This is what the “Way Forward” plan should have emphasized along side job cuts – accelerating product introductions. There are some jewels in Ford’s current line-up (Mustang, Fusion, F-series) and some decent cars that are often overlooked (the Focus, Five Hundred and Explorer would be my example of this), but they lack an overall competitive line-up.

The Edge should have been out this spring/summer. The new Escape should have been a 2007 model, as should the new Focus, Five Hundred and Freestyle all coming next year. Ford probably could have brought the Fiesta to the U.S. by 2007 for less than $300 million and would have stopped some loss of marketshare and criticism of its overall gas mileage.

The F-150 cannot wait until 2009 with the new Tundra and Silverado (although I’ve been unimpressed with the looks of either and the new Super Duty is coming in January) and improvements like small-block diesel engines would be a huge boost if offered by MY2008 (so summer/fall of ‘07) in the Explorer, Expedition and F-150.

These types of moves just are not getting done fast enough. If Ford needs to hire more product engineers, so be it. Just because you are eliminating workforce doesn’t mean you cut (or fail to add) in areas that are crucial to succes. I know all of this takes money, but, unfortunately, it’s going to take some burning of cash to get out of the rut Ford is currently in.

Agreed. Number 1

idont think the new tundra ia going to be any thing to worrie about with its ugly looks..the new silverado on the other hand is a diffrent story..

I think Ford should really look hard at the Mercury brand. Either do with it as GM did with Oldsmobile and Chrytler did with Plymouth, or do like Saturn and bring over cars from Europe to sell branded as Mercuries. I know, they already unsuccessfuly tried this with the Merkur, but I think that cars like the new Mondeo (if it looks anything like the Iosis based designs I’ve seen lately) and even the C-Max or Galaxy would do ok as a Mercury. Ford has said over and over again that bringing their European cars here would not be cost efficent, that each car would cost more than people would be willing to pay for a Ford. Well, that’s where the Mercury brand comes in. It’s already a price point higher than Ford. I have always liked Fords and have always owned them (at least in the family, I currently have a Mazda3). I hope that Ford has enough capital that they can focus (hahaha) on making better cars and not have to keep spending money on “way forwards”.

Mercury is more profitable and stable than ford. Their styling is better and their cars are more luxurious. What ford should do is slap an IRS on the mustang platform, give it mercury style, luxury and refinement and sell it in the mid 30″s. The 350Z is an Japanese Mustang and a new COUGAR could be an American G35 coupe.

2006300C don’t bother. Everyone ignores accurate comments about Mercury on LLN.

Commenting on Mercury and Lincoln’s credibility is absurd because there isn’t any to note. Mercury is hardly stable. It’s head is permemnently on the chopping block, lingering for the axe to fall. If only it would. Regrilled, ultra-chromed, and leather-lined Ford models make not a luxury car. With Ford’s PAG, their is virtually NO reason for Lincoln’s continued existence. It literally just bleeds Ford of money that could go to more profitable and worthy projects. Jaguar for example. Kill them both please. please?

ugly pos…try again

Dear ford drop the mountaineer. Your models that share platforms look too much alike. It’s a waste of money!

R. if you knew your ass from a hole in the wall, you would check facts before spouting off sophomoric conjecture. Mercury’s use of brightwork, and different facia attracts more buyers at low production costs. Do you know what that means champ? It means that they are one of Ford’s only profitable subsidiaries. If anything is hurting Ford, it is the products badged “Ford”.

Completely agree with comment #1 on pulling ahead of the new Ford vehicles. Look at the Acadia from GM. It was just shown at NAIAS 2006 and will be available months before the Edge/MKX, whereas those vehicles have been visible in the public for 24+ months.

I am concerned that both of these vehicles will quickly become “t-bird-ed” in that people had seen a relatively forward thinking design for so long that it became rather pedestrian by the time it hit the road. Mind you, a $35k+ two-seater that doesn’t hold two sets of golf clubs and is targeted toward retiree golfers missed its mark but hopefully my comment is understood.

An interesting view on Mercury is that at time of whether to cancel the brand or not, they looked at the demographics of the buyer and saw that if there was no Milan or no Mountaineer or no Mariner (which sells like crazy by the way), those buyers are most likely not to go to a Ford but to buy a Toyota or a Honda and thus decided to keep it. It keeps the Lincoln dealer happy by having a larger range of vehicles and also allows an overall capacity blend to share some of the Ford / Lincoln costs. I do believe that the Mountaineer and Montego really miss the mark in terms of purely a different grill / tail light package but the Milan (the newest of the Mercury vehicles) does a good enough job of differentiation through exterior and interior styling to attract a different buyer and really does delivery on that.

Lexus, Infinity & Acura are rebadged, rechromed, regrilled, leather lined Camrys, Altimas and Accords! So what’s so wrong with Ford doing the same thing? They’ve in fact been doing it since 1939 and its made them a bunch of money.

Instead of replacing the Grand Marquis with the montego ford should restyle it and keep it on a rearwheel drive platform and keep it around the same size. This way they will keep their senior buyers. They should give a cvt transmision not the new 6 speed because most Grand Marquis drivers want a smooth not jerky ride. They should give it the 4.4 lt v8 on the upcoming Volvo s80 and have it shut down 4 cyclinders while cruising which would give it some technology to get ridd of its old fashion reputation. Since they Grand Marquis is the only model starting with the letter g they can drop the grand.