Lol, let’s bring Europe models to America and send American models to Europe! Yes

The biggest problem that Lincoln faces is that it doesn’t actually have any models that challenge Cadillac, Acura or Infiniti.

Thats funny that Ford thinks European will be interested in Lincoln lol GM has trouble selling its CTS in Europe and that thing was designed more to please a European market rather than the domestic market. So I can’t seen Lincoln selling any cars in Europe. If our unsophisticated market doesn’t want Lincoln, what makes Ford think Europeans will open their wallets for one?? Maybe Mulally wants Europeans to continue laughing at our cars.

they got ways to go

Rebadged Fords? No thanks.

Yeah, they would need better cars first. Maybe trying to compete globally would force them to stop the bleeding obvious rebadges.

They can’t even expand in America for chrissakes. What makes them think a more sophisticated market will buy thier Psuedo lux crap?

Note to Mulally: please engage brain before opening mouth. It would have made as much sense to say you were planning on selling Lincolns on the f*cking moon, because whatever you send to Europe would just collect dust as well.

Maybe this would work in China, where they could go up against Buick. But in the more sophisticated Asian markets, Lincolns would be laughed off the showroom floor. Can you imagine the Hong Kong / Singapore / Tokyo luxo-car markets taking these cars seriously?

I’m sure the German analyst have no bias what so ever.

The sales facts? No, of course not. I’m sorry I was unclear, I meant that surely they have no bias when they write how :
“premium” brands of BMW, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover, and Volvo are superior to “mere luxury cars” from Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac, Jaguar, and Rolls Royce,”

“Rather, Lincoln will find its own place in the market, challenging brands like Cadillac, Acura, and Infiniti.”

That would be a great idea if any of those brands (other than Cadillac) were actually SOLD in Europe or Asia! So, just like in the US, Lincoln’s global strategy is aimed squarely at a market that doesn’t exist.

Yes, Asia that being China, maybe. The rest of the world, unlikely.

So the rest of the world is soooo sophisticated…..America has had to drag their sophisticated butts back to reality time and time again. America doesn’t really need any imported products, but the rest of the world sure needs Americas commerce.

As long as Ford doesn’t begin to put some much needed time and energy into a Diesel line-up, they might as well forget about this strategy. Since they own Volvo, there might be some good Diesels coming out of there. Unfortunately, they can’t even get their in-house 4.4L Diesel powerplant off the ground, for Christ’s sake!

Tennesee, America is now dependant on the world, not the other way around like you stated. We owe $14 billion to China because they got the money, and we are in debt and keep borrowing more to pay off other debts. America’s economic superiority is gone, and our military will soon slip to #2 position also thanks to China. The only way we can stay competitve is if we get rid of ignorant people like you who think Ford and Chevy are great products.

gary: good idea.

yeah trooper lets all buy more chineese stuff to dig that hole deeper, we need more everybody to buy more american products in general, there is no other way to fix the economy than for us to support it better. yeah the big 3 screw us all over with horrid cars for almost 30 years and look at the results. the cars are way better now and worth cross shopping against their import rivals. if no american buys american we have no jobs, its a fiercly competitive world market, and if we want to remain competitive we need to offer better products and we finally are.

I think it’s going to be tough for Lincoln in Europe. U.S. brands seem to have a tough time gaining ground in the premium segment in the European auto market.

I do see Lincoln faring much better in select parts of Asia, especially China. Buick has done well there and I think Lincoln could follow suit.

First I think Allan Mulally has the right idea it needs to be reinforced with constant Great products from Lincoln and a logical progression of technology that is the way.And to further that note is the up coming Lincoln 2009 MKS is good example of this thinking and its a good start but Ford can’t falter in this regard and go to sleep as they have before in the past. And I think this Lincoln is not a pretender to the thrown as is most GM products are, and would do very well in Europe.

And that brings up the second point, all of you GM Ass kissers have 1/2 the equation wrong right out of the box for Ford’s Motor’s true problems, and part of it can be found in your deep hatred toward Ford as a competitor and also for the way Ford Motor has Manhandled (Beat the hell out of) GM in sales department throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s and with two cars that Ford promises to fix shortly. And all your trying to do is exacerbate and or make noise around Ford’s true dilemma’s they still need to fix. Ford in Europe has done extremely well much to your chagrin ok. Just has. Their sales are great and thanks to Ford of Europe with Great product design which – Bill Ford and or sheister Mark Fields had nothing to do with. Thank Goodness.

The good news for Ford is that Bill Ford has had at least the common sense to hire Allan Mulally who actually thinks and uses his brain. And you don’t like that do you planet_drive and others like you!?

The CTS for your information is grotesque GM piece of garbage and is a complete joke. It should be no wonder to you or anyone that had seen its disproportionate body that it does not sell well in Europe. Its a no brain.
And It should not sell well even in the US. And really does’nt even though GM advertises the heck out of it. The cadillac disproportionate in its design no symmetrry whatsoever. Their is nothing about it that speaks of great design. It has weird ungainly angles that don’t work well together. Door handles that are tiny and look like they belong on some econo-box.

Now to show you I am not totally biased against GM. The New 08 CTS is a vast improvement over the last CTS’s goneby. I admit It has sexy haunches, but the front end is still lackluster in design and look.

Anyway back to the fray, the Cadillac XLR is nothing-more than a Chevy Corvette by another name and or/body style. So don’t dare talk about rebadging of Ford’s when that is exactly what all 5 of GM brands do all the time as they have the same engine, chassis, and instruments my GM friends! in other words Same Sh@t Different Day @ GM

Your probably one of those dumber than stink country hicks with a cow pattie for a brain that sits there on Sunday watching other rednecks race around a silly oval track called NASCAR and compete to see if Chevy wins. If Chevy winds then You think the world (Yours!!!) has achieved perfect state of Nirvana like the true Idiot you really ARE!!!

Anwyay for the rest of us that actually have a brain, Mulally is doing something that will only compliment what Ford has been doing. I know that Ford is highly regarded in both England, Ireland, and other parts of Europe. Not to mention its done well in Australia since the very beginning and South America and South Africa. So what’s your point you have none. So shut up and eats Lincoln’s and Ford’s dust.

Also don’t dare put Cadillac on the same level of a Lexus, Infiniti, or Acura. If you’ve been to a recent autoshows or done a recent comparison; then you’d know how foolish a statement you’ve just made.

Cadillac is still at a lower echlon level technologically speaking. A Cadillac is a dressed up, souped up, and/or a gaudy Chevy and nothing more.

GM’s interior has improved but no where near the quality of a Japanese Luxury Sedan. Technologically there is no comparison. Japanese Luxury Automakers are technologically Superior to their American counterparts. American and even German cars are put to shame.

Heart64: You’re wrong. caddy is making its way back. I give datsun respect, because not only are those cars great, but they’re beautiful. The other 2, fahgetaboutit

hey jackjimturkey it is you who does not know squat about luxury cars. I’ve been to the last three autoshows from Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee and every time I see all the cars from all over the world I usually come up away with the same conclusions. And yes I have driven most of them too. However sitting in them and viewing their comfort and conviences is all you need to do.

After sitting in everything from a renault to a Maybach from Mercedes Benz. I can tell you what is useful technology, easy to read/and or use and what isn’t, and I am sorry if my evaluation is not your cup of tea. But I feel the majority of people (without a shadow of a doubt) have my point of view when it comes to value VS price of the car.

If your a person who wants the pinnacle of engineering this has been Mercedes forte; however, I give the nod to the Japanese automakers at the moment.

Because relative to price point Mercedes Benz is way over priced for what it gives you. I have hear when a Mercedes does break down its very expensive. If you don’t mind shelling out alot more dinero and like the snob appeal; then you buy Mercedes.

Even if you have money you like to save. The Lexus is premiere and you obviously have not sat in a Lexus recently their absolutely beautiful inside and out.

followed by Acura great on the technology side. Nothing compare to the quality of control of the precision of its instruments of Japanese Luxury automobile.

I was surprised that you picked Nissan’s Infiniti brand. and I would upgrand them, but they were dead last. In my opinion Nissans/Infiniti, have had a major problem with rust. Yes the bodies Rust. How do I know. I not only owned one so did my brother. And both suffered that “Rust” of the body away affliction.

Anyway back to your siding with Cadillac..Ahem “Souped up Chevy brand” That’s all it is. Cadillac tries to compete at either Mercedes Benz and/or BMW’s performance level and does not know the full package of Luxury I admit they are doing well on the performance side.

Where cadillac falls short.

1.) Engineering-and value and don’t shove that mass media 100,000 mile crap on me. I am talking about reliability and amount of mileage you can put on the car without major repair. I have heard so many stories of folks who bought a cadillac new and brought it back to the dealer to get their new cadillac to find it was just a paultry sum of what they paid for it. AKA the Cadillac did NOT hold its value like Gold- their are only two automakers that can do that. And Cadillac ain’t one of them! Only Lexus and Mercedes can claim that ok and maybe Acura.

2.) Technologically Inferior to the Japanese. Just “IS” take my word for it.

3.) the Front “end” is still ugly as Hell- this is so-called “Forte” of GM if you can call it that. GM has over used its edginess to stupidity levels

I know what i am talking about. I not only go to the autoshows. I have sold premium automobiles I know what people look for. You sound like a GM guy.

Furthermore, you probably think I hate all american cars. your wrong. Happen to be a Ford Motor co fan at Heart, but that does not mean I side with Ford on and/or its Lincoln/ Mercury, Volvo, Mazada and the soon to be sold Jaguar, and Land Rover brands that they produce ok. Unlike addleheaded rednecked chevy lovers who jump at the chance to buy a Monte carlo on Monday after winning on Sunday and get it repossessed on Tuesday after buying too much beer , and then beat the wife on Wednesday kind-of-guy.

I don’t care for the Stupidity over at GM just don’t.
Never did. Their too Arrogant for their own good.
Essentially GM has turned its Psuedo-luxury brand into a sports car brand. And you know what they say about Sports car. Their here today and gone tommorrow. enough said.

Lincoln does have an advantage that cadillac does not. A man at the top of Ford that admires Lexus intensely which “”MOST”" people views as the Preimere Luxury Car brand in the World.

If he can turn Ford around; then he might be able to do the same for Lincoln. And bring Lincoln to Europe with pride.

Remember Ford has a good name in Europe because the European arm of the company does its own thing. It did not rely on the Ford Dolts from Detroit who went to sleep for the last 10 years.

I admit Lincoln has a way to go along with consistency in great product line, but they have the right guy to do it.