Ford will only sell Mustang, Focus Active in N.A.

[Kira]

1) CORRECTION: Ford didn't start out selling only black cars. Fast drying black paint available only in black was used to speed up the assembly lines.

A minor point compared to the gravity of the news but an important historical one.

2) Does eliminating a swath of smaller vehicles effect CAFE fuel economy averages? Is a trashing fuel economy goals part of the 'swamp draining'?

QUESTION: Anybody ever notice how long a large company can go doing wrong things? The bigger you are, the more momentum you have I suppose.

 

[MaximaGuy]

The majority of Americans are very very sensitive to gas prices. There was a time when gas was $4.5/G in california and I know all 3 American companies were bankcrupt. Ford didn't go with a begging bowl only because 2 yrs prior to the recession they did massive rethink of their lines and restructuring.

Times are no different today - oil moves to $90/barrel, these SUV and truck based SUVs are in trouble.

To me a 3500 lb V6 will give no more than 25MPG and a 4500 lb will give no more than 20 MPG and that keeps going down. To me if someone quoted me EPA #s they are all lying, real world #s are very different. So a 7500 lb gorrilla will give 14 MPG

 

[mrsilv04]

Ford starts shipping that EcoSquirt joke of a vehicle here from India, and kills off the Fusion?

My Ford dealer still has the *same two* EcoSquirts that it took delivery of, a month and a half back. It just doesn't seem to be a hot seller, especially for a new model. Maybe because it is a joke. Tiny, but still can't hit 30 mpg.

If Ford isn't making any money on the Fusion, then that's their problem... that is not the fault of the buying public.

 

[MCompact]

I could not care less; the only Ford I've seriously considered owning has been the Mustang GT with the Performance Package...

 

[Virtus_Probi]

I wouldn't be surprised if Saudi Arabia and Iran start lobbing missiles at each other in the near future (Iranian missiles are already being fired at Riyadh from Yemen), and I think Ford will really regret this decision if that happens as oil prices will skyrocket no matter what US production capabilities are at that point.

 

[brages]

The sad fact is: the Focus Active is also a crossover, so that leaves ONLY the Mustang...!

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: MCompact
I could not care less; the only Ford I've seriously considered owning has been the Mustang GT with the Performance Package...

Same here, alas, I wanted something practical (read: 4 doors), so I had to pass on the Mustang. I did look at the Fusion Sport last year, but came away unimpressed - the "Sport" was mainly in the name. The 6-speed auto box was a disgrace.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Ford starts shipping that EcoSquirt joke of a vehicle here from India, and kills off the Fusion? My Ford dealer still has the *same two* EcoSquirts that it took delivery of, a month and a half back. It just doesn't seem to be a hot seller, especially for a new model. Maybe because it is a joke. Tiny, but still can't hit 30 mpg.

I know, strange how the new (Fiesta-based, tiny) EcoSport can't hit 30 MPG in EPA tests. I guess its the stinky drag coefficient, has to be.
The next size larger small cross-overs get as good or better MPG....

 

[KrisZ]

Focus and Fiesta would've been in a much better standing if Ford never used that horrible transmission they call Power Shift in them. Now that they have fixed that problem in the new models, they decided to kill them. Lol

I don't care one way or another.

 

[NormanBuntz]

Originally Posted By: Greggy_D
Originally Posted By: laserred96gt
they will introduce another line in the next couple of years.


Care to wager?


Ford is counting on the upcoming introduction of the Ranger and Bronco to pick up the slack. That crystal ball may be defective.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted By: NormanBuntz

Ford is counting on the upcoming introduction of the Ranger and Bronco to pick up the slack. That crystal ball may be defective.


I could see the Ranger selling a ton of units...even I have some interest in one, looking maybe 4 years down the road. There are a ton of nagging jobs that I could take care of with a pickup, but I need one that I can carry my family in (crew cab) AND that fits in my garage (short bed, I hope). I am planning to maximize the available space in my garage by building a shed where my daughter's old playset now sits...she's in college and that thing is not going to last until she has kids. Just a warning, white cedar is NOT a weatherproof, maintenance-free wood for playsets! We learned the hard way...had sections start to rot when it was only about a year old, huge disappointment.

 

[tenderloin]

Honda Accord Not Selling

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted By: tenderloin
Honda Accord Not Selling




Yep and Honda announced production cuts long ago.

 

[Smokescreen]

"Ford will only sell Mustang, Focus Active in N.A."

.... sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[Smokescreen]

Originally Posted By: PimTac
Originally Posted By: tenderloin
Honda Accord Not Selling




Yep and Honda announced production cuts long ago.



Well....it is hard to sell cars (civic included) that look like "donkey".

 

[SevenBizzos]

I think we can all agree that the market share on sedans has been shrinking for quite some time. Just get out into the suburbs on the weekend. Cars are pretty hard to find. Add the percentage of company focus (no pun intended) that Ford has put into SUV's and pickups (which is about 10:1 versus passenger cars) and this is years in the making. I think they'll be fine.

 

[panthermike]

Interesting move, but I agree that Ford will be fine. Their truck and SUV lineup is overall pretty solid with some new additions coming soon. Time will tell, but I think Ford will definitely increase their profits. As a comparison between car and SUV mpgs: My old Fusion averaged around 25 and my ex's MKC averaged around 24.5 and was turbocharged. The gap is definitely closing, plus hybrid SUV's can be very efficient.

 

[4WD]

And make a run at some Jeep business with the new Broncos? I’m curious…

 

[oil_film_movies]

 

[4WD]

Indeed … Saw that before … IMO they should just lump GM 1500’s into one bucket …
That’s macro … in my town the 150/1500’s are minority’s … lots are loaded with HD’s …
(blue and “light blue” collar community …)