I personally don’t have a problem with this strategy, as long as the base platform is sound. In respect to Toyota, whenever they had a new model, the changes were sufficient enough to look like a model. Most people could care less about the frame of the vehicle. If Ford could have stuck with one platform for all their sedans maybe they could’ve realize more cost savings over time and there would still be a Ford sedan. As you say, C2 is more than sufficient to last a long time and underpin multiple models.
I have a Continental with the 2.7T and have had almost no issues so far (currently at 50K miles) other than having all four electric door handles replaced under warranty (some handles started working intermittently, LED lights were burning out--apparently there was a recall for them). I would be more worried about electronics (door handles, rear sunshade, panoramic glass roof motor, rear taillight bar, etc.) than I would the engine. I'm on a Continental FB group and it's generally recommended to get an extended warranty through Ford because when some of the electronic things fail, it can get very expensive.
You can contact guides from this Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/tourguidesandtourmanagers/ I have seen plenty of tour guides on that group.
I was disappointed they didn't keep an investment in Rivian and that the Lincoln that they were developing together never saw the light of day.
Lucid will never happen. Sedans are to Ford what crosses are to vampires. Besides you'd have the Saudi royal family to deal with.
I’d really like to see ford bring back the functionality of sync that my fusion had back in the days. Being able to control the AC and the radio from the steering wheel without having to take your eyes off the road at all was great. I’d be ok with no physical buttons if I had that ability.
Volume is on the steering wheel and with auto climate you really don’t have to adjust it very much. Given a choice I would take physical buttons but even with those you still have to glance at it. It’s really not a big issue if you don’t have to go through menus.
But the platforms don’t have to be different. C2 is a great example. CD3 and 4, D2, C1 and all its variants in different countries were a complete waste as has now been proven by C2 with three drivetrains. You can still do different tophats and other cosmetic changes but you need a high volume low cost platform to start with and that means make it once and use it everywhere.
5G Ranger would have been better off if had been designed for US markets originally. And for Bronco. And they could have done a lot more with CD6.
Meanwhile Toyota just keeps rolling out Camrys and Corollas and Tacomas with the same platforms as 20 years ago just with minor updates and a few new bits here and there and new tophats. Their platform costs must be minuscule. And it works.
I have a 2012 F250 and was thinking about replacing the seats as they are old and worn out. I would love to replace them with new factory seats but as those are discontinued. I am not able to find any seats for my truck that are much better than mine. I have however been able to find 2018-2022 seats. Does anyone know if it is possible to swap the 2018-2022 seats into the 2012 truck? And if so what all would it take? Also, the truck does have a center console.