Ford to bring six small cars from Europe to USA

[Rybold]

FORD just reported earnings this Thursday morning, along with the following statements from a news article ...
'The company also announced that it will bring six European small car models to North America by the end of 2012 as it deals with a market shift from trucks to cars ... will retool two more U.S. truck and sport utility vehicle plants to build small, fuel-efficient vehicles.

Ford said it will retool the Michigan Truck plant in suburban Detroit, shifting its products from large SUVs to make global vehicles off the European Focus platform by 2010.

The company also will retool the Louisville Assembly Plant, which now builds the Ford Explorer midsize SUV, to produce vehicles on the European Focus frame, starting in 2011.

Ford posts $8.7B 2Q loss on asset write-downs: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
(Since this news is "just in," more will become available as the day goes on - please post as much additional information and links on this thread as you like. Hopefully, they will announce something about a new small car hybrid)
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[TonyPSchaefer]

Interesting article and news indeed.

Any particular reason you underlined the word "European"?

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by TonyPSchaefer

Any particular reason you underlined the word "European"?

Because he was in the bathroom at the time?

Tom

[DropDeadRed]

Originally Posted by TonyPSchaefer

Any particular reason you underlined the word "European"?

The european focus is a VERY VERY different car than what they call a focus here in the US. A lot of folks have been screaming for a long time for that car to be brought over. Sounds like someone is finally listening.

First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus European version - First Drive - Motor Trend

A history lesson is in order. The late-1990s Euro-Focus was originally the same as the U.S. edition. But for 2005, it diverged, getting an all-new body and the platform developed for the Mazda3 and Volvo C30/S40/V50.

So basically its based off the same platform as the extremely popular mazda 3 is.

Ford Focus (international) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a very big deal for ford... and finally movement on something that has ALWAYS baffled me. How Ford and GM can make good small cars for europe but sell garbage small cars in north america.

Another side of this too is that with the drop in the value of the US dollar, it may be very attractive at this point to produce cars in Detroit for export to europe. Especially if there is also a healthy domestic market for the same cars.

DDR

[Rybold]

The article has since been updated ... "The company identified only three of the European small vehicles it will bring to North America: the Transit Connect small van, the European Focus and the subcompact Fiesta. Most will be built in North America, and Leclair said some might be exported. Ford already has announced that the Transit Connect will be imported from Turkey.
Ford said the other three vehicles would be identified later, including one that is unique within its segment."

Focus:


Fiesta:


Transit Connect:

[Rybold]

More info:
"Ford is trying to save itself by quickly morphing from a truck company into a car company. But the help from Europe won't arrive until 2010: It takes time to retool U.S. plants, and importing the cars directly is too costly."
"You have the gap before the plan can be fully executed," said Jeff Schuster, executive director of global forecasting for J.D. Power and Associates. "You kind of have to weather the conditions, and you have to weather the fact that you're still the old company in transition."
Most of the European models will be built in North America. The Fiesta subcompact will be built in Mexico, the European Focus will be built in Kentucky and Michigan, and the Transit Connect small van will be imported from Turkey."
Ford won't identify the other three. But analysts are betting on the Kuga, a small crossover vehicle, and the C-Max small van, both of built on the same underpinnings as the European Focus. Bleeding cash, Ford looks to Europe for help: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Ford Kuga:

[Godiva]

That Transit looks like a Scion without the charm.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Godiva

That Transit looks like a Scion without the charm.

The Transit is a commercial vehicle. It and vehicles like it are very popular in Europe as small delivery vehicles and for carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, etc. It carries 143 cubic feet and 1600 lbs of cargo.

Some commercial applications can be seen at:

Ford Transit Connect - Commercial Truck | Ford Vehicles

[PriusSport]

I hope they get rid of those crossovers. A poor concept. Gas mileage on those cars is not very good. Almost as bad as an SUV. The drag characteristics of both are horrible.

[Rybold]

Originally Posted by PriusSport

I hope they get rid of those crossovers. A poor concept. Gas mileage on those cars is not very good. Almost as bad as an SUV. The drag characteristics of both are horrible.

Also, since crossovers are built to withstand offroading (like SUVs), their steel frame chassis and body frames and suspensions are inherently much heavier.