Ford's Europeanisation of the US continues
Ford's Europeanisation of the US continues
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LuS1fer

Original Poster:

43,127 posts

267 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
http://jalopnik.com/5866019/ford-officially-kills-...

Ford axe another iconic vehicle, the Econoline van, in favour of the Transit.

Now I know the Transit is bound to be better but I mourn the passing of these great vehicles that were once the backbone of American films. Soon, everywhere will look the same and homogeneity will have been achieved and cultural identity removed.

Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
We have assumed control.
We have assumed control.
We have assumed control.

anonymous-user

76 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Wonder what other American cars are being replaced by Europeans. Im guessing GM are doing a few.

Codswallop

5,256 posts

216 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
That's okay, I liked the Chevy Express Van more anyway wink

Seriosuly though, I hope they will offer the Triton V8 in the US Transit. One of the best bits of any visit to the states imo, is the way you can hear the V8 rumble on almost any corner courtesy of at least one delivery van or another. It would be a shame if they lost that.

LuS1fer

Original Poster:

43,127 posts

267 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
MonkeyMatt said:
Wonder what other American cars are being replaced by Europeans. Im guessing GM are doing a few.
Not sure. They used to sell the lesser Vauxhalls as Saturn but I think that failed big time. For some reason, GM buyers are less receptive to foreign cars - the Pontiac GTO/G8 (Monaro/VXR8) also bombed.

However I have seen the Insignia suitably modified being marketed as the Buick Regal though effort has been expended to design in the American Buick styling cues:

Getragdogleg

9,787 posts

205 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
The big Crown Vics that were the weapon of choice for New York Yellow cabs are getting phased out in favour of bloody Transit Connects.

I hate the way conformity spreads like a disease, part of the fun of going to different countries is seeing the different vehicles, Malta for example had its iconic old busses but now Arriva have arrived and sanitised the place with new German identikit "eurotown" type busses. Look at the emergency vehicles anywhere in europe and you would be hard pressed to tell if you were in leeds or Dresden.


anonymous-user

76 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
Not sure. They used to sell the lesser Vauxhalls as Saturn but I think that failed big time. For some reason, GM buyers are less receptive to foreign cars - the Pontiac GTO/G8 (Monaro/VXR8) also bombed.

However I have seen the Insignia suitably modified being marketed as the Buick Regal though effort has been expended to design in the American Buick styling cues:
That looks quite decent!

rfn

4,601 posts

229 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
MonkeyMatt said:
LuS1fer said:
Not sure. They used to sell the lesser Vauxhalls as Saturn but I think that failed big time. For some reason, GM buyers are less receptive to foreign cars - the Pontiac GTO/G8 (Monaro/VXR8) also bombed.

However I have seen the Insignia suitably modified being marketed as the Buick Regal though effort has been expended to design in the American Buick styling cues:
That looks quite decent!
Looks better than the Insignia!

Codswallop

5,256 posts

216 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Getragdogleg said:
The big Crown Vics that were the weapon of choice for New York Yellow cabs are getting phased out in favour of bloody Transit Connects.
It's worse than that - Nissan NV200

And the Buick Regal has actually just a new grill (compared to the Insignia) on standard models;



The other one pictured is the cooking model like our VXR. Still looks decent though, and it's had favourable reviews despite being "small" and a bit "cramped". They did say it was large by European standards though hehe

Edited by Codswallop on Thursday 8th December 10:34

AlexiusG55

656 posts

178 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Of course, this will be a new Transit in Europe as well. In the US, Ford have trademarked T-250, T-350, T-450 and T-550, which means two things. Firstly, it may be sold as just the "T-series" to avoid confusion with the Transit Connect- in fact, the Econoline nameplate has been gone for a while, those are sold as the E-series.
More interestingly, that suggests that there will be a 4.5-tonne and 5.5-tonne version of the Transit in the US (presumably with bigger engines). Might they bring those over here to compete with the bigger Dailys and Sprinters?

williamp

20,072 posts

295 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Yep. This is the "Dodge" Sprinter van:



Still, its better then the oversized US crap comming over here...

kambites

70,449 posts

243 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
I think it makes a lot of sense for vans, it's not as if they're generally bought as fashion accessories, so I'd imagine a good van is a good van anywhere - why design two products to do the same job?

davepoth

29,395 posts

221 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
AlexiusG55 said:
Of course, this will be a new Transit in Europe as well. In the US, Ford have trademarked T-250, T-350, T-450 and T-550, which means two things. Firstly, it may be sold as just the "T-series" to avoid confusion with the Transit Connect- in fact, the Econoline nameplate has been gone for a while, those are sold as the E-series.
More interestingly, that suggests that there will be a 4.5-tonne and 5.5-tonne version of the Transit in the US (presumably with bigger engines). Might they bring those over here to compete with the bigger Dailys and Sprinters?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

Check out the red one - I wonder what that massive bulge in the bonnet (hood) might be?

Nicholas Blair

4,111 posts

306 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
We have assumed control.
We have assumed control.
We have assumed control.
2112 is upon us smile

Baryonyx

18,210 posts

181 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Now Americans can see the sights of thousands of these being driven poorly by idiots every day, just like in the UK!

anonymous-user

76 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Nicholas Blair said:
2112 is upon us smile
Not quite here yet

LuS1fer

Original Poster:

43,127 posts

267 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
MonkeyMatt said:
Not quite here yet
It's alright, there's no Rush.. wink

youngsod

273 posts

204 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
MonkeyMatt said:
Not quite here yet
It's alright, there's no Rush.. wink
You need to get a life son.

Sorry. I'll just get back on my train to Bangkok...

LuS1fer

Original Poster:

43,127 posts

267 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
youngsod said:
You need to get a life son.

Sorry. I'll just get back on my train to Bangkok...
Geddi outta here! rofl

so called

9,157 posts

231 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
rfn said:
MonkeyMatt said:
LuS1fer said:
Not sure. They used to sell the lesser Vauxhalls as Saturn but I think that failed big time. For some reason, GM buyers are less receptive to foreign cars - the Pontiac GTO/G8 (Monaro/VXR8) also bombed.

However I have seen the Insignia suitably modified being marketed as the Buick Regal though effort has been expended to design in the American Buick styling cues:
That looks quite decent!
Looks better than the Insignia!
I rented one recently and when returning, the lady at the next car stepped over to take a look and said she thought it was of the best looking American cars on the road wink

Baryonyx

18,210 posts

181 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
youngsod said:
You need to get a life son.
Hold your fire, thats a bit harsh.