Ford’s group vice president for Marketing and Communications, Jim Farley, talked to autoshows.ford.com about the surprise star of the 2008 auto show season: small cars. Between the Verve Concept and Transit Connect, the site’s been buzzing with comments.
“Ford is world class when it comes to making small cars,” says Farley. “And not just cars that are good value. They’ve got great design, they’re fun to drive, they’re premium small cars. We want to leverage and bring this to the United States.” Transit Connect, Verve, and Fiesta are part of this strategy and it’s being well received in the press, the public, and on autoshows.ford.com.
Transit Connect’s engine is also getting a lot of attention, and people are asking: why not diesel? Farley says that though Ford makes world class diesel vehicles in Europe, “the United States emissions standards for diesel are different,” and that challenge might make EcoBoost a better option for Transit Connect than diesel. Farley sees hybrid engines as “a perfect application in Transit Connect,” but the cost—from $5,000-$7,000—can be prohibitive for customers looking for cost and value in commercial vehicles. The Transit Connect that will be available in 2009 gets 19 mpg, but Ford’s looking into hybrid, diesel, and EcoBoost technology for Transit Connect in the future.
Ford is poised to leverage its global presence to introduce proven vehicles to new markets. Premium small cars with an emphasis on design and sustainability are one part of a strategy that people are responding to.
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They were simple, easy to fix and durable.
Lets do that again but put a small engine in a vechical that could be used around our local roads. 90 % of the driving is done locally and there is no need to travel on supper Highways most of the time. If ford doesn't fix this problem China or India will and our car companies will loose again. Let get going!!!!
I made the comments, that I had the confidence, that Ford has all it needs in the way of human resources. This Ford team can provide the public with an automobile that is as close to perfection as possible. Proof, go to any showroom look and then take a test drive.
My obvious troubling comments were. Why does a car need to be able to travel 40 to 50 miles per hour over the legal posted speed limit? Why is it so important for a vehicle to go from 0 to 60, when 60 miles per gallon seems to be the need of the day? Why does it require so much weight to carry a 200 pound person to work or run errands? It is not perhaps the ability to do so, but the determination to do so.
Ford can start addressing the issues of today in a matter of months. The start of a solution is the Ka vehicle. Ford Ka is a city car from the Ford Motor Company marketed in Europe and elsewhere. Why not America?
Mr. Farley why don’t you lead Ford into a new era. Don’t settle for third place go for 1st place. Build an inexpensive, light weight, safe design, high mileage, comfortable vehicle that anyone can purchase as a second vehicle. They can keep the Navigator and other wonderful vehicles and have the best Ford offers.
[1] Money.CNN.com - Ford gets 5 top quality awards - 7 June 2007
Edmunds AutoObserver.com - J.D Power: Ford Is a Winner - 7 June 2007
Any thoughts about a 3 wheeled veh (2 in front, one drive wheel in back)? A collaboration w/ motorcycle company maybe for a high volume, light weight, fuel efficient commuter machine?