2005Explorer Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 17 minutes ago, akirby said: They're not expecting all of those sedan buyers to buy more expensive utilities - just some of them. They're also planning to pick up conquests on other vehicles like Bronco, Hybrid Escape, Scout, Mach E, etc. to fill that gap. And while the others will have an offering to fill that gap, they're not going to be making much money doing it. The sedan market is saturated and too competitive to generate much profit. The other mfrs are staying in it because they don't have a lot of other things to spend that money on. Ford has other options. Bill Ford himself has stated Ford will still have affordable vehicles to fill the gaps and compete in price sensitive markets so there still has to be some benefit to getting young, less wealthy customers into your dealerships. True the sedan market is saturated and doesn't make huge profits, but the same is true with the compact CUV and subcompact CUV market. Small affordable vehicles is just a tough market, but one that a full line automaker needs to compete in to build a future customer base. I guess we'll see how it all plays out in a few years. I don't question their decision to drop the Taurus or Fiesta, but I do with the Focus and Fusion. I also know if market conditions change they can bring them back, but I've also seen how slow Ford moves when there is a hot new segment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 2 minutes ago, 2005Explorer said: Bill Ford himself has stated Ford will still have affordable vehicles to fill the gaps and compete in price sensitive markets so there still has to be some benefit to getting young, less wealthy customers into your dealerships. True the sedan market is saturated and doesn't make huge profits, but the same is true with the compact CUV and subcompact CUV market. Small affordable vehicles is just a tough market, but one that a full line automaker needs to compete in to build a future customer base. I guess we'll see how it all plays out in a few years. I don't question their decision to drop the Taurus or Fiesta, but I do with the Focus and Fusion. I also know if market conditions change they can bring them back, but I've also seen how slow Ford moves when there is a hot new segment. That affordable vehicle won’t be a sedan and while the small cuv market is full ATPs are higher and you have more differentiation (Renegade, Scout, Soul, etc) which reduces price wars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papilgee4evaeva Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 11 hours ago, jpd80 said: Turn the engine North South and use Mustang's 2.3 EB and 10AT, a great car to supplement Mustang production and exports from Flat Rock. Or, even better, keep the V6 and turn it up a bit. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trader 10 Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 2 hours ago, akirby said: Next gen Focus is easy once they convert Mexican plants to C2. A next gen Fusion makes a lot more sense since it will generate better returns and wouldn’t be costly to develop as it would be essentially a larger Focus and use a lot of common parts with the ng Edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rperez817 Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 3 hours ago, akirby said: The real question is what are they developing with the cash they're saving on Focus and Fusion? At least some of those funds are probably being invested in Ford's electrification, autonomous vehicle, and mobility services initiatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 Ford says Fusion output will continue at least through 2021 Quote https://www.autonews.com/sales/ford-says-fusion-output-will-continue-least-through-2021 Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information from Ford correcting an earlier statement made by the company. DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. will discontinue the Fusion Sport trim for the 2020 model year as it focuses on offering more popular versions in the sedan’s final years. But other versions of the sedan will remain in production until at least 2021, the company said Thursday. "Our goal in the final production year is to further simplify the offering and focus on maximizing the more popular SE, SEL, and Titanium models," a Ford spokesman said in a statement. CarsDirect.com first reported the Fusion Sport's pending demise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 12 hours ago, rperez817 said: At least some of those funds are probably being invested in Ford's electrification, autonomous vehicle, and mobility services initiatives. Thanks Captain obvious. That was a rhetorical question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rperez817 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 56 minutes ago, akirby said: Thanks Captain obvious. That was a rhetorical question. You're welcome sir. Ask a rhetorical question, get a rhetorical answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005Explorer Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, jpd80 said: Ford says Fusion output will continue at least through 2021 I'm starting to think no one around Ford even knows what the plan is with the Fusion. First it was supposed to be cancelled after the 2020 model year. Then the story was updated to say production will continue to "at least" 2021 which means a 2021 or even a 2022 model year. Then other sources at Ford have said it'll continue until 2023. ? Why not just make a statement like... "We plan to keep building our popular Fusion sedan for the next few model years focusing on quality and value for midsized car shoppers." That is always better for selling current products even if you have some internal EOL date. Ford has stretched other much older and less competitive products then the Fusion in the past. I'm guessing sales numbers will hold pretty steady on it for the next couple years or so being it's the only 4 door sedan Ford offers after the Fiesta is gone. Edited June 7, 2019 by 2005Explorer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 14 minutes ago, 2005Explorer said: I'm starting to think no one around Ford even knows what the plan is with the Fusion. First it was supposed to be cancelled after the 2020 model year. Then the story was updated to say production will continue to "at least" 2021 which means a 2021 or even a 2022 model year. Then other sources at Ford have said it'll continue until 2023. ? Why not just make a statement like... "We plan to keep building our popular Fusion sedan for the next few model years focusing on quality and value for midsized car shoppers." That is always better for selling current products even if you have some internal EOL date. Ford has stretched other much older and less competitive products then the Fusion in the past. I'm guessing sales numbers will hold pretty steady on it for the next couple years or so being it's the only 4 door sedan Ford offers after the Fiesta is gone. Well the problem is they already announced they're going to drop it way too early, so they have to skirt around that, and it seems like they don't have a replacement planned (or at least ready to announce), so it doesn't really make sense to announce "we changed our minds, we're doing this now" without another product to announce - whether that be a next gen Fusion, or a replacement "white space" model. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterC6482 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 20 hours ago, tzach said: I agree but don't really understand why. The car not continuing does not change the car you have purchased. So why would you care. Yes you can't buy another if you like it but when any car gets replaced by an all new model yes the name is the same but the old car is no longer being made. So what is the difference? Buyers see a reduced resale or trade-in value when they own a discontinued model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 Just now, PeterC6482 said: Buyers see a reduced resale or trade-in value when they own a discontinued model. Not necessarily. Depends on demand vs. the supply of used vehicles. Some discontinued vehicles are more popular than when they were in production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 Ford probably has enough big hybrid police sedan fleet order to keep the lights on at Hermosilo so keeping retail sales going is an easy decision. The only question I have is what else is Ford planning to build at Hermosilo and how it can retool the plant without taking Fusion offline? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rperez817 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 2 hours ago, bzcat said: The only question I have is what else is Ford planning to build at Hermosilo and how it can retool the plant without taking Fusion offline? Jalopnik reported rumors of a unibody pickup truck smaller than Ranger being allocated to Hermosillo. https://jalopnik.com/ford-may-be-cooking-up-a-small-unibody-truck-smaller-th-1831869646 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 5 hours ago, bzcat said: Ford probably has enough big hybrid police sedan fleet order to keep the lights on at Hermosilo so keeping retail sales going is an easy decision. The only question I have is what else is Ford planning to build at Hermosilo and how it can retool the plant without taking Fusion offline? Either Mach E and whatever variants it might have or Bronco Scout/ compact unibody pickup/ Transit Connect depending on who you ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 1 minute ago, fuzzymoomoo said: Either Mach E and whatever variants it might have or Bronco Scout/ compact unibody pickup/ Transit Connect depending on who you ask I thought those were going to Cuatitlan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 (edited) As far as I know, Mach E is at Cuautitlan, the others were planned for Hermosillo... It's interesting that Ford is now delaying the end of Fusion, and I wonder if it's like RMC said, that maybe Ford now realizes that it was a mistake to prematurely kill off Fusion when sales are still strong. The sales strength of replacement production vehicles is not guaranteed. How crap would it be to put TC, the compact Pick-Up and its companion Ute in there and only get a fraction of Fusion's sales..... Edited June 7, 2019 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 1 hour ago, akirby said: I thought those were going to Cuatitlan? Read again, it's an either/or I posed. Nobody seems to have a 100% read on what the plans are for the Mexican plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 On 6/6/2019 at 3:07 PM, akirby said: I wasn't going to say anything but to me the hood is too long, the back end is too bulky and the wheel wells are GM ugly. It looks like an Aztek that's had a botched nose job. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 I think akirby is on the money with incremental products added back , maybe Ford does those new “hatchback cars” after the dust settles 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-dubz Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 11 hours ago, SoonerLS said: It looks like an Aztek that's had a botched nose job. Everyone has their own opinion. I think the new escape looks like a 5 year old design and is the VW Beetle of compact SUVs. The rav4 redesign doesn’t seem to be hurting sales. It was up 10% over last April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 (edited) On 6/6/2019 at 3:57 PM, tzach said: I agree but don't really understand why. The car not continuing does not change the car you have purchased. So why would you care. I can’t tell you how many people think it makes it hard to repair/get parts. It makes no sense (it’s not like Ford is going away, and it’s not like the existence of the CD4 Fusion made parts any more available for the CD3 Fusion) but it is a common perception. Edited June 9, 2019 by sullynd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 OMG FORD HASN'T MADE THE FOCUS IN OVER A YEAR SO I CAN'T GET PARTS FOR MY 2008 ANYMORE Yeah, that's not how this works at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351cid Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 (edited) We're not looking at a new Fusion because it's been minimally updated and now I can't find one with a 2.0L engine. The 2.0 is mandatory. The 1.5L doesn't get it done for the wife. It's kind of weak after having a 2.0L for 6 years. The dealers all say that the 2.0 requires awd in the SE, it's not available in the SEL, and it's standard in the Titanium; and no one is willing to pay what a Titanuim costs since Fusion is an orphan car. They all have Fusion S and Fusion SE's. Ford really screwed the pooch on this whole "kill the cars" deal. The defenders will continue with "It just makes good business sense", but the reality is; it only makes sense on paper and not in reality or practicality. Edited June 10, 2019 by 351cid Spelling errors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rperez817 Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 1 hour ago, 351cid said: We're not looking at a new Fusion because it's been minimally updated and now I can't find one with a 2.0L engine. The 2.0 is mandatory. The 1.5L doesn't get it done for the wife. It's kind of weak after having a 2.0L for 6 years. The dealers all say that the 2.0 requires awd in the SE, it's not available in the SEL, and it's standard in the Titanium; and no one is willing to pay what a Titanuim costs since Fusion is an orphan car. They all have Fusion S and Fusion SE's. Ford really screwed the pooch on this whole "kill the cars" deal. The defenders will continue with "It just makes good business sense", but the reality is; it only makes sense on paper and not in reality or practicality. It does suck for customers like you and your wife who appreciated the wide variety of engine and trim combinations that Ford Fusion offered in previous years. But Ford really dug itself into a hole selling unprofitable passenger cars including Fusion for years and years. It needs to get out, and that's what Ford is doing. Have you test driven a Fusion SE Hybrid? Very responsive powertrain that performs better than what the specs indicate, plus huge sales incentives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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