Ford to stop making pretty much their entire car lineup.

[spikerS]

So Ford announced today that it is killing off their entire car / sedan lineup. Say goodbye to the Fiesta, Focus, and the Fusion (no more Fiesta ST or Focus RS either). Instead, Ford is going to concentrate on Trucks, SUVs, the Mustang, and the Focus Active (Car-ish Hatch). The proverbial axe is going to come down over the next couple years.

Personally, I think this is short sighted. With gas prices on the rise again, People are going to be looking for the more fuel efficient vehicles again.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/a20066196/ford-killing-focus-fiesta-north-america-2022/

[ExtraSlow]

The only cars that matter are the Honda Fit and the KIA Stinger.

[pheoxs]

Thought this was round two of April fools for a second.

I don't see how they can. Don't they need the cars to bring down their overall fuel economy numbers down to meet certain requirements? Could they be refreshing their entire naming structure instead? Seems odd to be backing out of cars unless they've realized they can't compete with future hybrids.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[spikerS]

I thought the were making a ton of money off of the Focus, that is surprising to hear it is getting dropped

The Taurus will still be around, that is their bread and butter police interceptor fleet vehicle



Nope, Taurus is disco too

[rage2]

Cops are buying mostly SUVs and trucks these days. The police package cars have slowed down significantly in the last 5 years.

Edit - some numbers.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/06/19/nations-most-popular-police-car-now-suv/103006874/

Explorer 51% of ALL police vehicle purchases last year. For Ford, 75% Explorer 25% Taurus.

[Tik-Tok]

Could they be refreshing their entire naming structure instead? Seems odd to be backing out of cars unless they've realized they can't compete with future hybrids.

My bet is they are going to come up with a new name, for selling whatever hybrid/electric cars they come up with. They need a new name to sell to the new generation, Ford (as well as GM and Dodge) is synonymous with gas guzzler.

[rage2]

I don't see how they can. Don't they need the cars to bring down their overall fuel economy numbers down to meet certain requirements?
SUVs are classified as light trucks, so they adhere to a much lower standard.

[90_Shelby]

My bet is they are going to come up with a new name, for selling whatever hybrid/electric cars they come up with. They need a new name to sell to the new generation, Ford (as well as GM and Dodge) is synonymous with gas guzzler.

They should call the new brand Mercury.

[Tik-Tok]

They should call the new brand Mercury.

Too old. How about "Lithium" instead?

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Personally, I think this is short sighted. With gas prices on the rise again, People are going to be looking for the more fuel efficient vehicles again.


CUVs get pretty good mileage, and that's what people are buying. If worst comes to worst, it's very easy to import their Euro small car designs.

[benyl]

CUVs get pretty good mileage, and that's what people are buying. If worst comes to worst, it's very easy to import their Euro small car designs.

https://www.ford.ca/suvs-crossovers/ecosport/

Basically a fiesta hatch with a taller body.

Under 9L/100kms. Around town, it matches the fiesta for mileage. On the highway is a different story.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Why not just focus on making their cars profitable...

[revelations]

Ford of North America knows the dummies here just want big trucks and SUVs. The profit margins are huge.

I just got back from 2 weeks in the EU (rural areas) - the cars they have there look 10x better than here and way more practical....3 door vehicles, diesels, lots of estates and people have tow hooks on their vehicle for the odd occasion they have to haul something around.... instead of driving around a 3 ton vehicle for the 1-2x a year that they might need to.

Its a completely different mindset in the rest of the world and Ford is just playing along.

[benyl]

Cheap gas. Europe would likely be the same if they had the same prices on fuel as we do here.

[revelations]

The price of gas in EU will become the same in Vancouver this summer...... :o

[schocker]

I thought they would be selling enough focus hatchbacks to keep that around. Now nothing is sacred. Our next RS model will be the Escape RS :rofl:

[pheoxs]

Because car buyers actually shop around and try to get a good deal and drive prices down. Truck buyers see MSRP 60k now 50k and they brag about how great of deal they got

[Ca_Silvia13]

I thought MT confirmed a 2020 Focus RS??

[benyl]

I thought they would be selling enough focus hatchbacks to keep that around. Now nothing is sacred. Our next RS model will be the Escape RS :rofl:

There is an Edge ST already...

http://st.motortrend.ca/uploads/sites/5/2018/01/2019-Ford-Edge-ST-front-three-quarter-1.jpg

[Disoblige]

I thought MT confirmed a 2020 Focus RS??
That's impossible. RS version doesn't debut until 4-5 years later the new platform comes out. So earliest we see an RS version is 2024-2025.

[rage2]

Why not just focus on making their cars profitable...
Ford can't escape the fact that car sales are plummeting and SUVs/light trucks have become the bread and butter.

[A790]

Gross.

I mean, I get it, but gross.

Fuck SUV's: more wagons!

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Because car buyers actually shop around and try to get a good deal and drive prices down. Truck buyers see MSRP 60k now 50k and they brag about how great of deal they got

Haha I love this.

Car buyers so smart! Truck buyers so dumb!!!
-Car buyer

[heavyD]

Why not just focus on making their cars profitable...

Domestics have never been able to achieve this. The only vehicles that have been profitable for them are trucks because the margins are big.


SUVs are classified as light trucks, so they adhere to a much lower standard.

It's kind of interesting that the auto segment that's being held to the highest emissions standard is the one that's shrinking fast in North America. What is being accomplished environmentally with 40 mpg compacts and midsize cars when everyone is buying trucks and SUV's instead?

[Disoblige]

I'm sure if Ford is dropping out, other manufacturers are more than happy to see them leave so they can get in on a bigger piece of the pie now.

[heavyD]

I'm sure if Ford is dropping out, other manufacturers are more than happy to see them leave so they can get in on a bigger piece of the pie now.

For sure this is good news for the Japanese, Koreans, and VW as there's less competition they have to worry about and they can all divvy up Ford's piece of the pie. The Focus still sells 150k+ annually in the US and companies like Subaru or Mazda would kill to sell that many Mazda 3's or Imprezas. Ford sold more Fiesta's annually in the US than Honda sells Fits but Ford discontinues them here due to poor sales. It just goes to show how organizationally inefficient the domestic brands are.

[Thaco]

makes sense to me, with engines getting more fuel efficient and variable transmissions helping even more, they can put the same or more comfort in to a truck or SUV and it gives better functionality.

[rage2]

I'm sure if Ford is dropping out, other manufacturers are more than happy to see them leave so they can get in on a bigger piece of the pie now.
This is literally the reason why Honda and Toyota introduced a new Accord and Camry this gen with less of a sedan look and more of a coupe look. Nobody else is updating their sedans, the Japanese are trying to own that market with this generation with one last push with a sporty look to differentiate from the rest of the sedan dinosaurs.

[Abeo]

I was pondering a fusion sport as a daily... I wonder what this means for it.

[HiTempguy1]

So Ford announced today that it is killing off their entire car / sedan lineup. Say goodbye to the Fiesta, Focus, and the Fusion (no more Fiesta ST or Focus RS either). Instead, Ford is going to concentrate on Trucks, SUVs, the Mustang, and the Focus Active (Car-ish Hatch). The proverbial axe is going to come down over the next couple years.

Personally, I think this is short sighted. With gas prices on the rise again, People are going to be looking for the more fuel efficient vehicles again.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/a20066196/ford-killing-focus-fiesta-north-america-2022/


CUVs get pretty good mileage, and that's what people are buying. If worst comes to worst, it's very easy to import their Euro small car designs.

Highway, aero affects mpg the most.

City, weight is the main issue.

CUV's do get pretty decent mpg, especially the small ones in the city as they don't weigh much more than cars. And having proper hybrid setups will really even the playing field in town. The only hit will be to highway mpg, but it still can be pretty good all things considered. The Kia Niro, a hybrid (based on the same tech as the Hyundai Ioniq or whatever) gets 4.5L/100km and 4.8L/100km. That's outstanding for any vehicle, let alone a CUV. Only thing they've missed the boat on is no awd :thumbsdow

[bulaian]

Ford can't escape the fact that car sales are plummeting and SUVs/light trucks have become the bread and butter.

I see, they are shifting their Focus to the SUV, truck and CUV - the Fusion of car and SUV

[rage2]

I see, they are shifting their Focus to the SUV, truck and CUV - the Fusion of car and SUV
If you probe into their finances, their car business at the edge of profitability, so a laser focus on trucks and SUVs is the only reasonable business decision they can aspire to.

[jonni44]

If you probe into their finances, their car business at the edge of profitability, so a laser focus on trucks and SUVs is the only reasonable business decision they can aspire to.

There's a lot of shit cars in that sentence.

[bulaian]

If you probe into their finances, their car business at the edge of profitability, so a laser focus on trucks and SUVs is the only reasonable business decision they can aspire to.

They should really pickup the tempo, flex their muscles and contour into this market asap. This freestyle thinking could really help to escort them into to a new age of profitability, maybe five hundred percent better.

[mr2mike]

Sedan sales are dead. They're shifting with the market rather than trying to dictate what people should be buying. Giving them what they want.

[A790]

There's a lot of shit cars in that sentence.

Hey, I had a 97 Probe GT back in the day (like, 2006) and it was a surprisingly decent car. Slow, but reliable and built pretty well.

[killramos]

Does this mean no more investment in sports cars either?

I mean I am sure there is a ton of parts commonality between the mustangs and their other cars that will start to eat into margins.

It’s too bad really, fords cars are the only domestics I like.

Good luck expecting much development into the ford gt too, what’s the point of it from a marketting perspective.

What about stock cars? No more ford?

This is so weird I wonder if there is more to it, I really wanted ford to buy Tesla...

[heavyD]

Does this mean no more investment in sports cars either?

I mean I am sure there is a ton of parts commonality between the mustangs and their other cars that will start to eat into margins.

It’s too bad really, fords cars are the only domestics I like.

Good luck expecting much development into the ford gt too, what’s the point of it from a marketting perspective.

What about stock cars? No more ford?

This is so weird I wonder if there is more to it, I really wanted ford to buy Tesla...

The Mustang probably shares more major parts with the F150 (engine & auto tranny) than it does with any car. There's very little inside out that's shared with other models outside of the infotainment system, climate controls, etc.

[benyl]

Does this mean no more investment in sports cars either?

I mean I am sure there is a ton of parts commonality between the mustangs and their other cars that will start to eat into margins.

It’s too bad really, fords cars are the only domestics I like.

Good luck expecting much development into the ford gt too, what’s the point of it from a marketting perspective.

What about stock cars? No more ford?

This is so weird I wonder if there is more to it, I really wanted ford to buy Tesla...

They are keeping the Mustang.

I bet we will see 4 door Mustang Coupes in the future.

The GT is a niche product that will stick around. The Focus RS will likely become the Ecosport (or something new) RS and look like the GLA 45. The GLA is a perfect example of where car makers are headed. It's a slightly lifted hatchback that people are eating up.

[heavyD]

Hey, I had a 97 Probe GT back in the day (like, 2006) and it was a surprisingly decent car. Slow, but reliable and built pretty well.

Built by Mazda.

[heavyD]

They are keeping the Mustang.

I bet we will see 4 door Mustang Coupes in the future.

The GT is a niche product that will stick around. The Focus RS will likely become the Ecosport (or something new) RS and look like the GLA 45. The GLA is a perfect example of where car makers are headed. It's a slightly lifted hatchback that people are eating up.

Hard to imagine North America getting the next Focus RS seeing the only reason we got the current RS is because Ford made the current Focus a global car. If the next Focus is not made with North America in mind it's hard to imagine Ford putting the resources in just to bring the RS over.

[killramos]

They are keeping the Mustang.

I bet we will see 4 door Mustang Coupes in the future.

The GT is a niche product that will stick around. The Focus RS will likely become the Ecosport (or something new) RS and look like the GLA 45. The GLA is a perfect example of where car makers are headed. It's a slightly lifted hatchback that people are eating up.

I was looking at the ricer special gla45 in the lone star showroom yesterday. Would be a damn fun little car.

[rage2]

I was looking at the ricer special gla45 in the lone star showroom yesterday. Would be a damn fun little car.
What's annoying (for me) is that the ricer special is even cheaper than my GLA45 all because Canada wouldn't fit the Recaros without the leather package back then. The ricer special has the best Recaro seat combo, fake leather and alcantara center. So good.

[killramos]

I don’t have the self discipline for these temptations in my life lol.

I was asking about when I can see and touch a next gen CLS more than anything. Hopefully before September but not going to hold my breath.

I hope ford comes out with an Expedition Raptor out of all this SUV focus.

Got to keep SVT busy somehow.

[ExtraSlow]

I hope ford comes out with an Expedition Raptor out of all this SUV focus.

Got to keep SVT busy somehow.
They need the new bronco and a raptor version of that as well. Raptor everything!

[killramos]

Raptor bronco I could definitely get behind.

I just want it to get a V8 again.

I might have to find myself an old raptor. You know, for commuting into downtown like all the rest of the pickup drivers in Calgary.

[A2VR6]

What about stock cars? No more ford?



They're switching to a Mustang body in 2019

[ShermanEF9]

Cops are buying mostly SUVs and trucks these days. The police package cars have slowed down significantly in the last 5 years.

Edit - some numbers.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/06/19/nations-most-popular-police-car-now-suv/103006874/

Explorer 51% of ALL police vehicle purchases last year. For Ford, 75% Explorer 25% Taurus.

This. the biggest problem is the Taurus fleet does not meet weight requirements once they are completely fitted out. no bueno.

[blownz]

I personally think this is a bad idea. Sure right now because gas has been cheap everyone has been moving to SUV's and trucks. But that will likely change and consumers are fickle an will move back to cars as they get better mileage. Then Ford will be screwed. Plus this is bad PR for the tree hugging to use against them. Just like back in the day when they made the Excursion.

[spikerS]

I personally think this is a bad idea. Sure right now because gas has been cheap everyone has been moving to SUV's and trucks. But that will likely change and consumers are fickle an will move back to cars as they get better mileage. Then Ford will be screwed. Plus this is bad PR for the tree hugging to use against them. Just like back in the day when they made the Excursion.

It's true. I have made the conscious decision to pretty much park my F-150 unless we actually need to use it and instead we are using Baygirl's Focus for our everyday running around. my F-150 gets about 13L/100km and about $180 to fill versus the focus goes about 8L/100km and is like $50 to fill.... with gas prices causing that much of a spread, to save some cash, it's a no brainer.

[heavyD]

10 years ago when the market crashed big SUV's, Hummers etc nosedived in sales and automakers scrambled to concentrate on fuel efficient small cars. Right now just a different trend in regards to lack of interest in small cars/sedans, but the CUV/SUV trend is here to stay as this is what females prefer to drive.

[revelations]

Ford of CANADA is going to be in some trouble - as the high cost of fuel is much more noticeable here with our weak CAD. Consumers are going to shy away from 3 ton vehicle for 1 person, daily commuter.

Ford of CANADA should have gone more with EU spec vehicles - we have the highest gas and insurance costs in North America. This could have been the smart move..... and we would have seen some better EU spec vehicle here too :devil:

[colsankey]

What's annoying (for me) is that the ricer special is even cheaper than my GLA45 all because Canada wouldn't fit the Recaros without the leather package back then. The ricer special has the best Recaro seat combo, fake leather and alcantara center. So good.
rage2 tell me more about this.. been eying up the GLAs but any option in the build catalog seems to come with a 19,000 MB tax.

[rage2]

rage2 tell me more about this.. been eying up the GLAs but any option in the build catalog seems to come with a 19,000 MB tax.
Not much more than what I said. Pre-facelift GLA45's you need to order Exclusive (aka leather), Premium and Premium Plus package before you're allowed to order the seats. Those 3 packages cost $10k, plus $2500 for the seats. Now you can order the seats alone for $2500 and it looks better. The leather seats are fully leather, while the non leather seats are fake leather bolsters with alcantara center.

[Aleks]

I personally think this is a bad idea. Sure right now because gas has been cheap everyone has been moving to SUV's and trucks. But that will likely change and consumers are fickle an will move back to cars as they get better mileage. Then Ford will be screwed. Plus this is bad PR for the tree hugging to use against them. Just like back in the day when they made the Excursion.


I saw this on another forum:

I think Ford is doing the right thing. They are getting ahead of the game. It's clear most people want CUVs. And there is virtually no fuel econ penalty.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbqKnXDWkAAJFkh.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbqKoAdXkAEKxaX.jpg

[heavyD]

Really though EPA estimates are worthless. I bet a Fusion gets better mileage at our altitude when you factor in aerodynamics and the fact the Escape weighs 200 lbs more on average.

[killramos]

Wouldn’t thinner air help the escape more than the more aerodynamic fusion?

Splitting hairs anyways.

[blownz]

I saw this on another forum:

I think Ford is doing the right thing. They are getting ahead of the game. It's clear most people want CUVs. And there is virtually no fuel econ penalty.


Problem is that comparison is Fusion vs Escape. Fusion = Edge and Focus = Escape

Compare those and the difference will be bigger. Problem is Ford is excited because people will pay Fusion price for an AWD Focus. And it isn't just Ford, there is a big premium for an SUV version of a sedan with most manufacturers.

[ShermanEF9]

Ford of CANADA is going to be in some trouble - as the high cost of fuel is much more noticeable here with our weak CAD. Consumers are going to shy away from 3 ton vehicle for 1 person, daily commuter.

Ford of CANADA should have gone more with EU spec vehicles - we have the highest gas and insurance costs in North America. This could have been the smart move..... and we would have seen some better EU spec vehicle here too :devil:

This is absolutely not going to stop canadians from buying SUV/CUV/Trucks. our gas is nowhere near expensive enough to merit dropping the idea altogether.

[HiTempguy1]

This is absolutely not going to stop canadians from buying SUV/CUV/Trucks. our gas is nowhere near expensive enough to merit dropping the idea altogether.

Actually, Canada has always been an outlier in North America. We buy WAY more small cars than the USA does on average, even when gas is cheap. Now of course, its rarely worth modifying cars to meet NA standards if their initial designs aren't global in nature, so that's what is doing it. The cars are still available in Europe, so they could come here, especially as gas in places like Vancouver just hit the highest recorded prices EVER in North America.

[Abeo]

It should be noted that the rest of Canada has different car purchase habits than the prairies. You don't see near the same amount of trucks and much much more small cars in Southern Ontario or the metro Quebec regions (which has close to half of Canada's population).

[Aleks]

It should be noted that the rest of Canada has different car purchase habits than the prairies. You don't see near the same amount of trucks and much much more small cars in Southern Ontario or the metro Quebec regions (which has close to half of Canada's population).

Here is Stat Can data for 2017

Ontario
Trucks: 583,555
Cars: 273,600

Quebec
Trucks: 281,084
Cars: 187,726

Alberta
Trucks: 202,209
Cars: 46,604

Trucks include SUVs, Trucks, Vans in these numbers.

[revelations]

This is absolutely not going to stop canadians from buying SUV/CUV/Trucks. our gas is nowhere near expensive enough to merit dropping the idea altogether.

My understanding was that during the recession/gas price increase in 08, there was an increase in small vehicle purchases, relative to large vehicles, in Canada.
Our vehicle buying habits are more in-line with EU, in some cases, than the US.

- - - Updated - - -


It should be noted that the rest of Canada has different car purchase habits than the prairies. You don't see near the same amount of trucks and much much more small cars in Southern Ontario or the metro Quebec regions (which has close to half of Canada's population).

Yea you see this in Vancouver/Vancouver island as well - small SUVs perhaps - but a lot of cars, esp older cars as they last longer with the gentle winters there.

[Abeo]

Here is Stat Can data for 2017

Ontario
Trucks: 583,555
Cars: 273,600

Quebec
Trucks: 281,084
Cars: 187,726

Alberta
Trucks: 202,209
Cars: 46,604

Trucks include SUVs, Trucks, Vans in these numbers.

I said "trucks" and "Southern Ontario or the metro Quebec regions", so not exactly apples to apples there. Also, those are 2017 car sales, I'm guessing?

In any case, your numbers show that Ontario and Quebec buy 13% and 21% less "trucks" than Alberta. Also, that Ontario bought more cars than Alberta bought both cars and trucks combined.
Anecdotally, replace a pickup with a hatchback, and you are closer to what you see on the roads there.

[Aleks]

I said "trucks" and "Southern Ontario or the metro Quebec regions", so not exactly apples to apples there. Also, those are 2017 car sales, I'm guessing?

In any case, your numbers show that Ontario and Quebec buy 13% and 21% less "trucks" than Alberta. Also, that Ontario bought more cars than Alberta bought both cars and trucks combined.
Anecdotally, replace a pickup with a hatchback, and you are closer to what you see on the roads there.

Numbers are just meant to show why Ford and likely some other makes soon, will move away from cars. The numbers show that Truck/SUV sales are steadily going up in all provinces, while car sales are either flat or declining in most provinces. My guess is USA is the same way.

[94boosted]

Ford of North America knows the dummies here just want big trucks and SUVs. The profit margins are huge.

I just got back from 2 weeks in the EU (rural areas) - the cars they have there look 10x better than here and way more practical....3 door vehicles, diesels, lots of estates and people have tow hooks on their vehicle for the odd occasion they have to haul something around.... instead of driving around a 3 ton vehicle for the 1-2x a year that they might need to.

Its a completely different mindset in the rest of the world and Ford is just playing along.

Surprises me that Car-2-Go doesn't get in on something like this. Pickup trucks on weekends for when people want to go to the dump or haul their trailer.

[ExtraSlow]

Surprises me that Car-2-Go doesn't get in on something like this. Pickup trucks on weekends for when people want to go to the dump or haul their trailer.

As far as I know every truck rental option specifically prohibits trailers.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Good riddance as far as I'm concerned. Just looking at some of the turds they produced over the years (Taurus, Five Hundred, etc.) I can't imagine they sell too many cars. Even their entry level models are rarely competitive. The ST/RS line is better so that will be a bit more of a loss if that's gone though. I don't think anyone is buying the Taurus except fleet.

As mentioned, most people buy CUV/SUV now anyway but outside the USA (granted that's a huge market) I don't know how popular the Ford SUV lineup is are given the other options out there. The Escape is a POS, as was the Explorer but I haven't seen the brand new one yet. Their Windstar/Freestar vans were such a disaster they stopped making that ages ago. They should just make F-150's and Mustangs haha.

I really wish there was more wagon options here, especially outside of the premium German brands.

[94boosted]

As far as I know every truck rental option specifically prohibits trailers.

Yup agreed, but if an option existed for people that did allow them to tow perhaps they'd reconsider that full size SUV or 1/2 ton for the remaining 350 days a year.

[ExtraSlow]

Yup agreed, but if an option existed for people that did allow them to tow perhaps they'd reconsider that full size SUV or 1/2 ton for the remaining 350 days a year.
Yeah, but realistically, the pickup trucks would sit all week, and most of the winter, so theyd be popular for 50 days a year, vs over 200 for the car2go fleet. The economics are terrible for that.

[94boosted]

Yah true, good point

[ShermanEF9]

Surprises me that Car-2-Go doesn't get in on something like this. Pickup trucks on weekends for when people want to go to the dump or haul their trailer.

Its definitely a combination of liability, and people are too stupid to know when its full or too heavy. i see so many hatchbacks and cars crammed with stuff to the point they are riding bumpstops, imagine what those people would do in a truck.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I’ve rented a F150 with car trailer from Uhaul before.