Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Mercury Sable reaching the end of the line Thursday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/18/mercury-sable-reaches-the-end-of-the-line-thursday/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/18/mercury-sable-reaches-the-end-of-the-line-thursday/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/18/mercury-sable-reaches-the-end-of-the-line-thursday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2008 Mercury Sable - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercury's born-again Sable sedan is dead again - or, more accurately, it will be come so on Thursday. According to The Detroit News, Ford's gussied-up Taurus (itself a gussied-up Five Hundred) will expire later this week, leaving Mercury with just four models: the Milan, Mariner, Mountaineer, and Grand Marquis.

And while the Taurus is getting a brand-spanking new replacement model for 2010, a Sable stablemate is apparently not in the cards, in large measure because Ford reportedly chose to spend more money on developing and marketing its Taurus replacement.

Ford's middle-tier brand is expected to lose both the Mountaineer and Grand Marquis within the next couple of model years, and the only new product mooted for the waterfall-grille brand is a new small car that has yet-to-be confirmed.

Eerily, the Blue Oval recently tested the small car waters for its Lincoln luxury brand with its Concept C showcar that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The presence of the tidy Euro-look hatchback once again set tongues wagging that Ford may be pondering whether or not to axe the Mercury marque altogether. For its part, Blue Oval officials dismiss such plans, but there is no denying that Mercury's stable is getting smaller, and at the moment, little product appears to be in the replacement pipeline.

According to the DetNews, Ford sold just 1,158 Sables in April, a drop of nearly 40% year-over-year versus 2008.


Gallery: 2008 Mercury Sable


[Source: The Detroit News]

REPORT: Mercury Sable reaching the end of the line Thursday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 May 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blue OvalBlueOvalDetroit NewsDetroitNewsFordFord TaurusFordTaurusLincolnLincoln MercuryLincoln-MercuryLincolnMercuryMercury sableMercurySableNAIASTaurusMon, 18 May 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Ironic or appropriate? Wagoner up for "Michiganian of the Year"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/ironic-or-appropriate-wagoner-up-for-michiganian-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/ironic-or-appropriate-wagoner-up-for-michiganian-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/ironic-or-appropriate-wagoner-up-for-michiganian-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: ,



Depending on your point of view, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner could either be considered a Godsend or a pariah that represents all that's currently wrong with the country. Of course, we're referring mainly to the automotive bailout that the CEO helped (or hindered, again depending on your viewpoint) negotiate with the Feds and its impact on the jobs of thousands of Michigan workers. Regardless, Mr. Wagoner has been nominated for the "Michiganian of the Year" trophy by The Detroit News. That oughtta ruffle a few feathers.

Also up for the award, and perhaps equally as divisive, is John Dingell, the recently displaced chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. These men are just two of the choices mentioned by the newspaper, which has polled Michigan residents annually since 1978 for the award. Submissions are now open, and you can either cast a vote towards one of the preselected candidates or fill in your own.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ironic or appropriate? Wagoner up for "Michiganian of the Year" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's really hard to figure what's dumber here: the Detroit News "CyberSurvey" that asks, in the wake of the vandalism (four cars) that took place in the Detroit area over the weekend, "Is buying a foreign car un-American?" or the fact that 60% of respondents answer it in the affirmative. Good grief. A quick refresher for everyone: the American thing is to buy whatever car you like. That's one of the nice things about living here, having the freedom to make that choice without it becoming a litmus test on your patriotism. Expect more stuff like this as the histrionics regarding the Detroit bailout climb to new heights with each passing day that doesn't include a White House press conference making it official.

[Source: The Detroit News via TTAC]

Detroit News web poll asks if buying a foreign car is un-American originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buying americanbuying foreignBuyingAmericanBuyingForeigndetroit newsDetroitNewsforeign carsForeignCarspollvandalismTue, 16 Dec 2008 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeep Compass gets dissed by consumer panel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/03/detroit-news-automotive-consumer-panel-disses-the-compass/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/03/detroit-news-automotive-consumer-panel-disses-the-compass/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/03/detroit-news-automotive-consumer-panel-disses-the-compass/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Jeep Compass might be turning the heads of some consumers looking to the trail-rated brand for something new, but the ten members of the Detroit News Automotive Consumer Panel weren't impressed. While all ten said they would recommend the vehicle's sibling -- the Dodge Caliber -- to their friends, and six said they'd consider buying a Caliber themselves, just two of the ten would recommend the Compass to family or friends and none would consider buying one themselves. Calling the vehicle "ugly" and identifying it as something that is completely at odds with the Jeep brand, the panelists overwhelmingly gave the car two thumbs down after driving a few around town during the month of July.

Said one panelist, "Jeep, to me, no longer can justify having that 'rugged' reputation attached to its brand name. A Jeep is supposed to bellow 'run me into the ground.' Instead, this Jeep says, 'You guys want to go to the mall?'"

Let's hope, for Chrylser's sake, that the new Compass will overcome the opinions of these ten.

[Source: Detroit News]

Jeep Compass gets dissed by consumer panel originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Aug 2006 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>detroit newsDetroitNewsdodge caliberDodgeCaliberjeep compassjeep patriotJeepCompassJeepPatriotThu, 03 Aug 2006 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Ford: cut the meetings]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/14/bill-ford-cut-the-meetings/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/14/bill-ford-cut-the-meetings/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/14/bill-ford-cut-the-meetings/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's not really a new thing to most folks who work in a corporate setting. The higher up you go, the more meetings you sit in. At Ford, not anymore, says Chairman and CEO Bill Ford.

A memo written to corporate officers and senior execs by Bill Ford that made its way to the Detroit News said that he would be cutting down on the number of meetings, and even where a meeting is necessary, he would make sure that everybody in attendance absolutely needs to be there. In the memo, Ford stressed that meetings weren't seen-and-be-seen affairs or a continuation of "that's the way we've always done it;" rather, meetings have to have a strong bearing on turning the company around and getting the job done. The goal is to get folks at lower levels within the organization to make decisions on their own, hastening Ford's recovery.

The memo comes after Ford assumed some operating responsibilities after the retirement of Jim Padilla, former president and chief operating officer.

So what do you think? A step in the right direction, or a little bit of posturing?

[Source: Detroit News]

Bill Ford: cut the meetings originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jun 2006 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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