Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
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Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
Ford says it will add car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
AMY WILSON | Automotive News
Posted Date: 12/13/04
DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. will introduce a North American car smaller than the Focus in 2007 or 2008.
Retiring executive Jim O'Connor confirmed Ford's plans for a new subcompact in an interview with Automotive News last week.
Ford Division dealers have been demanding a new product slotted below the Focus.
Ford product planners have acknowledged they were exploring a U.S. entry for the segment, often described as B-sized in Europe.
"The B-car is going to happen," said O'Connor, group vice president of North American marketing, sales and service. "It's in the cycle plan."
Ford sources wouldn't confirm exact timing.
The vehicle probably will be a spinoff of the Brazilian-made Ford EcoSport.
The EcoSport rides on the Fiesta platform, which is the basis of many of Ford's European small cars.
Ford affiliate Mazda Motor Corp. is leading development of the next-generation Fiesta platform. The new U.S. entry is likely to migrate to Mazda's platform.
The look of the new car is unclear, but it will be more than an econobox. "It would need to stand out," a Ford source said.
Sport wagon or SUV-inspired styling is likely, based on concept vehicles the automaker has shown in the segment.
Ford will show a subcompact concept car at the 2005 Detroit auto show. That will mark the third straight year Ford has experimented with a design concept for this segment.
AMY WILSON | Automotive News
Posted Date: 12/13/04
DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. will introduce a North American car smaller than the Focus in 2007 or 2008.
Retiring executive Jim O'Connor confirmed Ford's plans for a new subcompact in an interview with Automotive News last week.
Ford Division dealers have been demanding a new product slotted below the Focus.
Ford product planners have acknowledged they were exploring a U.S. entry for the segment, often described as B-sized in Europe.
"The B-car is going to happen," said O'Connor, group vice president of North American marketing, sales and service. "It's in the cycle plan."
Ford sources wouldn't confirm exact timing.
The vehicle probably will be a spinoff of the Brazilian-made Ford EcoSport.
The EcoSport rides on the Fiesta platform, which is the basis of many of Ford's European small cars.
Ford affiliate Mazda Motor Corp. is leading development of the next-generation Fiesta platform. The new U.S. entry is likely to migrate to Mazda's platform.
The look of the new car is unclear, but it will be more than an econobox. "It would need to stand out," a Ford source said.
Sport wagon or SUV-inspired styling is likely, based on concept vehicles the automaker has shown in the segment.
Ford will show a subcompact concept car at the 2005 Detroit auto show. That will mark the third straight year Ford has experimented with a design concept for this segment.
Last edited by Gold_Rush; Dec 13, 2004 at 02:42 PM.
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From: Oakland, California
Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
If gas prices continue to head northward, I can see a potential for a small car boom just as we had here in the late 70's. That is unless hybrid and DoD technology proves to be economical, in which case the boom may not be as large.
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Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
Originally Posted by Z28x
Yeah... a new aspire!!! 
What about the Ford Ka? I'm supprised we never saw that here.
What about the Ford Ka? I'm supprised we never saw that here.
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Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
Originally Posted by Gold_Rush
Is this cheap ultra-compact market worth competing in here in the states?
replacement for the Aspire/Festiva.Sadly, an Aveo sized car is hardly more economical than an Ion/Cobalt. More to the point, we live in a country of cheap year-old used cars and cheap sub-$2.00/gallon gasoling (for now). Buyers with a limited budget should consider something the size and price of a low mileage used Taurus or Buick Century. Any loss in fuel economy would probably be offset by cheaper insurance rates.
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Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
Originally Posted by Z28x
Yeah... a new aspire!!!
What about the Ford Ka? I'm supprised we never saw that here.
What about the Ford Ka? I'm supprised we never saw that here.
well, the ford Ka really likes fuel so it´s not a good choise, maybe Opel or Hunday...
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Posts: 403
From: Pittsburgh Pa USA
Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
Hopefully gas prices will stabilize soon with Russian Oil (they're not in OPEC and Putin is avoiding joining). Also I heard they are finding new Oil in Lybia, and hopefully Iraq will be stabilized soon.
Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
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From: Inland Empire, CA
Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
Originally Posted by Z28x
Yeah... a new aspire!!!
What about the Ford Ka? I'm supprised we never saw that here.
What about the Ford Ka? I'm supprised we never saw that here.
Originally Posted by Big Als Z
Chevy beats Ford to the punch.....what else is new.
I went to www.chevy.co.uk, but it appears to be a website for transexuals.
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Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
Originally Posted by MunchE
I went to www.chevy.co.uk, but it appears to be a website for transexuals.
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Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
Originally Posted by MunchE
That was my first thought. Bring the SportKa!
Well technically DaeWoo "beat them to the punch", Chevy just slapped a badge on it. But either way, Ford has been marketing subcompacts in other markets for years now. Check out Ford's UK site to see the Ka and the Fiesta in the range below Focus. www.ford.co.uk
I went to www.chevy.co.uk, but it appears to be a website for transexuals.
Well technically DaeWoo "beat them to the punch", Chevy just slapped a badge on it. But either way, Ford has been marketing subcompacts in other markets for years now. Check out Ford's UK site to see the Ka and the Fiesta in the range below Focus. www.ford.co.uk
I went to www.chevy.co.uk, but it appears to be a website for transexuals.
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Posts: 4,600
From: Pewee Valley, KY
Re: Ford adding car below Focus; vehicle to debut in '07 or '08
Originally Posted by redzed
For buyers seeking humiliation in a small package, there is no substitute for a teeny-weeny, itty-bitty tin can. Detroit still can't believe that people don't want to look and feel foolish, which is why Chevy revived the Geo Metro "inspired" Aveo. Ford has to get in on any bad idea, so they're coming with the long awaited replacement for the Aspire/Festiva.
Sadly, an Aveo sized car is hardly more economical than an Ion/Cobalt. More to the point, we live in a country of cheap year-old used cars and cheap sub-$2.00/gallon gasoling (for now). Buyers with a limited budget should consider something the size and price of a low mileage used Taurus or Buick Century. Any loss in fuel economy would probably be offset by cheaper insurance rates.
replacement for the Aspire/Festiva.Sadly, an Aveo sized car is hardly more economical than an Ion/Cobalt. More to the point, we live in a country of cheap year-old used cars and cheap sub-$2.00/gallon gasoling (for now). Buyers with a limited budget should consider something the size and price of a low mileage used Taurus or Buick Century. Any loss in fuel economy would probably be offset by cheaper insurance rates.
