Edgey

All of these details were probably brought up well before they became issues in focus groups. I'm sure they had a list of cost-cutting measures that they made and waited to see what the focus groups would pick on the most.

Mullally also realizes that there is a difference between consolidating for consolidation's sake and making products tailored to a certain market. Ford has a wealth of Truck resources in NA, not to mention platforms, engines, drivetrains, etc... The Asia/Pacific Ranger is a VERY different product. Toyota, Nissan, all make trucks unique to those markets btw.

Well, you'd need an all new Ranger for a longer nose, and length is always an issue for a truck. Length reduces ground clearance over rough terrain.

I doubt the Thai Ranger can be designed to work for the NA market, the truck environments are wildly different from here to there. I would be shocked if this is Ranger successor.

I have never been drawn to Mazda, something about it seems tuned too obliquely to the sporting-side of the spectrum. I'm looking for a better compromise, something a little more sophisticated and understated.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/...175.A11401.html GM has already made the leap to replace its SUVs with Crossovers, Ford is still supplementing the Explorer with crossovers. When is Ford going to go ahead and replace the Explorer with a Crossover? From what I see of the Fairlane, it's mostly a Freestyle replacement and resembles it in shape, size, and overall functionality. It will not take on the Pilots, Lamdas, and Pacificas of the world. Is there still a sustainable niche for the Explorer, or has the time come to cut this one out of the portfolio. Ford really doesn't need another Taurus and Crown Victoria.

I'm actually investigating Volvos right now, although I have yet to drive them and I'm concerned about Volvo quality (not that my LS has been a flawless ride). The nearest Volvo dealer isn't very convenient and I don't want to deal with that if I have troubles. Volvo certainly doesn't price out as the value option, they seem to place a premium on their badging . But I'm looking for something a little more unique and Lincoln is about as exciting as Buick. The Aviator has a 5.1 THX system for the rear-seat DVD player and it is a brilliant sounding system. I never thought I'd finally hear something coming out of a Ford car that sounded that good.

Great review of the Milan/MKZ, I have the EXACT same opinion of the CD3 designs. The Milan is by far the best looking of the three IMO, especially on the interior. The Milan has the looks, style, and features of an MKZ...but damn that D30! If I could get a Milan with a D35 and HID headlights, I would have exactly what I want. The THX II system is not so great in the MKZ, it is MUCH better in the Aviator. Some advice for Lincoln, concentrate on overall material quality, not just genuine trim materials. I would gladly give up gigantic slabs of wood and aluminum in my car if it means the plastics are a much higher grade. And please loose the retro dash design! It looks great in photography, but it's very unpleasant to sit behind. I'm 6'3" but I feel like I'm peering over the dash like an old man. Is it really necessary for Lincoln to chase away people younger than 60 with designs like this?

OK, after that Top Gear review, I'm sold on the S-Max . But I won't join the chorus demanding its importation. It's nice to see that somewhere on this planet, Ford is the critics choice.

One of those lonely dots!

I must be getting old! I'm not sure those were 20" rims actually, but they have the same design of the 20" rims on the Navigator and Mark LT. The rims ultimately put on the production MKX are all 18" and not as attractive. They will do, but they are as weak as the ones put on the MKZ. The rims on the MKZ are just awful! They are almost as bad as GM rims! It's a well known fact that GM is incapable of designing attractive wheels .

Hey, I went directly from Ford to Lincoln, I skipped Mercury altogether!

OK, so I'm trying to order a MKX and I see that there is nothing in the brochure or website about the 20" chrome rims that the car had originally been showcased in. They are on the Navigator and Mark LT, but they have vanished from the MKX. What happened?

I was already on the side of the fence with the Cobalt. I never understood the venom spewed at the car. It stands out in the segment in terms of interior and exterior material quality. It's a very spiffy little car. The Focus is also a great car, but it's a little stingy on the material quality. I fully expect that to be remedied next year in '08. In fact, the new Focus has some of the attributes of the cobalt, such as the chrome door handles which really elevates the appearance of the car. The Cobalt is an economy car easier to live with than the classically stripped down American econoboxes.

I was joking about the omni-directional seating! The joke was suppose to mean that if you didn't have a 3rd row back there, then you could chose to sit facing any direction. Somebody up there actually asked if the seat was rear or forward facing. I had to crack a joke at that! Sorry As for the Fairlane replacing the minivan...definitely not! Ford is offering a 7 seater, but it's not a minivan equivalent. Ford will no longer be pursuing that market segment. They are only interested in the customer looking for an alternative to the minivan. I think it was Mays who said that Ford no longer needs to compete in every segment and the minivan is one segment Ford has chosen to leave. It is a big segment and it may disqualify Ford as a 'full-line' company, but they can't spend money where they know they are not going to see growth.