MKII Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 (edited) Another Ford vehicles life is over..........July 25, 2017 Author Marga Bulugean US company Ford announced yesterday that due to B-segment dynamics, the company plans to stop production of the B-MAX at the Craiova plant from the first part of September. The company also announces that over 500 new employees will be recruited to support the needs of the Vehicle Production area. http://www.cvlpress.ro/25.07.2017/concomitent-se-fac-si-angajari-ford-anunta-oprirea-productiei-modelului-b-max/ In English http://www.romaniajournal.ro/ford-to-stop-b-max-production-in-september-yet-will-hire-500-people/ C-Max is probably next on the chopping block for the EU market, as we already know that it is on its last legs in North America. Edited July 25, 2017 by MKII Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 FWIW, this isn't unique to FoMoCo. It seems like nearly every review from The Road Show has Brian Cooley pointing out how you have to buy this stupid combination of packages to get these particular features. It's not the packaging, it's the fact that the top of the line model doesn't have most of those as standard equipment. I can see those being optional on the mid-tier model but there is no reason they should be optional on a Reserve and especially not on Black Label MKXs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 These are the optional packages for the MKX Reserve. Cargo Utility Package Rear Cargo Management System (Liftgate Scuff Plate, Cargo Net and two (2) Chrome Cargo Tie-down Hooks) Molded Plastic Storage Bins & Spare Tire Vanity Cover (located under cargo floor) Cargo Compartment with Reversible Mat 110V/150W AC Power Outlet Interior Cargo Cover Lincoln MKX Climate Package Heated Rear Seats Heated Steering Wheel Rain-Sensing Wipers Auto High-Beam Headlamps Windshield Wiper De-Icer Lincoln MKX Technology Package Active Park Assist Front Park Aid Sensors 360-Degree Camera Driver Assistance Package Lane Keeping System – Lane-Keeping Alert – Lane-Keeping Aid – Driver Alert System Adaptive Cruise Control Adaptive Steering Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection– Collision Warning – Brake Support – Active Braking Note: Requires Lincoln MKX Climate Package (51C) Luxury Package Adaptive LED Headlamps Revel® Ultima System with 19 Speakers and HD Radio™ Rain sensing wipers and auto high beams should not be tied to the climate package. Cargo package should be standard. Driver Assistance and Technology should be combined and/or made standard on the Reserve. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 I just checked dealer inventory for a black MKX Reserve. Found 6 within 40 miles. Only one of the 6 had the Driver Assistance package and the Technology package. Ridiculous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 (edited) I just checked dealer inventory for a black MKX Reserve. Found 6 within 40 miles. Only one of the 6 had the Driver Assistance package and the Technology package. Ridiculous. Considering those items are standard on a Toyota Corolla. Whats even more sad is those items are also optional on a 83K Lincoln Navigator.... Drivers assistance should be standard on every MKX, Cargo Management and Utility and inflatable rear seatbelts should be standard on everything from Select and up and Technology should be standard on Reserve and up. The other stupid one is the "Enhanced security package" Enhanced Security Package Perimeter Alarm, Secondary Horn, Lockable Interior Storage, Vehicle Inclination Sensor, Enhanced Valet Mode. HOW IS THIS NOT STANDARD, but charge $60. Edited July 25, 2017 by jasonj80 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Considering those items are standard on a Toyota Corolla. Whats even more sad is those items are also optional on a 83K Lincoln Navigator.... Drivers assistance should be standard on every MKX, Cargo Management and Utility and inflatable rear seatbelts should be standard on everything from Select and up and Technology should be standard on Reserve and up. The other stupid one is the "Enhanced security package" Enhanced Security Package Perimeter Alarm, Secondary Horn, Lockable Interior Storage, Vehicle Inclination Sensor, Enhanced Valet Mode. HOW IS THIS NOT STANDARD, but charge $60. Let's hope the new guy addresses this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Does Ford really need a second Escape plant when Louisville is able to do this: Louisville production Jun 2017 (YTD) Escape.................34, 692........(192,689) MKC........................5,947..........(29,300) TOTAL..................40,639.........(221,989) Depends on if you believe the segment will continue to grow. Escape was formerly the #1 seller in the compact CUV class. Now it is #3 or #4. Escape sales volume hasn't declined... the rest of the field has leapfrogged it. Everyone else has two (or three!) plants supplying the North American market. Most of the competitors are also (if not already) planning to add a 2nd compact CUV models to the range (e.g. Nissan Rogue+Rogue Sport, Kia Tuscon+Niro, Mitsubishi Outlander+Outlander Sport, Jeep Cherokee+Compass, Subaru Forester+XV etc). Some A lot of the Focus and Fusion buyers are going to buy CUV next time so Ford needs the be able to structurally lift the production volume of its compact CUVs. Adding another plant is inevitable (for Escape overflow + new compact CUV model). The question is where and when. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Another Ford vehicles life is over..........July 25, 2017 Author Marga Bulugean US company Ford announced yesterday that due to B-segment dynamics, the company plans to stop production of the B-MAX at the Craiova plant from the first part of September. The company also announces that over 500 new employees will be recruited to support the needs of the Vehicle Production area. http://www.cvlpress.ro/25.07.2017/concomitent-se-fac-si-angajari-ford-anunta-oprirea-productiei-modelului-b-max/ In English http://www.romaniajournal.ro/ford-to-stop-b-max-production-in-september-yet-will-hire-500-people/ C-Max is probably next on the chopping block for the EU market, as we already know that it is on its last legs in North America. Saw that one coming. The market is changing very quick in Europe right now and all the MPV type vehicles are being rapidly replaced by CUVs. e.g. Renault Espace and Peugeot 3008 went from MPV to CUV, Opel Crossland X (CUV) replacing Meriva (MPV) etc. C-Max 5 seat is for sure ripe for replacement by something like Focus Active, and Grand C-Max is probably going to give way to a 7 seat Kuga/Escape during the next redesign. B-Max is essentially being replaced by EcoSport as a short term measure but let's hope Ford put the new bigger EcoSport on a fast track replacement time table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 (edited) Saw that one coming. The market is changing very quick in Europe right now and all the MPV type vehicles are being rapidly replaced by CUVs. e.g. Renault Espace and Peugeot 3008 went from MPV to CUV, Opel Crossland X (CUV) replacing Meriva (MPV) etc. C-Max 5 seat is for sure ripe for replacement by something like Focus Active, and Grand C-Max is probably going to give way to a 7 seat Kuga/Escape during the next redesign. B-Max is essentially being replaced by EcoSport as a short term measure but let's hope Ford put the new bigger EcoSport on a fast track replacement time table. Kill the Fiesta now and pull up the retooling of the plant for the vehicle that is slotting between the EcoSport and Escape and then Sole sourced for NA/SA and Europe from that plant? For a bit you might have some overlap between that and the Escape for a year or 18 months but when the new Escape comes you have a slightly larger version. It is the opposite that GM did where old Equinox owners are going into the dealership and going this is to small and have nothing to put them in as they don't want a huge Traverse. That or they could make it an NG Escape/Kuga plant and supplement plants around the world. I would suspect this (vehicles getting axed) to be touched on tomorrow morning on the earnings call. Edited July 25, 2017 by jasonj80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Actually wonder if Fiesta Active is the replacement for B-Max in Europe and Ecosport continues as before..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Well one less product to worry about with the DCT in it Wonder if the next Gen Focus is going to have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 It was supposed to have a 7-speed DCT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 It was supposed to have a 7-speed DCT. The wet clutch DCTs have been fine. It's the dry clutch version that's a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev-Mo Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Too bad, The Fiesta's that I have rented were much better than other sub-compacts. Far better than Hyundai and Kia. Gosh - the Kia I had on my last trip was awful! But somehow Kia keeps moving along. I am not a big Fanboy of Jeremy and Top Gear, but this was the best car test ever: Hope the Ecosport is good- it's already more than fashionably late to the show. Here in Colorado, the outdoor active young folks who can scrape up the credit are lining up in droves to get the new Toyota C-HR, and the Subaru Crosstrek is a top seller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Too bad, The Fiesta's that I have rented were much better than other sub-compacts. Far better than Hyundai and Kia. Gosh - the Kia I had on my last trip was awful! But somehow Kia keeps moving along. I am not a big Fanboy of Jeremy and Top Gear, but this was the best car test ever: Hope the Ecosport is good- it's already more than fashionably late to the show. Here in Colorado, the outdoor active young folks who can scrape up the credit are lining up in droves to get the new Toyota C-HR, and the Subaru Crosstrek is a top seller. Yuck, that C-HR is hideous. And that rear door handle is just asking to snap off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbone Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 Too bad, The Fiesta's that I have rented were much better than other sub-compacts. Far better than Hyundai and Kia. Gosh - the Kia I had on my last trip was awful! But somehow Kia keeps moving along. I am not a big Fanboy of Jeremy and Top Gear, but this was the best car test ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujxD_jYWqMw Hope the Ecosport is good- it's already more than fashionably late to the show. Here in Colorado, the outdoor active young folks who can scrape up the credit are lining up in droves to get the new Toyota C-HR, and the Subaru Crosstrek is a top seller. I can understand the Crosstrek. That is a nice little vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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