Despite what everyone thought was the plan, the production version of the upcoming Ford Fairlane family wagon will not debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in early January. Ford claims it was never scheduled to debut in Detroit, though Bob Thibodeau, a local Detroit Ford dealer and senior cochairman of NAIAS, told the Detroit Free Press he had it down on his official list.
What's the reason for the Fairlane's no-show? Officially Ford is saying that the Detroit show doesn't correspond with the vehicle's manufacturing schedule. That very well may be the case, as it doesn't appear producing the Fairlane is going to be the simple conversion of the concept we thought it would be. Word is that Ford's showing a version of the Fairlane at its Showroom of the Future event at Cobo Hall that's less boxy than the concept Fairlane that kicked off this whole thing. This new Fairlane is a wild card, as we've not seen a spy photo or heard any rumblings about it until now. We'll be sure to let you know as soon as it pops up on our radar again.
[Source: Detroit Free Press via Kicking Tires]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian Richardson @ Dec 7th 2006 8:58AM
"The Detroit auto show does not correspond with the manufacturing schedule for the production version of the Fairlane concept. She said it would be shown at a later date"
That's funny, they showed the production Ford Edge at this years NAIAS Show and I've yet to see one on the road. So what's the difference here?
D-Dog @ Dec 7th 2006 9:00AM
This reminds me of the "Problem Solving Flowchart" where the first question someone asks when something goes wrong is, "Did you f... with it?" If your answer is "Yes", then the flow chart goes to say, "You stupid bast...!"
Ford, you have a winner on your hands, don't f... with it!
Michael Karesh @ Dec 7th 2006 9:40AM
Maybe they decided to clinic it, and the results weren't good? I'm not a big fan of the look, but I'm willing to allow that many other people might be. Scion has sold many xB's, after all.
Dave T. @ Dec 7th 2006 10:38AM
The Edge had production delays to shore up quality issues.
I just drove one yesterday. Surprisingly nice although I think I might still prefer the CX-7.
Thor @ Dec 7th 2006 11:00AM
The stupid Fairlane will NOT be missed.
We are not missing the idiotic MaSTODON fORD eXCURSION either, nor the Horribly botched Taurus (2nd Gen) that has just ceased production.
These big 3 LOSERS have been losing HOME GAMES to the Japanese 35 years IN A ROW and have been blaming everybody and everything but their Incompetent Selves for it.
PS The Edge has better styling than any SUV incl the weird Mazdas, BUT it is really heavy, almost a smuch as the explorer, and cannot tow HALF of what the Explo tows. Pity.. and probably gets LOUSY MPG as well.
J P @ Dec 7th 2006 11:07AM
I hope that the Fairlane emerges from surgery as the S-MAX.
Gardiner Westbound @ Dec 7th 2006 11:48AM
Ford just can't seem to get its act together.
DDL @ Dec 7th 2006 12:14PM
One of the Bold Moves clips showed preproduction work on the Fairlane. Same boxy shape, but no more sliding rear doors.
Dave T. @ Dec 7th 2006 12:18PM
The Fairlane has not been shelved it just has been pushed back from Detroit. According to the Bold Moves movie the clinics were very good too. This is puzzling.
Thor: come on now at least look up the info before commenting. The Edge gets between 18/25 mpg in the FWD and 17/24 in the AWD versus 14-20 mpg in Explorer. And its not supposed to tow as much. If you want towing you go with a V8 truck based vehicle. The Edge still tows 3500 lbs.
KC @ Dec 7th 2006 12:32PM
Ford: If it does not look like the concept for production just don't bother. If you water it down and make it look more conventional (like every other station wagon out there) then you might as well scrap the whole project.
SN @ Dec 7th 2006 12:51PM
OK, so by now we've heard that the Lincoln version of the Fairlane will look different than the Ford. What's to say that the Lincoln version won't necessarily debut at NAIAS? OK so they're changing the ford version. Isn't it possible that the lincoln version will take the look of the fairlane concept (it is a more upscale looking design, anyway) and the ford version will be a bit more rounded/s-maxesque? Lincoln doesn't have the freestyle to worry about so they could easily debut it. And it would be the only luxury brand with a legit people mover (aside from the MB R-class) that's not an SUV and doesn't look like crap.
Bran @ Dec 7th 2006 1:29PM
Ford can easily resolve the problem. Bring over the Euro S-Max.
Nick @ Dec 7th 2006 2:23PM
Couldn't agree more. If this thing isn't appearing because Ford believes that it must tinker with the design, then they might as well not release it. It has very definitive styling...don't mess with it.
I believe Ford has a winner on its hands here. In a crowded minivan market flooded with relativly identical products, Ford is actually taking the correct approach...they're preparing to offer a UNIQUELY styled product. Hopefully, "breaking the mold" of that tired old minivan design, where, mind you, Ford/Mercury had been failing miserably.
George Krpan @ Dec 7th 2006 4:03PM
It could be that the market has changed since the Fairlane concept was unveiled. A couple of years ago it looked good but now it looks too big and thirsty. I think there's a paradigm shift happening and people are not buying cars merely for their styling. The S-MAX is a beautiful car. It beat out the Citroen Picasso C4 for car of the year.
rrr is a Moron @ Dec 7th 2006 6:47PM
At least Ford is building it.
Razzle Dazzle @ Dec 7th 2006 6:48PM
Ha-cha ch-ch-cha cha! Jazz hands!
number40one @ Dec 7th 2006 6:56PM
see, they need more time to screw it up before they bring it to the public.
Sam Adams @ Dec 7th 2006 9:39PM
How many women would actually buy this box as their minivan?
I don't think it will sell that well.
All of you who say you like this minivan surely have something else you like more on your list.
not2bad @ Dec 8th 2006 9:13AM
"less boxy" would not be my first statement when describing production vs. concept.