I would!

About the ZR1's lower MSRP, the C8's baaic mid-engine architecture has performnce/ handling baked into it.    For the GTD, Ford had to alter the S650's architecture heavily to accomodate new suspension designs and transaxle (similar to the C8's) to make it handle like a supercar. 

Did we make blob sound like it's bad thing as well? 😄   Remember what Peter Holderith of The Drive said about these blobs? Normative EVs are what people here want. They want pickup trucks, they want SUVs, they want cars that mean something. They don’t want the blob. I don’t want the blob. I will not drive the blob.   Actually Peter, people do buy anonymous unibody blob cars and crossovers. But is that because appealing price and features make up for the styling (or lack thereof), as in Equinox EV's case?   More from Peter: The blob does have its aerodynamic advantages, which help negate the range penalties that come with a cabin full of energy-sapping creature comforts. But what matters now in selling EVs is about showing that they can fit into people’s lives in a way that doesn’t challenge their understanding of the world around them.  As Ford CEO Jim Farley put it, we’re in the second inning of electrification, and what the buying trends show is that people want icons.    Sounds like most car buyers, including for EV, don't give a flyin' fuck about "aerodynamic advantages" or "efficiency". If automakers offered more "icons" that are priced not too much more than the anonymous blobs out there, they'd find a willing audience for those products.   Will Ford take the lead delivering those fresh new "icons" to the EV market courtesy of CE1? I'm hoping that the August 11 event gives us a good answer.

The cupra does look really nice for what it is, it's funny how you mentioned that because I've also thought a design like that would suit the Capri name better than what we got.    On one hand, I get it, doing new body stampings is extremely expensive, so I try to understand why Ford wanted to carry over as many body panels as possible, but on the other hand, like you said, it's arguably worth the additional investment just to have a better design that stands on its own.    I'm genuinely concerned Ford's gonna repeat this mistake with the mustang sedan. In theory, the mustang sedan is gonna need new body stampings compared to the coupe because of the longer wheelbase, so a new body side, I'd imagine the roofline and decklid is also different for obvious reasons, and as such, will also require unique stampings.    For that reason, if they're already having to invest in new stampings for a significant portion of the body as is, I'd kinda prefer it if the mustang sedan had its own unique design, something fresh that doesn't just look like an s650 with 4 doors.    I just fear that because the reception to the s650s design has been lukewarm, by the time the sedan arrives in 2-3 years or more, if it looks like an s650, it's gonna look kinda dated and tired, and that might turn some buyers off. A fresh design that potentially even influences the future styling of the next coupe generation would be neat to see. 

The recalls are comin' nonstop at Ford. Literally nonstop in the case of the latest one:     Ford Motor Company is recalling 312,120 vehicles due to a potential loss of brake assist that can increase the risk of a crash. The U.S. auto giant is recalling five different models of Ford vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.   The recall affects the following models: 2025 Ford Bronco 2025 Ford Expedition 2025 Ford F-150 2025 Ford Ranger 2025 Lincoln Navigator RCLRPT-25V488-4203.pdf

Bronco Sport is still up 10k YTD.   In fact all current vehicles except Transit is up YTD.

Well for one, the Cupra (Seat) Tavascan is on MEB, similar size but way more appropriate styling as a Capri. It’s like Ford really didn’t care about sufficient differentiation or styling over the Explorer that or blocked by VW? but even then, still a bit wide through the body (unavoidable?)

Couldn't agree more, I'm of the mindset that due to the very large size of the crossover market, there's more than enough demand for Ford to offer multiple body styles to appeal to different kinds on buyers, boxier stuff like BS and coupe style crossovers like mach-e, both are aspirational iconic products, just with very different flavors so to speak.    I also agree with your take on the MEB stuff. I don't hate the explorer, it's just kinda uninspired imo, there are certain angles and design details that look quite appealing, but as a whole, it's pretty dull. The Capri on the other hand is very awkward looking, particularly because it's limited by the hard points of the MEB platform, but additionally because it shares so much sheet metal with the explorer to save on costs. Trying to blend the boxier explorer design with a fastback roofline just does not work. Then you have the stub nose on top of that.    I say throw the Capri and explorer designs in the bin, and take more styling inspiration from the bronco family for future rugged crossovers, and inspiration from puma and mach-e for street based on road performance crossovers. 

Makes me wonder if some of the lower sales observed are a result of pull forward with deals in June, the fact that Ford is offering 0% finance over 48 months with zero down for first three months  tells me that the sales market is getting extremely competitive and Ford avoiding cutting prices and accepting fewer sales as a consequence?   Without getting political, $800 million hit due to tariffs is hard to ignore, Ford eating the costs?

There’s quite a few things that determine output - number of shifts 1, 2 or 3 X 8 hour or variations like 2 X 10 hour  - number of days worked per week, 5, 6 or 7 - line speed, number of cars made per hour.   Normally, the body/paint shop will work more shifts vs assembly/final trim. the idea is to enough bodies made and painted to keep the other parts of the  plant running at constant line speed as most parts are supplied just in time.   When Louisville produced 430k in one year, that was three shifts running 7 days a week with fairly quick line speed.