The native Apple Maps navigation at no charge is pretty dang cool. I hope that migrates to all of Ford's vehicles.

We already know it will be just one trim with a few options.  

Oh please.  They haven't released any of the cool new features yet.

I found this image from an article. It’s a render of what they believe the Fathom will look like. I really like the look.

So... ...I just got a "Fathom Preorder" offer email from my local Ford dealer. There's no picture, no range, no towing/hauling capacities, but what is listed: Seats Five Large Touchscreen Apple Carplay and Android Auto Bidirectional Power Digital Key (smartphone) Tech Apple Maps ...so, basically, seating that could be most current vehicles, a big display (common on new vehicles) full of the usual digital junk (ditto), phone integration (yep), and power that can be piped in or out. This sounds like most electric vehicles by ANY brand, right now.

And Ranger was an Edsel name....what's your point. 

not sure how that was a joke, he’s being serious with this XL, XLT, Mariner trim suggestion….   I disagree, both because they’ve worked to unify trim levels on other products (i.e. dropping Timberline in favor of Tremor) and the fact Mariner was a Mercury name.

2 big reasons.  European cars typically cost more but the biggest reason in North America was that fwd cars were never profitable.  They were used as a CAFE offset for F series/larger vehicles.  Therefore no effort went into making the platforms cost efficient.  Contrast that Japanese who had to make money on cars from day one.

This seems to be a reoccurring theme with ford, building cheap vehicles on expensive platforms.

What would have been stupid is if they went with Ranchero. They didn't, so giving it a new, never used name on the product, they should also consider new trim level names....first two gives you something familiar and Mariner (or something similar) can now be an upscale trim level.