You realize Nautilus starts at $54k right?   X5's base trim starts at $68k and go way beyond $80k GLE's base trim starts at $62k and go way beyond $80k     While I agree it's price, and you're right, there are also competitors that are cheaper on the top end, but they offer the generic combos.

Yeah i'm sure that Ford saw that Ford Pro still has room to grow

Something to think about - Ford didn't save one thin dime by not using the Shelby name. Any offering from Ford that included the Shelby name is paid for by those that actually buy the offering. It's not like the other vehicles in the line that have nothing to do with Shelby are somehow subsidizing its use. There is no "savings", just a broader offering of performance for those that want to customize their ride without having to pay extra for a name that that they either don't need, or don't want. 

I totally agree with you and believe that 100% Demand has to also be factored in too I suppose. 

I really do think the Oakville plant getting the SD is a fuck you to the UAW when contracts negotiations happen. It removes leverage that they might have had that would hurt the company. 

The Mustang has doubled in price since 2006 (top end to top end), but its also a much more capable vehicle and far more refined then it was back then to. I remember when a 1993 Mustang GT was only $14-15K brand new and I'll venture to say people where bitching about the price back then to.    Once again, EVERYTHING has gone up in price, your not complaining that the value of your house or investments have gone up in the same time are you? My house is worth double what I paid for it almost 10 years ago.     Yes everything is more expensive and it seems like your dollars aren't going as far, but going on past pricing is disingenuous for cars. Just as another example-I went from a fully loaded SHO to a Bronco. Sticker price was roughly the same, but the Bronco isn't as luxurious as the SHO was, using the CPI calculator that same SHO would have cost about $58K in 2022, which was 10K more then what I paid for it. I ordered a Bronco that I could afford and the only thing I wanted was the larger screen (now standard) and maybe leather seats that I couldn't get in my Big Bend (at the time) so its more of what your expectations are vs what you can actually "afford"

And that’s why the sales keep dropping, those 20/30 somethings are not filling the gaps that  are left by Boomers Gen X that refuse to pay the ever increasing prices. Ford is being way too precious with price, preferring to sell less and less and refine to even higher prices.   In my country, the GT premium begins at AUS95,000 plus on road costs, that’s close to USD$70k  it nearly doubled what we used to pay for a supercharged 5.0 coyote Falcon (an engine that was hand built)

I guess they are trying something different in the color departament but yeah that pink is a particular decision. I have to admit that I was expecting something different, is a very soft refresh: same Headlights/tailights, the interior is the same, I was expecting something like the Nautilus interior

Rivian employees at the Normal, IL plant quickly restored the facility and managed to start production of R2 right on time.   A little over two years after unveiling the R2 concept, the production model is now being built in Normal, Illinois. That’s particularly impressive considering a tornado hit and damaged the facility last Friday.   The automaker called production a “milestone moment” for the R2 and said it means the “manufacturing process has been verified, every weld has been checked, every software string has been validated, and every interior material has been scrutinized to meet the high bar we set for ourselves and for you, our community.”   Rivian’s COO Javier Varela went further as he said the R2 “represents a major advance in engineering excellence and manufacturing efficiency, driving meaningful improvements in cost and quality.” Those sentiments were echoed by CEO RJ Scaringe, who called the vehicle “incredible.” The executive added he can’t wait until customers get their hands on the EV.        

Pink isn't my taste, but I wish that Ford/Lincoln would offer more compelling and interesting color options like that in the North American market.