Some REAL news: Ford to build Focus based Mercury Tracer
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Some REAL news: Ford to build Focus based Mercury Tracer
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/ford-anno...the-new-focus/
Ford announces Mercury Tracer small car based on the new Focus
Ford executives confirmed today the Mercury will get is own new car on the same platform as the 2011 Focus, which was recently unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.
According to the same sources, the new car dubbed Mercury Tracer will hit the dealerships in 2011, same year the new Focus arrives. “Here in the United States, the trend toward fuel-efficient vehicles is very important, and the trend toward small cars is coming back,” Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said after the meeting. “Our strategy is pretty simple: have a broad-based lineup.” Also, it appears that Ford already told its dealers that they can start ordering the new Fiesta on February 15. The Fiesta will hit showrooms this summer.
Ford executives confirmed today the Mercury will get is own new car on the same platform as the 2011 Focus, which was recently unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.
According to the same sources, the new car dubbed Mercury Tracer will hit the dealerships in 2011, same year the new Focus arrives. “Here in the United States, the trend toward fuel-efficient vehicles is very important, and the trend toward small cars is coming back,” Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said after the meeting. “Our strategy is pretty simple: have a broad-based lineup.” Also, it appears that Ford already told its dealers that they can start ordering the new Fiesta on February 15. The Fiesta will hit showrooms this summer.
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Mercury isn't even getting a new version of the Taurus or Explorer. So all they have now is a Fusion and Escape rebadge.
I can't either, it would be like Chevy saying they were going to bring back the Caviler and charging more than a Chevy Cruze. I've talked about this before with some of my car buddies. They say they would rather have the Ford product over the equivalent Mercury. The Ford brand has more prestige.
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Honestly I often times forget Mercury, as a brand, even exists. Despite Mercury supposedly being a 'premium' name according to Ford and others that follow the industry closely... I think most of the general public just considers the Mercury name confusing and obscure and has no connotation of premium whatsoever. I would say that Ford should take Mercury into the legitimate entry luxury category much as GM is doing with Buick (well GM has always in theory done this with Buick but now they're finally not half-assing it), and turn Lincoln into 'smart luxury' like GM is doing with Cadillac. But I think the brand is so obscured now that they've really lost the opportunity.
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Honestly I often times forget Mercury, as a brand, even exists. Despite Mercury supposedly being a 'premium' name according to Ford and others that follow the industry closely... I think most of the general public just considers the Mercury name confusing and obscure and has no connotation of premium whatsoever. I would say that Ford should take Mercury into the legitimate entry luxury category much as GM is doing with Buick (well GM has always in theory done this with Buick but now they're finally not half-assing it), and turn Lincoln into 'smart luxury' like GM is doing with Cadillac. But I think the brand is so obscured now that they've really lost the opportunity.
At this point I say Mercury needs to die, or just become a trim line on Ford products.
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What they should do is reskin the Mustang as a cougar..I mean really what harm would it do? It would give Mercury a kick in the pants and something that is not Mustang..That messenger coupe a few yrs ago was sweet.
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I consider Mercury to be a competitor with Ford brand cars. They both target the same market. There is nothing that Mercury can give me that Ford can't. Volvo and Lincoln can handle the upscale market. Mercury should go and Lincoln should expand into the luxury small car market.
They got problems with Lincoln that need to be fixed = http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/16/d...-from-dealers/
They got problems with Lincoln that need to be fixed = http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/16/d...-from-dealers/
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I think the problem is that Ford has treated Mercury the same way GM treated Pontiac giving it supposedly fancier copies of the main brand's offerings. But like Z28x said, it becomes a competitor with the main brand only with a lesser brand image that creates less profit margin. what needs to happen is for Ford to position Mercury the way GM is now trying to position Buick. Maybe they're already trying to do that???
I have to agree with Threxx that I completely forget about Mercury's existance most of the time.
I have to agree with Threxx that I completely forget about Mercury's existance most of the time.
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