Posted on 07/19/2008 11:21:56 AM PDT by decimon
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Car maker Ford Motor Co (F.N) is drawing up plans to retool American plants to make small, fuel-efficient passenger cars that it mainly makes and sells in Europe, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
nice
Mondeo is good!
They had very high ratings from the British Top Gear automotive telemag, from Jeremy Clarkson, no less!
WATCH:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1OBqrfIQOM
I hope Ford keeps a small 4x4 pickup like the Ranger in their line — but could it be available in Flex fuel please?
This seems to make sense. However, there is a reason american car manufacturers haven’t been very enthusiastic about building little cars here in the US. It’s because there is less profit margin in small cars and american labor prices are high. So amercian car companies tend to import small cars from asia and rebadge them.
I would like to see a ford ka built and sold in north america. But not unless they sell it at a very competitive price. If they can’t come in at or lower than the asking price of ten grand for a hyundai accent, then forget it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ford_Ka.JPG
Ford has invested in a hybrid version of the Fusion, so that model may not be replaced by another Mondeo. We'll see. Either way, this is the only path to continued survival. I'll bet more of GM's eurocars are offered here in coming years, too.
Yes, I've seen that questioned many times.
A car like the Ka would be fine for most of what I do.
That has Aston Martin lines.
That's probably right...Ford owned Aston Martin from 1994-2007.
Wow, they sold Aston Martin? Would you happen to know who it went to?
To a man named Bond. James Bond.
It’s [body style] better than anything they offer in the States.
What Ford needs to build is a 300hp turbo 2.4L that can compete with the Subaru WRX STI and Mitsubishi EVO X.
The hot cars are always a small part of the market. A 220hp 2.0 liter turbo would give the usual economy and occasional acceleration most people need.
Does GM still have the OPEL brand in Germany? When I was stationed there back in 88-90 there was some really nice Opel sedans and econoboxes. Way better than the garbage GM sold in the states at the same time.
GM's smaller but not smallest cars are on modified Opel platforms.
“I’ve got my eye on the Ford Mondeo!”
Mon Dieu!
That’s a neat looking small car.
If Ford could keep the “out the door” price below 10K I bet they’d sell a bunch.
Oh, well...if you like that one, you should check out the suzuki twin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Suzuki-twin_1st-front.jpg
and
There have been recent reports about Ford and GM converting truck factories to small car factories. I guess that 'truck' would include SUV.
My point exactly. Bring back live-axle trucks. The technology is far cheaper, more robust, and less complex to boot. The manufacturers could save significant amounts of money by abandoning their effort to make trucks acceptable to ordinary car-buyers. They’re retooling anyway, so retool the remaining truck lines to use the more proven technology. Dodge did it right.
You make a good point. Real pickup buyers probably don’t want to spend 40K for the Hugh Hefner model anyway.
“What Ford needs to build is a 300hp turbo 2.4L that can compete with the Subaru WRX STI and Mitsubishi EVO X.”
That wouldn’t sell that many units. They gotta start doing better in the bread and butter car markets and something as nice as Mondeo would go along way. Small cars are all the rage right now and Ford has some really nice ones like the Ka in their stable. They have no excuse for taking so long to bring them over. Nissan, Toyota, and Honda were very quick in getting small cars of theirs from other markets over here as gas prices rose. Cars they already made like the Fit, Versa, and Yaris were quickly brought to market in the states. Despite having cars like the KA which are well regarded and in those classes Ford has failed to adapt quickly and get them into the American market.
“You make a good point. Real pickup buyers probably don’t want to spend 40K for the Hugh Hefner model anyway.”
I like that my old Chevy doesn’t have power windows, or power seats, or leather, or any of that. One thing I like about it is its crudeness. Its meant to work not to squire visiting dignitaries around town. Of course if it was more only vehicle it might get old but I love that old 454 beast.
Confirmed yesterday is that the Minneapolis plant will not close as scheduled next year but will in fact remain open to produce the Ranger through 2011.
I hope they actually get around to modernizing the Ranger, but if people are conscious of mpg, a pickup whose owners (4 cyl 5 spd) report 5 mpg more than any other pickup on the market is not a bad thing to keep around.
Aston was sold to a consortium of investors - primarily the founder of Prodrive, an Aston collector, and a Kuwaiti investment firm.
Ford did retain a small portion of ownership (just under 10%, I believe) of the brand.
I haven’t heard how well the brand has been doing since the sale, but the new owners followed through with Ford plans and closed the Newport Pagnell plant.
Excellent move on Ford’s part.
Now, can I please get a flex-fuel version?
OPEN HINT TO FORD: I’ll buy one, if you make it flex fuel. Seriously. I’ve been looking at exactly this truck - but I won’t buy another gasoline-only vehicle, ever.
Ever.
Your move Ford.
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