Nine new vehicles in next six months
The North American automotive market has punished automakers whose products are out of step with rapidly changing consumer demands, and Ford Motor's Mark Fields (president, Americas) says his company gets the message. In a speech to industry executives Wednesday at the Center for Automotive Research's 41st annual Management Briefing Seminars, Fields pledged to accelerate Ford's Way Forward plan - increasing the pace of new product introductions and ramping up investment in R&D and flexible manufacturing facilities.
"We'll have more to say on the specifics of what we're accelerating in September. But I can confirm that our plans include more new products, features and technologies throughout our lineup," said Fields. "We have nine new Ford and Lincoln Mercury products going on sale in the next six months alone, and we are rebuilding our business for the future with an emphasis on new products."
More after the jump...On the new product front, Fields highlighted the new Ford Shelby GT (on sale in January), and the Lincoln's new flagship MKS sedan (due in 2008), and nine new Ford and Lincoln Mercury vehicles hitting the market in the next six months, including the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers in November.
Technology tidbits from Field's speech include the capless fuel filler (shown at right) that debuted on the Ford GT and will become standard across the Ford lineup, starting with the Lincoln MKS. Ford will also accelerate introduction of iPod connectivity, DVD-based nav systems, and satellite radio - all in response to market demand. Fields also pledged "more standard safety equipment on more vehicles."On the investment front, Fields said the company is looking at a potential $1 billion investment in partnership with the state of Michigan, to expand flexible manufacturing at several Ford facilities in the state, and for R&D, particularly in the areas of advanced powertrain technologies and hybrid vehicles.
Expect to hear more on the new product theme in the next installment of "Bold Moves: The Future of Ford" this Sunday, when the company will reveal full details of the new Ford Shelby GT.
[Source: Ford]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Robert Schwartz @ Aug 9th 2006 11:35AM
I looked at the picture before I read the article and I said to my self: "Oh, BMW has cleaned up the 7 series". Quick, somebody find a clue-bat for the Blue Oval team.
Howard Kerr @ Aug 9th 2006 11:42AM
I thought the pic was of a Pontiac G6...way to go Ford, copy a middling successful GM product.
Wouldn't Ford Motor Co. be Way Forward, if it just adopted a decent/comprehensive business plan instead of just appearing(?) to run around putting out fires in the market?
Why not get all markets the same Focus Ford? Whats with the doofus "me-too" model names for Lincolns? How about products (minivans?) that are BETTER than the competition? Instead of "just as good as a GM model"?
Buster Hymen @ Aug 9th 2006 11:45AM
I actually thought I was looking at the Lexus GS
Cap'n @ Aug 9th 2006 11:47AM
The styling is hot, lets just hope the performance lives up to it.
Shawn @ Aug 9th 2006 11:50AM
...so according to #1 & 2, BMW 7 series looks like Lexus GS, which now looks like MKS. Anyone else wants to add another model? Maybe a MB, Acura or Infinity?
Buster Hymen @ Aug 9th 2006 11:54AM
Better that ford copy another car make that actually sells and hope that their new design strategy works and gets people interested in the car to buy it (still don't know if quaility is job #145).
Chris @ Aug 9th 2006 11:57AM
If only it'd look that good from the front and rear, too...
Justin @ Aug 9th 2006 12:00PM
I think it looks nothing like a Pontiac G6. I do agree that the new styling and naming structure is very european, but this car is a step in the right direction for Ford.
Hung2 @ Aug 9th 2006 12:02PM
The NEW Move Forward Campaign: First the new campaign name: "Move WAY Forward"
Next the recipe (using the pic as the example): 1 part Audi (front design) 1 part Lexus (A to C pillar) 1 part Pontiac (rear). Viola!
Introducting the NEW FORD A4GSG6! You're gonna love it!
- Please buy it!!
Tool @ Aug 9th 2006 12:09PM
Why not do the Lincoln Continental Concept instead of these mediocre, me-too, definitely not 'Bold Moves' vehicles?
Lincoln had the chance to really redefine itself earlier this decade with thie prototypes. These vehicles are badge-engineered crap.
Justin @ Aug 9th 2006 12:16PM
The MKS is a pretty nice looking car, but I think it would look better without the horizontal bars at the bottom. Here are some crude photoshops from pics taken from Lincoln's website. The first is the production version, second and third are the photoshops. I really like the second.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/Justang99/MKS1.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/Justang99/MKS.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/Justang99/MKS2.jpg
Ryan @ Aug 9th 2006 12:25PM
"1. I looked at the picture before I read the article and I said to my self: "Oh, BMW has cleaned up the 7 series"."
-Nope Lincoln did and it looks BADASS. Ford is already the 3rd (2nd if you count fleet sales) best selling brand in the USA. These new products will no doubt revive them.
-There doing things they should have done LONG AGO, like steel Mazda platforms/engines, Volvo tech, etc.
JB @ Aug 9th 2006 12:28PM
I agree it looks like an Infiniti most to me, which defeats the purpose of being "bold". I think one problem was that the chief designer changed during development, and Peter Horbury came on board, so then things started to change a bit, as he wanted to add his touch. Can't recall the previous designer.
I am already sick of fender vents. It would be nice if the Lincoln symbol incorporated an LED repeater lamp, at least. But that costs too much. If the vent does something, than OK, like MB diesels used to have a fender vent on one side.
Remember, this MK whatever is a 2008! What to sell until then? Yikes! The dealers must be hopping mad. I read this was to be jam-packed with electronics, that makes me nervous. More stuff, more stuff that can break. Ask MB about too many gizmos.
I think we are seeing too much of Fields on TV, web, etc. He should be locked in the building (along with the rest of the Chosen) until this mess is fixed.
What exactly have the "bold moves" been to date? A hideous Explorer (out of touch with gas reality), diesels (which could help save Ford trucks) with massive warranty costs, a neglected Focus, now just getting a new face (and another round of cost cutting), the 500 (a spacious and efficient car - poorly marketed), the Futura/Fusion; Milan (whatever); and Zephyr (bad interior, great name - for a year); StyleFree (nice idea, poorly executed - should be the Fairlane - out now); yes, the Mustang is selling OK; the end of the Town Car; the Crown Vic/Grand Marq. marathon production run; retro Ranger (just like 1986 all over again); the E-van (now with stablility control that it should have had over a decade ago). Did I miss anything?
I wish Fields the best of luck, if he can pull off a turnaround, or just stop the bleeding, it will be one for the ages. I just hope we don't see any "Ask Dr. F" ads, a la DCX.
Michael Karesh @ Aug 9th 2006 12:29PM
When you have a line the size of Ford's nine new products isn't terribly significant. Especially not if new trim lines count.
I've seen the MKS at the auto show, and it's attractive, but no more than the LS was when it was introduced. Like the LS, it looks like the leading competitors at the time with little in the way of brand identity. I agree with others that the Continental concept would have had a much larger impact. Drop-dead gorgeous car that looked like nothing on the road today.
Doug @ Aug 9th 2006 12:30PM
"We have nine new Ford and Lincoln Mercury products going on sale in the next six months alone" - Mark Fields
Translation: We have three new vehicles with three different grills coming out in the next six months.
Greg A. @ Aug 9th 2006 12:36PM
Doesn't accelerating the introduction of new models cause an increased risk of defects arising from both the design process and the assembly process?
Also, that capless gas fuel filler: Can it be locked? With gas prices as high as they are, theft via siphoning is probably a significant possibility again.
Fabulo @ Aug 9th 2006 1:07PM
"You see how lacking the current lineup is, but I can promise you the future is brighter. The kille product is just around the corner. Just wait and you'll see!"
Instead of telling everyone to wait for the next big thing (Ford 500 style, maybe?) Why aren't they asking themselves why they can't put competitive products in the hands of consumers?
Elliott @ Aug 9th 2006 1:07PM
Nine "new" products in 6 months?
1. Ford Edge
2. Lincoln MKX
3. Lincoln MKZ (I know it's the Zephyr, but I bet it counts)
4. Ford Expedition
5. Ford Epedition L
6. Lincoln Navigator
7. Shelby GT
8. F-150 FX2
9. F-150 Harley Davison
The Lincoln MKS and Navigator L don't make the 6-month timeframe and of the vehicles that do only a couple are what I would consider new (Edge/MKX and Expedition/Navigator).
My dream list of Nine New Vehicles for Ford:
1. Ford Focus (Using the new platform)
2. Mercury variant of Focus (it's about time the U.S. manufacturers realize that small and cheap don't have to go hand-in-hand)
3. Fusion Hybrid
4. Ford Edge (it's late to market [Murano, Pacifica, etc], but still needed)
5. Lincoln Navigator (less likely to suffer gas mileage backlash than Expedition)
6. Lincoln MKS
7. Some small AWD SUV (smaller than rumoured new escape) based on new Focus platform
8. RWD Lincoln version of Mustang with IRS
9. Updated Ford 500 - Now with style and 3.5L V6
Elliott @ Aug 9th 2006 1:09PM
Greg A.,
Yes, the capless fuel filler is locked. It is capless, meaning that there is a door that must be opened (from inside the vehicle), but once the fuel door is open there is no cap that must be twisted on or off.
Richard Warren @ Aug 9th 2006 1:14PM
I like it and I've never been a big Ford fan, only owned 1 Ford product out of 42 vehicles.