Posted on 12/24/2017 6:13:52 AM PST by jjotto
New reports surfaced on Wednesday claiming Ford is planning to concentrate production of the next-generation Fusion mid-size sedan in China.
The current Fusion is produced at plants in Spain, Mexico and China. However, Automotive News (subscription required) and Reuters have learned from their respective sources that production of the next-generation Fusion, due in 2020, will take place exclusively in China.
The Spanish plant is safe as Ford in November said it will spend $887 million at the site to produce the next-generation Kuga, Europe's version of the Escape compact SUV.
Its not clear what Ford has in store for the Mexican plant, which also produces the Lincoln MKZ. This month we learned that Ford will produce its planned electric SUV in Mexico starting in 2020, though this model is expected to be produced at a separate Mexican plant to the Fusion and MKZ plant.
When pushed for comment, Ford told Reuters that there are no plans to export a next-generation Fusion from China to either the United States or Europe, where the car is labeled a Mondeo, and that information on the next-generation Fusion/Mondeo will be announced at a later date.
If the reports are accurate, it may mean Ford plans to exit the mid-size sedan segment in North America or replace the Fusion with a new model. Sales of the current car are down 22 percent in the United States through November, highlighting the general decline in the market for passenger car sales.
Ford in a new strategy outlined in October said there will be fewer nameplates in the future, though the automaker didnt say which current nameplates would be axed. The move is part of the automakers reaction to the consumer shift to SUVs, pickup trucks and electric cars, which the automaker sees as permanent.
Production locations remains a thorny issue for Ford which last year was criticized by President Donald Trump for proposing to move production of the Focus compact from Michigan to Mexico. The hubbub led to Ford confirming production of a new Ranger and Bronco in Michigan to fill the void of the Focus. The automaker has since confirmed that production of the Focus will take place in China instead of Mexico, and that the Chinese-made cars will be exported to the U.S.
Stay tuned for an update.
Definitely “stole” some styling ques.
The Ecoboost gets 310 hp vs 300 from the V6
The Ecoboost gets 21 city/30 highway mpg vs 18/27 from the V6
The Ecoboost gets 320 ft/lbs of torque at 3000 rpm
The V6 . . . gets 280 ft/lbs of torque at 4000 rpm
The Ecoboost is 2.3L vs the V6 3.7L
The Ecoboost MSRP for 2018 is $25,585 ($26,195 for 2017)
The V6 MSRP for 2017 is $25,185
There is no reason to have the V6 in the Mustang anymore.
The base Mustang MSRP $25,585
The base Camaro MSRP. $25,905
The base Camaro comes w/ a turbo 4 cyl.
A v6 is a $1495 add on
I’m too lazy to look up Challenger specs.
On my 2nd Ranger now. 2001 4.0 liter 4wd 5 speed manual. Just turned 152K. Just keeps running and still has excellent paint and interior. Love that little truck. Just tires, brakes and one new clutch at 66K after I taught my son to drive a stick. I bought it used with 33K from a young mother who needed more room for another car seat. I think she was hard on the first clutch or it would have lasted longer.
The new Ranger comes out in 2019 I think. Also has a diesel option engine. Saw a pic of it once and it looks bad ass.
Yes, it is public knowledge their next design cycle something like 13+ cars and many are electric. IMHO we are on the cusp of an Electric Car Revolution and no one see's it. The will be spring-boarded by Solid State Batteries aka no electrolyte with a host of ways of doing this. 1st gen of this type are rumored to show up 2020.
Case in point Brian Campbell of Solid Power just landed a Contract with BMW to partner on Solid-Power's Solid-State Battery for their future E-Cars.
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/12/18/business/18reuters-bmw-solid-power.html
Now I didn't know this but NGK ( yes the spark plug people ) are a player in this space via ceramics as their element in the Solid-State Battery.
http://www.autonews.com/article/20171222/OEM05/171229928/solid-state-battery-development-ngk-japan
IMHO this will happen on PDJT's watch and spring-board even more MAGA as well, as we have to upgrade and or parallel infrastructure to accommodate this tipping point.....
BTW, these Solid-State batteries could have 1.5X to 3X the charging capacity and increases in range, they will be safer, no thermal run-away, and let's see if the charge times come down, as some are shooting for 5 to 10 minute charge time.
Here is what the Outside of the America's version currently looks like which they will Americanize. I have seen these on the roads w/ manufacturer plates and she's a looker IMHO. The question begs, will the "Bronco" version be a true 2 door, or have the slightly funky 1/2 suicide door like the Toyota's and Honda's do that make it easier to get to the back seat.
Drive a 2011 Fusion. V-6, 6 speed auto Front wheel drive. 100,500 miles. One recall which was a less than 30 minute software update. The way I drive it gets 30ish mpg but will put the miles by if needed. Redlines at 7K rpm in every gear except 6th. 3,200 there at 114mph. I love my little Mexican, her car also.
I think the Mustang will have 2 engine options: the 4-cyl turbo and a V6-twin turbo. I don’t see a V-8 in Ford’s passenger car lineup much longer.
I saw that. Ford really seems to have forgotten that they’re from Detroit, not Dusseldorf or Dailang.
Regular fuel detuning and expensive turbochargers make the V6 a viable option - even if through other manufacturers.
Then turbocharger delete would be an easy option.
As long as trucks have V8’s, there will be V8s in some passenger cars.
There is a horsepower war going on between the big 3 right now, in their muscle cars.
In the end, there is no replacement for displacement.
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