Ford is done with making boring cars

[morgan20]

5 minutes ago, akirby said:

Disagree

 

Ford's head honcho big shot doesn't put Edge in the wheelhouse category. It ain't comin' back outside China, that's a done deal

[rmc523]

1 hour ago, DeluxeStang said:

The way I see it, Ford's sort of revisiting all of their greatest hits. I'm all for this. Farley implied we might see more RS branded cars in the future, and that makes like escort might make a comeback. I believe the RS 200 and escort names both recently had their trademarks renewed. 

 

So I can see Ford entertaining the idea of offering car form factors moving forward, but I don't see them being these generic blobs that sell for $15,500. 

 

Rather, if we see the return of car form factors at all, it will be things like a mustang sedan, some sort of escort hatchback revival in EV form, an RS 200 to compete against other entry level mid engine sports cars like the cayman and c8. That sort of thing, the kinds of cars people have always wanted, and will pay a premium for, not just cars that exist for the sake of having something in the segment. 

 

We'll see how right or wrong I am there. I'm probably setting myself up for disappointment. But the idea of walking into a Ford dealership, and seeking a 1960s inspired mustang fastback next to a bronco sport, next to an RS 200 or something sounds like perfection. Offering a ton of different kinds of products, and all of them are special. Ford goes from a generic brand, to the hub for all things enthusiast oriented. 

 

The trick will be making them true "RS" cars.

 

Slapping an RS badge on a Pinto just because isn't the same as making something worthy.

[DeluxeStang]

6 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

The trick will be making them true "RS" cars.

 

Slapping an RS badge on a Pinto just because isn't the same as making something worthy.

Agreed, it's all about the execution. But it seems like they're on the right track. 

[Biker16]

So now Ford is committed to making boring trucks?

This sounds more like a sugar rush than a Strategy for transformation.

[T-dubz]

So the real problem here is ford can’t make money on boring cars. So what does ford do? They avoid the problem by building more expensive vehicles that they can make money on. If ford would focus on ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality, then they could make a profit on boring cars, and make even more on their exciting cars.

 

Another problem is “boring” is subjective. I think the ranger (minus raptor) is pretty boring compared to the competition, but some of you might disagree. You run a real risk of alienating customers if your version of boring doesn’t match up with someone else’s.

 

with that said, I’m all for exciting vehicles. I dont even care about the engine, just give me a good looking vehicle. Although I hate the name, ford needs to expand the st line idea. Using the ranger again as an example, how much better do you think the ranger would sell if every trim looked like the raptor? The looks of a raptor with the guts of an xlt would be a big seller imo. Packages like the fx2, or Toyotas pre runner are good examples.

[Sherminator98]

43 minutes ago, Biker16 said:

So now Ford is committed to making boring trucks?

This sounds more like a sugar rush than a Strategy for transformation.

 

A truck isn't a car....try again.

 

Your comment is like complaining that you can't get pancakes at Waffle House. 

 

Not to mention trucks are actually used to do work in addition to being a personal vehicle and fall under Ford Pro. 

Edited October 3, 2024 by silvrsvt

[akirby]

3 hours ago, morgan20 said:

 

Ford's head honcho big shot doesn't put Edge in the wheelhouse category. It ain't comin' back outside China, that's a done deal

I understand Ford’s position on edge financially - I was referring more to it not being boring with the ST version and customer perception.  Customers loved them and they did command much higher ATPs than Fusion, but not enough to justify keeping it.  As opposed to Escape which is boring.

[akirby]

56 minutes ago, T-dubz said:

So the real problem here is ford can’t make money on boring cars. So what does ford do? They avoid the problem by building more expensive vehicles that they can make money on. If ford would focus on ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality, then they could make a profit on boring cars, and make even more on their exciting cars.

 

Another problem is “boring” is subjective. I think the ranger (minus raptor) is pretty boring compared to the competition, but some of you might disagree. You run a real risk of alienating customers if your version of boring doesn’t match up with someone else’s.

 

with that said, I’m all for exciting vehicles. I dont even care about the engine, just give me a good looking vehicle. Although I hate the name, ford needs to expand the st line idea. Using the ranger again as an example, how much better do you think the ranger would sell if every trim looked like the raptor? The looks of a raptor with the guts of an xlt would be a big seller imo. Packages like the fx2, or Toyotas pre runner are good examples.

Not expensive vehicles necessarily - Maverick is relatively cheap, but buyers are passionate about them and we’re glad to pay over MSRP for awhile.  

[jpd80]

4 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

It does blow my mind that Ford never took Maverick global. It seems like a no brainer. 

I think the issue was how the quick development and delivery to market was entirely focused on Ford North America, maybe Ford skipped a few steps in wider market.
 

Ford Australia has requested getting Maverick for its RHD market, that was a couple of years ago now, back when parts supply was a big issue.

[akirby]

1 hour ago, Biker16 said:

So now Ford is committed to making boring trucks?

This sounds more like a sugar rush than a Strategy for transformation.

A lot of us find trucks and SUVs exciting and most cars boring.   Theyre going after products they don’t have to discount to sell.  Not rocket science.

[Biker16]

Best Quote
 

Quote

Some years ago, Akio Toyoda said Toyota would stop selling the “boring” cars it had become synonymous with and thanks to the launch of several compelling new vehicles, it’s done just that. Ford chief executive Jim Farley wants to do the same.

 

[morgan20]

1 hour ago, Biker16 said:

So now Ford is committed to making boring trucks?

 

It is. Ford has made boring trucks for a long time. But as others mentioned, those products are mostly commercial work duty vehicles from Ford Pro. They may be boring as a box of Kroger Corn Flakes. But they really bring in the moolah for Ford

 

[Dequindre]

So Ford wants to push higher ATPs in their mainstream brand, yet they let their luxury marque languish with little new product? It doesn't make much sense to me. I understand that they have to get the "house in order" with the Ford brand, but Lincoln never seems to be integral to their quest for higher margins. Some new product would do the brand wonders. Look at how well the new Nautilus is doing despite being slapped with high tariffs. 

[Sherminator98]

11 hours ago, Dequindre said:

So Ford wants to push higher ATPs in their mainstream brand, yet they let their luxury marque languish with little new product? It doesn't make much sense to me. I understand that they have to get the "house in order" with the Ford brand, but Lincoln never seems to be integral to their quest for higher margins. Some new product would do the brand wonders. Look at how well the new Nautilus is doing despite being slapped with high tariffs. 

 

Your looking at this the wrong way-I did some math and made some assumptions about profit margins. Average MSRP is just using the starting price for each trim and doesn't include product mix

 

Corsair-Average MSRP-$46730-10% Profit x24K sold in 2023=$112,152,000 potential profit

Escape-Average MSRP-$35075-5% Profitx140K sold in 2023=$245,420,000

Bronco Sport-Average MSRP-$33376-8% Profitx127K sold in 2023=$339,090,000

 

So it just goes to show you that you get more bang for your buck if you can sell a slightly higher cost vehicle with lower incentives with more volume then just selling less of a vastly more expensive vehicle. 

[morgan20]

12 hours ago, Dequindre said:

Lincoln never seems to be integral to their quest for higher margins

 

Yea, it's been that way for a while. Lincoln is probably a money loser for Ford Motor Company. Some people have suggested Lincoln is a vanity project for the big shots including ol' Billy himself. But the lack of new product in general and lack of EV in particular means that Lincoln may be on its way out except in China

[ehaase]

15 minutes ago, morgan20 said:

 

Yea, it's been that way for a while. Lincoln is probably a money loser for Ford Motor Company. Some people have suggested Lincoln is a vanity project for the big shots including ol' Billy himself. But the lack of new product in general and lack of EV in particular means that Lincoln may be on its way out except in China

McNamara wanted to drop Lincoln in the late 50's.  The 1960's Continental was barely profitable, and Lincoln only made money in the 70's through 2000's with tarted up LTD's and Thunderbirds. 

[rmc523]

18 minutes ago, morgan20 said:

 

Yea, it's been that way for a while. Lincoln is probably a money loser for Ford Motor Company. Some people have suggested Lincoln is a vanity project for the big shots including ol' Billy himself. But the lack of new product in general and lack of EV in particular means that Lincoln may be on its way out except in China

 

Double edged sword with Lincoln - they seemingly don't want to make a bigger investment to grow sales, but sales won't grow (significantly) without a bigger investment.

[AM222]

22 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

Maybe with the reopening of the India plant, we'll see something like Maverick and/or BS be produced their for southeastern distribution?

People keep on saying it's for a small EV model.  Of course, what people want now are hybrids. lol

[morgan20]

29 minutes ago, AM222 said:

People keep on saying it's for a small EV model.  Of course, what people want now are hybrids. lol

 

To compete with them low cost high tech Chinese automakers, Ford's India operations should do both EV and plug-in hybrids

[Bob Rosadini]

Speaking of cars that were not boring, did you ever see a stand alone ad spot for a Taurus SHO, Fusion Sport with a 2.7, MKZ with a 3.0?

 

Part of the problem as I see it.  Ford has had great vehicles and they seem to ignore them.  My SHO was a great vehicle and when it came time to replace it-running fine at 120,000 miles,  a relative just gave me a good offer for it-the Taurus was out of production.

 

So I started looking for a CPO SHO .  No luck in Northeast.  Then someone on this site suggested I look for a Fusion 2.7  or an MKZ with a 3.0.  That I found and have been very satisfied with it.

 

But again- a best kept secret.

[morgan20]

47 minutes ago, Bob Rosadini said:

did you ever see a stand alone ad spot for a Taurus SHO

 

These ad spots were from 1991, not too long after I started working at Ford

 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Rosadini]

1 hour ago, morgan20 said:

 

These ad spots were from 1991, not too long after I started working at Ford

 

 

 

 

 

THX-you make my point,....but that was back in the "Have you driven a Ford Lately " era ..or late in that era?...Congrats if you are still working for Ford.

 

PS..I still will bring those  ads up on You tube

 

[morgan20]

1 hour ago, Bob Rosadini said:

Congrats if you are still working for Ford

 

Thanks my friend, I took a buyout 17 years ago just before the plant where I used to work was shut down and all remaining workers laid off. When I joined, Donald Petersen was the head honcho big shot. He was well known for scolding designers responsible for boring cars with the question "is this what you would want in your driveway?"

[DeluxeStang]

On the topic of making their cars more exciting, I wonder what this means for mustang. With Farley talking about investing heavily in the mustang brand, and trying to take on Porsche. Does this mean we get even more body styles outside of the s650, mach-e, and mustang sedan?

 

As for the next gen mustang, yes, I know the s650 just came out, but humor me, I'd like to see the car lean even harder into this expressive muscle car design. I'm in the minority here, but the s650 is better looking than the s550 imo after having given it some time. 

 

One of my favorite things they changed about the s650 over the s550 is the beltline. It's mostly flat on the s550, whereas it's a lot more muscular, sculptural on the s650. I'd love if the next gen mustang had the roofline, and sharply defined front fenders from this official Ford design sketch, and kept the really powerful looking haunch of the s650. It would look fantastic imo. 

 

Edited October 4, 2024 by DeluxeStang

[Chrisgb]

I think the Audi e-tron GT is in the neighborhood where a Mustang 4 door should be.  The e-tron already has a Mach-e -esque front clip.