Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Why did Ford choose to kill Mercury now?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/03/why-ford-chose-to-kill-mercury-now/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/03/why-ford-chose-to-kill-mercury-now/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/03/why-ford-chose-to-kill-mercury-now/#commentsFiled under:



It's a question few are asking the day after Ford announced that Mercury - named after the "messenger of the gods" in Roman mythology - would wind down production after 70 years of business. Why? Mercury lost its way so long ago that being shuttered at some point was a foregone conclusion. The only question was when. And now we have the answer.

But that doesn't answer why Ford chose June 2, 2010 as the day to announce the death of Mercury. What's so special about this year and this time in the auto industry that made Ford pull the trigger? Follow the jump to find out.

Continue reading Why did Ford choose to kill Mercury now?

Why did Ford choose to kill Mercury now? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford mercuryFordMercurymercurymercury deadmercury end productionmercury killedmercury phased outMercuryDeadMercuryEndProductionMercuryKilledMercuryPhasedOutwhy mercury dead nowWhyMercuryDeadNowThu, 03 Jun 2010 19:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19502116/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/03/why-ford-chose-to-kill-mercury-now/19502116/article-detail.xml 19502116 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/3824863725e6993a2ddbbopt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/3824863725e6993a2ddbbopt.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #180 - Pre-announcement Mercury conjecture]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/02/autoblog-podcast-180-pre-announcement-mercury-conjecture/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/02/autoblog-podcast-180-pre-announcement-mercury-conjecture/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/02/autoblog-podcast-180-pre-announcement-mercury-conjecture/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

We solicited your questions again for Episode #179 of the Autoblog Podcast, and then Chris, Sam, and Dan proceeded to answer them. News topics we cover are the rumors (now confirmed) of Mercury's closure, Elon Musk's lack of liquidity, the final Zonda, a General Motors IPO, and Nissan Juke pricing. Sprinkled in there, of course, are your questions and comments from our newly-interactive post.

Autoblog Podcast #180: We answer your queries



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Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid

Runtime: 1:24:32

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Autoblog Podcast #180 - Pre-announcement Mercury conjecture originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog podcastautoblog podcast 180AutoblogPodcastAutoblogPodcast180elon muskelon musk brokeElonMuskElonMuskBrokefeaturedford mercuryFordMercurygm ipoGmIpomercury shutdownmercury shutteredMercuryShutdownMercuryShutterednissan jukenissan juke pricingNissanJukeNissanJukePricingpagani zondaPaganiZondapodcastshut down mercuryShutDownMercuryzonda unoZondaUnoWed, 02 Jun 2010 17:45:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #180Autoblog01:24:32 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19501056/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/02/autoblog-podcast-180-pre-announcement-mercury-conjecture/19501056/article-detail.xml 19501056 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/autoblog-podcast-3_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/autoblog-podcast-3.jpg <![CDATA[REPORT: Stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealers being scaled out of existence]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/report-stand-alone-lincoln-mercury-dealers-dying-off/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/report-stand-alone-lincoln-mercury-dealers-dying-off/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/report-stand-alone-lincoln-mercury-dealers-dying-off/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



In 2006, Ford began to shrink its dealership network in order to more efficiently align its distribution network. Three years later, it appears that the hardest hit are the company's stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. While there were 619 Lincoln-Mercury dealerships nationwide just a few years ago, the number had dwindled down to just 357 at the beginning of 2009.

Automotive News recently spoke with Ford CEO Alan Mulally about the future of the Lincoln brand and its stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury stores. While Ford's current strategy is pushing combo Ford-Lincoln-Mercury retailers, Mulally would not confirm that eliminating the stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealerships was the desired end result. When pushed on the question, Mulally reiterated that Ford was focusing on building a distribution network which allowed sales volume, product breadth, and profitability... qualities that are apparently better served by the Ford-Lincoln-Mercury store.

Mulally added that although these combo dealerships will be selling the Lincoln MKS on the same lot as the Ford Taurus (both vehicles share platforms and mechanicals), retailers will learn how to deliver the sales experience that fits the vehicle and differentiates the brand. Whether this concept works or whether car salesmen simply take the easy route and sell the less expensive Ford remains to be seen.

Either way, it has to be asked - is peeling away at the automaker's stand-alone LM dealers part of a larger plan to do away with Mercury altogether? Inquiring minds want to know...

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: Stephen Brashear/Getty]

REPORT: Stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealers being scaled out of existence originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallyAlanMulallycar dealercar dealerscar showroomCarDealerCarDealersCarShowroomCombinationConsolidationDealershipsDualFordFord dealershipsford mercuryFord-Lincoln-MercuryFordDealershipsFordMercurylincolnLincoln-Mercurlincoln-mercuryMercurymulallyMullallyshowroomMon, 09 Nov 2009 18:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19228972/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/09/report-stand-alone-lincoln-mercury-dealers-dying-off/19228972/article-detail.xml 19228972 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/78285970-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/78285970-630op.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #138]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/autoblog-podcast-138/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/autoblog-podcast-138/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/autoblog-podcast-138/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #138 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. Chris, Sam, and Dan take the 'cast meta for a moment and discuss the freshly-minted Autoblog 4.0, as well as the arrival of ace scribe Jonny Lieberman to the Autoblog Team. Once we're done navel-gazing, we talk over the Wiedeking departure from Porsche, the new role for Bob Lutz, and what it might mean for General Motors' marketing, the speculation about a Lexus competitor for the A3/1-Series, an excuse for Mercury's continued existance, and the rumors of a Prius Coupe. It wraps up with a question and a comment, and that's it, nice and tidy. Thanks for all the response so far to our survey, and iTunes users can submit reviews of our work at the Autoblog Podcast iTunes page, too. We're always reachable at Podcast at Autoblog Dot Com, too. See you next week!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #138

Autoblog Podcast #138 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog 4.0autoblog podcastAutoblog4.0AutoblogPodcastbob lutz gm marketingbob lutz marketingBobLutzGmMarketingBobLutzMarketingford mercuryFordMercuryjonny liebermanJonnyLiebermanlexus 1 serieslexus a3lexus frankfurtLexus1SeriesLexusA3LexusFrankfurtlincoln mercuryLincolnMercurylutz marketingLutzMarketingmercurypodcast 138Podcast138porsche wiedekingPorscheWiedekingprius coupePriusCoupeWed, 29 Jul 2009 16:45:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #138Autoblog.com67:00autoblog podcast, lutz, gm marketing, porsche, wiedeking, lexus a3, lexus, mercury, prius coupe, prius, lexus, autoblog 4.0, jonny lieberman, lieberman, autoblog podcast 138, autoblog, podcast http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19113424/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/29/autoblog-podcast-138/19113424/article-detail.xml 19113424 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/autoblog-podcast_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/autoblog-podcast.jpg <![CDATA[We got nothin': Supplier says no more Mercury past 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/we-got-nothin-supplier-says-no-more-mercury-past-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/we-got-nothin-supplier-says-no-more-mercury-past-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/we-got-nothin-supplier-says-no-more-mercury-past-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Ford's mouthpiece continues to deny there's any plan to smother Mercury with its own pillow, but a Ford supplier has whispered something different in the ear of Inside Line. According to IL and its source, the last Mercury to die will likely be the handsome and likable Milan sedan, which will receive a mid-cycle refresh that shall carry the model through to 2012. The Sable will likely expire in 2010 when the new Taurus rolls out without a Mercury counterpart. Ford rhetoric, however, still holds that Mercury and Lincoln are being repositioned, with Abe's brand taking over as the volume-seller of the pair.

We'd buy the seemingly banal explanation a bit more if there were actually some product in the Mercury pipeline besides the Milan Hybrid, but there's no mention of anything else pending. With suppliers right now securing contracts for those programs that have Job One dates in 2010 and 2012, they might serve as a canary in the coal mine for us. Mercury can't build vehicles without any parts, and if they're not putting in orders now, it will likely be sometime in 2012 that we'll hear some real news about Mercury's future from Ford. Hey, what else are we supposed to think when the last spy shots of a Mercury were back in 2006, hiding the Montego to Sable transition? Thanks for the tip, DC.

[Source: Inside Line, Photo: Blogcrypt.com]

We got nothin': Supplier says no more Mercury past 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ford mercuryFordMercurylincoln mercuryLincolnMercurymercurymercury 2012mercury axmercury deadMercury2012MercuryAxMercuryDeadTue, 10 Jun 2008 10:34:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1220626/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/06/10/we-got-nothin-supplier-says-no-more-mercury-past-2012/1220626/article-detail.xml 1220626 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/coffin_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/coffin.jpg -1 2