Autoblog

Farley says Lincoln learnings in China could influence brand in US

Zach Bowman — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:29:00 EST

Automotive News reports Lincoln is looking to Chinese luxury shoppers for customer service ideas. Those notions may eventually make their way back to the US in the form of new dealership training. Jim Farley, the executive vice president of global marketing for Ford, tells Automotive News, "In many ways, China will be a listening post for Lincoln in the United States. Soon China will be the largest luxury market in the world." Farley also said that in China, the Lincoln brand is currently where Lexus was when the Japanese brand first landed in the US.

Lincoln is slated to open its first Chinese dealerships in 2014. The brand is largely unknown in Asia, and Lincoln representatives have been visiting other luxury dealers in China for an idea of what buyers there expect. Lincoln has also studied non-automotive luxury shopping, paying special attention to high-end retail branding.

Of course, this whole song and dance feels awfully familiar. Lincoln has focused heavily on remaking the brand and recrafting its marketing here in the States, thus far without sufficient product to back the play. Lincoln is already late to the China game, and without the necessary products to lure buyers away from established bodies like Buick and Cadillac, Lincoln may be doomed to repeat its fate here in the US.

Farley says Lincoln learnings in China could influence brand in US originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 May 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford's Jim Farley hints at Lincoln sales rebound

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Lincoln, Luxury

If you're a fan of Lincoln, get ready for "a really great story" come May 1. That's how Ford marketing boss Jim Farley, in a call with analysts, characterized the coming April sales report for the MKZ. At the moment, there are probably few things that the executive VP could want more than a happy ending for the ballyhooed sedan that has made people cry boo-hoo for the past six months.

The massive glass roof of the MKZ is trying to support a burden that would make Atlas tap out, and it hasn't shattered, but it has shown a few cracks. The car we called "a big step in the right direction," the embodiment of the reinvention of the brand and a test of Lincoln's commitment to a new rear-wheel drive offering was given an $8-million dollar Super Bowl ad spend earlier this year, then quality control issues during its assembly scuttled deliveries. Lincoln got over that and kept up the ad blitz, now it just wants the good work to take hold.

If Farley's not leading us on, April could be the month. He said the results (so far) show "the product is being very well-received," inventory is finally where it should be and the MKZ Hybrid is doing better than expected. It bears noting that Lincoln is offering some aggressive incentive programs at the moment, including 0.9-percent APR and $1,000 off for conquest buyers stepping out of competitors' vehicles.

Either way, the proof comes in less than a week, so stay tuned.

Ford's Jim Farley hints at Lincoln sales rebound originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #327

Dan Roth — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:55:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Truck, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Jaguar, Lincoln, Volkswagen

New York Auto Show, Jim Farley interview, 2014 Chevrolet Silverado fuel economy, Ford fuel economy app challenge

Episode #327 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross talk about this year's New York Auto Show, Chevrolet's latest assault in the pickup truck fuel economy battle, and Ford's reward for developing a better fuel economy app. Dan also has an interview with Ford's Jim Farley about the future of Lincoln. We wrap with your questions and emails, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #327:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
2013 Jaguar XFR
2013 Chevrolet Traverse

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, Jeff Ross

Runtime: 01:36:11

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #327

Autoblog Podcast #327 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lincoln to adopt Mini-like personalization strategy?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Marketing/Advertising, Lincoln, Design/Style, Luxury

There's no single silver bullet that will cure all that ails the Lincoln brand, and Ford knows that just as surely as we do. Coming out with exciting new models like the well-received MKC crossover counts as several steps in the right direction, assuming of course that the production version is as appealing as the concept just shown at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, but more is needed. According to Jim Farley, executive vice president of Lincoln, one more trick may be "mass customization."

Put another way, Lincoln is considering ways to allow buyers to customize their new vehicles right off the showroom floor, similar to how things are done at Mini, and, to a lesser extent, Scion, where Farley previously served as corporate manager. Imagine, for instance, ordering a new MKC with a large Lincoln insignia embossed into the leather seatbacks, according to Automotive News.

While we're not so sure anybody is all that interested in paying extra for more Lincoln logos, it's a strategy that has proven rather fruitful at Mini. Only time will tell if Ford's erstwhile luxury division will once again be seen as something truly worth reaching for, and if customers are willing to pay a further premium for customization.

Lincoln to adopt Mini-like personalization strategy? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford shakes up executives, Mulally to stay through 2014

Scott Burgess — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford, Lincoln

Ford shored up its executive team this morning, announcing not only a series of promotions, but confirming that popular CEO Alan Mulally will remain at Ford through at least 2014. The announcements arrive amid speculation about Ford's succession plan and who would ultimately replace Mulally, 67, who has been credited with Ford's recent revival.

Bill Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford and executive chairman at Ford, made the announcement during a last-minute press conference Thursday. He also reviewed a series of other promotions to firm up Ford's top executive team.

"The strength of our people and stability of our team are competitive advantages for Ford," said Bill Ford. "We are fortunate to have Alan's continued leadership as well as talented senior leaders throughout our company who are developing and working together and delivering on our plan."

Mark Fields, the president of the Americas, will move into the chief operating officer's position making him the No. 2 executive at Ford and responsible for all business operations, while Mulally will remain at the top developing long-term strategic planning.

Other key appointments include: Joe Heinrichs, President of The Americas; Stephen Odell, President of Europe, Middle East and Africa; Jim Farley, Head of Global Marketing, Sales and Service, as well as head of global Lincoln; David Schoch, President Asia Pacific; and John Lawler, CEO of Ford Motor China. Scroll down to read the official press release.

Continue reading Ford shakes up executives, Mulally to stay through 2014

Ford shakes up executives, Mulally to stay through 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford sales boss Farley studies video game industry, refines prelaunch marketing efforts

John Neff — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Ford

Throughout these tough economic times, automakers have looked all over for new marketing ideas to get their products noticed. Ford is no stranger to experiments in marketing, and its chief marketing man, Jim Farley, confirms that the video game industry, of all places, is one place where he looks for innovation.

In particular, AdAge reports that Ford embraced the type of prelaunch marketing that video game publishers have been using to great effect, including "inviting journalists into the fold and creating demand for a product that didn't exist yet." Indeed, one need only look at the Fiesta Movement, Ford's pre-market launch of the Fiesta three years ago, that saw Ford give away Fiestas to 100 social media ninjas to build big buzz ahead of the car's on-sale date. Likewise, the 2011 Ford Explorer was mercilessly teased on Facebook well ahead of its unveiling, which also occurred on the world's biggest social network.

Farley also cited an experiment in pre-launch marketing that didn't work so well. In the case of the redesigned 2012 Ford Escape, the automaker sponsored a prime-time reality show called Escape Routes that only achieved its goal of raising awareness at the expense of the older model, which ultimately required incentives to combat slow sales resulting from anticipation for the new model.

It seems the connection to the video game industry lies in what Farley calls a "slow-burn approach," which occurs well ahead of a vehicle's on-sale date. In fact, Farley notes that 20 percent of Ford's marketing budget is spent on pre-launch projects.

As we cover racing games (see our review of the Forza Horizon) as well as cars, we can confirm the video game industry uses the slow-burn approach to great effect, strategically releasing teaser videos and screen shots in the months and even years ahead of a big game's release. This strategy, however, can also backfire if the product you're pitching doesn't live up to the hype that's been building over time.

Ford sales boss Farley studies video game industry, refines prelaunch marketing efforts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #300 LIVE!

Dan Roth — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:27:00 EST

We record Episode #300 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and with the milestone episode, we welcome back recently departed and dearly loved host Chris Shunk for a guest slot. You can drop us your questions and comments via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #300 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford's Farley addresses 'the burden of being Lincoln'

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Lincoln

For at least two years, the plot lines concerning Lincoln have been "How much longer until Ford kills it?" and then "How much longer until Ford turns it around?" We were told that the 2013 MKZ would begin the resurrection of a brand that many felt nostalgia for, but not love (not unlike Cadillac of not so long ago). But Lincoln knows it can't get back in the good books with just one new model; Ford's global marketing chief, Jim Farley, clued Automotive News into the lengths Lincoln will go to get customers' attentions again.

Calling it "the burden of being Lincoln," Farley said that the company's duty is to "remove any barrier that would prevent people from considering a Lincoln, taking a test drive and deciding to buy." That means a "massive" and experiential marketing campaign called, in the interim, "Reimagined," that not only wants to make the case for the brand and its cars but give consumers plenty of ways to get into those cars and drive them. Perhaps most importantly, the campaign aims to do this with younger consumers: 65 is the average age of the Lincoln owner, Farley would like to get that particular demographic way down to the 35-50 bracket.

In attempt to make the most of every interaction, Farley said Lincoln will inaugurate at 24/7 "concierge service" that offers live sales reps to help customers build and price an MKZ. It will also rebrand itself Lincoln Motor Company, which is a bit of a head-scratcher, but apparently they've determined that that's what will resonate better with the "cultural progressive magicians" and "agile visionaries" in the 35-50 age group they're after. The push will commence with a music performance on November 26, around the time of the Los Angeles Auto Show. We don't have details on the event yet, but it will be live-streamed on the website that's home for the campaign.

Ford's Farley addresses 'the burden of being Lincoln' originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blue Oval's Farley vows to fix MyFord Touch

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:14:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Technology, Ford

MyFord Touch is an enigma - not just because the infotainment system itself is difficult to understand and use, but because Ford just can't seem to figure out what to do about it. Ford's marketing chief Jim Farley tells Automotive News that despite ongoing criticism of MyFord Touch, even after a 2013 model year update, it "won't change our commitment to being a leader in infotainment. We want to be the best at it even if it means we have to improve the usability forever."

Farley goes on to say that despite all that the pundits at Consumer Reports have had to say - including writing that the system "stinks" in a recent blog post - 56 percent of buyers tell Ford that technology is an important consideration. Meaning that despite Ford's admitted inability to work the bugs out of MyFord Touch and make it more intuitive and speedy, it needs to stick with the system because it's a prime determiner for car shoppers.

Blue Oval's Farley vows to fix MyFord Touch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scion xB, xD models getting the axe

Chris Paukert — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Wagon, Hatchback, Scion

Scion has long been labeled as a "youth brand," so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised to read word of parent Toyota turning over the marque's aging nameplates so quickly. According to Ward's Auto, Scion is set to kill off its xB and xD models - the first a onetime icon for the brand, the latter an econobox that never truly caught on with buyers (not unlike it's predecessor, the xA).

A model like the xB was always going to be a love-hate proposition, and indeed, the subcompact sharply divided opinion because of its its t-square styling and funky stance back when it was introduced in 2004. But enough buyers fell enough with its good qualities - remarkable space efficiency, solid fuel economy, ease-of-driving and low pricing that the xB sold surprisingly well, in the process becoming something of a totem for the brand. The second-generation model, which bowed for 2007, seemed to alter all the things that made the original so endearing: the xB grew substantially, had the uniquely sharp corners of its design chamfered off, and it gained more power without adding much in the way of performance because the vehicle had been so radically upsized. Fuel economy dipped, too, as did the xB's popularity with shoppers. Last year, Scion only moved about 17,000 examples - in its heyday, the xB sold over 60,000 units.

A couple of years ago, Jim Farley, Ford's vice president of global marketing, told Autoblog that Scion's intent wasn't to be a youth brand at all - it was to be an experimental division, an incubator for product and marketing techniques. Farley, as you may recall, was one of the driving forces behind Scion, ascending to the role of its vice president before being reassigned to Lexus. By Farley's yardstick, perhaps Scion had pushed the xB and xD as far as they could go, and now it's simply time to test new vehicular hypotheses. Indeed, more recent models like the tiny iQ and FR-S coupe show the brand experimenting in bold new directions... exactly the sort of innovation we can get behind.

Scion xB, xD models getting the axe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fusion couldn't outsell Toyota Camry even if Ford wanted it to, which it apparently doesn't

Dan Roth — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Earnings/Financials

"I don't think we're very enamored with being Number One just to be Number One," Ford Global Marketing Vice President Jim Farley says of his expectations for the 2013 Ford Fusion. Interest in the Fusion spiked after the 2013 model's premium-look sheetmetal made a splash at this month's Detroit Auto Show, so it's natural to expect that Ford wants to grab the sales volume brass ring. After all, the Ford Taurus was the best-selling car in the U.S. for nearly half of the 1990s, but Farley points out that Ford is "much more enamored with getting the right price point and the right kind of people to buy the car."

Simply put, that means that while Ford is bringing additional Fusion production to the AutoAlliance International facility in Flat Rock, MI, success won't be measured just by total units sold. Besides, even with the added capacity, Ford's 400,000 per year full-tilt capability still trails the 500,000 Camry models Toyota can assemble in Kentucky and Indiana. Ford apparently thinks it's smarter to focus on the technology, style, and efficiency that customers will pay more for, rather than forcing dealers to take more cars than they want and dumping the rest into fleets just to get the sales crown.

Instead of crowing about a short-term metric that ultimately cheapens the brand image and drives down resale values, Ford's posture suggests they want to drive continued profitability by getting more money per sale than the competiton. Finding tech savvy buyers will mean spending heavy dollars on digital marketing campaigns, including social media, and for a change, that may mean strong Fusion sales in markets that don't traditionally embrace the Blue Oval as strongly as the stalwart support of the midwest.

We have to agree that profit-per-vehicle and a good reputation strikes us as a better strategy to long-term health than a strategy based on volume dominance, but we're guessing that Farley and company would still be pleased as punch if the Fusion managed to outsell the competition.

Fusion couldn't outsell Toyota Camry even if Ford wanted it to, which it apparently doesn't originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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List of Mulally successors narrowed down to four

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford

How do you replace the man credited by Time Magazine with managing "the biggest business turnaround of the Great Recession?" That's a very good question, and one that the Ford board of directors is grappling with as company CEO Alan Mulally edges closer to retirement age.

At 66, Mulally isn't exactly far past his prime, and Executive Chairman Bill Ford is said to be in no hurry to welcome in a successor. That said, the timing of Mulally's exit from Ford is likely to be a determining factor in the decision to hire his replacement.

Current CFO Lewis Booth, at 63 years of age, could potentially hold the seat at the head of Ford for a few years if Mulally were to retire earlier than expected. If that doesn't happen, Mark Fields, Ford's President of the Americas, is cited as the most likely choice as its next CEO.

There are two other potential candidates, reports Automotive News. Jim Farley, vice president of global marketing, is on the short list, as is Joe Hinrichs, who heads Ford's Asia Pacific and African operations.

Insiders suggest that Ford may choose to keep Alan Mulally on its payroll in some unknown capacity to help mentor his replacement. Such a move could potentially keep both the rank-and-file Ford workers and Wall Street investors satiated.

List of Mulally successors narrowed down to four originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford marketing VP Farley pushes real Shelby Cobra around Laguna Seca

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Convertible, Videos, Ford, Racing

The 2012 Monterey Motorsports Reunion will certainly be a loud one. The featured marque will be the Shelby Cobra, which will celebrate 50 years of exciting existence. Ahead of next year's festivities, one man decided to get a taste of on-track action a bit early. That man is Jim Farley, and if his name sounds familiar, that's because his day job is Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service at Ford Motor Company.

A well-liked, well-known car guy, Farley got to push a U.S. Road Racing Championship Cobra around Laguna Seca during California's recent Monterey Historics weekend. The rare, open-top racer had a few cameras, a lap timer and a g-meter strapped to it, which is good news for the rest of us. The Cobra produces sounds that would make modern race cars shriek in terror, and Farley does a good job of pushing it around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Click past the jump to check it out.

Continue reading Ford marketing VP Farley pushes real Shelby Cobra around Laguna Seca

Ford marketing VP Farley pushes real Shelby Cobra around Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stack of potential suitors line up at Ford for Life After Mulally

Paul Eisenstein — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford

Who Could Possibly Replace Ford's Golden CEO?

Insiders say the jockeying for Mulally's position has already begun.

There was a time when some folks in Detroit were convinced Lee Iacocca's last name was really an acronym for: I Am Chairman of Chrysler Corp. Always. Indeed, it took a shove from an increasingly frustrated board to finally get Lido to name his successor.

If anything, those on the Ford Motor Co. board of directors are putting CEO Alan Mulally in a bear hug, Chairman Bill Ford suggesting he'd keep the chief executive firmly planted in his office at Glass House until he was 80. For his part, the still-boyish former Boeing executive has said on more than one occasion that despite turning 65, he's not rushing to leave as long as he's having "fun." But as his fifth anniversary in Dearborn approaches it is no surprise that there's plenty of speculation about who might eventually replace Mullaly, if not when.

In decades past, Ford was land of the long knives, where power trumped all, and doing away with your rivals was only slightly less bloody than when the Borgias ruled in Rome. Mulally has made much of instilling a sort of "greater-good" mindset and one of the reasons for the maker's recent success has been that the highly political nature has been toned down a number of notches. Nonetheless, insiders say the jockeying for position has already begun.

Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com, and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Stack of potential suitors line up at Ford for Life After Mulally

Stack of potential suitors line up at Ford for Life After Mulally originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2011: Ford's Farley talks Apple Genius Bars and the push to "democratize technology"

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Explorer - Click above for high-res image gallery

Jim Farley, Ford's Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service, gave the keynote speech at the Chicago Auto Show this morning, and the only way it could have been more on-topic is if he had given his speech via Facebook chat.

Before Farley announced the new "What Would You Go Do?" campaign for the 2011 Ford Explorer, he laid out how the Explorer's Facebook launch set a new tone for how Ford has conversations with its customers, and even set a new tone for the company itself. Follow the jump for more and Ford's press release on the Explorer competition.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Chicago 2011: Ford's Farley talks Apple Genius Bars and the push to "democratize technology"

Chicago 2011: Ford's Farley talks Apple Genius Bars and the push to "democratize technology" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford named Marketer of the Year by Advertising Age

Dan Roth — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Ford

Ford has been named Advertising Age magazine's Marketer of the Year for 2010. The full-court press that the Blue Oval team has been applying continues to pay off, with $4.7 billion in profit for the first half of 2010 - a 17-percent boost over 2009 and the biggest company payday since 1998. No single part of Ford's strategy is a selfish star player; Jim Farley, Ford's vice president of global marketing has plotted a course for combining disciplines since his arrival in Dearborn.

The positive impression Ford's foregoing of federal TARP funds had on the public is the kind of PR coup you couldn't ever buy, and it continues to resonate positively with the public. According to a report, fifty-five percent of consumers surveyed still cite the company's ability to secure its own lines of credit as a reason for considering Ford vehicles above other brands. Shrewd PR moves aren't the whole story, though. Social media savvy launch campaigns for the Explorer and Fiesta have played into the decision to honor Farley's efforts, too.

All the clever and effective marketing in the world won't help if the product isn't compelling, however, and that's been a key piece of the puzzle for Ford. The string of hits includes the Edge, Mustang and Fusion, as well as technology like the ever-evolving SYNC infotainment system that has helped put this domestic automaker back on consumers' radars. Popular spokespeople like the Discovery Channel's Mike Rowe (shown above) haven't hurt either.

Roll all of these factors up into a Blue Oval-shaped bundle, and you have AdAge's Marketer of the Year.

[Source: Advertising Age]

Ford named Marketer of the Year by Advertising Age originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: Ford pondering bringing five-door C-Max to U.S. [w/poll]

Chris Paukert — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Ford

2011 Ford C-Max - Click above for high-res image gallery

Following the second press day at the Paris Motor Show at a drive event in Southern France, Ford's global vice president of marketing, Jim Farley, let slip to Autoblog that Dearborn decisionmakers are mulling over whether to import the C-Max to the U.S. As you'll recall, Ford has already committed to bringing over the C-Max's larger line mate, the seven-seat Grand C-Max, a vehicle that Farley tells us won't hit American soil until early in calendar 2012 (likely as a 2013 model).

Unlike its bigger brother, the C-Max has conventional front-hinged rear doors (the Grand has a pair of sliders) along with a more aggressive roofline and rear graphic to complement its shorter wheelbase. Think of it as more of a pent-roof Focus wagon and less of a smallish minivan in the mold of the Mazda5 and you've got it.

Interestingly, Farley maintains that Ford won't necessarily wait until the Grand C-Max goes on sale in the U.S. to determine whether or not to bring the model to America, and it will actively solicit feedback from both journalists and consumers to see if there's a business case to be made. While such language is common among PR folks looking to assuage media members always clamoring for the importation of forbidden automotive fruit, Farley sounded quite optimistic. Further, he reminded us that there was "absolutely no plan" initially to market the next-gen five-door Focus in the States, but that all changed after the 2007 Verve concept was met with an enthusiastic response from media members and show goers. A few years ago, we probably would have discounted such talk, but with CEO Alan Mulally and product chief Derrick Kuzak pushing the One Ford agenda globally, who knows? It might just make it Stateside after all.

If Ford does decide to bring the C-Max to America, it may have a minor naming conundrum to deal with. At the moment, the Grand C-Max moniker is expected to be shortened to just 'C-Max' when it goes on sale in the U.S., or the MPV might take on the name 'Focus C-Max,' though a final decision has not yet been made. As the Blue Oval won't sell both models with the same name, the five-door model would ostensibly need a different name.

Do you think the short-wheelbase C-Max would sell? Check out our high-resolution galleries of both models and then be sure to vote in our poll below. We'll have firsthand drive impressions of the European-spec C-Max range to share with you next week, so stay tuned.

Gallery: 2011 Ford C-Max

Gallery: 2011 Ford Grand C-Max

View Poll

Paris 2010: Ford pondering bringing five-door C-Max to U.S. [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Explorer unveiled, tries crossing over on road to redemption

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Crossover, Ford, Design/Style

2011 Ford Explorer Deep Dive - Click above for high-res image gallery

UPDATE: When you're done reading part one, check out part two of our introduction of the 2011 Ford Explorer that focuses on new technology, powertrains and fuel efficiency.

In creating the 2011 Explorer, Ford engineers and designers had an enormously difficult task set before them. Ford's President of the Americas, Mark Fields, described the job as "Reinventing the SUV for the 21st century." Despite the near complete collapse of the traditional mid-to-large SUV market over the last several years, Ford still sees a substantial market for the capabilities of these boxy behemoths. Customers just don't want the traditional downsides that accompany these body-on-frame 'utes - specifically, their higher fuel consumption and poor ride and handling.

The new Explorer remains squarely targeted at traditional SUV buyers.

Since its debut some 20 years ago, the Explorer has sold over six million units, four million of which are still traversing the world's roads. Through much of the late-1990s and early part of the last decade, the Explorer was Ford's second-best-selling vehicle behind its F-Series pickups, regularly selling 400,000 units a year. Fast-forward to 2009, and that volume had plummeted to just over 52,000. Even so, Ford believes it still has an opportunity. According to the automaker's vice president of global marketing, Jim Farley, each year, at least 140,000 Explorer owners come back to Blue Oval dealerships looking to purchase new vehicles. And obviously, they just aren't buying Explorers.

When word got out that Ford was developing a new unibody Explorer off the same platform architecture that underpins the Taurus and Flex - not to mention the Lincoln MKS and MKT - many people wondered why Dearborn had elected to develop yet another crossover, especially since the Taurus X/Freestyle had just been killed due to slow sales. This predicament was not lost on Ford's product planners, and their four-wheeled response is a new Explorer that remains squarely targeted at traditional SUV buyers - shoppers that Ford sees as a distinct group from most crossover intenders. Long ago, Jeep proved with the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee that a unibody chassis isn't necessarily an impediment to building a fully capable off-roader, and Ford appears to have taken that lesson to heart, along with targeting big improvements in fuel economy and driving dynamics. Follow the jump to find out if they succeeded.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer

Continue reading 2011 Ford Explorer unveiled, tries crossing over on road to redemption

2011 Ford Explorer unveiled, tries crossing over on road to redemption originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford's Jim Farley reportedly promoted to global marketing post

Chris Shunk — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford, Volvo, UAW/Unions

Ford Motor Company is making changes at the top of its organization, including an expanding roll for up-and-coming marketing chief Jim Farley. A new Detroit Free Press report indicates that the former Toyota marketing whiz will be elevated to the roll of global marketing chief effective August 1. That's significant in part because this will be the first time The Blue Oval has ever had a head of global marketing - in the past the job was handled on a regional basis.

In other FoMoCo management moves, Stephen Odell, vice president and CEO of Volvo Cars, will move over to the top spot at Ford of Europe as soon as the sale of Volvo is completed. The move will free current head of Ford Of Europe John Flemming to concentrate on his other role as head of global manufacturing and labor affairs. The top spot in labor figures to be a particularly important post in the near-term due to the 2011 contract negotiations scheduled with the United Auto Workers.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Ford]

Ford's Jim Farley reportedly promoted to global marketing post originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who will succeed Mullaly at Ford? It's never too early to start handicapping

Chris Shunk — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford

When Alan Mulally arrived at Ford Motor Company three years ago, the Blue Oval was in bad shape. New product wasn't exactly pouring in and the company's cash hoard was steadily shrinking. And word on the street is that the corporate culture at Ford was in as much trouble as the product lineup, making change difficult. Now in 2009, it appears Mulally has done the near impossible, turning around Ford's product lineup while supposedly positively altering FoMoCo's corporate culture.

For all of Mulally's success, there is one problem: he's 64 and can't continue to run the company forever. And although Mulally has given no signals of separating from Ford any time soon, industry insiders are already speculating on who will become his successor. The four names that continue to come up are Ford Americas President Mark Fields, global marketing boss Jim Farley, manufacturing whiz Joe Heinrich and Ford Europe savior Lewis Booth.

The Detroit Free Press feels the early money is on Fields. The Harvard grad has been with Ford for 20 years, and he's lead some high profile success stories. He turned around Mazda and is currently piloting Ford North America in the midst of what appears to be a substantial product renaissance. Farley has an advantage in that he came to Ford from Toyota/Lexus and is seen by many as a real up and comer.

By many accounts, Heinrich is a bit of a manufacturing genius. The Harvard Business grad came from General Motors, where he became the company's youngest ever Plant Manager at age 29. Booth has the longest resume and arguably the most examples of success. He appears to have consistently met and exceeded expectations everywhere he has been, including Mazda, Ford Asia Pacific and Ford South Africa. Booth is different from his fellow executives in that he is the only one who isn't in his 40s.

We have no earthly idea who would become the next head of Ford, and we're guessing that we're at least a couple years away from finding out. We're OK with that, because this Mulally guy appears to know what he's doing.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Who will succeed Mullaly at Ford? It's never too early to start handicapping originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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