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Ford Confirms Plan: More SUVs/CUVs, Fewer Cars


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While they still are not getting into specifics, here's some more confirmation of the move away from cars:

 

 

Ford plans to grow its SUV lineup by 10 percentage points, and shrink the car lineup accordingly “over the next couple of years” in North America.

 

 

 

Farley, meanwhile, outlined some of the business moves planned for the next few years. Ford will “play to our strengths,” he said. Cars will give way to more crossovers and SUVs. The company is planning to develop “authentic off-roaders and high-performance city crossovers.”

 

 

All of this is consistent with what has been discussed in other threads - it sounds like ST versions of Escape and Ecosport are coming fairly soon. Still nothing definite regarding Fusion.

 

There's more interesting tidbits in the article, I suggest reading it in full: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/detroit-auto-show/2018/01/16/suvs-fewer-cars-ford-lineup/109527312/

Edited by Harley Lover
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Well I can see the Taurus, C-Max and Fiesta going away like what has been rumored. Still not convinced that Fusion needs to go away.

 

Agree. Nothing in the article one way or the other. If they want the Fusion capacity to support some other CUV product, it doesn't make sense to throw away all those Fusion sales. If the plan is to take Fusion upmarket (higher ATP, lower unit sales), maybe that supports the move to CD6, and line sharing with a CUV on CD6?

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Agree. Nothing in the article one way or the other. If they want the Fusion capacity to support some other CUV product, it doesn't make sense to throw away all those Fusion sales. If the plan is to take Fusion upmarket (higher ATP, lower unit sales), maybe that supports the move to CD6, and line sharing with a CUV on CD6?

 

^^^This. I don't think the Fusion goes away, I just think Ford steers to the more profitable side of Fusion sales, realizing they will lose a few sales in the process.

Edited by fordmantpw
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We're all screwed when gas prices go back up. '09 all over again.

 

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

 

-George Santayana

 

The difference this time is that SUVs and trucks are much more efficient than they were in '09. The additional electric/battery/hybrid vehicles in the next 5-7 years is going to help that out even more.

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^^^This. I don't think the Fusion goes away, I just think Ford steers to the more profitable side of Fusion sales, realizing they will lose a few sales in the process.

 

The definition of fusion is "the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity". I could see the next gen Fusion become a cross between a sedan/hatchback and an CUV. Basically a Toyota Venza, but done better.

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The difference this time is that SUVs and trucks are much more efficient than they were in '09. The additional electric/battery/hybrid vehicles in the next 5-7 years is going to help that out even more.

You can sell all the money losing BEV's in the world, but we still don't have the infrastructure for them.

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The definition of fusion is "the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity". I could see the next gen Fusion become a cross between a sedan/hatchback and an CUV. Basically a Toyota Venza, but done better.

 

A little foresight in naming the Fusion way back when? :)

 

You can sell all the money losing BEV's in the world, but we still don't have the infrastructure for them.

 

I agree with you, I don't think BEV's are the answer for a long time. I think hybrids (specifically plug-ins) are a much better bet for everyone involved.

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Well I can see the Taurus, C-Max and Fiesta going away like what has been rumored. Still not convinced that Fusion needs to go away.

Agreed, I think getting rid of the Fusion would be a mistake. There is enough volume to support it and perhaps if they dedicated some effort and marketing to it there would be even more volume.

Edited by tbone
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BEVs will be for show but the volume will definitely be hybrids, especially hybrid crossovers and suvs.

 

I don’t see them dropping B, C and C/D cars globally just cutting back on production and consolidating platforms. If the shift goes back to cars they’ll be able to handle that.

 

If they drop Focus and Fusion altogether then I would agree that’s really risky although I don’t think $4 gas will make nearly the impact it did last time. I think people are used to it now and vehicles are already more fuel efficient and if that happens the shift will be to hybrids and small utilities.

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Found more at Automotive News:

 

 

Ford said by 2022 it will launch 16 battery-electric vehicles and 24 hybrids or plug-in hybrids globally. North America will get 7 of the 16 battery-electrics. Europe will get three, and Asia Pacific will get 13. Some EVs will launch in more than one region.

 

 

Full article: http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180117/ANE/180119733/ford-will-launch-3-evs-in-europe-scale-back-on-passenger-cars?cciid=email-ane-daily

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The site won't let me post everything in one post, here's part 2:

 

This addresses my question about a dedicated BEV platform, but I would still like to know more details:

 

Ford will increase its planned investments in electrified vehicles to $11 billion by 2022, a figure much higher than a previously announced target of $4.5 billion by 2020. The investment includes the costs of developing dedicated electric vehicle architectures.

 

 

Full article: http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180117/ANE/180119733/ford-will-launch-3-evs-in-europe-scale-back-on-passenger-cars?cciid=email-ane-daily

Edited by Harley Lover
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And part 3 (with a money quote):

 

A very telling comment from Farley here, this sounds like a pivot initiated by Hackett (my bolding):

 

 

Ford will scale back on car offerings in North America and Europe, said Jim Farley, president of global markets. “We’ve made a lot of progress under One Ford, but it isn’t enough,” he said. “We’re pivoting away from a full line, all-market approach."

Said Farley: "We know we must evolve to be even more competitive and narrow our full line of nameplates in all markets, to a more focused lineup that delivers stronger, more profitable growth, with better returns."

 

Full article: http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180117/ANE/180119733/ford-will-launch-3-evs-in-europe-scale-back-on-passenger-cars?cciid=email-ane-daily

Edited by Harley Lover
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We're all screwed when gas prices go back up. '09 all over again.

 

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

 

-George Santayana

 

 

Not really:

 

post-11015-0-52645300-1516205445_thumb.png

 

post-11015-0-89755300-1516205565_thumb.png

 

Difference between todays Escape and Explorer is roughly $400-500 a year in favor of the newer models vs the old ones when it comes to filling them up.

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Not really:

 

escape_MPG.png

 

Explorer_MPG.png

 

Difference between todays Escape and Explorer is roughly $400-500 a year in favor of the newer models vs the old ones when it comes to filling them up.

I've had a 2004 Escape with the 3.0, had a 2007 with the 2.5, currently have a 2011 with the 3.0, had a 2017 with the 1.5 and currently have a 2018 with the 2.0. The 2011 gets the best mileage out of all 5 of them.

 

Love the Ecoboost, but it's more boost than Eco.

Edited by Pioneer
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I've had a 2004 Escape with the 3.0, had a 2009 with the 2.5, currently have a 2011 with the 3.0, had a 2017 with the 1.5 and currently have a 2018 with the 2.0. The 2011 gets the best mileage out of all 4 of them.

 

Love the Ecoboost, but it's more boost than Eco.

 

As a side note, my Wife's 2017 seems to be getting same MPG or better then the 2010 she had. She doesn't drive aggressively either.

 

My parents 2013 FWD Escape Ti has seen 32 MPG- but all depends on traffic/weather too

 

But your right, if you put your foot into it...it will eat gas!

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According to a Bloomberg.com article (which quotes an unnamed "insider'), the debate within Ford is whether to discontinue the Fusion, or bring out another generation as a more upscale model that will sell in smaller numbers, but at higher prices.

 

<cough> CD6 <cough>

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