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Ford Plans for 4 New SUV Nameplates in next 4 years (today @ Chicago Show)


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http://www.autoblog.com/2016/02/11/ford-bronco-four-new-suv-models/


Ford is betting big on sport-utility vehicles. Predicting increased demand from Millenials starting families and Baby Boomers who want to continue driving utes, the Blue Oval will add four new SUV nameplates to its global lineup in the next four years.

Ford US sales and marketing vice president Mark LaNeve is expected to lay out the plans Thursday morning at the Chicago Auto Show. Specifics aren't known, but the company says the nameplates will cover "segments in which the company does not currently compete."

 

 

 

Lots more at the link, especially Bronco heavy....

Edited by Anthony
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Ford Press Release (courtesy Ford Media)



Ford to Add Four New SUV Nameplates as Millennials, Boomers, Global Demand Drive Continued SUV Growth

-- Ford will add four new nameplates to its global SUV lineup in the next four years in segments in which company does not currently compete
-- Millennials starting families lends strong support to ongoing SUV boom in the United States
-- As baby boomers age, they're more likely to stay in or return to SUVs
-- Increased fuel efficiency of Ford's newest utility vehicles makes consumers less sensitive to fuel costs

CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2016 – Together, millennials and baby boomers give Ford 160 million good reasons to expect the surge in SUV sales will continue into the next decade. In a breakfast address to the Midwest Automotive Media Association today, Mark LaNeve, Ford Motor Company vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service, explained why growth in SUV sales is expected to continue – not only in the United States, but around the world – and why Ford is adding four new SUVs in the next four years – all four in SUV segments in which the company does not currently compete.

"As members of the 80-million-strong millennial age group enter their prime child-rearing years, a leading indicator of more SUV sales, nearly 80 million aging baby boomers continue to prefer their SUVs," said LaNeve. "It's a demographic double whammy and it all points to one thing – more SUVs for the foreseeable future."

LaNeve cited recent Ford research that shows once millennials even begin thinking about starting a family, their interest in shopping for SUVs goes up significantly. And as many have delayed starting families, these yet-to-form family households represent additional SUV growth opportunities for the company.

Yet millennials alone aren't expected to drive SUV growth – aging baby boomers tend to stay with or return to SUVs, in part because it's easier to get in and out of a vehicle that sits higher off the ground than a passenger car. LaNeve also noted that many boomers feel younger and more active driving an SUV.

While low gas prices have contributed to the growth in SUVs in recent years, much improved fuel efficiency in the latest generation of utility vehicles leads Ford to believe a potential rise in gas prices wouldn't push consumers back to passenger cars.
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.

"Some SUVs now rival the fuel efficiency of V6-powered midsize sedans from only a few years ago," said LaNeve, "and as baby boomers grew up with much less capable, much less efficient vehicles, they tend to appreciate the efficiency of Ford's newest SUVs." Even if gas prices go up, he added, refueling costs for owners of modern SUVs will be much less than they were during the last SUV boom.

 

 

 

Note the Press Release said 4 GLOBAL models.

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What if the CD6 Explorer replacement is really the new Bronco? Plus a newly named Aviator and a longer Ecosport with a new name makes 3.

 

The fourth could be a sub MKC Lincoln. Or an Excursion replacement. Not seeing any room for anything in between.

 

I could see a 2 door, more off-road capable version of the Explorer called the Bronco, but they won't replace the Explorer with Bronco if that's what you are saying. Waaaay too much name recognition with the Explorer.

 

I don't see an Excursion replacement either, and does Lincoln need something smaller than MKC? Like you, though, I just don't see where they are going to fit another one. Unless, there is a 3-row version of the Edge (wider, longer) with the Explorer gaining a bit more in size moving to CD6?

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I was thinking they'd keep the current Explorer and Bronco would be new but that doesn't make sense.

 

Ok, back to Bronco being on the Ranger platform with a new CD6 Explorer and Aviator. Plus Ecosport replacement still makes 3.

 

I don't think we need a SD based SUV either but with low gas prices who knows. Although I doubt that would be a global nameplate.

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What if the CD6 Explorer replacement is really the new Bronco? Plus a newly named Aviator and a longer Ecosport with a new name makes 3.

 

The fourth could be a sub MKC Lincoln. Or an Excursion replacement. Not seeing any room for anything in between.

The headline refers to "global" demand for crossovers, so I interpret it as meaning that one of those vehicles could be one that we won't get in North America.

Edited by grbeck
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Ford Video. Ecosport is not one of the 4 new nameplates. Watch the video, the specifically go on about the success of Ecosport, Edge, Explorer and Kuga.....then go on to say there will be 4 All New nameplates within the next 4 years.

 

Even though we'll be getting the Ecosport (or whatever it will be called) in NA, it doesn't count in these 4 new global nameplates.

Edited by Anthony
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Ford Video. Ecosport is not one of the 4 new nameplates. Watch the video, the specifically go on about the success of Ecosport, Edge, Explorer and Kuga.....then go on to say there will be 4 All New nameplates within the next 4 years.

 

Even though we'll be getting the Ecosport (or whatever it will be called) in NA, it doesn't count in these 4 new global nameplates.

 

 

 

Unless the EcoSport gets a new name for US/NA. That would be a new nameplate.

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Lets see:

 

Bronco

Aviator

Ecosport

 

Those are locked in for North America.

 

The only other one that makes sense is Bzcat keeps talking about the tall wagon SUVs...Think the Volkswagen Tiguan, Jeep Compass and the like. That would be easy to do with the Focus platform

Tall wagon style model makes sense to me as a replacement to the Euro minivans.

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From the press release:

 

Ford will add four new nameplates to its global SUV lineup in the next four years in segments in which company does not currently compete

Bronco would still count.

After that, any thing new for Lincoln would count, as long as it's not FWD/AWD 3-row, aka MKT replacement.

So, Aviator would count.

B-segment Lincoln?

Linc-Bronco?

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From the press release:

Ford will add four new nameplates to its global SUV lineup in the next four years in segments in which company does not currently compete

 

My point still stands. :)

 

Globally, ford does not compete in the EcoSport segment in the US. :)

 

I'm thinking outside the box, and twisting their words to mean what I think they may mean.

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My point still stands. :)

 

Globally, ford does not compete in the EcoSport segment in the US. :)

 

I'm thinking outside the box, and twisting their words to mean what I think they may mean.

 

 

Well technically the current Ecosport is more A class than B class due to the shortened length, at least according to bzcat. So a longer one on a true B sized platform would be a new segment.

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