Autoblog Podcast #145 with the Two Marks from Ford
by Dan Roth on Sep 15th 2009 at 2:44PM 
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Episode #145 of the Autoblog Podcast is a mostly-Frankfurt Motor Show edition. Chris, Sam and Dan are joined by Mark Kaufman, Ford's C-segment marketing manager, and Blue-Oval product communications manager Mark Schirmer. The two Marks join us to talk about what Ford's got up its sleeve for Frankfurt and beyond. The C1 Focus is finally making the transatlantic journey, and we're getting the flexible and efficient Grand C-Max, as well. Talk turns all EcoBoosty and future-plannish before the crew moves on to the sights at Frankfurt.
The Volkswagen L1 concept sets us off on the environmentally conscious aspects of the show, which we quickly abandoned in favor of such awesomeness as the Audi R8 Spyder, roofless Lamborghini Reventon, and the slick Audi S5 Sportback. Taking a left turn down Odd Street, we test our intestinal fortitude with the Bugatti Galibier, Peugeot BB1 and Citroen's Revolte. Questions wrap it up, and again, it clocks in with extra value past the hour and a half mark.
Thanks for the great reviews in iTunes and your efforts with the survey. We'll be back next week, but until then, hit up our friends at Engadget or Joystiq for other 'casts you might be interested in. Drop us a note at Podcast at Autoblog dot com in the meantime.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian 2:48PM (9/15/2009)
Ford trying to get back into the minivan segment. What an incredibly stupid move. Was getting their asses handed to them in the segment for 20 years with the Aerostar, Windstar, and Freestar not enough for them?
Whats more a Grand C-Max will cannibalize sales of the Edge and Escape, which already compete with eachother (TWO small crossovers? Are you kidding me??)
Not to mention the fact that every one of their cars except the Mustang and ancient Panther Platform are now EUROPEAN or JAPANESE. So much for being "domestic", Ford!
They're really on their way to Chapter 11, no matter what the "domestic" cheerleaders say.
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thomas 4:19PM (9/15/2009)
WHAT!?!?
have you been paying attention at all to the world around you??
why would anyone who wants an SUV look at a C-Max?!?!
pretty sure minivans still sell well and in case you haven't noticed they've gotten sort of large.
look at mazda. their MPV was failing hard. so they canned it, replacing it with the CX-7 and CX-9 crossovers. yet they still build the tribute. and then then they have the Mazda5.
things seem to be going quite well for Mazda, what makes you think Ford cant be even more successful???
Lucas 2:54PM (9/15/2009)
Thanks for ending the Autoblog/Ford stroke-off comments once and for all. ;)
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jlee 3:24PM (9/15/2009)
What is a top hat?
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thomas 4:15PM (9/15/2009)
a car placed atop a platform that underpins several others.
see ford c-segment stories from the last couple days.
10 cars, one platform.
also see chrysler's use of fiat platforms
Sandy 4:53PM (9/15/2009)
What a stupid headline "TWO MARKS FROM FORD......."
I was expecting an all NEW Lincoln MARK! As in a Mark IX (9) !
Perhaps also a high performance version......another Grande
let-down in the car industry. Cars today are so boring. (and THAT from a car-lover) - All on the same platform (or 2 platforms per manufacturer) and look so similiar. The Lincoln MKS looks like the Ford Taurus, except for the grilles.
Pontiac (Excitment, remember? "We build Excitment" > DEAD<
Oldsmobile >DEAD< Plymouth? >DEAD<
General Motors today is:
Cadilac, Buick, Chevy & Saturn. That's all, Folks!
A SRT-8 Hemi Charger or Chrysler 300 is all that spurs the soul.
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Taglane 5:37PM (9/15/2009)
*A SRT-8 Hemi Charger or Chrysler 300 is all that spurs the soul.*
No you did not just say that.
Sandy 6:39PM (9/15/2009)
Okay, I meant to say STIRS the Soul.....the phone was ringing, & I was rushing
to answer the wrong number !!
But, if you meant that I shouldn't think that......drive one !! It WILL put a big grin on your face!
For a Sedan, seating 5 those twin can handle and take off like a rocket, and yet - when you want, be docile and calm.
The Recaro front buckets are just short of heavenly, too.- (I do not have one, my friend does,
a SRT-8 Charger Super Bee Edition. Orange Pearl
Sandy 6:40PM (9/15/2009)
Okay, also a Corvette.
FThorn 8:47AM (9/16/2009)
Does the one Mark have a voice issue or was it his connection. It sounded like Bobby Brady with this "Time to change" song.
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Bigfork 11:48AM (9/16/2009)
To the guy asking about renting cars in Germany for the 'Ring. My suggestion is http://www.rent-racecar.de. They're at the 'Ring and they have insurance for the 'Ring which any mainstream rental will NOT have. A variety of cars to choose from. I personally rented the 318ti but maybe a GTi would be a better choice for the first-timer. The owners are super nice and even took me for a very quick lap in a VW GTD (diesel GTi).
Bigfork
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Tom 7:13PM (9/16/2009)
I think Chris has been drinking before/during the podcast.
Sam still needs a better mic.
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Chris Shunk 9:14PM (9/16/2009)
Tom: no drinks for me before or during the podcast. I just get exuberant (and sometimes forgetful) when it's car talk time.
Dan Mosqueda 5:32PM (9/20/2009)
Great podcast. The Ford guys clear read the blog, that's great because it gave them a ton more credibility. They were very simpatico to other manufactures with almost no negative remarks, except for joining the amen chorus against the Veyron! They were pretty refreshing.
Glad to hear about getting the Euro Focus here. I've seen the C-Max in Germany and it's a terrific vehicle (not for me, but for a huge demo out there wanting fuel efficiency and space).
Your remarks also made me really think about why Eco-turbo thing is a great idea: horsepower w/o the weight. Of course it wouldn't be anything new without the direct injection. Good stuff.
By far, yours is the best podcast I listen to.
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jeff 6:36PM (9/22/2009)
excellent podcast. I got worried when I saw the guests were from a car company, thinking they wouldn't be able to say anything unless it promoted a Ford car. I was happy to see that both hosts were able to speak freely about products from other companies, it really added to their credibility as spokesmen for Ford and made for interesting discussion. The two of them were obviously right up to speed with some of the latest news and opinions.
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lando77 8:51AM (9/24/2009)
I am a E.R. Nurse that left the medical profession to open a detailing shop in Germany. I have been listening for about 6 months now, and I absolutely love your show. About this week when Dan said that OE's had to "Lady GaGa" their model line ups to sell in the Middle East I laugh so hard I almost dropped my buffer on the floor. My wife likes to say that the cars in Dubai are "Bedazzled", so she laughed said that you were right on the money. But wait there is more...
On Saturday and Sunday, my wife and I went to the Frankfurt Auto show. We were at the Alpina display, drinking Champagne and chatting up the presenter, when my wife wife asked about the gaudy stripes on the B6. The presenter said that most Alpina's sold in Europe did not come with the stripes, but the almost all sold in the Middle East had the full stripe package. With out skipping a beat, my wife said "So, you have to Lady GaGa your cars for your Customers in Dubai?" The presenter laughed and almost choked on his Champane!
Thank you for putting on a great Podcast and keep up the great work.
BTW: I rated the comments on iTunes and commented as well, just as you beckoned.
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Trumpetman319 10:05PM (9/27/2009)
I would love to see Chip Foose on the show
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