ds91776 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Now that One Ford is gearing to go full steam in 2011 ( fiesta and focus, etc) I have given thought to Ford's small coupe and convt plans. As I see it in Europe there is the 3 dr versions of the Ka Fiesta and Focus as well as the convt version of the Focus. In the US there is the 2 dr Focus which will be replaced by the 3dr come the 2011 model year, as well as the Mustang. Now, here are my thoughts as to what FoMoCo could do with this market in the years to come. What must happen without a doubt is a Mark 9, which would obviously be a premium version of the Mustang platform with IRS etc and come only as a hardtop convt. It should be powered by the 3.7V6 (with upgrades to boost power closer to 300) as well as an ecoboost version making 400-415 HP as seen in the MKR concept. If Ford kept Volvo, a version could be made for them with unique exterior and interior as the C90 or something. Also definates are 3dr versions of the Fiesta and Focus, of which only the Focus need come here, but if Fiesta is very popular, the 3dr could be added to NA without much trouble since it will be sold in Latin America I would think. These cars of course would be essentially identical to there 4 and 5 door name sakes with ST and SVT versions almost certain. However, I believe the next Mustang should be smaller and lighter, with a more modern style, bit of course keeping the tri tail lamps and side scoop as Mustang musts. Power souls come from a ecoboost I4 for starters, with 275 let's say, with a ecoboost V6 as the next upgrade with 355 HP. The Gt would have the 5.0V8 making 400+ HP and perhaps an SVT and Mach 1 type editions with ecoboosted V6's and V8's rspectively, making 415 for the 6 and over 500 for the 8. This set up would make everyone happy, making the mustang more modern with it's 4&6 engines while keeping the traditionalists happy with the 8's, and just in time for the Pony's 60th B-Day in 2014! As for other coupes and convts, there are several options as I see it. One option simply rebadges the Euro Focus hardtop convt as a Mercury Cougar, giving the brand a model that is unique and cheap to build. A better option In my view is to replace the Focus CC with a Ford Puma/Capri available in coupe and hardtop convt models with the NA version to be named Cougar. I would base the "feel" of these cars around the Reflex concept, which I thought was quite fetching and could easily updated to fit better with Ford's Dave/Kinetic hybridization design theme going forward. All Cougars, as I will call them, would be based on the Focus or Fiesta platform, be inexpensive as possible, and only feature I4's from the 1.6 & 2.0/2.5 families, making let's say 150/175/200/274 HP in various trims, the lowest model reserved for Europe perhaps. This would fill gaps in Ford's lineup in Euro, China,& NA, as well as give Mercury a unique car that would fit in well with it's new small car and CUV mission. If things were better, I would also love to see a new Thunderbird, only as a hardtop convt and with ecoboost I4's and maybe a hybrid model, a sort of softer and more sophisticated companion to the Mustang, but int the end I don't think there is room, and Lincoln needs a cat of this sort far more than Ford needs another sporty 2dr convt. Anyway, what to you his think? Over the next few days I am going to post my ideas about the future of Mercury and Lincoln, and how much promise they hold fie the future. Thanks for reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Overall, quite nice ds91776 & rather than start by listing alternate ideas, what would you think of adding the inline 4.0 6cyl to Lincoln? (and maybe even an approx 5.4 v12) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joihan777 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Focus=Mercury Cougar? No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) Gotta say l would love to see Ford do small RWD drive Coupe in Europe but l just can't ever see it happening they are FWD cars only now it would be to odd & out of place, but there is a big Coupe hole in FOE line-up we have only just got a SUV that has also been missing from FOE line for a long time. Capri like the Mustang was a massive hit for FOE but Ford but the Probe, Puma & Cougar that followed the Capri were huge sales flops so l can't see FOE warming with to much to yet another Coupe flop even though they were a nice little profit generator for Ford. My last new car l brought was a Capri in 1985 and remember him telling me one Capri sale generated the same profit as six Sierra sales at the time. I don't think Ford US would like a small Coupe completing & eating into Mustang sales which happened when Ford sold the European Capri got sold by Mercury in the early 70's when Mercury sold 500,000 European Capri's. Ford would better off bringing a Mustang with smaller engine that would be needed to meet future EU emmisions legislation in Europe, Most Europeans would like to see, want to buy a V8 Mustang but the EU law is an arse. Gotta agree with folk like Nick that say Ford need to fix Ford first before they start taking risks with cars like a new Coupe. Gotta say l think when the car market does pick up GM and Ford will be so lean & mean and fighting fit that they will end up taking a huge market share away from the Toyota and Honda's of this world. Ford's Mustang is a hugely popular car with Brit's even though it has never been sold here. I watched a TV show over Christmas "100 most popular car ever" which was the biggest ever polled/survey ever carried out in the UK it was conducted through a national newspaper, TV Channel & Monthly car magazine. Even the car that finished in 100th place got thousands of votes. Ford's Mustang was the only car in the top 10 that had never ever been sold in the UK and it finished 7th. Ford's Focus was 20th, Ford GT40 was 11th, Cortina 6th, Escort 5th and the Capri was Ford's highest place car in 4th place, E-type 3rd, Mini 2nd & the Porsche 911 was the voted Britains most favourite car of all time ever. So if you ever hear anybody thats sas Brit's don't think a lot of the Mustang tell them they are lying, we love it to bits but we just don't get the chance of buying one to prove it. Edited January 30, 2009 by Ford Jellymoulds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintlaz1 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Focus=Mercury Cougar? No. I agree, that would be too small for a cougar, however a mondeo variant 2 door i would be for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalepsy Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Small coups don't sell well. Fiesta & Focus hatchback/coupes are more than enough for that market. It's hard to make a business case for a new small RWD coup/convertibles when the ones are the market like S2000, MR2, Solstice, or Sky did so poorly. The only one that's been able to hold on for dear life is Miata, but I don't think Ford should be charging into such a tiny market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Still waiting on driving reviews, but AutoExpress says the Focus RS is Capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in just 5.9seconds, the car is also capable of a staggering 165mph. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr...-unleashed.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Still waiting on driving reviews, but AutoExpress says the Focus RS is two words ...Yes Please....it even LOOKS like a wild ride http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr...-unleashed.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenCaylor Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I don't think I'd want to drive a car that looks like a dead fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) Still waiting on driving reviews, but AutoExpress says the Focus RS is http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr...-unleashed.html Sorry Ed, RS has never been about how fast it is - It's always been about how good it is and FWD only ain't good. Last time FWD done anything in the world of of all terrain rallying was the FWD Mini it ain't good and never will be? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAC_Rally 1965 Edited January 31, 2009 by Ford Jellymoulds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Small coups don't sell well. Fiesta & Focus hatchback/coupes are more than enough for that market. It's hard to make a business case for a new small RWD coup/convertibles when the ones are the market like S2000, MR2, Solstice, or Sky did so poorly. The only one that's been able to hold on for dear life is Miata, but I don't think Ford should be charging into such a tiny market.Less than stunning sales of the Camry Solora and Accord Coupe killed the Fusion coupe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Porsche the most profitable company in the world looking like they might buy VW, profits made from a history of building great coupes like the 911. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syrtran Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 However, I believe the next Mustang should be smaller and lighter, with a more modern style, bit of course keeping the tri tail lamps and side scoop as Mustang musts. Power souls come from a ecoboost I4 for starters, with 275 let's say, with a ecoboost V6 as the next upgrade with 355 HP. The Gt would have the 5.0V8 making 400+ HP and perhaps an SVT and Mach 1 type editions with ecoboosted V6's and V8's rspectively, making 415 for the 6 and over 500 for the 8. This set up would make everyone happy, making the mustang more modern with it's 4&6 engines while keeping the traditionalists happy with the 8's, and just in time for the Pony's 60th B-Day in 2014! This is many years old: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSFan00 Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 You wanna talk about change, consider the hysteria if Ford went in the direction of a Focus-derived Mustang. I can only imagine the carnage on this board. "One Ford" would have it's performance car on both sides of the pond, though. Further BON-forums hysteria-inducing thought; what if it were built in Mexico? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Sorry Ed, RS has never been about how fast it is - It's always been about how good it is and FWD only ain't good. That was then, and this is now. That's why I mentioned that we are still waiting on driving impressions on the RS, because the RevoKnuckle geometry HAS NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE, so any comparison to any other FWD coupes is meaningless, when it comes to estimating "how good it is". Then again, I prefer AWD, and the competition Volvo C30 turbo with AWD would seem to make a very nice coupe indeed. http://www.motorauthority.com/report-volvo...-prototype.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) That was then, and this is now. That's why I mentioned that we are still waiting on driving impressions on the RS, because the RevoKnuckle geometry HAS NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE, so any comparison to any other FWD coupes is meaningless, when it comes to estimating "how good it is". Then again, I prefer AWD, and the competition Volvo C30 turbo with AWD would seem to make a very nice coupe indeed. http://www.motorauthority.com/report-volvo...-prototype.html Only thing that will do well out of a FWD only Focus RST will be AWD Scoobie and EVO sales, sorry Ed but l think Ford have done a lot better if it had been a AWD like the AWD WRC Focus RS rally car, lets hope l am proved wrong though LOL. Do Ford realise how desperate some folk are to get their hand on a small Ford Coupe and the lengths they are going to at the moment across this side of the pond Ed, we have got Camero looking ex Capri's popping up all over the place here. Gotta say l prefer the original Capri though. Link Link Edited January 31, 2009 by Ford Jellymoulds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Only thing that will do well out of a FWD only Focus RST will be AWD Scoobie and EVO sales, sorry Ed but l think Ford have done a lot better if it had been a AWD like the AWD WRC Focus RS rally car, lets hope l am proved wrong though LOL. Do Ford realise how desperate some folk are to get their hand on a small Ford Coupe and the lengths they are going to at the moment across this side of the pond Ed, we have got Camero looking ex Capri's popping up all over the place here. Gotta say l prefer the original Capri though. I like the idea of a small RWD chassis. And the early Euro Capri is the right size and weight (probably about 1/2 the weight of the new Camaro! LOL!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.