Ford drops hatches from US line up
Mustang and Focus Active to be only survivors as Ford prioritises SUVs and trucks
The specific news is that all cars bar the Mustang and forthcoming Focus Active are being culled from the North American line up. So as of next year there will be no Fusion, Taurus, Fiesta, or Focus sold by Ford in the United States – that includes the current Focus RS, with absolutely no variants of the next generation Focus being taken stateside at all.
Ford had already announced that the new Fiesta ST would not be crossing the pond due to a lack of interest in the segment, but the main justification is, understandably, profit. Big trucks and SUVs generate more dollars per unit than cars, indeed Dearborn predicts that, by 2020, 90 per cent of its range will be “trucks, utilities, and commercial vehicles.” Expect more crossovers and SUVs, then, or cars that Ford describes as combining "the best attributes of cars and utilities”, as the brand switches focus. Up to five hybrid-electric SUVs as well as a hybrid Mustang are also projected to be on sale by the end of the decade, as new technologies increasingly break the link between a vehicle's size and performance and its efficiency.
While it doesn’t currently have any ramifications for the UK market, the decision by Ford does appear significant. Of course we know that trucks are popular in America, but this move demonstrates manufacturer belief that the current desire for SUVs shows no signs of abating either. With the financial implications being what they are, and bigger cars making bigger profits, it will be interesting to see if any other big players follow suit, and how the ripple effect of a US move away from regular cars impacts the global market.
"We are committed to taking the appropriate actions to drive profitable growth and maximise the returns of our business over the long term," is the view of Ford CEO Jim Hackett. With a plan to cut $5 billion in planned spending on his shoulders, it seems that now is the time for drastic measures.
Can you see Ford’s competitors following suit? Would a hybrid Mustang be of interest to you? Just think of the drag strip potential! And what should Ford's UK future look like? Over to you...
[Source: Road&Track]
It's all laughable really when you think about it. All these manufacturers claiming that they are driving to reduce emissions and save the planet, while simultaneously making more and more SUVs and crossovers that are inherently poor when it comes to efficiency, thanks to being heavy and not-very-aerodynamic. I am not one for forcing people to make/buy certain things, but it's funny how the war against the SUV has all-but-died and now every sod is driving some ridiculous, jacked up crossover thing. If we want to reduce emissions, a good step would be telling people that their Qashqui/Juke/Kadjar/Q3 is pointless pile of turd and that a Golf would do exactly the same job, only it wouldn't burn as much fuel doing it.
People have always wanted cars with space and easy to get in an out of.
The "crossover" merely reflects the shape of a car people want.
The 4wd gubbins that they originally had in the 90s was merely an inconvenience.
The profile of thirties cars is very similar to that of crossovers.
We've just had a daft phase in between where cars were cramp, made people creep along the ground, and a dismal view that cannot see over hedges.
Finally cars are shaped like people need, without the 4WD gubbins.
People have always wanted cars with space and easy to get in an out of.
The "crossover" merely reflects the shape of a car people want.
The 4wd gubbins that they originally had in the 90s was merely an inconvenience.
The profile of thirties cars is very similar to that of crossovers.
We've just had a daft phase in between where cars were cramp, made people creep along the ground, and a dismal view that cannot see over hedges.
Finally cars are shaped like people need, without the 4WD gubbins.
It's time we had an SUV tax....or a fuel price crisis.
Just imagine what would happen if the oil price went up again, suddenly these jacked up behemoths would not look so appealing.
I think things would change rather quickly then...
People have always wanted cars with space and easy to get in an out of.
The "crossover" merely reflects the shape of a car people want.
The 4wd gubbins that they originally had in the 90s was merely an inconvenience.
The profile of thirties cars is very similar to that of crossovers.
We've just had a daft phase in between where cars were cramp, made people creep along the ground, and a dismal view that cannot see over hedges.
Finally cars are shaped like people need, without the 4WD gubbins.
It's time we had an SUV tax....or a fuel price crisis.
Just imagine what would happen if the oil price went up again, suddenly these jacked up behemoths would not look so appealing.
I think things would change rather quickly then...
Please supply info of fuel comparison between Focus versus Kuga fuel consumption to prove your "cobblers".
It's time we had an SUV tax....or a fuel price crisis.
Just imagine what would happen if the oil price went up again, suddenly these jacked up behemoths would not look so appealing.
I think things would change rather quickly then...
Most of, if not all of those cars are as efficient as a Golf (pretty much any golf) cost the same to tax, give the same or more space inside and in lots of cases cost less money too
Hilarious.
People have always wanted cars with space and easy to get in an out of.
The "crossover" merely reflects the shape of a car people want.
The 4wd gubbins that they originally had in the 90s was merely an inconvenience.
The profile of thirties cars is very similar to that of crossovers.
We've just had a daft phase in between where cars were cramp, made people creep along the ground, and a dismal view that cannot see over hedges.
Finally cars are shaped like people need, without the 4WD gubbins.
It's time we had an SUV tax....or a fuel price crisis.
Just imagine what would happen if the oil price went up again, suddenly these jacked up behemoths would not look so appealing.
I think things would change rather quickly then...
Please supply info of fuel comparison between Focus versus Kuga fuel consumption to prove your "cobblers".
Focus 2.0TDCI 6 speed manual has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 70.6 mpg
Kuga 2.0TDCi 6 speed manual FWD has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 60.1 mpg (4x4 version 54.3 mpg)
All figures I'm sure are unachievable, but even in the laboratory Ford concede that the Kuga is thirstier than the Focus
Focus 2.0TDCI 6 speed manual has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 70.6 mpg
Kuga 2.0TDCi 6 speed manual FWD has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 60.1 mpg (4x4 version 54.3 mpg)
All figures I'm sure are unachievable, but even in the laboratory Ford concede that the Kuga is thirstier than the Focus
Focus 2.0TDCI 6 speed manual has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 70.6 mpg
Kuga 2.0TDCi 6 speed manual FWD has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 60.1 mpg (4x4 version 54.3 mpg)
All figures I'm sure are unachievable, but even in the laboratory Ford concede that the Kuga is thirstier than the Focus
Focus 2.0TDCI 6 speed manual has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 70.6 mpg
Kuga 2.0TDCi 6 speed manual FWD has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 60.1 mpg (4x4 version 54.3 mpg)
All figures I'm sure are unachievable, but even in the laboratory Ford concede that the Kuga is thirstier than the Focus
Invest your energy in visiting your granny.
Focus 2.0TDCI 6 speed manual has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 70.6 mpg
Kuga 2.0TDCi 6 speed manual FWD has a Combined fuel consumption figure of 60.1 mpg (4x4 version 54.3 mpg)
All figures I'm sure are unachievable, but even in the laboratory Ford concede that the Kuga is thirstier than the Focus
Invest your energy in visiting your granny.
On the road, the difference will be more significant, and even more so if petrols were compared. So the point stands.
It's time we had an SUV tax....or a fuel price crisis.
Just imagine what would happen if the oil price went up again, suddenly these jacked up behemoths would not look so appealing.
I think things would change rather quickly then...
It's time we had an SUV tax....or a fuel price crisis.
Just imagine what would happen if the oil price went up again, suddenly these jacked up behemoths would not look so appealing.
I think things would change rather quickly then...
WLTP is coming anyway which will give more realistic fuel figures, but a diesel Qashqai will still burn less fuel than an MX5....
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