined, have been recalled twenty-two times.

 

Looking at where Ford is at today, compared with where they were at in 1999/2000--progress has unarguably been made.

Edited April 11, 2007 by RichardJensen

[NickF1011]

Looking at where Ford is at today, compared with where they were at in 1999/2000--progress has unarguably been made.

 

Except in sales and profits, the only two areas the "analysts" give a shit about. There won't be any changing of public opinion until the media hate-fest comes to an end.

[ManFord]

Except in sales and profits, the only two areas the "analysts" give a shit about. There won't be any changing of public opinion until the media hate-fest comes to an end.

 

Thats the problem with analysts. The only area that analysts ever care for is the one someones lagging in. And of course, they have the answers. Its also funny with auto mags as well. They want horsepower and horsepower and horsepower. Sure I want horsepower on a competitive level, but its really not the make or break of a car selling. EDGE is proof of that. Fusion is proof of that. Obviously, they have no clue what consumers want based off their reviews of the above mentioned cars. "Professing themselves to be wise, they become fools". Its the same with the thread declaring the Flex was "underwhelming". Automakers are selling to consumers not critics. Now don't get me wrong some people listen to the critics and reviews, but again Fusion and Edge debunk that.

[kevinb120]

Its a class of one. Minivan size without having to go to a 49k SUV that still doesn't match a minivan. All the new gizmos, good power, and exclusivity. I would say its a no-brainer. Even the automotive styling forums are in love with it, and that's a hard crowd to please. There's an plethora of me-too big suvs and me-too smaller crossovers, and then there is the Flex.

 

Although I think its a BAD, BAD idea to have shown this to the public when its a year out, as you have comprimised Freestyle, expedition, and explorer sales for something they do not have yet. Same stupid mistake they made when 2 months after the 500 was released, they announced more power and a restyle in 2 model years. Even over a year ago I have a lot of customers who are here looking but are waiting for the 'restyle'. All cars are extremely reliable these days and people change for want more then need in the modern market. You need to show the WOW and then get the car on the market asap. You also get false expectations having to wait a full year for the test drive articles to surface.

Edited May 5, 2007 by kevinb120