Automotive News - July 14, 2008 - (Page 30)

30 • JULY 14, 2008 FORD FUTURE PRODUCT Ford brand will draw on European lineup Amy Wilson awilson@crain.com DETROIT — With high gasoline prices pressuring truck profits, making the Ford brand vehicle lineup fuel efficient and profitable is Job 1 at Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally’s product strategy calls for globalizing several small and medium-sized vehicles from Ford’s European operations. The new vehicles will be more premium than previous forays into the small-car business here, but executives intend to make the investment pay by spreading costs across global volume. Fiesta: The 2011 Fiesta will be the first modern-day, globally engineered Ford Motor car to be sold in North America. The car is based on the Verve concept shown at the 2008 Detroit auto show. Ford of Europe has marketed a Fiesta-badged car since 1976. The redesigned Fiesta goes on sale in Europe this year and in North America in early 2010. The Fiesta is a subcompact, smaller than the Focus; it competes in the industry’s so-called B segment. Ford developed the Fiesta in Europe, adopting the new front-drive vehicle platform engineered by Mazda. Ford will build U.S. models in its assembly plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico. Two body styles are planned: a sedan and a five-door hatchback. U.S. volume could be about 90,000 units annually. Multiactivity vehicle: Ford is considering a second vehicle developed on the front-drive Fiesta underpinnings. The vehicle could be styled as a small crossover or minivan and built at Ford’s assembly plant in Louisville, Ky., as early as the 2012 model year. Focus: The redesigned Focus will debut for the 2011 model year. The car will be based on the next-generation European Focus and will follow the Fiesta as Ford’s second global car for North America. The 2011 Focus will come in sedan and five-door hatchback body styles. The 2011 Focus will be the first of a family of compact, or C-segment, cars for North America based on Ford’s next-generation C1 platform. C1 underpins the Focus sold in Europe but not the current North American Focus. Ford is likely to as- The Ford Kuga crossover, shown, debuted in Europe this summer. The next-generation Kuga is expected to be the basis for the redesigned Ford Escape for the 2012 model year. semble the next-generation Focus and other models based on this platform at plants in Wayne, Mich., and Louisville, Ky. C-Max: Ford sells this small minivanlike vehicle in Europe. North America is expected to get the next generation for the 2012 model year. The C-Max, code-named C344, likely will share assembly capacity with the Focus in Wayne. Fusion: The restyled 2010 Fusion and a hybrid version will go on sale in early 2009. The Fusion’s sheet metal from the A-pillar forward will be new. The Fusion now is based on a modified Mazda6 platform, but it is expected to move to a new global platform for the 2013 model year. The redesigned Fusion is expected to be built on a re-engineered version of EUCD, the fwd platform underpinning the Mondeo, Ford’s mid-sized entry in Europe. Taurus: Ford will re-engineer and restyle the Taurus sedan in early 2009 for the 2010 model year. The new Taurus goes into production next spring with new styling that makes the car look lower and sleeker. The car remains on the same D3 platform, but Ford is expected to adapt many of the upgrades engineered for Ford sells the small, minivanlike C-Max in Europe. North America is expected to get the next generation for the 2012 model year. the 2009 Lincoln MKS. Crown Victoria: Ford’s large rearwheel-drive dinosaur likely will die early next decade along with its siblings, the Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car. Ford is building the three cars on one shift at its plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. In May, Ford told the Canadian Auto Workers that it would keep that plant open into 2011, one year longer than previously planned. The Crown Victoria no longer is sold to retail customers. It is sustained by fleet buyers that use it for taxi and police cars. Large rwd car: Ford is rethinking its plan to build a new generation of rwd cars for the Ford and Lincoln brands. In January, executives confirmed that the models were in the cycle plan. They didn’t disclose timing, but analysts expected U.S. sales to start with the 2013 model year. The platform was to be shared with a large car developed for Australia. But Ford product chief Derrick Kuzak now says his team is “relook- ing” at the rwd plan. Work on the program is continuing, Kuzak said, but he acknowledged that could change. “We need to understand the role of those vehicles, given the change in the market mix,” he said. Even if the project ultimately goes forward, sources say timing could be pushed back to the 2014 model year or beyond. Mustang: The 2009 Mustang will have an abbreviated seven-month production run, producing only about 45,000 units. Most 2009 Mustangs will have a 45th anniversary badge. The 2009 model year ends early so Ford can switch to the reskinned, reengineered 2010 Mustang. The car is expected to be shown at the Los Angeles auto show in November. Sales begin early in 2009. The 2010 Mustang is expected to be equipped with carryover powertrains. The next-generation Mustang was expected to move to the new global rwd platform around 2012. But that may not happen if the large rwd cars are canceled. In that event, Ford likely would rework the Mustang’s current underpinnings. Escape: Ford made powertrain and chassis upgrades for the 2009 model, which went on sale this summer. Ford bumped up horsepower in the four-cylinder Escape 11 percent, to 171 hp. The V-6 Escape saw a 20 percent gain, to 240 hp. Ford is expected to replace the vehicle for the 2012 model year. The redesigned Escape will be based on the next-generation Ford Kuga crossover, which debuted in Europe this summer. The Kuga is built on Ford’s C1 platform, which also underpins the European Focus. The Escape replacement is expected to be slightly smaller and more fuel efficient than today’s model. Styling will be more carlike than today’s SUV-influenced Escape design. The Escape replacement and a companion for Lincoln are expected to be assembled at the Escape plant in Kansas City, Mo. Edge: Ford is expected to reskin the Edge for the 2011 model year. As with the Fusion, the update will be more extensive than was Ford’s past practice. The Edge’s sheet metal from the A-pillar forward will be new. The rear see FORD, Page 32 With no new vehicles planned, Mercury’s future is bleak Amy Wilson awilson@crain.com DETROIT — Life doesn’t look promising at Mercury. No new vehicles are apparent on the horizon, and Ford Motor Co. executives are vague about the brand’s future. Asked earlier this year about Mercury’s survival, Ford Americas President Mark Fields said any good business always evaluates its portfolio. “Who knows what could happen?” he added. The automaker is updating the Mercury Mariner crossover for the 2009 model year and the Milan sedan for the 2010 model year. A hybrid Mi- lan also is scheduled for the 2010 model year. But no major product investment is apparent for Mercury beyond next year. Dealers are concerned the brand will be killed. Milan: The restyled 2010 Milan is scheduled to go on sale in early 2009. At the same time, Mercury will introduce a Milan with a hybrid gasolineelectric powertrain. The 2010 Milan has new front fenders, along with front and rear fascias. The interior is updated. The Milan benefits from the automaker’s decision to reskin its sister car, the Ford Fusion. The long-term fate of the Milan is unclear. It could be dropped when the Fusion is redesigned next decade. Sable: The Sable looks short-lived. Ford will introduce a restyled, re-engineered Taurus for the 2010 model year, but no money appears to have been allocated for the Sable. The car could be dropped as early as next year. Ford officials have confirmed the new Taurus, but executives refuse to say whether the Sable will receive similar changes. Grand Marquis: The Grand Marquis likely will die early next decade. Ford makes the Grand Marquis and its siblings, the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car, on one shift at a plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. In May, Ford pledged to the Canadian Auto Workers that it would keep that plant running into 2011. The Mercury could go away before the Crown Victoria or Town Car. Mariner: Ford reskinned the Mariner and Ford Escape for the 2008 model year and made powertrain and chassis improvements for the 2009 model year. The Mariner gets a more powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 171 hp, 11 percent more than the outgoing base engine. An upgraded 3.0-liter V-6 now produces 240 hp, up 20 percent. With a new sixspeed automatic transmission, aero- dynamic tweaks and low-resistance tires, the models also gain 1 mpg in fuel economy. With Mercury on the ropes, Ford could drop the Mariner when it replaces the Escape with the European Ford Kuga, likely for the 2012 model year. No plans for a Mercury version have emerged. Mountaineer: The Mountaineer SUV likely will be dropped when its sibling, the Ford Explorer, moves to a unibody platform. The unibody Explorer could go into production for the 2011 model year. Suppliers and industry sources expect Mountaineer production to end late in 2009 or 2010. c

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - July 14, 2008

Small-car boom misses Chrysler Ford's large rwd car plan is iffy Suppliers: Inflation is looming Hummer H3T price: $31,495 VW may build next Passat in U.S. plant Glut of trucks pulls Prius to U.S. Ford sues U.S. over taxes Restyled Ridgeline Volvo will tighten U.S. dealer network As BMW's chief in N.A., Purves got biggest thrill out of Mini Despite pricey fuel, Jetta diesel in demand Everybody's a critic: How dealers cope with online reviews Hyundai goes big on Genesis lease The shift to automatic: A transmission transition Jaguar-Land Rover dealer: Stand-alone would bankrupt me Chevy christens compact Cruze Fiat, BMW will team up on platforms, parts Revision: Bosch still tops Auto News supplier list GM to build Volts in U.S. for Europe GM ads will push mpg for 90 days A missed opportunity 2008 sales forecast? 14,652,757 Suzuki cuts U.S. work force 8% CAFE standards: Stop whining and get to work Uncertainty is the name of the game Honda dealer rubs salt in a wound Careless driver was to blame for crash Unsafe driving wasn't Ford's fault For doomsayers, business is booming again Best ad slogans have staying power Bird Dog Club creator hunts dealer poachers Dealers How to design a Lamborghini? Passion for speed certainly helps Dressed to kill Check for children Delinquency rate on indirect loans skyrockets Group promotes payment assurance Ford has big plans for small vehicles in North America Mulally pushes Ford toward fuel efficiency Ford brand will draw on European lineup With no new vehicles planned, Mercury's future is bleak Engines promise power plus fuel economy Horbury: We'll keep our vehicle designs fresh Ford aims to move Lincoln upscale Toyota's Lentz: Don't panic over collapse; market will stabilize Personnel Chrysler's car sales sag in June — even more than trucks PG sells majority of auto glass business to private-equity firm Chrysler's Campi makes nice Suit against Ford is reinstated BMW reassesses Mini demand JCI plant cuts shift, work force CAW board endorses local president Purves: Thumbs-up for BMW innovations Current trend in Europe: Electric cars Solid reviews for Ford's new Flex Philosopher has insight for ailing U.S. auto industry The 'B' word brings media deathwatch at GM Chrysler to dealers: Don't panic

Automotive News - July 14, 2008

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