omarrana
omarrana
I hooked up my accelerator to my brake lights. I hit the gas, people behind me stop, and I'm gone.
View My AgentPage

Print this Page | Digg It | del.icio.us

Tags: Ford

Tag Link: Ford

Mercury will play major roll in Ford’s shift to small cars
Ford is expected to make some significant announcements along with its quarterly results this Friday. Along with the announcement of retooling U.S. plants to produce its European models, The New York Times reports that Ford will also announce a drastic shift to build more small cars.

According to sources, FoMoCo will announce that it will completely convert three of its North American plants from trucks to cars. Ford will also realign factories to produce more fuel-efficient engines and will produce six of its next European cars for the U.S. market.

The New York Times also reported... Read Article
Mercury will play major roll in Ford’s shift to small cars



Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]
HantraHantra - 7/22/2008 4:33:11 PMView My AgentSpace
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Errr. . . I thought Mercury was done. Wasn't it here at Autospies that they said there were no plans to build any Mercury cars after the next couple years?

reply to this comment
t_bonet_bone - 7/22/2008 6:04:08 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
It's weird. I could have sworn either Mercury or Lincoln was shut down a few years ago, but they are both still going.


AudiphileAudiphile - 7/22/2008 4:46:55 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I read the entire article, and a corollary article linked to it. Nowhere did Ford management explain how Mercury will be part of their small-car efforts. The thought cloud in the photo suggesting that Mercury could become Ford's Scion was cute, however.

My advice - drop the redundant Mercury marque, and sell Ford and Lincoln models under one roof. GM dropped Oldsmobile and Chrysler dropped Plymouth without the world coming to an end. Who knows, we might get rid of "badge engineering" altogether!

reply to this comment
w209w114w209w114 - 7/22/2008 5:00:01 PMView My AgentSpace
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Title Correction: ROLL = ROLE

reply to this comment
no1listensanywayno1listensanyway - 7/22/2008 6:42:26 PMView My AgentSpace
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
This economy is the perfect excuse to dump Mercury, these American companies will never learn. On the next economic upswing, Mercury will continue to struggle, while Ford continues to dump money into it. That money should be allocated for Lincoln, so that it can truely compete in the luxury market.

reply to this comment
CanadaCraigCanadaCraig - 7/23/2008 4:56:22 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Just as Chrysler [DaimlerChrysler] should NEVER have dumped Plymouth - Ford should NEVER dump Mercury. Mercury could be [Just as Plymouth would have been] perfect for the new American econo-car class of cars.
Craig!! :o)

reply to this comment
WhelanWhelan - 7/23/2008 10:49:12 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Why not just ditch Mercury and create a small brand like Scion then? Open a Ford/(insert name here) dealer. Then put your money into Lincoln. Scion means descendant or heir anyways.

You wouldn't even have to come up with another name, just make it the small division and name every car the same letter. Your lineup would be like the Ka, Kg, Kx, etc. That way you can see they are in the same family.

reply to this comment
WhelanWhelan - 7/23/2008 10:49:46 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Sorry let me add...they can utilize the same engines and frames and just have different shapes, very similar to Scion who pretty much does that exact thing.

reply to this comment
AudiphileAudiphile - 7/24/2008 10:39:13 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
From the very start (1939) Mercury was supposed to be Ford's "mid-level" car, higher in cachet than Ford but lower than Lincoln. Unfortunately, it has failed in that regard. Most people accurately consider it nothing more than a Ford with a different badge and grille.

I have yet to figure out the logic behind Toyota's Scion marque. I believe that Toyota wanted to market the Scion to young people who couldn't afford a brand-new Toyota, i.e. they would rather have them buy a new Scion than a used Toyota. But isn't that the same market the Toyota Yaris is aiming for? Go figure.

Thus I can't see the logic behind relaunching the Mercury as a Scion clone.

reply to this comment
To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).

Most Recent Stories
Renntec Mercedes C63 AMGFerrari Enzo Replacement SpiedSarah Palin Opens A Can Of Alaskan Whoop-Ass On Obama And Democrats-But What Does She Drive?Recall Issued for 2009 Jaguar XFCONFIRMED: Chevrolet Volt to be revealed this monthStudy: Women get ’turned on by engine sounds of MaseratisLamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 gets diamond wheels and pink brakesWill Buyers Be Willing To Settle For A 4 Cylinder BMW, Or It That Just Too Far Of A StretchUpcoming Beetle Design Will Inject More TestostoroneRumor: Ferrari working on a 430 Scuderia Spider2010 Chevrolet Camaro orders start next monthHyundai to show Santa Fe hybrid concept in ParisIs Imitation The Sincerest Form Of Flattery? Honda Releases Their Own Prius Look Alike!2009 Mazda MX-5 FaceliftCitroen reveals new hybrid conceptEarly look at America-bound Ford C-MaxSpies Become MythBusters When It Comes To Your Options If You Think You've Bought A LemonIs BMW The Company Actually Behind The Audi A4 Driving Experience App?NHTSA Sides With Toyota On Unintended Acceleration Issues Claiming 400 Owners Had No CaseChrysler Still Sits In The Basement, Sales Down 34% For AugustHow Low Should It Go? Analysts Predict Oil To Plunge As Low As $80 A Barrel!The Bottom Falls Out Of Audi Sales In August, Down 16% For The MonthHyundai May Be Fuel Economy Leader By Meeting Standards 5 Years Ahead Of DeadlineGM Employee Pricing Program Fails To Limit Sales Losses - Sales Down 20.4% In AugustHyundai Stumbles Down 8.8% For AugustBMW Sales Dip 4.1% In August - Mini Remains Strong Up 34.1%Honda Stumbles 7.1% In August - Acura Makes Progress Down 8.2%2008 Mercedes Brabus Bullit Black ArrowMazda Tightens The Belt With a 4.4% Decrease In August SalesNissan Rebounds With Sales Up 14.2% - Infiniti Up 8.0% For AugustToyota Drops 9.4% In August - Lexus Year End Clearance Event Curbs Losses To 9.1%Volkswagen Rides The TDI To A 2.9% Increase August SalesMercedes Benz Sales Drop 11.8% In August - SMART Sales Remain StrongFOMOCO Stuns No One With A 26.6% Shortfall In August SalesBMW 135i Outpoints Its Competitors to Become Consumer Reports' Top-Rated Sporty CarGerman Car Market Sales Fall 10.4% For AugustInfiniti M35 to get 303-hp V6 VQ35HR engineHot News: Mercedes CLT2009 Lexus IS Facelift Spurts Out On The Net$200 Spy Tool Allows You To Track Your Errant Children Or Spouse's Every MoveConsumer Reports Analysis: Best Money Saving HybridsChrysler working on electric cars and plug-in hybrids$2 million Bugatti Veyron crashed againHonda's Prius rival to be revealed on ThursdayKia Soul to debut at Paris Motor ShowHummer H3T on sale in Middle East this NovemberBMW pure electric 1-series in the worksAudi working on R3 roadster with 4-cylinder engineWho Is Going To Be The First to Fall And How Soon?Honda To Debut New Hybrid Thursday - To Be Priced Same As Conventional Models