Fixing Ford: Mercury to Get Euro-Designed Product(s)?

[Kent]

:cough: Ford :cough:

So is the Focus being changed any time soon?
Sorry I didn't read back but I'd love to hear what Ford has in mind for the Focus of the future.

Btw, wasn't the old contour a mondeo?

 

[JCE]

Yes, the old Contour was a Mondeo. And in SVT trim was ****ing brilliant!

 

[a6m5]

:cough: Ford :cough:

I know, sorry. That's why I stopped.

So is the Focus being changed any time soon?
Sorry I didn't read back but I'd love to hear what Ford has in mind for the Focus of the future.

What article said:

"The amount of overlap between Ford in the U.S. and Ford of Europe was one of the first things that surprised Mulally when he arrived at Ford exactly one year ago. He's quickly set about fixing the redundancy, but we won't likely see the fruits of his labor until 2010 or 2011 when the next Focus is expected to debut for both markets."

Btw, wasn't the old contour a mondeo?

Yes.

Edit:

Yes, the old Contour was a Mondeo. And in SVT trim was ****ing brilliant!

Agreed. I think I loved all their Non-Mustang SVT cars.

 

[JCE]

Oh, by the way anyone remember seeing this at a 2005 autoshow?

Why can't the Sport Trac look like that? Just with door handles.

 

[Joey D]

It can't look like that because then it would actually sell. Ford for the longest time was hell bent on selling American cars they didn't want...now they at least have a couple decent models.

 

[JCE]

So you agree that the Sport Trac in the above pic looks freaking sweet? Because I do.

*edit*
And is it just me or does those center caps on the rims say "SVT"?

 

[Joey D]

Yes I like it, although I've always kind of liked the Sport Trac even though it's a pretty stupid idea...like the four door S-10 was. But then again I've always liked really pointless vehicles, I mean for chrissake I drive a 2 door Blazer!

Yes those rims do say SVT, I think that might have been the SVT concept they did a couple years ago that was going to replace the gap the Lightening left.

 

[JCE]

I like the Sport Trac myself, even the 1st gen was a cool truck. It may be pointless, but unlike the tonka truck Avalance the Sport Trac actually LOOKS cool while being pointless.

 

[YSSMAN]

So, a bit of an update...

At the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, Ford CEO Alan Mulally revealed that the automaker would be introducing a new Taurus sedan next year to replace the one that has failed to meet sales expectations despite a number of substantial improvements and a new name. Mulally said in his speech, "The new Taurus is the one we should have made originally." He clearly concedes that the current Taurus is not what the market wants, but as to what Ford should have made originally, we can't say with confidence what he's referring to. The current Taurus is a supremely competent sedan wrapped in a supremely ho-hum package, so we expect next year's Ford Taurus to be more stylish inside and out, as well as be made available with a range of turbocharged, direct-inject EcoBoost engines to augment the currently available 3.5L V6.

Mulally also reiterated in his speech Ford's intent to commonize platforms and models that are sold across the pond from one another. He even specifically mentioned the Ford Focus, saying it would eventually be the same as the European Focus. We've been wanting a hard date for when this will happen, as enthusiasts in the U.S. have been wailing with fists for the Euro version of the Focus to be sold in the U.S. since it debuted. While a firm time-table still eludes us, at least we have confirmation that one day our Focus will be as cool as theirs.

I can't fault them for it, the Taurus is really hit/miss. I like the car, its a good car, but it isn't an excellent car, which is a problem. We'll see what comes of it... If Ford is smart, maybe they'll give us the Mondeo somehow...

 

[High-Test]

Finally!!

It took Ford how long to figure out that we deserve the same Focus the rest of the world gets?

Hopefully this new Taurus will be just as much of a coup as the original one was 21 years ago. With a turbo six, it's bound to get decent sales. Hopefully they won't get complacent and will make vested efforts to improve their vehicles as time goes on.

 

[Jim Prower]

Heck, If they'd just offer the EcoBoost now..."DID YOU SEE THAT TAURUS GO????"

I'll be interested, though, to see if Kinetic shows up on the new car.

 

[Philly]

Hmm. I wonder if there is a catch with the Focus thing. It wouldn't make too much sense but maybe we will get the MKII when Europe moves on to the MKIII? Either that or they are developing the MKIII to drive on US roads.

 

[YSSMAN]

We're supposed to be skipping MKII altogether, if my understanding of Ford is correct...

 

[JCE]

"DID YOU SEE THAT TAURUS GO????"

Did I coin a quotable phrase?

 

[Dave A]

Good news for you guys about the Euro Focus, it's a very good car and I'm sure it'll do well in the US. It better had, you've been nagging for it for ages .

 

[High-Test]

Did I coin a quotable phrase?

Yes you did. I know at least two people have quoted it..

I'll agree with Dave, we better like the Euro-spec Focus. We've been crying "I WANT THAT ONE!!" to Ford for how many years now? I'd love to see an Ecoboost I4 in the Focus. Hello GTI...

 

[YSSMAN]

Since this has become the general Ford thread to some extent...

(Okay, just an example...)

Ford has promised that the Mercury brand will live on in a way that sets the marque apart from it's Blue Oval-badged siblings. Many Autoblog readers have commented that Ford should utilize its European models to meet this end, and all indications are that you were right on. Ford has said that the next all-new Mercury would come in 2010, and Ford of Europe CEO John Fleming told Automotive News that the vehicle will "likely" be designed and engineered in Europe. The reason for Mr. Fleming's confidence comes from the fact that the new vehicle will be based on the Ford Focus platform, and that vehicle architecture will, for the foreseeable future, be developed overseas.

Ford of Europe currently builds the C-Max, the three-, four-, and five-door Focus and the Kuga off the C-platform, meaning any one of those variants could one day wear a Mercury waterfall grille. While it would essentially still be a rebadged Ford, this new Merc will be a slightly reworked version of a vehicle that won't otherwise be sold stateside, so it will be new to us. That sounds a lot better than the Mercurys we have today.

Not surprising much at all, however, the choice for what will presumably be the MKIII Focus platform is interesting. Remember that they're converting US plants over to be able to build them, so yes, we could have a Euro-designed Mercury built just outside of Detroit. I'm game.

 

[a6m5]

I don't know about the rest of the country, but around Portland Metro(Oregon), Lincoln/Mercury dealers have closed doors. It was so bad, they didn't even make it "to"(not 'through', 'to') the economic downturn.

From what I understand, Ford is helping($$$) struggling dealers close, both Ford & Lincoln/Mercury. Around here, couple of stronger Ford dealers have taken on the Lincoln Mercury lineup. They were supposedly awarded the franchises for free.

Game plan here of course is to close down struggling dealers, and make the healthy ones(if you can call it that) more profitable. Hopefully it will work out, but if this is the trend around the country, this only reinforces my view on Mercury. They should go bye-bye, as most of them are going to be sold at Ford dealers anyway.

 

[YSSMAN]

We only have one Lincoln/Mercury dealer in town, and as far as I can think at the moment, it may be the only one in the immediate area of West Michigan. You'd probably have to head at least 40 mins to Kalamazoo or somewhere on the lake shore to find another.

Nothing terrible I suppose, but nevertheless, its sad when you don't have traction in too many places. Particularly when they (Lincoln mostly) are finally offering great cars again.

 

[Philly]

Mercury says there's two in Grand Rapids and another a few miles away from here in the northern part of Holland. But there are only four in the entire Seattle area (and a fifth in Bremerton). And the last time I drove by one it was full of Marauders and used vehicles from other brands.

How is this going to affect Ford USA's plans? Are we going to see European Fords here that are essentially the same as Mercurys or is Ford going to leave it at the Fiesta and Focus and keep offering their current offerings?

 

[JCE]

Lets see, Ford Euro models rebadged as Mercury's? Game. Set. Match. Epic win! Gimme a Mondeo please!