'Ford Individual' customization begins in Europe
Ford has begun running a pilot program in Germany and Switzerland that would allow buyers to customize their rides in ways currently unavailable to customers in Europe.
The program, imaginatively called "Ford Individual", is similar to the packages available through Volkswagen and BMW, and will consist of a few distinctly different styling directions.
One is entitled the "Sporty Line" that's primary focus will be more on modern-looking additions, like exterior styling bits, wheels and interior accoutrements. The "Luxury Line" will allow buyers to add leather and wood grain, while the "Hitec Line" consists of in-car entertainment packages, rear-view cameras and other techy tidbits.
Initially the only vehicle that will benefit from these additions is the Ford S-Max, however, demand may allow Ford to broaden the vehicles available for customization.
[Source: Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jim in Tampa 9:55AM (1/16/2007)
Meanwhile, over in the colonies, Ford customers get to accessorize their cars with side air bags and traction control; items that should be standard equipment!
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John P. 9:57AM (1/16/2007)
I'll take my car without airbags or traction control thank-you, just give me a good motor, transmission and make it fun to drive.
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mr.ed 4:42PM (1/16/2007)
They'll have to farm this out, as their overhead is way too high to make it economical inhouse.
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lavardera 10:38AM (1/16/2007)
egad - that ford wagon looks so much better than anything they sell here!
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John P. 10:45AM (1/16/2007)
I really think this is coming the USA. I just have a good feeling about this one.
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Rich 11:03AM (1/16/2007)
That's a really nice looking Ford wagon!
Come on Ford, there really are some of us in the US that like wagons and hatches.
Maybe they could bring it over and it would fill the void in the Focus line up since they dropped the hatch for 2008?
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pb 11:06AM (1/16/2007)
#3 that would be the S-max, the European Car of the Year.
Indeed, it would be great if we could get that here.
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Erik 12:16PM (1/16/2007)
Amen John P. #2. Jim in Tampa seems to think that because he wants particular options, everyone should be forced to pay for them. Jim, please explain to me why more choice is a bad thing.
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Accordsforall 12:21PM (1/16/2007)
Hmmm
Ford dropped the fugly Focus wagon.. cause it was designed by beancounting maggots who wouldnt know a tire iron.. if it wasnt smackin them in the back of the head.
They also dropped it cause.. the design was horrible, the rep for the Focus is damaged, and it now finally.. after 7+yes gets a body it should have had 4 yrs ago.. only to find out.. that the EURO one aka Mazda3 aka VOLVO S40. Then they tell ya.. that deisel isnt coming to the Focus.. despite everyone planning a virtual assault on the deisel market, (Honda, Toyota, VW, M-B etc etc.)
Love the S-max.. hate Ford.
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Accordsforall 12:47PM (1/16/2007)
Hmmm
Id also like to know.. why the sporty line.. doesnt include diff shocks, exhaust and tire upgrade options little body kit w/ spoiler (from Ford) different paint, the extra interior b.s bits (and can be added into the price of the car). But Id like to see it really tricked out.
Screw the fake alumnium clip on crap..
Give me the thick sway bar.. and a nice magnaflow dual exhaust note..
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Accordsforall 12:21PM (1/16/2007)
Hmmm
Id also like to say...
Traction control are for the wussies who drive the 4500lb suvs and cant see over the wheel to see the damn car in front.. yet need the size to pull along their empty headed selvs.
As far as the airbags.. always nicer.. but remove slushbox and add the paddles.
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Accordsforall 12:47PM (1/16/2007)
Hmmm
I can answer that... choices dilute whats really important. And before ya know it.. ya stuck with a slow, heavy, boring vehicle that although it looks nice, doesnt perform.
And although ya spent (however much ya paid) ya cant drive it anyway.
Id love to see.. ERIK actually drive a car. I dont mean.. put the key in.. turn the wheel and drive..
I mean throw the car into a corner at about 90 in the rain at night and keep composure, control and WITHOUT traction control.
Choices busy you from whats really important. Too many and ur not doing what ya really should be doing. And thats.. doing more with LESS CHOICES!!
And in the case.. of many of the cars on the road.. DRIVING is not being done. They move the car.. from one road to another.. but they dont DRIVE it.
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Phil L. 1:28PM (1/16/2007)
< Traction control are for the wussies who drive the 4500lb suvs
Huh? My '95 Contour V6 (another car Ford should have continued to develop in the US; Europe kept getting better Mondeos) has traction control - and it's a blast. Slush-covered intersections are handled with ease: Point the wheel where you want to go; hit the gas. The car takes care of the rest.
Stop light challenges - in the rain - are particularly enjoyable. They never seem to be able to figure out why that little car they don't recognize keeps pulling away...
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Jim in Tampa 1:13PM (1/16/2007)
erik . . . I think choice is a great thing. Afterall, you have the choice to buy a car that doesn't have side air bags and traction control. But if BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Volvo, Saab, Cadillac, Lexus, Acura, Honda and Infiniti doesn't give you a choice to decline side air bags and traction control, then they must have made these features standard on most of their cars for a reason.
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Bill 1:19PM (1/16/2007)
Accordsforall,
Let me let you in on one the easiest little rules in the English language to remember:
" 'I' before 'E', except after 'C' "
Therefore, it's "diesel", not "deisel".
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Daniel 1:40PM (1/16/2007)
We're not worthy?
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Erik 2:55PM (1/16/2007)
Jim... I don't have the choice to buy a Lexus without paying for side airbags and traction control. Thankfully, companies like Ford let the customer decide exactly what he wants. I don't want some car company telling me what I want or need. It's insulting when a company or government agency tries to save me from myself. A car with no side airbags and no traction control (like both my cars) is far safer than a motorcycle. Do you believe motorcycles should not be available for people to purchase if they choose? I am guessing the luxury car makers you mentioned have these options because luxury cars generally come loaded. Their buyers want everything and are willing to pay for it. Most of these cars also come standard with leather. That does not mean all cars should have leather standard. Ford is not a luxury make. Its buyers appreciate value, and don't necesseraly want (sometimes can't affort) to pay for all the options. You want airbags and traction control - I don't. The Ford can satify both of us, the makes you mentioned cannot. Advantage: Ford.
Accordsforall... Your response makes very little sense. Choices do not dilute anything. As much as you'd love it, you are not going to see me "throw a car into a corner at 90 at night in the rain". I do not drive like that, and neither, I'll venture to guess, do 90% of S-Max drivers. Those who drive like that should buy their car with traction control. Those who do not should have the option to take the savings instead.
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Tony 6:17PM (1/16/2007)
Everyone in North America could be driving a car like this (or better). If the attitude was buy the best quality car, not buy what is built in the U.S.A. North American car companies would be building much better quality cars and sales would be up. But no, lets keep buying " made in U.S.A" so cars don't improve and we close plants and Toyota gets the upper hand.
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whofan 4:16PM (1/16/2007)
Ford Put some Sliding doors on the C MAX like the Mazda 5 or a minivan and send it over.
This would be a hit but Sliding doors are better for kids who are in a hurry.
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Justbought 9:25PM (1/16/2007)
Dear Ford:
I just bought a Hyundai. I looked at the Focus but couldn't get past that late 1990's look and equipment packages for about $2k more than the Elantra. I just can't figure this 'Ford' thing out. Here we are in a small-car era, Ford is one of the biggest companies in the world and we get a Focus like this. Get the hell back to Europe if you are going to try to sell cars like this to US.
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