Of course and I agree with that, Ford making better product decisions.
Sorry not expressing myself clearly and Ford completely right to change its mind
with products it sees as not aligned with enough buyers, things like that happen.
To be fair, the CD4 Fusion/MKZ/Mondeo was begun way back in 2008 as a way of
eliminating the CD3 Fusion/MKZ and consolidating on the evolved Euro Mondeo, that
was a good thing because it was not developed in isolation, as were the other CD4s
like Edge/Nautilus/S-Max/Galaxy, all of those were seen as necessary at the time but
yes, buying tastes began changing away from them. So even if they were right
decisions at the time of development, they soon became less desirable products to
buyers (Ford tried everything even AWD V6 EB engine).
What really irks is that C1 and C2 were right decisions that Ford now sees as valuable,
pits a shame that a few of the Chinese developed vehicles didn’t make their way to
North America - understandable considering Ford full commitment to BEVs but then,
Ford could change its mind if the situation warranted a product cycle of other types
of vehicles that would attract the kinds of buyers Ford wants (thinking HEV/PHEV).
Love your truck. One of my favorite generations. Once I stop paying for all my kids, I plan to buy a 92-97 F250 to restore. Growing up, my friend’s dad had a 92 regular cab, two tone gray with black through the middle, like the one pictured, that I always loved. I basically want a replica of that truck.
Correct, the 1.5 T drives the electrical system so its role is basically charge sustain or provide a certain amount of power to drive the vehicle if and when the battery runs flat. With at least some charge in the battery, full power to Front motor (170 Kw/310 nm) and rear motor (150 Kw/340 nm) which combined makes 320 Kw/650 nm (428 Hp/480 lbft).
Its weird but it probably gives buyers the best of both worlds, probably 45 miles of real world electric range which is probably adequate for most commuters that home charge overnight but then also gives around 500 miles of total range, not sure with towing max loads but probably way less of course… For me, the 1.5 gas turbo is a little small but maybe it works just fine for this application.
In any regard, I hope this vehicle gives Ford and GM inspiration or at least a target for future products that are not less compromised than the current crop of full electric vehicles. The smaller battery size is easier to accomodate and far less expensive too…. Maybe easy to reconfigure on C2?
Agree, China helped Lincoln, the below is not aimed at you by the way, advanced apology for the “rant”
Initially, the plan was for Western and Asian carmakers to partner with a local Chinese brand
but back then, the Chinese loved those foreign brands more than the local domestic products.
With the coming of hybrids and electric vehicles, the Chinese government support for them,
the tables have now been switched.
IMO, China’s domestic car market is now fools gold for anyone but Tesla and Chinese brands,
Ford had all this time to develop affordable hybrid and electric vehicles for China and export
to near Asian markets but instead, it doubled down trying to crack the Chinese market.
Maybe the answer is setting up production of RHD & LHD of C2 products in Thailand for
sales in the region and just skip China completely, I just hope they do something soon.
Maybe two or three vehicles in the one plant would make for a viable business plan….
Texasota is exactly right. China is the largest automotive market in the world. Every manufacturer wanted to be part of that. Plus investors and stockholders demanded it.
Ford and many other auto manufactures found the allure of a market with 1.4 billion consumers impossible to resist. Unfortunately, it did not turn out so well with the forced technology transfer and outright IP theft.
IIRC the growth potential in China was estimated to be huge and the profit potential was too big to ignore. But like a lot of things it fizzled out.
At least we got a new Nautilus out of it.