Ford Edge Sport

[rmc523]

Would there be a market for a sporty, two door Edge?

 

Here's a quick sketch of one I did

 

what do you all think?

Edited July 24, 2007 by rmc523

[FordBuyer]

Would there be a market for a sporty, two door Edge?

 

Here's a quick sketch of one I did

 

what do you all think?

 

 

I think idea has possiblities. Ford did the two door Explorer Sport and it did pretty good in sales for awhile until sales did drop off considerably. If I remember correctly, the Explorer Sport was popular with young, single people and you still see a lot of them on road. It seems those who still drive them still enjoy them. I think a smaller Edge with about 500 pounds less weight and same engine could be popular with the yuppie crowd. At least for a few years. Two door vehicles still have a place possibly.

[BlackHorse]

I think idea has possiblities. Ford did the two door Explorer Sport and it did pretty good in sales for awhile until sales did drop off considerably. If I remember correctly, the Explorer Sport was popular with young, single people and you still see a lot of them on road. It seems those who still drive them still enjoy them. I think a smaller Edge with about 500 pounds less weight and same engine could be popular with the yuppie crowd. At least for a few years. Two door vehicles still have a place possibly.

 

Frankly I'm surprised that you lend the Edge any credibility at all Ford Buyer. It is after all nothing but an over sized hatchback and we know how you feel about them. lol

[FordBuyer]

Frankly I'm surprised that you lend the Edge any credibility at all Ford Buyer. It is after all nothing but an over sized hatchback and we know how you feel about them. lol

 

Aren't most truck based SUV's and CUV's historically hatchbacks? An Explorer would look pretty weird as Sedan. :shades: Anyway, two door SUV's don't seem to have legs when it comes to long term sales, but the Explorer Sport did do pretty well for a couple years. As for cars, the Focus Wagon did pretty well for a couple years and then died too. They just don't seem to have a long life span which is sad. The Pontiac Vibe did pretty well for a couple years, and it's dying a slow death also. These types of vehicles seem to be novelties for awhile without any legs. So maybe a two door Edge would be hot seller for a couple years, but I don't see it being big seller long term.

[rmc523]

Aren't most truck based SUV's and CUV's historically hatchbacks? An Explorer would look pretty weird as Sedan. :shades: Anyway, two door SUV's don't seem to have legs when it comes to long term sales, but the Explorer Sport did do pretty well for a couple years. As for cars, the Focus Wagon did pretty well for a couple years and then died too. They just don't seem to have a long life span which is sad. The Pontiac Vibe did pretty well for a couple years, and it's dying a slow death also. These types of vehicles seem to be novelties for awhile without any legs. So maybe a two door Edge would be hot seller for a couple years, but I don't see it being big seller long term.

 

maybe it could be a halo car for the Edge brand, you could either keep the 3.5L V6 or even give it the "Lincoln only" 3.7L V6, as there (probably) wouldn't be a MKX 2 door, so it wouldn't steal sales from the Lincoln counterpart (because there is none)

[BlackHorse]

Aren't most truck based SUV's and CUV's historically hatchbacks? An Explorer would look pretty weird as Sedan. :shades: Anyway, two door SUV's don't seem to have legs when it comes to long term sales, but the Explorer Sport did do pretty well for a couple years. As for cars, the Focus Wagon did pretty well for a couple years and then died too. They just don't seem to have a long life span which is sad. The Pontiac Vibe did pretty well for a couple years, and it's dying a slow death also. These types of vehicles seem to be novelties for awhile without any legs. So maybe a two door Edge would be hot seller for a couple years, but I don't see it being big seller long term.

 

I think if there was a way to ease ingress and egress and access to the rear seat of these vehicles it would help them stay viable. To that end the most logical conclusion would be a small suicide door akin to the one Saturn used on a coupe of theirs some years ago. RX-8 still uses this by the way so it is plausible. Barring that you have to get really creative and resort to things like a slightly longer door on the coupe that is on tracks instead of a hinge. Either that or scissor doors. Or instead of small suicide doors, use the same size door but make it gull wing. Of course that has the disadvantage of clearance on either side while opening.

 

If you don't use the door angle then the problem has to be worked from the inside out. A passenger seat that slides really far forward, like to the point that the seat is partially up under the dash. This would make it far easier to get in an out of the back. Another option might be a passenger seat that folds flat and slides forward.

[rmc523]

I think if there was a way to ease ingress and egress and access to the rear seat of these vehicles it would help them stay viable. To that end the most logical conclusion would be a small suicide door akin to the one Saturn used on a coupe of theirs some years ago. RX-8 still uses this by the way so it is plausible. Barring that you have to get really creative and resort to things like a slightly longer door on the coupe that is on tracks instead of a hinge. Either that or scissor doors. Or instead of small suicide doors, use the same size door but make it gull wing. Of course that has the disadvantage of clearance on either side while opening.

 

If you don't use the door angle then the problem has to be worked from the inside out. A passenger seat that slides really far forward, like to the point that the seat is partially up under the dash. This would make it far easier to get in an out of the back. Another option might be a passenger seat that folds flat and slides forward.

 

Well, the Edge passenger seat already folds flat, I'm sure it could move fairly far forward. Plus, you could just use a system similar to any coupe or convertible (Mustang) in regards to the front seats leaning forward for ingress/egress.

 

I think, as you said, that a mini suicide door would work well

[jonas1022]

A two door anything is death in todays market place with only a couple of exceptions. One being the Mustang, and people expect that car to be a two door. Remember the four door show car that was tested to a select group of people (I forget who they were, or how they were chosen). And all of them said NO to a four door Mustang. Any other car, it's gimmee four doors or I'm not buying it!

[BlackHorse]

A two door anything is death in todays market place with only a couple of exceptions. One being the Mustang, and people expect that car to be a two door. Remember the four door show car that was tested to a select group of people (I forget who they were, or how they were chosen). And all of them said NO to a four door Mustang. Any other car, it's gimmee four doors or I'm not buying it!

 

 

See comments like this demonstate and absolute lack of realisitic understanding of the current US automotive market place.

 

Honda Accord Coupe

Nissan Altima Coupe

Honda Civic Coupe

Chevrolet Corvette

Mazda Miata

Pontiac Solstice

Saturn sky

Pontiac G6 Coupe

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Toyota Scion TC

Ford Focus Coupe (yes even the new one)

Volvo C30

BMW 3 series coupe

BMW 6 series coupe

Mercedes Benz CLK 350

Mercedes Benz CLK 550

Audi A6

Audi TT

Porsche anything

VW GTI MkV

VW Beetle

VW R32

VW Rabbit

Dodge Challenger

Dodge Viper

Chevrolet Cobalt

Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Toyota Camry Solara

Honda S2000

Hyundai Accent

Hyundai Tiburon

Volvo S60

Jaguar XK

Pontiac G5

Lexus SC

Nissan 350Z

Infinitti G35 coupe

and of course the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro

 

Guess what all of these cars have in common.

 

A two door anything is death in todays market place with only a couple of exceptions.

 

Yep, they pretty much blow this comment right out of the water.

[Sixt9coug]

See comments like this demonstate and absolute lack of realisitic understanding of the current US automotive market place.

 

Honda Accord Coupe

Nissan Altima Coupe

Honda Civic Coupe

Chevrolet Corvette*

Mazda Miata*

Pontiac Solstice*

Saturn sky*

Pontiac G6 Coupe

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Toyota Scion TC

Ford Focus Coupe (yes even the new one)

Volvo C30

BMW 3 series coupe

BMW 6 series coupe

Mercedes Benz CLK 350

Mercedes Benz CLK 550

Audi A6

Audi TT*

Porsche anything*

VW GTI MkV

VW Beetle

VW R32

VW Rabbit

Dodge Challenger (not on sale yet)

Dodge Viper*

Chevrolet Cobalt

Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Toyota Camry Solara

Honda S2000*

Hyundai Accent

Hyundai Tiburon

Volvo S60

Jaguar XK*

Pontiac G5

Lexus SC *

Nissan 350Z

Infinitti G35 coupe

and of course the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro

 

Guess what all of these cars have in common.

Yep, they pretty much blow this comment right out of the water.

 

 

realistically ( and i may be wrong) i bet the combined totals for the selected ones of that list doesnt crack 150K units a year. sure tey are low procudtion anyways but to include them as myth busting gospel seems a little out of line. (arent they killing the Solara as well?)

 

i like 2 doors myself, and there are some on that list that do sell well, but i think a 2 door Edge would be dead in the water. If Ford did a 2 door SUV again, the Bronco would probably have the best chance of selling well.

[BlackHorse]

realistically ( and i may be wrong) i bet the combined totals for the selected ones of that list doesnt crack 150K units a year. sure tey are low procudtion anyways but to include them as myth busting gospel seems a little out of line. (arent they killing the Solara as well?)

 

i like 2 doors myself, and there are some on that list that do sell well, but i think a 2 door Edge would be dead in the water. If Ford did a 2 door SUV again, the Bronco would probably have the best chance of selling well.

 

I'm not busting any myths here, I'm just pointing out that if "anything in a 2 door" is death in the market place you wouldn't have so many companies making them and adding new ones as well. But once again around here we like to point out the exception and not the rule and then act like every car has to sell 200 million cars a minute or it's not worth building.

 

PS, yes the Solara is out, so is the Monte Carlo last I heard. I know the Challenger isn't on sale yet, but we know it will be, it's already in production. That's why I added it and the Camaro.

Edited July 26, 2007 by BlackHorse

[Sixt9coug]

Point taken and I dont disagree wholly. as a matter of fact, despite the impending discontinuation of it, I see quite a few Solaras around here. I even see quite a few Monte Carlos, and half of them DONT have the Enterprise license plate frame :D

[NickF1011]

realistically ( and i may be wrong) i bet the combined totals for the selected ones of that list doesnt crack 150K units a year. sure tey are low procudtion anyways but to include them as myth busting gospel seems a little out of line. (arent they killing the Solara as well?)

 

i like 2 doors myself, and there are some on that list that do sell well, but i think a 2 door Edge would be dead in the water. If Ford did a 2 door SUV again, the Bronco would probably have the best chance of selling well.

 

Well, as many other automakers have figured out, you don't need a ton of volume to make a vehicle viable these days. Platform sharing allows GM to sell 20,000 Solstices a year and still at least break even on it. It will be interesting to see if Ford is willing to step into the low-volume platform-sharing markets in the future once they consolidate the number of global platforms they are using. I hope they do. If not for the profits, certain low-volume vehicles can still work wonders from an image and advertising perspective.

[jonas1022]

See comments like this demonstate and absolute lack of realisitic understanding of the current US automotive market place.

 

Honda Accord Coupe

Nissan Altima Coupe

Honda Civic Coupe

Chevrolet Corvette

Mazda Miata

Pontiac Solstice

Saturn sky

Pontiac G6 Coupe

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Toyota Scion TC

Ford Focus Coupe (yes even the new one)

Volvo C30

BMW 3 series coupe

BMW 6 series coupe

Mercedes Benz CLK 350

Mercedes Benz CLK 550

Audi A6

Audi TT

Porsche anything

VW GTI MkV

VW Beetle

VW R32

VW Rabbit

Dodge Challenger

Dodge Viper

Chevrolet Cobalt

Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Toyota Camry Solara

Honda S2000

Hyundai Accent

Hyundai Tiburon

Volvo S60

Jaguar XK

Pontiac G5

Lexus SC

Nissan 350Z

Infinitti G35 coupe

and of course the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro

 

Guess what all of these cars have in common.

Yep, they pretty much blow this comment right out of the water.

If they were truly strong in the marketplace there would be a corresponding coupe for each and every body style manufactured. You site several cars, but most are such low volumes it makes me wonder how they ever made a business case for them in the boardroom. Once upon a time, the bulk of a models production was coupes! Now it more like maybe 5% of the total production. And Ford as well as other Manufacturers have gone on record that most options that are bought in excess of 96% are considered for standardization as part of the vehicle for the next years production to save money. The converse is also true. If they don't sell at least 6-7% of a particular option they consider that option for removal from the next years option list offerings on that car. Coupes don't sell well, hence, for certain body styles and sizes they are not considered.

 

BTW, The Solara was a nice car, but it was pure vanilla, just like the Camry. If they weren't in as the reliable car to drive people wouldn't be driving them. And the reliable part isn't a big item on the coupe's sales schtic!

[BlackHorse]

If they were truly strong in the marketplace there would be a corresponding coupe for each and every body style manufactured. You site several cars, but most are such low volumes it makes me wonder how they ever made a business case for them

 

Yeah I sited several cars, 38 to be exact from a myriad of companies and I left several off the list. Coupes are not the strongest seller in the market place but then following your logic I suppose we should ditch everything that is a convertible. While we are at it, lets get rid of all the minivans because the don't sell like gangbusters anymore either. Heck, since SUV sales are sinking like a rock in a pond due to gas prices, lets get rid of all of them too. Full size vans? Yeah why not, nobody buys those anymore right? Lets cut them too. In fact, lets just get rid of everything except for pickup trucks, crossovers and 4 door midsize sedans. Won't that make for a nice versatile market place? I swear I never understood the follow the crowd, be like everyone else mentality.

[jonas1022]

Yeah I sited several cars, 38 to be exact from a myriad of companies and I left several off the list. Coupes are not the strongest seller in the market place but then following your logic I suppose we should ditch everything that is a convertible. While we are at it, lets get rid of all the minivans because the don't sell like gangbusters anymore either. Heck, since SUV sales are sinking like a rock in a pond due to gas prices, lets get rid of all of them too. Full size vans? Yeah why not, nobody buys those anymore right? Lets cut them too. In fact, lets just get rid of everything except for pickup trucks, crossovers and 4 door midsize sedans. Won't that make for a nice versatile market place? I swear I never understood the follow the crowd, be like everyone else mentality.

IMHO, the model ranges and options sheet are much shorter than they used to be for the minivans, SUVs, sedans, and convertibles offered. So, yeah. If the marketplace doesn't support the offerings, stop offering those items. Try something that will sell and make money. It's just good business sense for the supply/demand schedule. Nothing else, nothing personal. Just business. So, no more Solaras...and maybe no more Honda Accord Coupes. BTW, isn't 150K units about 1.5% of the total US auto market?

 

Personnally I like coupes. I own two. One ZX2 and one Mustang Bullitt. Three, if you count my standard cab F-150...

Edited July 26, 2007 by jonas1022

[wescoent]

The most important question is whether someone would be willing to buy a 2-door Edge that wouldn't buy a 4-door Edge in its place. Variation is nice, but a 2-door Edge would probably sell less than 10,000 units per year.

 

Personally, they should spend the money to federalize the Everest to replace the Explorer, and then sell a 2-door version of THAT.

Edited July 27, 2007 by wescoent

[zurno]

See comments like this demonstate and absolute lack of realisitic understanding of the current US automotive market place.

 

Honda Accord Coupe

Nissan Altima Coupe

Honda Civic Coupe

Chevrolet Corvette

Mazda Miata

Pontiac Solstice

Saturn sky Aren't these and possibly some more on this list 2 seater only cars? Aka impractical.

Pontiac G6 Coupe

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Toyota Scion TC

Ford Focus Coupe (yes even the new one)

Volvo C30

BMW 3 series coupe

BMW 6 series coupe

Mercedes Benz CLK 350

Mercedes Benz CLK 550

Audi A6

Audi TT

Porsche anything

VW GTI MkV

VW Beetle

VW R32

VW Rabbit

Dodge Challenger

Dodge Viper

Chevrolet Cobalt

Chevrolet Monte Carlo I thought those were being discontinued.

Toyota Camry Solara

Honda S2000

Hyundai Accent

Hyundai Tiburon

Volvo S60 do yhey have a 2 door S60 even, or were you thinking of the C70?

Jaguar XK

Pontiac G5

Lexus SC

Nissan 350Z

Infinitti G35 coupe

and of course the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro

 

Guess what all of these cars have in common.

Yep, they pretty much blow this comment right out of the water.

 

 

I see many low volume cars up there. A bunch are marketed towards younger people that probably don't have kids yet. And a good chunk of those are sports cars.

Edited July 27, 2007 by zurno

[atomcat68]

That would be a good Focus based CUV or a B car too.

[BlackHorse]

I see many low volume cars up there. A bunch are marketed towards younger people that probably don't have kids yet. And a good chunk of those are sports cars.

 

Really, sports cars are 2 door? Holy crap! Except I guess those still apply given the comment of "anything with 2 doors". I was nice and didn't include all the regular cab pickup trucks or for that matter things like all the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Koneigsaggs and like that.

Edited July 27, 2007 by BlackHorse

[jonas1022]

Really, sports cars are 2 door? Holy crap! Except I guess those still apply given the comment of "anything with 2 doors". I was nice and didn't include all the regular cab pickup trucks or for that matter things like all the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Koneigsaggs and like that.

:

 

OK, remember my F-150 is a three seater! :shades:

 

Bottom line is I don't care guy. I own two doors for the most part. My wife drives a four door Escort SE Sport because it has four doors, and she does NOT want to drive a one door, two door, three door or anything else! she wants a genuine four door car. And my son, who is the ZX2 (I bought the car for him) operator is looking at four door cars. And wishing that they still made a four door Lincoln convertible, and does not want any two door. They don't want people climbing over them to get into the back seat, the body shimmy, rattles, or the look of a two door car.

 

I'm a dinosaur, and just about anyone else that buys a two door now is out of touch, and is equally a dinosaur as well. I mean really! Your arguing for 1.5% of the car buying public that ford should build something that is counter indicated for the profit margin.

Edited July 28, 2007 by jonas1022

[BlackHorse]

:

 

 

 

I'm a dinosaur, and just about anyone else that buys a two door now is out of touch, and is equally a dinosaur as well. I mean really! Your arguing for 1.5% of the car buying public that ford should build something that is counter indicated for the profit margin.

 

No actually I'm not trying to make an argument that Ford should make anything. With respect to two doors, they already make some. I personally own a 4 door. But I don't think it's economically impossible for car companies to make and sell 2 door cars, as evidenced by the list of cars I presented. Also I wouldn't insult someone and tell them they are "out of touch" if they opted to buy a 2 door car, it's their choice and more power to them. Variety is the spice of life my friend. If we all drove the same damn thing what a pathetic and boring thing that would be.

[rmc523]

No actually I'm not trying to make an argument that Ford should make anything. With respect to two doors, they already make some. I personally own a 4 door. But I don't think it's economically impossible for car companies to make and sell 2 door cars, as evidenced by the list of cars I presented. Also I wouldn't insult someone and tell them they are "out of touch" if they opted to buy a 2 door car, it's their choice and more power to them. Variety is the spice of life my friend. If we all drove the same damn thing what a pathetic and boring thing that would be.

 

I guess the only way to determine if there were a market for a 2 door Edge would be to either 1)create some sort of focus group type thing, asking them if they would consider it. or 2) build it and see how it sells

[Tags]

I'd be thrilled if Ford made more coupe models!

 

Ford only offers the Mustang and Focus. Neither of which I'm interested in. I don't want to drive a Mustang because A: I'm not having a mid-life crisis yet, and B: I don't want every 19 year old Ricer wanting to race me at every stop light. OTOH - The Focus is a car for college kids or first time new car buyers, I'm way past that.

 

I'd like to see at LEAST a Fusion coupe, or better yet use the Mercury line up as the coupe department. I think a Miata rebadged as a Mercury is a great idea. Conceptually, I didn't like the grille on the new Lincoln MKR? (the coupe concept). I do like the new Lincoln sedan and think a coupe version would be OUTSTANDING.

 

HELLO Ford is anybody listening?

 

In the Fusion marketplace it seems everyone else does have a coupe version. I havn't heard that the Solara is going away, but I have seen spy shots of the next Accord coupe.

[rmc523]

I'd be thrilled if Ford made more coupe models!

 

Ford only offers the Mustang and Focus. Neither of which I'm interested in. I don't want to drive a Mustang because A: I'm not having a mid-life crisis yet, and B: I don't want every 19 year old Ricer wanting to race me at every stop light. OTOH - The Focus is a car for college kids or first time new car buyers, I'm way past that.

 

I'd like to see at LEAST a Fusion coupe, or better yet use the Mercury line up as the coupe department. I think a Miata rebadged as a Mercury is a great idea. Conceptually, I didn't like the grille on the new Lincoln MKR? (the coupe concept). I do like the new Lincoln sedan and think a coupe version would be OUTSTANDING.

 

HELLO Ford is anybody listening?

 

In the Fusion marketplace it seems everyone else does have a coupe version. I havn't heard that the Solara is going away, but I have seen spy shots of the next Accord coupe.

 

I'm pretty sure 07 (or 08) was the last year for the Solara (at least that's what I thought I heard somewhere).