jpd80 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I hear Australia is a fairly dangerous place for noobs with lots of poisonous critters... ...maybe some Falcon lovers could offer J a tour of the outback? I kinda think Jay Mays threw out a red herring, nothing signed off yet, no one saying boo and there he is feeding the Aussie press their worst possible nightmare so they can run off and print another screaming headline - they've done the same thing three years running. Bet Mays, Kuzak and Mulally had a big laugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue II Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I can't say RWd because everyone will jump down my throat but switch it to something else and BINGO! In other news, Mays is reviewing progress on a couple of designs in February over on our side of the world but this is only a group meeting before final submission in September for something way in the future, so under One Ford it probably has nothing to do with this whatsoever... Mays has said that FNA, Cologne and Dunton are all working on submissions at the same time so it will be interesting to see what comes of all of this, whether it's all smoke and mirrors or is something quite remarkable happening behind the scenes... JP, I've been posting the XF hint since last summer. Good to see you finally caught on. Ignore the Aussie press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue II Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I know for a fact there is a mule.....whether we see it or not i dont know, however...it wouldnt surprize me when the next gen Fusion/ Mondeo rears its head..... Dean, A MKZ 3.5 N/A FWD will do 14.5's in the 1/4 by just sticking it in "D" and flooring it all day long. The TT on the other hand is just badass. It embarasses the SHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LincolnV Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I'm all for power, but problem is the majority of BMWs out there are usually the cheaper mediocre models. Very rarely do I see the 335, its usually the 330 (or whatever other lower number this use this year)...Same with the 5-series. Its just the lease special so someone can say "I have a BMW" and once inside I notice they aren't any options in them. Maybe its just me, but my experience has been that many BMW drivers develop a false sense of security BECAUSE they own a BMW that causes them to drive like +ssholes. This happens regardless of the engine under the hood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosetang Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 (edited) The TT on the other hand is just badass. It embarasses the SHO. No doubt. Just reinforces my belief that the next-gen Fusion should have an "SHO" trim as well. Plenty of models are wearing the EcoBoost label, make SHO the trim of choice for AWD Turbo sedans. Edited January 15, 2011 by Moosetang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syrtran Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Going back to the possible renames, earlier in the thread, there's currently a little problem with reusing the Continental name, especially if you're trying to sell to the MB/BMW crowd. The problem is this: I'm willing to bet that Volkswagen pays its lawyers at least as well as Pep Boys does. Yes, I'm well aware that the two Continentals have been contemporaries, before, but I think it'll be a problem now, with VW ownership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomServo92 Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 (edited) Going back to the possible renames, earlier in the thread, there's currently a little problem with reusing the Continental name, especially if you're trying to sell to the MB/BMW crowd. The problem is this: I'm willing to bet that Volkswagen pays its lawyers at least as well as Pep Boys does. Yes, I'm well aware that the two Continentals have been contemporaries, before, but I think it'll be a problem now, with VW ownership. I just did a trademark search and Ford owns "Continental". Edited January 16, 2011 by TomServo92 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I just did a trademark search and Ford owns "Continental". Didn't the two Continentals coexist previously as well? I wonder if Ford actually licenses the name to VW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomServo92 Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Didn't the two Continentals coexist previously as well? I wonder if Ford actually licenses the name to VW. The search showed that Ford's ownership of the trademark began in 1940. I don't think Bentley used the name until the '80s. I assume that VW would have to be licensing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StangBang Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 The search showed that Ford's ownership of the trademark began in 1940. I don't think Bentley used the name until the '80s. I assume that VW would have to be licensing it. Bentley has used the Continental name since 1952. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomServo92 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Bentley has used the Continental name since 1952. Sorry. You are correct. I didn't research back far enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StangBang Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) Aviator, Premier, Mark series, Capri, Cosmopolitan, Sentinel (concept) There are enough historical Lincoln names to fill an entire lineup not to mention a couple from Mercury that might adapt well. So yes, I am all for returning Lincolns back to names. Lincoln Capri - First used by Lincoln as an entry level vehicle from 1952-59 predating the use by Mercury and Ford of Europe. Certainly this could be adapted for a youthful model such as a small Focus based convertible exclusive to Lincoln. Lincoln Premiere - (was MKT) Used by Lincoln from 1956-60. The name spelled as "Premier" was most recently used as the premium trim on Mercuries. Hopefully no one would remember the Eagle with the same name. Lincoln Zephyr (was MKZ)- I always liked that name and I would like it to come back. Lincoln Continental - (was MKS) This is a given. Put the name on the right car and it will redefine itself. It worked for the new Taurus. The name was never really tarnished, just affixed to mediocre underachieving cars. Lincoln Mark - Unless Lincoln makes a true successor to the Mark Series, this one needs to be put to rest, After all the name Mark was originally just a suffix attached to roman numerals to literally mark the generational updates to the original Continental series. Lincoln Navigator - (New Explorer based model) If they want to keep making this behemoth then they can keep the name. Otherwise drop the Expedition based model and slip it over to a new Explorer based variant. Lincoln Aviator- (was MKX) Goes well as smaller companion to the Navigator. Lincoln Mariner - Why waste the name? Continue to use it as a Lincoln variant of the next Escape. Lincoln Voga - (Concept C) Might be nice for that proposed C class Lincoln to use. Edited January 17, 2011 by StangBang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StangBang Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) Sorry. You are correct. I didn't research back far enough. No need for sorry! Edited January 17, 2011 by StangBang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Monarch, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probowler Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 So Lexus is a luxury brand? BMW well duh, but I'd probably name Lincoln a lot sooner than "Lexus" What do they even make that's so famous and prestigious? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esevans Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 So Lexus is a luxury brand? BMW well duh, but I'd probably name Lincoln a lot sooner than "Lexus" What do they even make that's so famous and prestigious? Lexus only has more cachet than Lincoln with only about 90% of the car buying public I'd guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TStag Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 I find it hard to believe that Lincoln will ever be on a par with BMW. Lexus yes, but BMW? That's not a dig at Ford or Lincoln or American engineering prowess. It's more a realisation that to catch BMW you actually need to overtake them. BMW are currently developing a range of cars under the project banner 'mega city'. Those cars will be 'mass produced carbon fibre vehicles' running on an electric powertrain. For Lincoln to catch BMW it needs to also be developing a mega city range and it will also need to ditch most of it's Ford sourced components. It also needs to be developing toys like idrive. To do that will require significant investment. Investment of the kind that Ford started to put into brands such as Jaguar but never actually followed all the way through. Audi, Mercedes and BMW have a huge technological lead on most of the competition. Even Jaguar isn't yet on a par with BMW. It's still spending a lot of money to get there. Even Alfa Romeo, a brand with huge appealis struggling to find the finance to catch the big German 3. Lincoln has only been able to stay afloat in recent years by badge engineering Ford products. Managers at Ford always seem wary about going after the competition probably because they doubt Lincoln has the ability to self fund model development beyond 1 range of cars. The real question is should ford even try to turn Lincoln round? Or should it just run the brand down and out? If Ford really wants a premium brand a better starting point would be 'Mustang'. Now that's potentially a brand with Global appeal.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Audi, Mercedes and BMW have a huge technological lead on most of the competition. 'most of the competition' does *not* include Ford. Ford has a better hybrid system, better diesels, better electronics, better reliability, and will have better EVs that will also hit the market before any of these three brands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 It also needs to be developing toys like idrive. Like idrive. That would be silly. Come to think about it, the more I think about it, the sillier it becomes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 EARTH TO TSTAG: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 (edited) So Lexus is a luxury brand? BMW well duh, but I'd probably name Lincoln a lot sooner than "Lexus" What do they even make that's so famous and prestigious? Just before Alan Mulally joined Ford, he proclaim his Lexus to be the best car in the world..... Big Al's very quiet on that subject these days..... Edited January 19, 2011 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 As a Lincoln customer, I would prefer if Lincoln was inspired by the likes of Audi; great design, technology, and value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Just before Alan Mulally joined Ford, he proclaim his Lexus to be the best car in the world..... Big Al's very quiet on that subject these days..... And from his point of view at that time, he felt he was correct.... As a Lincoln customer, I would prefer if Lincoln was inspired by the likes of Audi; great design, technology, and value. Audi should definitely be one of the bench marks for the direction Lincoln needs to go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomServo92 Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Audi should definitely be one of the bench marks for the direction Lincoln needs to go... I agree completely. I've mentioned Audi several times in regards to Lincolns's direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Yeah, except reliable though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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