New Euro-Fords coming to North America

[IFHP]

It has been 18 years since the last European-built Ford was sold in the US or Canada. But it looks like that may be changing soon. Here is a link to the lastest on the re-introduction of the Fiesta to North America (last seen here in 1980). By combining the Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 on the same platform, this new car is a decendent of both the Mk I Fiesta and the Korean-assembled Festiva/Aspire sold here 1987-97.

No word on were this car will be built, my guess is Mexico or Brazil.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/04/29 ... a-in-2009/

Arriving before the Fiesta is the Transit Connect, the little brother of the standard Transit (the best selling van in Europe). The Transit Connect is built in Turkey.

http://news.windingroad.com/countriesma ... een-later/

[IFHP]

Here is the Wikipedia entry on the Transit Connect (which has not shown up here yet).

Michael

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit_Connect

[IFHP]

Transit Connect spotted in California, June 2007.

http://jalopnik.com/cars/ford/spy-photo ... 265070.php

[IFHP]

More evidence that the Transit Connect coming to North America this year.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/23/chic ... to-arrive/

http://www.thecarconnection.com/blog/?p=719

Automotive New video report on Transit Connect from Chicago Auto Show:
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 53416/1151

[IFHP]

More News of a "Euro-Ford Invasion":

http://www.leftlanenews.com/euro-invasi ... to-us.html

[IFHP]

Might Ford retool their North American truck plants to build Euro-Fords for the USA?

http://jalopnik.com/396113/could-ford-r ... euro-fords

[IFHP]

Today’s (7/22/08 ) New York Times caught my eye with a front page, above the fold, story titled “Ford to Make Broader Bet on Small Cars.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/busin ... rd.html?hp

Highlights of the article include word that Ford will convert three truck/SUV plants (including the Wayne Truck Plant) to the production of small European designed Ford products and that by (the end of) 2010 Ford plans to have six European designed Fords in production in North America. The article also says that Ford is going to rejuvenate the Mercury franchise with Euro-Ford models as well. To my mind this is a smart move.

It is ironic to recall in that about eight years ago when Dearborn was riding high, but Ford of Europe was in the doldrums, Jac Nasser suggested that Ford might pull the plug on their European Blue Ovals if market performance didn’t improve. Fortunatly FoE did improve, and now they are in the position to save the parent company.

My guess as to the six models that will be produced here in the next three years:
Fiesta, Focus, C-Max, S-Max, Kuga and Transit Connect. The Mondeo and Fusion will probably be merged in the next product cycle.

Michael

[canzus]

Here is the problem, Ford "Engineers" will try to make the cars "U.S." friendly,
meaning they will screw the suspension up, so it suits the taste of "U.S."
drivers. They did it to the XR, Scorpio, and the Focus. If the US "engineers"
would leave them alone, I can see the Euro Fords making inroads, and also
profit for Ford...

[IFHP]

Here is the link to today's official press release on Ford's "Small Car Offensive"

http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_ ... ease=28660