The lukewarm Freestar and Monterey minivans are going extinct, to be replaced by a string of crossovers. Mercury
will get a Freestyle variant that was previewed as the Meta
One concept. Ford will replace the Freestar with a vehicle that will resemble the
Fairlane concept in 2008, dropping the sliding doors from
the minivan formula. Lincoln will also get a version of the vehicle. Lincoln will replace the Explorer-based Aviator
with a crossover based from a car platform. Ford will also get a companion to the Aviator to fill the slot between the
Escape and Explorer. The crossover move is good, but to leave the whole Ford/Mercury line without one sliding door may
alienate some parents that appreciate the convenience the doors create. Maybe they will keep the clamshell type doors
to ease entry.
Ford's crossover plans
The lukewarm Freestar and Monterey minivans are going extinct, to be replaced by a string of crossovers. Mercury will get a Freestyle variant that was previewed as the Meta One concept. Ford will replace the Freestar with a vehicle that will resemble the Fairlane concept in 2008, dropping the sliding doors from the minivan formula. Lincoln will also get a version of the vehicle. Lincoln will replace the Explorer-based Aviator with a crossover based from a car platform. Ford will also get a companion to the Aviator to fill the slot between the Escape and Explorer. The crossover move is good, but to leave the whole Ford/Mercury line without one sliding door may alienate some parents that appreciate the convenience the doors create. Maybe they will keep the clamshell type doors to ease entry.