igor

I would be shocked if Ford offered a twist beam Focus. The B-segment in the US is now well established, I would also be surprised if Ford messed with their global strategy and make a US-only Fiesta orphan. I could see Ford designing an EU/US specific interior for the Escort and bringing it to the US to prop up sales, but I think that makes sense only when and if gas prices rise. For now, I am expecting IRS on the focus (all Foci) and global Fiesta with twist-beam suspension.

MKX, Navigator, and the Aviator concept ... it's incredible how much metal Lincoln is putting out these days. The "one model per year" scheme is working beautifully. Now they will have 1 MCE, 1 new model, and 2 concept to talk about each year. This year it's MKZ, Conti, and Navi. Next year MKC, Navi, Aviator Then MKX, Aviator, and ???

Only if you assume that the model's primary market will be USA / NA. For Mexico, that is usually true, but even for Fusion Brazil is a significant market. For China, we will see imports for models primarily sold there, with few units shipped overseas. Much cheaper to ship some models across the pacific than to spin up a second plant for just a few units.

I just keep remembering how poorly the Fusion did in its first generation and it "second" generation / serious MCE. It was a great car that could not outsell mediocre cars in the segment. All of this tipped around 2011 when following the buzz around Flex, Ford introduced the Fiesta, Focus, and Escape and then the new Fusion. By the time the "Gen 3" Fusion was released it garnered none of the cautious "could this Ford really be this good" damnation with faint praise and sales were surging. I have no doubt there will be a tipping point for Lincoln. At one point one of the rags will say "Lincoln has been quietly making wonderful cars" and others will follow into a chorus, and the sales will tip upwards. It's all about patience and staying the course right now. EDIT: Also yes, Ford should be happy with Lincoln. Calm, disciplined, steady. Audi, Lexus, and BMW are not where they are by being brash and twitchy at the gas pedal. (although I have serious misgivings about the germans' recent obsession with needless model proliferation; which come to think of it may represent just the opportunity Lincoln (and Cadillac) could exploit)

nissan qashqai If they are, this is first I've heard of it. Again -- I may be completely wrong, but it seems to me that EcoSport is being readied for imminent release in the US, and moving the ES to C3 seems odd in my perspective. ... that is a guess .. a read of tea leaves ... many people know, some may say.

Despite the move to 106.3" wheelbase by most competitors, we see 0 movement to slotting more sizes of SUVs between What is HRV ad CRV, Mazda CX3 and CX5, Juke and Rogue ... and that is from brands (besides Nissan) that do not have Edge sitting atop their compact SUV. I just do not see it at the moment, but hey ... I am not being paid to make market research or product planning for the company .. so what do I know? One thing I COULD see (In my imagination and dreams) is Ford taking on the XV/Crosstrek with a Focus Allroad.

The C3/ C5xx platform will be interesting to watch. The C1/C2 was a big deal with the whole "Mazda/Volvo/Ford COOP development" and it spanning EUCD and CD4. With the way C-cars evolved since C1 was released 12 years ago, and with Volvo and Mazda gone, I am interested to see what they cook up. The Focus definitely needs longer wheelbase (106.3" seems to be the sweet spot, so let's get closer than today to that). Also fix the short stubby snout. Having the focus come out in late 2018 is "right on schedule" -- I am not too worried. I would be VERY surprised if Ford turned EcoSport into mini-Escape on the C3 platform, that platform will likely be WAY too expensive for what EcoSport is supposed to be, and way more expensive than what the competition (in EU/US and in developing markets) offers. Who offer a complex IRS C platform against competition built with twist-beam tech on simple, cheap B-car platforms? I expect Ford will release the refreshed EcoSport in the US, then I expect the new Fiesta will have new platform, but not revolutionalrily so, maintaining downward compatibility with the likes of Fido, Ka, and Ka+. EcoSport will soldier on its 2016 refresh for ~3 years and then get replaced with a better global car. More and more confirmation of the Model E range is good The fact that it's using the next C3 platform is also good. Nothing terribly news, but it's what makes sense, so I am happy to keep sing it confirmed over and over. So this is all good. I am interested to see the CD6 piece ... Ford's split between the C3 and CD6 cars will be fascinating -- where will it occur? Will Aviator be Cd6? MKZ? If MKZ is CD6, will Fusion -- Fusion makes a lot of sense as a C3/CD5 car sharing tech with Focus .... SO.MANY.QUESTIONS!

This is my guess. 2 ranger based SUV's one mainstream to chase TrailBlazer and Grand Cherokee and one more intense -- either a "Raptor" or a full on Wrangler 2 door. EcoSport (WIIC) and Aviator (VIIC) are a given. Lincoln has stated that they do not plan to add vehicles cheaper than the MKZ / MKC .. so this seems unlikely.

Lincoln recently dais that it does not plan to go below MKZ/MKC in price. I Think to me that implies either no C-segment car, or Mustang-based performance C-segment car (based on Mustang)

I hear you on this, but I would love a somewhat smaller (lower) truck than the T6. The jump from the old Ranger is just too big.

Back to Ranger ..... being 2 years behind the first significant move on the midsize truck market since .... well the exit of Colorado and Ranger is hardly trouble. The Taco has been stagnant for about 5 years, the Frontier is even worse; neither will be better by 2018, so really, Ford will be "the next one to innovate and leva the Japanese behind" .... Ford made its own bets (e.g. hybrids, Fusion), being 2 years behind cutting edge is not late to the party. It's letting others fail, and following colosely if they do not.

interesting. Everyone has different needs. I love small trucks, but for what I do with them, the TC would likely be just as good, if not better car for my needs (more usable locked space, load bearing roof, seats 5, shorter and tighter turning radius ... better mileage)... but again .. to each their own, for sure.

I agree with you on so many levels .... I "married" into a 99 Mazda truck 2.5I4, stick. I love that thing. It's currently our only car and it handles everything well (except for passengers). However if we were to replace it, we would likely go for a transit connect than another ranger. I have hard time finding a reason to buy a Colorado (gas or diesel) over a Transit Connect. And I think that is the problem with small trucks.

As much as it pains me to say this, but an I3 Diesel Transit Connect is a much better use of ford's money. In EU and other places, a small truck can be a status symbol (go look around Sweden, Germany, UK). In US the status symbol is the large truck. Because of that the small truck is more of a niche market. It ill not deliver measurably better mileage. It will not be measurably cheaper. It will not .... So the markets that are left is fleet and some urban dwelling truck lovers. The fleets are much better served by Transit Connect and Transit. There is nothing a Ranger could do that one of those two cannot (ok currently 4WD, but that can change easily). Further, the two transit are much more efficient, meaning they can get better mileage, haul more, and be more compact on the outside. All good things, especially for fleet buyers. So we'r left with the urban-dwelling, small-truck-loving buyer. I think ford figures that market is too small.

it's always easiest to take weigh out at complete rebuild. The curred CD4 datas back to the 2004 C1 Focus / Mazda3 / Volvo S40 ... The new MkIV Focus is coming, I hope they did their homework, and gave the C1/C2 a good once over. I feel that Mazda's Skyaktiv, really bumped up the bar in terms of engineering prowess, light weight, and looks. the new VW MGB seems also off to agood start, and let's not forget that TOYOTA (after 25 years) is bringing out a whole new modular FWD platform for Corolla and Camry. It may be a let down, but it also may be a revolution I sure hope Ford is not caught flatfooted. If they failed to foresee this, I would almost rather see MkIV Focus and MkIII Fusion soldier on based on the same underpinning for one more top-hat, than have a mediocre platform for the next 2 top-hat generations. After all, the next Focus will once again underpin everything from Focus, to Explorer, to Escape, to Taurus. For 15 years or so.