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Ford Reports

Which Future Fords Matter Most?

By TCC Team TCC Team,December 3rd, 2008

2011 Ford Fiesta

2011 Ford Fiesta

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Of Detroit's struggling Big Three, many industry insiders feel that Ford Motor Company is poised for the quickest recovery. Ford is less burdened by a sprawling lineup than, say, GM, it has only three divisions to worry about, and it has already shed unprofitable and distracting divisions of its former Premier Automotive Group (Land Rover, Jaguar, and now they are considering offloading Volvo).

Still, Ford has some vestiges of Detroit old-think, and it will take careful management and smart planning to continue their upswing. Their marked improvements in quality/reliability are a strong start, and a host of new European models coming to the U.S. should further revitalize Ford's small cars, never a strong suit for any of Detroit's Big Three.

Which of Ford's models will help it most going forward? First, the promising 2011 Ford Fiesta, a vehicle Ford dealers are surely salivating over, and a product Ford can't start selling in the U.S. soon enough. Designed and produced by Ford of Europe, the Fiesta we've seen at auto shows boasts high quality interior materials, comfortable seating and good interior room despite its diminutive exterior dimensions, and fuel-sipping four-cylinders including possibly Ford's EcoBoost four-cylinder currently produced in a Ford factory in the U.K.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, to debut in 2009 alongside twin Mercury Milan Hybrid, will feature an ultra-efficient 2.5-liter four featuring Atkinson-cycle operation and is backed up by electric motors. Both vehicles get attractive cosmetic and interior upgrades, making the sporty, attractive sedans even more appealing. Above and beyond GM's mild-hybrid sedans (Malibu, Aura), Ford's mid-size sedan hybrids offer full hybrid functionality with attendant mpg benefits.

The Escape and Mariner hybrid SUVs have already been on the scene for a few years, and they've garnered praise for enjoyable driving dynamics and great utility, making Ford quite a s successful small SUV formula. These SUVs just benefitted from a mild overhaul, a slight bump in displacement, and they retain a lightfooted, sporty feel while keeping curb weight low and economy high. They share a powertrain with the Fusion and Milan Hybrids, a 2.5-liter four cylinder Atkinson cycle gasoline engine mated to electric motors.

Frustrating for many import buyers has been Ford's decision not to bring us the European version of its popular Focus, instead sticking the U.S. market with a warmed-over version of its aging U.S. model. In its current iteration, the U.S. model is adequate, but lacks the sparkle and polish of Japanese and European competitors. Ford will be bringing us the Euro Focus in 2011, underpinned by an updated version of the C1 platform currently used for the European Focus. The new model should revitalize Focus sales and provide Ford with a much more competitive product.


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Comments (1 total)

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  1. By  tony #1, Posted: 1/8/2009

    "Good stuff"

    I, personally, am very curious to see Ford's take on the hybrid issue. There's a long way to go but the more manufacturers take up the slack the quicker we'll get there.

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