Vignale, the new name for posh Fords

[MitchT]

stumpage said:

Because the Merc will be a C Class for that price which will be smaller, less well equipped and pretty much the base model.

Yes, but this is about people wanting to look better than other people. They'd rather have a poverty spec Merc because the badge says 'I'm better than you'. If they want the image and the equipment they'll buy a used Merc.

[mph1977]

MitchT said:

stumpage said:

Because the Merc will be a C Class for that price which will be smaller, less well equipped and pretty much the base model.

Yes, but this is about people wanting to look better than other people. They'd rather have a poverty spec Merc because the badge says 'I'm better than you'. If they want the image and the equipment they'll buy a used Merc.

this is what arseperational marketing is all about ... badge and 'image' above all ...

[Mr Tidy]

Haven't read the whole thread, but isn't this a repeat of the 80's when Ghia was the posh Ford, followed by Ghia X until they invented Titanium and Titanium X - maybe place an advance order for a Vignale X Titanium?!
But it will still be a Focus/Mondeo in a party frock and will surely depreciate like a lead balloon? Why would you - barring a good lease deal?

[Rickyy]

Kozy said:

LuS1fer said:

Lexus IS200 is a Toyota Altezza IIRC

OK one. The newer models are all different though?

Soarer was badged as a Toyota and a Lexus.

They did a Lexus LX which was a Toyota Landcruiser.

[Wills2]

This won't work, why are they doing this? Who in the UK are they going to sell these to?

I'd love to see what the target market is and how big they think it is.

[Sump]

Nowadays I'm up for anything that isn't a German car. Makes me shudder when I think of them. Awful mass produced mind numbing stuff.

[ED209]

real price will be about 23k after discount. Will be good at that price.

[motco]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Vignale? Sounds like some kind of Aston Martin.

But since Ford nicked AMs radiator grille they might as well help themselves to some names as well!

'Vignale' was a Standard Triumph brand for swish Vanguards etc. in the 1960s IIRC

[Moley RUFC]

"And a new Vignale smartphone app will allow users to interact with their car, find where they've parked it and track down fuel stations"

Well, that's it. For years I've wanted an app to help me find the cars I've parked and then lost them forever. There are at least seven of them out there somewhere. We all know the scene, pop into Tesco for a pint of milk and then BANG, gone. The walk of shame back home and onto the classifieds.

[ArsE92]

Sump said:

Nowadays I'm up for anything that isn't a German car. Makes me shudder when I think of them. Awful mass produced mind numbing stuff.

Looking at your car history it took you a while to come to that conclusion

[HTP99]

Wills2 said:

This won't work, why are they doing this? Who in the UK are they going to sell these to?

I'd love to see what the target market is and how big they think it is.

Having worked "in the trade" for 15 odd years and having been on countless new car launches and brand initiative launches, I can just imagine the spiel that Ford have come up with to confirm to the dealer network that this what the market needs and has been waiting for; buzz words, focus group results, target market etc, all whilst everyone from the dealer network is nodding in agreement but in their heads they are saying "not a hope in hell".

Can't see it succeeding at all.

[anonymous-user]

I don't think the name is the problem, I can't get my head around posh and Ford being in the same sentence or having anything in common.

P.S. The car in the first post is as ugly as sin, would not appear on my driveway ever, looks like a re-badged Citreon.

[dxg]

Wills2 said:

This won't work, why are they doing this? Who in the UK are they going to sell these to?

I'd love to see what the target market is and how big they think it is.

The same people that used to buy Ghia variants - the recently retired working class.

[Wills2]

dxg said:

The same people that used to buy Ghia variants - the recently retired working class.

The worlds moved on since the 80's though.

[Howard-]

I'm a big Ford fan, I'm on my second Mondeo, and I really rather like the new one.


But I can't see how this is going to be successful? As said, who are they aiming this at? Thrusting image-conscious executives? These sort of people invariably wouldn't be seen dead in a Ford over a BMW, Mercedes, or Audi, and they invariably don't give a single st about the spec of their BMW, Mercedes, or Audi as long as it has a BMW, Mercedes, or Audi badge at the front, and has high MPGz and low monthly paymentzzz.

Retired folk with a bit of spare cash who want a bit of quality? They'll just keep buying Volvos and Jaguars.

Edited by Howard- on Saturday 18th April 09:28

[austinsmirk]

As a mondeo owner I'd say I'd look with interest at it, when its 12/18 months old. It'll offer way more toys etc than any comparable German marque.

I think ford have now dropped the oap spec "ghia " ?

[dxg]

Wills2 said:

dxg said:

The same people that used to buy Ghia variants - the recently retired working class.

The worlds moved on since the 80's though.

But does Ford know that? That's the question...

[Wills2]

dxg said:

Wills2 said:

dxg said:

The same people that used to buy Ghia variants - the recently retired working class.

The worlds moved on since the 80's though.

But does Ford know that? That's the question...

It seems they don't!

[Mopar440]

AmitG said:

Extensive personalisation options.

The salesmen will hate that. They want to look at the build schedule and get a car delivered before the end of the month. Personalisation means factory build to order and that can take months.

[J4CKO]

I quite like that, but convincing the Audi addicted from their A4's may be difficult, but I think some may be ready for a change, like having an Iphone is no longer a big deal, having a german car isnt quite like it was so people may start to choose with their judgement less clouded by huge desire for a german brand.

Citroen have managed to turn around their fortunes with the DS brand, from punting a few Saxos on cheap deals and thousands of Motability Picassos they are now selling the DS's to people who but on want rather than just need/price.