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Ford To Stop Selling Every Car In North America But the Mustang, Focus Active (techcrunch.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Ford today announced it will phase out most cars it sells in North America. According to its latest financial release, the auto giant "will transition to two vehicles" -- the Mustang and an unannounced vehicle, the Focus Active, being the only traditional cars it sells in the region. Ford sees 90 percent of its North America portfolio in trucks, utilities and commercial vehicles. Citing a reduction in consumer demand and product profitability, Ford is in turn not investing in the next generation of sedans. The Taurus is no more. The press release also talks about a new type of vehicle, though it sounds like a crossover. This so-called white space vehicle will "combine the best attributes of cars and utilities, such as higher ride height, space and versatility." Currently, Ford sells six sedans and coupes in North America: the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, C-Max, Mustang and Taurus. This lineup hits multiple segments, from the compact Fiesta to the mid-size Focus, C-Max and Fusion to the full-size Taurus. The Mustang stands alone as the lone coupe.
I think Honda might have been the first to do this about three decades ago when they based all their cars on just two flexible platforms. The Accord, TL, RL, TSX, Crosstour... all the same car. The smaller was the Civic and the RSX. The SUVs are similar, Pilot/MDX and CRV/RDX. They keep changing the model names to throw us off the trail, but the manufacturing is very carefully designed to minimize infrastructure, support, and design. I never figured out where the odd US models like Fit and Element fit that scheme, but they sure seemed expensive for so few units if they were unique.
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Or any color as long as it's black?
You're betting the company on SUVs, and in a few years when gas prices shoot up again, you're gonna lose the company. Does anyone really believe gas prices can stay this low for forever? I think they'll shoot up again within 5 years, just when Ford has ditched all its cars that people will actually want to buy when gas is $5 a gallon.
Ford currently sells five models of sedans: Taurus, Focus RS, Fiesta, Mustang, and Focus Active. They're phasing out the first three models over the next few years, to be replaced with all new electric and hybrid models. Still spending a bit to keep the other two in production for the foreseeable future though.
Funny that they're discontinuing all the fuel efficient models just as the many-years-long slump in oil prices is ending. I guess they can only think about what they should have done in the past, not plan for the future.
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They classify all the other vehicles (pickups, SUVs) as trucks.
Your ad here. Ask me how!
Ford sells a ridiculous number of trucks, that is why they are phasing out less popular models. They somehow suckered people into thinking $60k for a truck is a normal price. One model is over $100k when maxed out with options!
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
Mothers, pregnant, with children and elderly relatives.
That's NOT where elderly relatives come from.
If people were willing to buy a 20hp car with no heater, no AC, no electronics, no radial tires, no electric starter, no air bags, no power seats, a life span of 50,000 miles or so, and that needed servicing every month, I'm sure there would be a $4286 car available today.
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FORD:
Found On Road, Discontinued
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
The compact/mid SUV much easier access and egress, better vision, far more effective loading area, in fact the most logical body shape for a car.
You spend a few minutes or even seconds getting in and out, or loading and unloading. You spend hours driving. Sedans have better aerodynamics than crossovers. The most logical body shape for a car is a sedan or wagon, given that we live in the real world with wind resistance.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"