Ford wants to revive passenger cars

[DeluxeStang]

https://carbuzz.com/ford-promises-passenger-cars-will-return/

 

Looks like Ford's gravitating back towards cars to a degree. This is just Europe for now, we'll see if this carries over into our market as well. 

 

I'd love if Ford brought that same passion they have with things like bronco and mustang into a new hatchback. Give us something  special. 

 

 

[bzcat]

It could be a case of too little too late... Ford Europe will not have much of a car business to save after Kuga and Focus end production without replacement. It will take at least 3 years of fast track development to bring them back but knowing Ford, it maybe 5 years. 

 

Maybe Ford should consider building the Bronco Sport or Territory in Valencia while they work on the new Kuga and Focus which should have never been killed. Getting rid of Mondeo and Galaxy, and C-Max are completely rational decisions... large sedan and vans are going away in Europe in favor of CUVs. But to get rid of products that were in segments that are the largest (B and C hatchback) and still growing (compact CUV) never made any sense. 

Edited July 17, 2025 by bzcat

[rmc523]

4 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

https://carbuzz.com/ford-promises-passenger-cars-will-return/

 

Looks like Ford's gravitating back towards cars to a degree. This is just Europe for now, we'll see if this carries over into our market as well. 

 

I'd love if Ford brought that same passion they have with things like bronco and mustang into a new hatchback. Give us something  special. 

 

 

 

I don't think we'll see products in every segment (i.e subcompact, compact, midsize, full size), but I could see us getting something that straddles compact and mid-size and full-size adjacent (Mustang 4-door)

[DeluxeStang]

2 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

I don't think we'll see products in every segment (i.e subcompact, compact, midsize, full size), but I could see us getting something that straddles compact and mid-size and full-size adjacent (Mustang 4-door)

Agreed, I don't believe Ford needs to have 7 different types of sedans and hatchbacks on sale, 2-3 good ones should be enough. For a sedan, we're all looking forward to the mustang sedan. As for a hatchback, either using C2 or CE1 as a base, it would be really cool if Ford gave us a sharp, almost like muscle car hatch instead of some boring generic blob on wheels. 

 

Something that took styling inspiration from the 90s escorts or the fox body. Give it exaggerated flared fenders, a sport roofline, a muscular front end inspired by the s650. A hatchback that people actually aspire to own, that isn't dorky for lack of a better word. Like the coolest and best looking hatchback you've ever seen in your life, and it starts at 30 grand. 

 

Maybe it starts off FWD to appeal to a mainstream audience with around 200 hp, but higher performance variants could add the larger electric motor from a mach-e gt or something, giving it a rear biased AWD setup with north of 400 hp. To boost profits, Ford could sell accessories like aftermarket wings and modern takes on rally lights, mud flaps, things of that nature. 

 

It would really be a captivating product for Ford's aspirational vehicle lineup. 

[Harley Lover]

If Ford believe that EVs are the long term play in Europe, might it make sense that the skunkworks EV products might find a home in Europe, and include a car-form offering? The expected 'low cost' nature of these offerings might make sense for the price segment these products would compete in.

[Harley Lover]

And this from Automotive News:

Quote

Ford will expand its Europe passenger car lineup with new models starting in 2027, dealers have been told. 

Ford’s global leadership has approved long-term investments in Europe to develop new hybrid models and battery-electric cars, dealers were told by Christoph Herr, head of the brand in German-speaking countries.

“The Board of Directors has decided that we will continue to invest in new and additional vehicles in order to enable moderate growth in the passenger car sector over the next few years,” Herr said in a message to dealers seen by Automotive News Europe sister publication Automobilwoche.

Ford will “invest in several vehicles, some of them together with partners and also with different forms of propulsion, including hybrids and fully electric vehicles,” he said.

 

https://www.autonews.com/ford/ane-ford-new-cars-europe-0716/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter-ANEDaily-20250718

Edited July 18, 2025 by Harley Lover

[Rick73]

 

Quote

“The Board of Directors has decided that we will continue to invest in new and additional vehicles in order to enable moderate growth in the passenger car sector over the next few years,” Herr said in a message to dealers seen by Automotive News Europe sister publication Automobilwoche.

Ford will “invest in several vehicles, some of them together with partners and also with different forms of propulsion, including hybrids and fully electric vehicles,” he said.

Wording seems chosen very carefully to be as ambiguous as possible, as can be expected, so I wouldn’t read too much into it.  “New and additional” vehicles could be as little as one new vehicle and one existing IMO.  “Moderate growth” could mean more than before but not by much, and couldn’t investing together with partners refer to VW, an ongoing deal?  Or could it be a new partner supplying BEVs?  Sorry but don’t see much firm commitment other than Ford will continue to invest in hybrids simultaneously with BEVs, confirming near-term investment and growth won’t be solely in BEVs.  To me that’s great news in that hybrids have an important role to play still for years to come.

 

Anyway, Ford having new affordable sedans to compete with those from the many manufacturers is exciting.   However it’s realistically also a crowded field so maybe we should not set bar too high.  Just can’t see Ford investing heavily in multiple new vehicles all at once given competition, at least until they see things start to turn around.  After BEV financial losses Ford might be a little risk adverse.

[bzcat]

The only plausible path for Ford Europe to add some new products quickly would be to borrow something from VW... but it's a short term fix.

 

If they want to have long term solution, they have to keep Kuga in production (the last remaining C2 products in Europe) until they can develop a new gen. If C2 goes away completely in Europe, the economics of restarting production is basically impossible. All your suppliers will be gone and they won't make time for you again.

[rmc523]

47 minutes ago, bzcat said:

The only plausible path for Ford Europe to add some new products quickly would be to borrow something from VW... but it's a short term fix.

 

If they want to have long term solution, they have to keep Kuga in production (the last remaining C2 products in Europe) until they can develop a new gen. If C2 goes away completely in Europe, the economics of restarting production is basically impossible. All your suppliers will be gone and they won't make time for you again.

 

Not sure how borrowing something from VW is faster than their own C2 stuff?

[DeluxeStang]

7 hours ago, Harley Lover said:

And this from Automotive News:

 

https://www.autonews.com/ford/ane-ford-new-cars-europe-0716/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter-ANEDaily-20250718

With us hearing how the skunkworks EVs are gonna come out in 2026 and 2027, and now getting this news that these car models will arrive in 2027, and how this skunkworks platform can accommodate 8 different body styles, I believe we're gonna get some CE1 sedans and hatchbacks.

[DeluxeStang]

59 minutes ago, bzcat said:

The only plausible path for Ford Europe to add some new products quickly would be to borrow something from VW... but it's a short term fix.

 

If they want to have long term solution, they have to keep Kuga in production (the last remaining C2 products in Europe) until they can develop a new gen. If C2 goes away completely in Europe, the economics of restarting production is basically impossible. All your suppliers will be gone and they won't make time for you again.

https://www.autonews.com/ford/ane-ford-new-cars-europe-0716/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter-ANEDaily-20250718

 

This article shared with me said the first of these car models will arrive in 2027. CE1 products are gonna start to be rolled out in 2026 and 2027. We've also heard this CE1 platform is underpinning car body styles, a sedan specifically has been talked about and shown to dealers in rendering form. 

 

It sounds like those cars have since been greenlit and that's what we're hearing about. We've been hearing about the CE1 truck forever, but there's a whole product line that's gonna use this platform. So it stands to reason we'll start to head more about those sorts of products right about now. 

[Joe771476]

First, fix the recall problem!

[rmc523]

Granted, it's Ford Authority, but this article is claiming these passenger vehicles will be developed with "partners"

 

And given the tie up with VW already (not to mention comments by the VW/Ford/VW guy of future tie ups), maybe this does point that way?  Which still seems stupid to me - why engineer a whole new in-house platform just to not use it in key global markets?

 

Upcoming Ford Lineup In Europe Being Developed With Partners

[Sherminator98]

58 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

Granted, it's Ford Authority, but this article is claiming these passenger vehicles will be developed with "partners"

 

And given the tie up with VW already (not to mention comments by the VW/Ford/VW guy of future tie ups), maybe this does point that way?  Which still seems stupid to me - why engineer a whole new in-house platform just to not use it in key global markets?

 

Upcoming Ford Lineup In Europe Being Developed With Partners

 

Reading in between the lines on this, it looks like that in some segments, like the B class, they might be using a partner to help off set costs, while developing say the C class EV for others? Or they are going to use some other ICE platform from another maker for ICE/Hybrid products? 

 

 

[bzcat]

On 7/18/2025 at 11:38 AM, DeluxeStang said:

https://www.autonews.com/ford/ane-ford-new-cars-europe-0716/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter-ANEDaily-20250718

 

This article shared with me said the first of these car models will arrive in 2027. CE1 products are gonna start to be rolled out in 2026 and 2027. We've also heard this CE1 platform is underpinning car body styles, a sedan specifically has been talked about and shown to dealers in rendering form. 

 

It sounds like those cars have since been greenlit and that's what we're hearing about. We've been hearing about the CE1 truck forever, but there's a whole product line that's gonna use this platform. So it stands to reason we'll start to head more about those sorts of products right about now. 

 

Focus and Kuga are ending production so Ford Europe will not have anymore supplier base in Europe to make C2, let along CE1. In order for something to be designed AND put into showroom by 2027 which is roughly 18 months, the only possible way is to rebadge something. 

 

Ford Europe has been hallowed out like the US Govt. It will not be able to design new car from scratch anymore. Nor are there enough volume in Europe to support what is now an orphaned market (for Ford) with no connection to the kind of volume products that Ford is selling in North America and China. 

[bzcat]

19 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

Reading in between the lines on this, it looks like that in some segments, like the B class, they might be using a partner to help off set costs, while developing say the C class EV for others? Or they are going to use some other ICE platform from another maker for ICE/Hybrid products? 

 

 

 

Ford doesn't need a partner for ICE B-segment. Ford Otosan still makes Puma and Transit Courier on the B platform so if Ford really wanted to make a new Fiesta ICE, it can just make another version of that platform and slap the Fiesta name on it.

 

But it seems unlikely Ford will be going back to ICE. Europe is still moving (rather quickly) towards EV, especially in mainstream cars. The headline grabbing attention about going back to ICE are all on the luxury and sports car end of the market - e.g. Porsche, Audi and Mercedes, and that's easy to understand. Rich people can afford higher operating costs and keep ICE alive just for the experience. But for brands like Ford, VW, Renault etc. there is no future in ICE in Europe. There are some really good EV already on sale from traditional OEM (see Renault R5) and the Chinese brands are gobbling up market share at blazing speed. 

 

Farley's plan was to withdraw from selling passenger cars in Europe but seems like the Europeans have convinced him to double down and try again, this time with products that actually may sell (i.e. conventional B and C hatch that just happened to be EV rather than the contrived BS like Explorer and Capri) 

[rmc523]

2 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

Reading in between the lines on this, it looks like that in some segments, like the B class, they might be using a partner to help off set costs, while developing say the C class EV for others? Or they are going to use some other ICE platform from another maker for ICE/Hybrid products? 

 

 

 

I guess it's also fair that just because it says "partner" doesn't mean Ford will use another brand's things.....it could also be the other way around.

[DeluxeStang]

3 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

Reading in between the lines on this, it looks like that in some segments, like the B class, they might be using a partner to help off set costs, while developing say the C class EV for others? Or they are going to use some other ICE platform from another maker for ICE/Hybrid products? 

 

 

Good questions, I think you're into something here. I don't believe it'll be Ford going in alone for every model, or partnering on every model, but rather a mix of the two.

[DeluxeStang]

1 hour ago, rmc523 said:

 

I guess it's also fair that just because it says "partner" doesn't mean Ford will use another brand's things.....it could also be the other way around.

I like how you think, that's a thought that's occured to me as well. Based on what we're hearing from insiders, it sounds like CE1 is a far more impressive platform than vw's MEB chassis. So perhaps Ford is flipping the script, retaining their partnership with VW but now VW is using Ford's platform instead of the other way around. Then again, VW also partnered with Rivian so we'll see what direction they go in. 

[DeluxeStang]

With all this talk about partnerships and sharing platforms, we're all assuming it's gonna be Ford continuing their relationship with VW and using their platforms. That's the most logical assumption. But I was thinking what other car companies would I really like to see Ford partner with.

 

Toyota immediately came to mind. Think about it, Toyota is a massive global company just like Ford. They put a lot of emphasis on quality like Ford is trying to do. They both have a very similar strategy right now with both companies being led by car enthusiasts who want to stop making boring cars, and Toyota seems to be very open to partnerships, having worked with Subaru, BMW, and Mazda in recent years. Not to mention Toyota is working on an entire fleet of fun next gen enthusiasts products like a new Celica and mr2. 

 

How awesome would it be if Ford and Toyota developed these platforms together? Like Toyota makes a new MR2, and Ford uses that same chassis for an RS 200, or a new Celica becomes the basis for an affordable smaller mustang branded coupe or something. Then Ford does CE1 for other products on top of that where it makes more sense. 

 

That's a really cool strategy, and partnering on enthusiast car platforms which are lower volume, higher risk, and splitting those development costs between two brands makes a lot of sense. 

[rmc523]

18 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

I like how you think, that's a thought that's occured to me as well. Based on what we're hearing from insiders, it sounds like CE1 is a far more impressive platform than vw's MEB chassis. So perhaps Ford is flipping the script, retaining their partnership with VW but now VW is using Ford's platform instead of the other way around. Then again, VW also partnered with Rivian so we'll see what direction they go in. 

 

Well, reportedly, VW's deal with Rivian is basically to have all new VW BEVs on the Rivian architecture, so I think that puts the writing on the wall for MEB products.

 

17 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

With all this talk about partnerships and sharing platforms, we're all assuming it's gonna be Ford continuing their relationship with VW and using their platforms. That's the most logical assumption. But I was thinking what other car companies would I really like to see Ford partner with.

 

Toyota immediately came to mind. Think about it, Toyota is a massive global company just like Ford. They put a lot of emphasis on quality like Ford is trying to do. They both have a very similar strategy right now with both companies being led by car enthusiasts who want to stop making boring cars, and Toyota seems to be very open to partnerships, having worked with Subaru, BMW, and Mazda in recent years. Not to mention Toyota is working on an entire fleet of fun next gen enthusiasts products like a new Celica and mr2. 

 

How awesome would it be if Ford and Toyota developed these platforms together? Like Toyota makes a new MR2, and Ford uses that same chassis for an RS 200, or a new Celica becomes the basis for an affordable smaller mustang branded coupe or something. Then Ford does CE1 for other products on top of that where it makes more sense. 

 

That's a really cool strategy, and partnering on enthusiast car platforms which are lower volume, higher risk, and splitting those development costs between two brands makes a lot of sense. 

 

Eh, BMW is really the only outside "partnership" of what you mentioned......Toyota has ownership stake in Subaru/Mazda, IIRC......  Subarus (especially BEVs) are basically just rebadged Toyotas at this point.

[jpd80]

Ford’s version of MEB became very different to what VW tried to sell them:

Ford changed the batteries, motors, drives and control module.

All the bits that VW thought it was going to cash in on were replaced.

Just stick a C2 top hat on them and call it done….

[twintornados]

2 hours ago, jpd80 said:

Ford’s version of MEB became very different to what VW tried to sell them:

Ford changed the batteries, motors, drives and control module.

All the bits that VW thought it was going to cash in on were replaced.

Just stick a C2 top hat on them and call it done….

 

Or, put Euro-Explorer and Capri on a GE1 chassis and call it done....until CE1 arrives that is.

[Biker16]

On 7/17/2025 at 11:22 AM, DeluxeStang said:

https://carbuzz.com/ford-promises-passenger-cars-will-return/

 

Looks like Ford's gravitating back towards cars to a degree. This is just Europe for now, we'll see if this carries over into our market as well. 

 

I'd love if Ford brought that same passion they have with things like bronco and mustang into a new hatchback. Give us something  special. 

 

 

 

 

[DeluxeStang]

10 minutes ago, Biker16 said:

 

 

Ford's made some great enthusiast sedans and hatches, so it's really not that much of a stretch lol.