Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. - Focaljet

**biker16** · 03-25-2002, 10:29 PM

Mays: New Ford sedan based on CrossTrainer architecture

By Mary Connelly
Automotive News / March 25, 2002

Ford Division will build a large sedan based on the engineering architecture of the upcoming Ford CrossTrainer sport wagon, said J Mays, Ford vice president of design.

Ford Motor Co. also may bring the Ford Mondeo compact sedan back to the U.S. market, Mays said, speaking at a Morgan Stanley automotive conference Monday. The Mondeo would likely wear a Mercury badge.

Ford will announce the new vehicle at the New York Auto Show, possibly as early as Wednesday.

The new Ford car is unlikely to reach Ford Division showrooms before the end of the 2004 calendar year. Ford begins building the seven-passenger CrossTrainer at its Chicago assembly plant in calendar 2004. The CrossTrainer is a tall wagon, a vehicle that drives like a car but has the interior space and looks of a sport-utility.

"Another vehicle we will be talking about a little later in the week is based off of this exact same (CrossTrainer) architecture,'' Mays said. "It is a large sedan. Stay tuned. It will be a major announcement.'

"The CrossTrainer is going to have a major positive image shift for the Blue Oval,'' Mays added. Ford is trying to restore the reputation of Ford Division after the Firestone tire recall. "And a large sedan based off of that architecture is also going to create a major swing.''

Ford produces the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans in two assembly plants. When Ford begins assembling CrossTrainer in Chicago, Taurus/Sable sedan production will be halved.

The Ford Mondeo may be sold in the United States beginning in 2003, Mays said. Ford discontinued the Mondeo-based Ford Contour sedan in the U.S. in the 2000 model year.

"I wish we had persevered,'' Nick Scheele, Ford Motor president, said in January.

"Are there vehicles that are currently in the European marketplace that we could bring to the U.S. under either a Ford blue oval or the Premier Automotive Group?'' Mays said. Premier Automotive Group includes the Mercury and Lincoln brands. "We are looking at Mondeo,'' Mays said. "We haven't made our decision on it. It would make an excellent product if we could bring it into the market at the right price point.''

Modifications required to meet U.S. governmental regulations are primarily in the headlamps and bumpers and would require "a little over a year," Mays said.

Ford Motor is in the midst of rebuilding its Mercury brand. In February, Lincoln Mercury executives told dealers that the company has funded an additional Mercury sedan.

**I Love Rachel** · 03-25-2002, 10:54 PM

If they're bringing the Mondeo over from Europe, they should bring the new Ford Fusion with it. I think it would be a hit with younger buyers.

**Peloton25** · 03-25-2002, 11:08 PM

Mercury needs the Mondeo badly. Good Plan. [img]graemlins/thumbup.gif[/img]

Hopefully they have learned the lesson from their years of experience with the Focus, that a large group of American's appreciate and actually look for the Euro touches and feel. Keep it that way and it should be a success, water it down like the last time and who knows...

Now SVT needs to get a hold of one and give us the equivalent of the ST220 and bring a true sedan back to the SVT line-up. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

>8^)
ER

**Peloton25** · 03-25-2002, 11:10 PM

BTW - biker16 do you need me to move this to "Ford News" ??

>8^)
ER

**the6148** · 03-26-2002, 01:32 AM

Question: Did Ford ever offer AWD system on Mondeo in Europe?

A V6 with at least 220HP, AWD system, 4 wheels ABS disc brakes, 17 inch wheels...

I guess I am going to visit Mecury Dealer soon.. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Hopefully I will see the Mondeo in real life during NYAS this weekend. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

**biker16** · 03-26-2002, 01:48 AM

the timing confuses me the mondeo is being redesigned in 2004, and 2003 is when the current mondeo will come here.

The current mondeo could only be on sale for a year and a half before it is replaced.

Another thing We have been saying the mondeo should be sold here as a mercury for years, but only now do they seem to be doing anything about it?

If I were them I would have had the engineering done Just in case it was needed.

If it takes only ~1 year to make the changes why are they waiting until now to do it?

why does it take a year to make such minor changes?

**the6148** · 03-26-2002, 02:21 AM

The reason(s) why it might take a year for Ford to bring this car to us is..

1. No plant to build the car. With the massive layoff, where are they going to find plant and people with free time and resources to build this car? Import them from Europe would not be an option. After all, I am suspecting this car would have a price tag of well under 25K.

2. Regulations + cost. What does it take to mod the current model to fit US standard? Is there a way Ford can do it cheaper?

3. As for restyling, Euro Focus has been restyled already. As far as I see in US, we won't get even a minor restyle till year 2004 or 2005. They can well do the same thing to Mondeo. After all, to most American, Mercury Mondeo is a brand new offering in US. They wouldn't fuss about why Europeans get their Mondeo restyled and we have not.

Of course, all of the above is just a theroy. The real deal? We won't know till later. Maybe Ford will debute a new Mondeo (not current one) to both US and Euro? You never know. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

**focalBlur** · 03-26-2002, 02:24 AM

if ford does do this, I hope they keep the car as it is in Europe and not lower the quality to save money(like they did with the NA focus)

and hopefully they are built in Germany and shipped here rather then built in the USA of Mexico

Ford also needs to bring the Sedan and Wagon models of the car to the states

and it would be great if they offer all engines(petro and diesel all sizes)and transmissions(both stick and auto)

**darkness** · 03-26-2002, 07:04 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr>if ford does do this, I hope they keep the car as it is in Europe and not lower the quality to save money(like they did with the NA focus)<hr></blockquote>

[img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img]

**SilverSVT** · 03-26-2002, 07:20 AM

Boy Fords product plans are getting confusing as the days go on!

Lets see we'll have the following:

Mondeo
Taraus
New Crosstrainer Sedan
Crown Vic

If they are all offered as Fords(Well thats the way I see it). I think if Ford kills the Sable (a good move in my book) and replaces it with the Mondeo that would be smart. Also I think another good idea would be to do 4WD Crosstrainer Sedan for Mercury and make it Audi-eiquse...that would be a good seller right in itself! Anyway enough ranting about this and with all this news coming out of the NYC Autoshow. Me thinks I'll have to take a day trip there next week to take photos!

Scott

**focusmd** · 03-29-2002, 10:50 PM

I don´t know why you don´t get all of those european cars, but Mexico is full of european cars like the Mondeo(not the ST220, but is the Ghia, 16" wheels 170hp, the price is like 23,ooo dollars here, so it will be cheaper in the states like 20), Fiesta, Ka.

http://www.ford.com.mx/index1.html

http://www.ford.com.mx/features/gallery/mondeo_ext.html

http://www.ford.com.mx/features/gallery/mondeo_int.html
Pegeuot 206 XS,306,406, 406 coupe,607
Nissan Almera
Opel Astra, Corsa
Renault Clio, Megane
Seat Ibiza, Cordaba, the Toledo and Leon have the 1.8T engine 180Hp and 6-speed
VW Pointer, Polo
There are other cars, but can´t remember them

[ 03-29-2002: Message edited by: focusmd ]

[ 03-29-2002: Message edited by: focusmd ]

**NacronSE** · 03-30-2002, 01:18 AM

haha...ford courier

http://www.ford.com.mx/cars/cars.asp?model=COURIER&segment=Camiones&feature=co urier

**Jon Sturgeon** · 03-30-2002, 10:10 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr> Question: Did Ford ever offer AWD system on Mondeo in Europe? <hr></blockquote>

Yes, but only for a couple of model years. It was only available with the 2.0 liter Zetec engine. Apparently they couldn't/wouldn't fit the V6 2.5 liter Duratec engine in conjunction with the 4wd system.

It was quite a handler, apparently...

Jon
(past V6 Mondeo owner)

**ZX3er** · 03-30-2002, 01:12 PM

Biker16, you sound like you don't know that Ford treats our N.American market diferently.
We can get "new-old" Mondeo here and have it until 2006 sometime while Europe will get just re-designed version in 2004. We are always behind Europe. That's the Ford's way. Can it ever change?

**biker16** · 03-30-2002, 01:49 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by ZX3er:
Biker16, you sound like you don't know that Ford treats our N.American market diferently.
We can get "new-old" Mondeo here and have it until 2006 sometime while Europe will get just re-designed version in 2004. We are always behind Europe. That's the Ford's way. Can it ever change?<hr></blockquote>

in all fairness Ford couldn't the assembly and development of europe and NA wasn't combined as one unit.

that may have changed.

Ford to set global style for its cars

**ZX3er** · 03-30-2002, 10:57 PM

Yes Yes Yes, sounds almost too good to be true!!!
Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta are all US reality, great news from Ford camp, it was the only way to go, why it took them so long?
O.K. let's not bitch about it now.
Those three great base models should be sold in as many versions as possible, from cheap econo versions to more upscale/sporty Audi/BMW fighters (ST220?)

**ZetecRacing** · 03-31-2002, 02:44 AM

I for one hope the rumors of them bringing back the Mondeo are true... and that they keep it like the Mondeo is in europe not a changed version like the Contour.

**focusdchaos** · 04-03-2002, 03:59 PM

Is the Mexican Mondeo floated across the pond? I am assuming it is.

And yes the6148, there is an AWD Mondeo, its called the Jag X-Type.

**Ozmotear** · 04-03-2002, 06:52 PM

I just got back from the NYC Auto Show. The closest thing to a Mondeo I saw was the Mercury "Marauder"

I don't know if that was it, but it looked pretty simple. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Don't worry... I gave my Canon S10 a good workout. I'll have a good number of pics to post. (As soon as Imagestation is back up and running) [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

**Nalar** · 04-04-2002, 08:41 AM

Nah.. I thought that the Marauder was just a 300-hp version of the Grand Marquis, with decent suspension and bigger wheels.

**Paolo** · 04-08-2002, 08:46 PM

the Mexico version of the mondeo looks e-spec, could it be?

**Iconman190** · 04-09-2002, 07:50 AM

I think its the end of big cars,the wars over in arab states will soon cause gas prices to go to unbelivable highs.I m talking about paying as much as 3.00 per gallon by next year.and this is not to punish the USA,its a way we can help rebuild there war torn country.so all you four cylinders will be happy.

**I Love Rachel** · 04-11-2002, 01:09 AM

Don't forget about the new Ford Five Hundred sedan, debuting in 2003-4! Looks like it will be pretty sweet, but will it sell?

**focusdchaos** · 04-11-2002, 11:40 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by I Love Rachel:
Don't forget about the new Ford Five Hundred sedan, debuting in 2003-4! Looks like it will be pretty sweet, but will it sell?<hr></blockquote>

Thats what this thread is about [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

**laZer ready** · 04-12-2002, 05:16 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by the6148:
....1. No plant... massive layoff, where are they going to find plant and people with free time and resources to build this car? Import them from Europe would not be an option...

2. Regulations + cost...

3. As for restyling, Euro Focus has been restyled already. As far as I see in US, we won't get even a minor restyle till year 2004 or 2005. They can well do the same thing to Mondeo. After all, to most American, Mercury Mondeo is a brand new offering in US. They wouldn't fuss about why Europeans get their Mondeo restyled and we have not.... <hr></blockquote>

From a FoMoCo worker @ Atlanta Assembly (Taurus/Sable): A preface- Ford is still FUBAR from the Firestone fiasco, short on cash, and little Billy Ford has been promoted from cabin boy to ship's captain overnight. This company has no clue what its going to do tomorrow much less 2 years form now.

But on to your points... the recent Explorer launch cost Ford about 25 million just to get the first unit off the end of the line... thats big money if you add up all the different models that NEED a refreshening or total make over. you aren't going to close a newly retooled plant for that money just to bring in a model that was a 9 billion dollar lame duck in america the first go around (total cost of bringing the little firebox to the states).
Second, it takes at least 8-9 months for a body shop to do a full change over for a completly new vehicle. To make a mondeo US legal requires a completly different front clip (front fascia, head lamps, main frontal support etc.) emissions, and they cost money to engineer, create dies for ,and have parts floor space in a plant etc. The NA Mondeo/Contour/Mystique was overpriced (to cover conversion) built with substandard parts (Mexican wiring harnesses that liked to flame on) and worst of all competed DIRECTLY with the now gone Escort which was the mule of fords low end at the time. Why in the World would you pay up to 23k for a Contour when a mid sized Taurus was 18k and an Escort was 12k???? Just to have what you THOUGHT was a Mondeo??? c'mon...
The real truth is Ford has never figured out how to offer a rich and beneficial blend of models in the US. They'd rather run two horses in the hopes that one of them will finish first( ie. Contour/Escort, Fiesta/Focus, and soon to be 500/Taurus). In '95 millions of dollars were spent redigning the best selling vehicle in America. We went from the jelly-bean to the catfish. They spent millions more facelifting it from the catfish to its current cofiguration. And now that we've been told our product is going to be built "in tandem" with the new 500 they're trying to scrape together another refresh (ie the Platinum series Sable and Taures SEL with fake woodgrain accents a'la 1976). Whatever you do try not to think that nearly 50% of all Taurus sales today are fleet (car rental/government/business) sales.
Anyway... we've been told the Modeo will be rebadged as a Mercury product possibly keeping the Sable name. And yes, that it would be imported (a'la Merkur style). For god sakes, the morons want to bring back the Maverick, Mark X, and a slew of other now defunct models. Our biggest competion is not with other brands, its with ourselves! If we're lucky they'll bring back the Topaz, Zephyr, and the LTD? Woudln't that be great too?

Thats all...

[ 04-12-2002: Message edited by: laZer ready ]

03-25-2002, 10:29 PM	#1
biker16 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Posts: 4,710	Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. Mays: New Ford sedan based on CrossTrainer architecture By Mary Connelly Automotive News / March 25, 2002 Ford Division will build a large sedan based on the engineering architecture of the upcoming Ford CrossTrainer sport wagon, said J Mays, Ford vice president of design. Ford Motor Co. also may bring the Ford Mondeo compact sedan back to the U.S. market, Mays said, speaking at a Morgan Stanley automotive conference Monday. The Mondeo would likely wear a Mercury badge. Ford will announce the new vehicle at the New York Auto Show, possibly as early as Wednesday. The new Ford car is unlikely to reach Ford Division showrooms before the end of the 2004 calendar year. Ford begins building the seven-passenger CrossTrainer at its Chicago assembly plant in calendar 2004. The CrossTrainer is a tall wagon, a vehicle that drives like a car but has the interior space and looks of a sport-utility. "Another vehicle we will be talking about a little later in the week is based off of this exact same (CrossTrainer) architecture,'' Mays said. "It is a large sedan. Stay tuned. It will be a major announcement.' "The CrossTrainer is going to have a major positive image shift for the Blue Oval,'' Mays added. Ford is trying to restore the reputation of Ford Division after the Firestone tire recall. "And a large sedan based off of that architecture is also going to create a major swing.'' Ford produces the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans in two assembly plants. When Ford begins assembling CrossTrainer in Chicago, Taurus/Sable sedan production will be halved. The Ford Mondeo may be sold in the United States beginning in 2003, Mays said. Ford discontinued the Mondeo-based Ford Contour sedan in the U.S. in the 2000 model year. "I wish we had persevered,'' Nick Scheele, Ford Motor president, said in January. "Are there vehicles that are currently in the European marketplace that we could bring to the U.S. under either a Ford blue oval or the Premier Automotive Group?'' Mays said. Premier Automotive Group includes the Mercury and Lincoln brands. "We are looking at Mondeo,'' Mays said. "We haven't made our decision on it. It would make an excellent product if we could bring it into the market at the right price point.'' Modifications required to meet U.S. governmental regulations are primarily in the headlamps and bumpers and would require "a little over a year," Mays said. Ford Motor is in the midst of rebuilding its Mercury brand. In February, Lincoln Mercury executives told dealers that the company has funded an additional Mercury sedan.

03-25-2002, 10:54 PM	#2
I Love Rachel TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 850	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. If they're bringing the Mondeo over from Europe, they should bring the new Ford Fusion with it. I think it would be a hit with younger buyers.

03-25-2002, 11:08 PM	#3
Peloton25 Mr Know-It-All Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Moorpark, CA USA Posts: 21,808	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. Mercury needs the Mondeo badly. Good Plan. [img]graemlins/thumbup.gif[/img] Hopefully they have learned the lesson from their years of experience with the Focus, that a large group of American's appreciate and actually look for the Euro touches and feel. Keep it that way and it should be a success, water it down like the last time and who knows... Now SVT needs to get a hold of one and give us the equivalent of the ST220 and bring a true sedan back to the SVT line-up. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] >8^) ER

03-25-2002, 11:10 PM	#4
Peloton25 Mr Know-It-All Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Moorpark, CA USA Posts: 21,808	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. BTW - biker16 do you need me to move this to "Ford News" ?? >8^) ER

03-26-2002, 01:32 AM	#5
the6148 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 2,773	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. Question: Did Ford ever offer AWD system on Mondeo in Europe? A V6 with at least 220HP, AWD system, 4 wheels ABS disc brakes, 17 inch wheels... I guess I am going to visit Mecury Dealer soon.. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Hopefully I will see the Mondeo in real life during NYAS this weekend. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

03-26-2002, 01:48 AM	#6
biker16 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Posts: 4,710	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. the timing confuses me the mondeo is being redesigned in 2004, and 2003 is when the current mondeo will come here. The current mondeo could only be on sale for a year and a half before it is replaced. Another thing We have been saying the mondeo should be sold here as a mercury for years, but only now do they seem to be doing anything about it? If I were them I would have had the engineering done Just in case it was needed. If it takes only ~1 year to make the changes why are they waiting until now to do it? why does it take a year to make such minor changes?

03-26-2002, 02:21 AM	#7
the6148 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 2,773	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. The reason(s) why it might take a year for Ford to bring this car to us is.. 1. No plant to build the car. With the massive layoff, where are they going to find plant and people with free time and resources to build this car? Import them from Europe would not be an option. After all, I am suspecting this car would have a price tag of well under 25K. 2. Regulations + cost. What does it take to mod the current model to fit US standard? Is there a way Ford can do it cheaper? 3. As for restyling, Euro Focus has been restyled already. As far as I see in US, we won't get even a minor restyle till year 2004 or 2005. They can well do the same thing to Mondeo. After all, to most American, Mercury Mondeo is a brand new offering in US. They wouldn't fuss about why Europeans get their Mondeo restyled and we have not. Of course, all of the above is just a theroy. The real deal? We won't know till later. Maybe Ford will debute a new Mondeo (not current one) to both US and Euro? You never know. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

03-26-2002, 02:24 AM	#8
focalBlur Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD, USA Posts: 2,857	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. if ford does do this, I hope they keep the car as it is in Europe and not lower the quality to save money(like they did with the NA focus) and hopefully they are built in Germany and shipped here rather then built in the USA of Mexico Ford also needs to bring the Sedan and Wagon models of the car to the states and it would be great if they offer all engines(petro and diesel all sizes)and transmissions(both stick and auto)

03-26-2002, 07:04 AM	#9
darkness TEAM Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Lansing, Michigan, USA Posts: 727	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>if ford does do this, I hope they keep the car as it is in Europe and not lower the quality to save money(like they did with the NA focus)<hr></blockquote> [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/lol.gif[/img]

03-26-2002, 07:20 AM	#10
SilverSVT Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: NJ Posts: 4,975	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. Boy Fords product plans are getting confusing as the days go on! Lets see we'll have the following: Mondeo Taraus New Crosstrainer Sedan Crown Vic If they are all offered as Fords(Well thats the way I see it). I think if Ford kills the Sable (a good move in my book) and replaces it with the Mondeo that would be smart. Also I think another good idea would be to do 4WD Crosstrainer Sedan for Mercury and make it Audi-eiquse...that would be a good seller right in itself! Anyway enough ranting about this and with all this news coming out of the NYC Autoshow. Me thinks I'll have to take a day trip there next week to take photos! Scott

03-29-2002, 10:50 PM	#11
focusmd Rookie Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 19	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. I don´t know why you don´t get all of those european cars, but Mexico is full of european cars like the Mondeo(not the ST220, but is the Ghia, 16" wheels 170hp, the price is like 23,ooo dollars here, so it will be cheaper in the states like 20), Fiesta, Ka. http://www.ford.com.mx/index1.html http://www.ford.com.mx/features/gallery/mondeo_ext.html http://www.ford.com.mx/features/gallery/mondeo_int.html Pegeuot 206 XS,306,406, 406 coupe,607 Nissan Almera Opel Astra, Corsa Renault Clio, Megane Seat Ibiza, Cordaba, the Toledo and Leon have the 1.8T engine 180Hp and 6-speed VW Pointer, Polo There are other cars, but can´t remember them [ 03-29-2002: Message edited by: focusmd ] [ 03-29-2002: Message edited by: focusmd ]</p>

03-30-2002, 01:18 AM	#12
NacronSE [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Repostville... Posts: 5,795	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. haha...ford courier http://www.ford.com.mx/cars/cars.asp?model=COURIER&segment=Camiones&feature=co urier

03-30-2002, 10:10 AM	#13
Jon Sturgeon TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 350	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> Question: Did Ford ever offer AWD system on Mondeo in Europe? <hr></blockquote> Yes, but only for a couple of model years. It was only available with the 2.0 liter Zetec engine. Apparently they couldn't/wouldn't fit the V6 2.5 liter Duratec engine in conjunction with the 4wd system. It was quite a handler, apparently... Jon (past V6 Mondeo owner)

03-30-2002, 01:12 PM	#14
ZX3er Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: palm harbor,fl,usa Posts: 1,001	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. Biker16, you sound like you don't know that Ford treats our N.American market diferently. We can get "new-old" Mondeo here and have it until 2006 sometime while Europe will get just re-designed version in 2004. We are always behind Europe. That's the Ford's way. Can it ever change?

03-30-2002, 01:49 PM	#15
biker16 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Posts: 4,710	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ZX3er: Biker16, you sound like you don't know that Ford treats our N.American market diferently. We can get "new-old" Mondeo here and have it until 2006 sometime while Europe will get just re-designed version in 2004. We are always behind Europe. That's the Ford's way. Can it ever change?<hr></blockquote> in all fairness Ford couldn't the assembly and development of europe and NA wasn't combined as one unit. that may have changed. Ford to set global style for its cars

03-30-2002, 10:57 PM	#16
ZX3er Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: palm harbor,fl,usa Posts: 1,001	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. Yes Yes Yes, sounds almost too good to be true!!! Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta are all US reality, great news from Ford camp, it was the only way to go, why it took them so long? O.K. let's not bitch about it now. Those three great base models should be sold in as many versions as possible, from cheap econo versions to more upscale/sporty Audi/BMW fighters (ST220?)

03-31-2002, 02:44 AM	#17
ZetecRacing TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Warrenville, IL Posts: 161	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. I for one hope the rumors of them bringing back the Mondeo are true... and that they keep it like the Mondeo is in europe not a changed version like the Contour.

04-03-2002, 03:59 PM	#18
focusdchaos [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 8,357	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. Is the Mexican Mondeo floated across the pond? I am assuming it is. And yes the6148, there is an AWD Mondeo, its called the Jag X-Type.

04-03-2002, 06:52 PM	#19
Ozmotear [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: The Garden State Posts: 7,218	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. I just got back from the NYC Auto Show. The closest thing to a Mondeo I saw was the Mercury "Marauder" I don't know if that was it, but it looked pretty simple. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Don't worry... I gave my Canon S10 a good workout. I'll have a good number of pics to post. (As soon as Imagestation is back up and running) [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

04-04-2002, 08:41 AM	#20
Nalar Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oak Park, MI behind a 151 induced fireball Posts: 4,876	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. Nah.. I thought that the Marauder was just a 300-hp version of the Grand Marquis, with decent suspension and bigger wheels.

04-08-2002, 08:46 PM	#21
Paolo Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Streetsville, ONT Posts: 2,716	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. the Mexico version of the mondeo looks e-spec, could it be?

04-09-2002, 07:50 AM	#22
Iconman190 TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bayonne NJ Posts: 256	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. I think its the end of big cars,the wars over in arab states will soon cause gas prices to go to unbelivable highs.I m talking about paying as much as 3.00 per gallon by next year.and this is not to punish the USA,its a way we can help rebuild there war torn country.so all you four cylinders will be happy.

04-11-2002, 01:09 AM	#23
I Love Rachel TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 850	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. Don't forget about the new Ford Five Hundred sedan, debuting in 2003-4! Looks like it will be pretty sweet, but will it sell?

04-11-2002, 11:40 AM	#24
focusdchaos [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 8,357	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by I Love Rachel: Don't forget about the new Ford Five Hundred sedan, debuting in 2003-4! Looks like it will be pretty sweet, but will it sell?<hr></blockquote> Thats what this thread is about [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

04-12-2002, 05:16 AM	#25
laZer ready TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Stockbridge,GA usa Posts: 145	Re: Ford sedan to intro in new york and mondeo rumors. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by the6148: ....1. No plant... massive layoff, where are they going to find plant and people with free time and resources to build this car? Import them from Europe would not be an option... 2. Regulations + cost... 3. As for restyling, Euro Focus has been restyled already. As far as I see in US, we won't get even a minor restyle till year 2004 or 2005. They can well do the same thing to Mondeo. After all, to most American, Mercury Mondeo is a brand new offering in US. They wouldn't fuss about why Europeans get their Mondeo restyled and we have not.... <hr></blockquote> From a FoMoCo worker @ Atlanta Assembly (Taurus/Sable): A preface- Ford is still FUBAR from the Firestone fiasco, short on cash, and little Billy Ford has been promoted from cabin boy to ship's captain overnight. This company has no clue what its going to do tomorrow much less 2 years form now. But on to your points... the recent Explorer launch cost Ford about 25 million just to get the first unit off the end of the line... thats big money if you add up all the different models that NEED a refreshening or total make over. you aren't going to close a newly retooled plant for that money just to bring in a model that was a 9 billion dollar lame duck in america the first go around (total cost of bringing the little firebox to the states). Second, it takes at least 8-9 months for a body shop to do a full change over for a completly new vehicle. To make a mondeo US legal requires a completly different front clip (front fascia, head lamps, main frontal support etc.) emissions, and they cost money to engineer, create dies for ,and have parts floor space in a plant etc. The NA Mondeo/Contour/Mystique was overpriced (to cover conversion) built with substandard parts (Mexican wiring harnesses that liked to flame on) and worst of all competed DIRECTLY with the now gone Escort which was the mule of fords low end at the time. Why in the World would you pay up to 23k for a Contour when a mid sized Taurus was 18k and an Escort was 12k???? Just to have what you THOUGHT was a Mondeo??? c'mon... The real truth is Ford has never figured out how to offer a rich and beneficial blend of models in the US. They'd rather run two horses in the hopes that one of them will finish first( ie. Contour/Escort, Fiesta/Focus, and soon to be 500/Taurus). In '95 millions of dollars were spent redigning the best selling vehicle in America. We went from the jelly-bean to the catfish. They spent millions more facelifting it from the catfish to its current cofiguration. And now that we've been told our product is going to be built "in tandem" with the new 500 they're trying to scrape together another refresh (ie the Platinum series Sable and Taures SEL with fake woodgrain accents a'la 1976). Whatever you do try not to think that nearly 50% of all Taurus sales today are fleet (car rental/government/business) sales. Anyway... we've been told the Modeo will be rebadged as a Mercury product possibly keeping the Sable name. And yes, that it would be imported (a'la Merkur style). For god sakes, the morons want to bring back the Maverick, Mark X, and a slew of other now defunct models. Our biggest competion is not with other brands, its with ourselves! If we're lucky they'll bring back the Topaz, Zephyr, and the LTD? Woudln't that be great too? Thats all... [ 04-12-2002: Message edited by: laZer ready ]</p>