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Ford News

486 messages,  Last post on May 02, 2013 at 5:50 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan, Automotive News

    

Messages Page 48 of 50

#463 of 486 Re: Good NA numbers, EU and pensions a concern [xwesx] by steve_ HOST

Jan 29, 2013 (2:51 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 29, 2013 2:46 pm)
True; good thing that Asia and North America are doing as well as they are.

#464 of 486 530,000 sold by steve_ HOST

Feb 16, 2013 (11:38 am)

"The Dearborn automaker, which in 2009 introduced the EcoBoost series — a marriage of turbocharging, direct-injection and twin independent variable-camshaft timing — is in need of additional engines for high-volume vehicles like the Fusion midsize sedan and F-150 pickup. Buyers increasingly have opted for the EcoBoost engines which offer boosts in fuel efficiency and performance but command a premium of about $1,000.
 
Ford won't publicly speculate on future investments, but the company's goals are clear: In lieu of more fuel-efficient but expensive diesel engines — and until hybrids and electrics catch on, if they ever do — the power and fuel efficiency of EcoBoost remains the chosen path."
 
Ford's EcoBoost engine to spur investment, job growth (Detroit News)

#465 of 486 My feelings on what Ford needs by cannon3

Feb 17, 2013 (5:47 pm)

Ford needs to expand on the Focus platform. Add a 2 door, 2 door hatch, convertible and a wagon. Give people choices on such a great platform. Next, BRING BACK THE RANGER! Offer a diesel engine in a 4cyl, offer a turbo diesel, heck even a hybrid! I just will never understand why Ford let the Japanese take the small truck market!!??? Sad.

#466 of 486 Re: My feelings on what Ford needs [cannon3] by akirby

Feb 17, 2013 (5:55 pm)

Replying to: cannon3 (Feb 17, 2013 5:47 pm)
The small truck market shrunk from 2M to 250K in just a few years. Ford chose not to invest in a vehicle in such a declining market, not the other way around.

#467 of 486 Re: My feelings on what Ford needs [akirby] by xwesx

Feb 18, 2013 (10:55 am)

Replying to: akirby (Feb 17, 2013 5:55 pm)
The market declined because small trucks weren't competitive when all the investment was in the full-size market. Tack onto that the fact that fuel economy within the segment was marginally, at best, better than in the full-size market, and what incentive do people have to buy them?
 
They sold like hotcakes when they were a good value.

#468 of 486 Re: My feelings on what Ford needs [xwesx] by akirby

Feb 18, 2013 (11:37 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 18, 2013 10:55 am)
If there was a viable market then SOMEBODY would be going after it. Nobody is making any significant investment in small trucks now. If there was that much opportunity then somebody would be going after it with gusto.
 
People who love small trucks like to think that the decline was due to product. But in reality the majority of the folks who used to buy Rangers switched to crossovers and small cars.
 
It's not that there isn't a market - it's just that the market is very small and not worth a big investment like it used to be.

#469 of 486 Re: My feelings on what Ford needs [akirby] by steve_ HOST

Feb 18, 2013 (1:04 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Feb 18, 2013 11:37 am)
All good points but there are a lot of niche vehicles out there. Juke? Countryman? Veloster? HHR? Insight? Z4? Tribeca?
 
You'd think Ford could have cranked a few Rangers now and then and still use the line for something else the rest of the time. It's not like they'd have to invest a lot of new money in tooling.

#470 of 486 Re: My feelings on what Ford needs [steve_] by xwesx

Feb 18, 2013 (1:15 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 18, 2013 1:04 pm)
Yes, but they have to make something people really want to buy. Remember, they shut down a whole plant (that's a lot of savings!) when they scrapped the Ranger in North America.
 
akirby has a point, for sure. There was a time when people liked small pickups because they recognized their utility and versatility. I think the market is itching for a good offering in this class, but are settling for compact/mid-size SUVs because there isn't anything compelling. Honda was on the right track with their Ridgeline, but the towing isn't good enough and the fuel economy stinks.
 
Get a midsize, four-door pickup with a 5'+ bed, add a solid 6,500# towing capacity, AWD optional, average FE of 25+, and priced in the 20s, and it would sell very well I think.

#471 of 486 Re: My feelings on what Ford needs [xwesx] by steve_ HOST

Feb 18, 2013 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 18, 2013 1:15 pm)
I guess it's too much to hope that Ford would let the Aussies build a third generation Ranger to US specs and ship 'em here. They seem to still be selling well there though. We came really close to buying a Courier back in the day.

#472 of 486 Re: My feelings on what Ford needs [steve_] by akirby

Feb 18, 2013 (2:04 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 18, 2013 1:04 pm)
You underestimate the amount of work involved to build "a few niche vehicles". And it would be stupid for Ford to sell 50K new Rangers if all it did was cannibalize F150 sales.
 
Ford has far better things to spend money on including making the new F150 significantly better in terms of fuel economy which would be worth a lot more than a few Ranger sales.

Messages Page 48 of 50

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