Rumormill: Ford converting North American factories to make European cars

[Digi]

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/ford_euro_products_us.jpg

For reasons that everyone is aware of, American carmakers have been shutting down and idling plants that make trucks and SUVs. According to AutoSavant, however, Ford is not going to simply shutter plants, it is going to retool some of them to build its Euro-market cars for the American market.

If this is true, we're so giddy we don't even want to paraphrase it, so we'll just quote directly: "Our sources at Ford say that Mr. Mulally has already made the decision to convert at least three truck/SUV production facilities in North America as soon as possible to produce Ford models currently sold in Europe.... The timeline Mulally prefers, according to insiders, is 'yesterday'."

The reasoning is ostensibly that with the American market going to more frugal cars, it's time for Ford to start spending the money to provide them -- even though cash is tight right now. What might make the leap across the water? The Euro Focus, the Focus Coupe, and the C-Max (pictured) are candidates. The Mondeo is, supposedly, not. But it's a start, hey? It only took spiraling gas prices and plummeting truck sales to get us what we have been begging for. If we had known, we'd have done it sooner. Thanks for the tip, Daniel!

[ilarson007]

I'd love to see the Euro Ford cars over here!!

[TTFOWIA]

DUH! probably cuz they are switching to global design/production around 2010-2011

[gunman_sr5]

Yay global Fords. Runs off to look at Euro Focus specs.

[jaguarzx2]

ausie fords would be even better i.e. falcon xr8

[Sir William]

It is true!!!

[ZX2guy19]

Cosworth :]

[Beodude123]

The thing that sucks the most about this, is we'll get all the sipper cars, and they'll keep the STs and RSs over there. They won't bring that stuff over. Nothing can be faster than a V-6 Mustang! Unless of course it's a V-8 Mustang.

[mellowness65]

What's the big deal about the Euro Focus? they looked the same to me...

[capitalcrew]

What's the big deal about the Euro Focus? they looked the same to me...

Lawl. Go to fords UK site and look at the focus.

[iceracer]

I think Ford will be producing the Fiesta in NA or Mexico.
The Mondeo and Fusion will meld into one.

[Sir William]

I think Ford will be producing the Fiesta in NA or Mexico.
The Mondeo and Fusion will meld into one.

Where did you get this info?

[TTFOWIA]

this is speculation only... ppl say MAYBE they will change the Fusion design to the Mondeo and keep the Fusion nametag

[Sir William]

Again, where is this info coming from..

UK fords built in NA for NA yes.....

Mondeo/Fusion.... haven't heard it from head office or other sources as of yet.....

The last plan I heard of was Ford was replacing them both with a single vehicle.... Total Replacement

[TTFOWIA]

well, it could be the new taurus... the design from spyshots looks like it

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-mondeo-four-door-coupe.html

mondeo = taurus = fusion?

[TTFOWIA]

they also MUST bring the Focus RS here.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-of-europe-reveals-specs-on-2009-focus-rs.html

[Beodude123]

well, it could be the new taurus... the design from spyshots looks like it

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-mondeo-four-door-coupe.html

mondeo = taurus = fusion?

Since they just changed the 500 to the Taurus, I doubt they will change it into the Mondeo.





they also MUST bring the Focus RS here.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-of-europe-reveals-specs-on-2009-focus-rs.html


Yeah, they also MUST wont be doing it.

[TTFOWIA]

Since they just changed the 500 to the Taurus, I doubt they will change it into the Mondeo.








Yeah, they also MUST wont be doing it.

no I know... I'm just saying they MIGHT use the design of the next Taurus for the EU Mondeo...

cuz the spy shots of the next taurus looks just like the ones from the next mondeo

cuz in fact... its global design, not global naming.

[PHeller]

Fiesta RS would soothe my inability to have the Focus RS.

I want small, nice, sporty cars!

[Buster]

I'd love to see the Euro Ford cars over here!!

Nah, I'd rather see Aussie Fords over here.

[TTFOWIA]

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/images/ford-fiesta-xr4-1-big.jpg

[ilarson007]

Focus RS would be super sweet.

That's a Ford I could actually be excited about.

[Beodude123]

Nah, I'd rather see Aussie Fords over here.

Hell yeah dude, I love the Falcons...

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/images/ford-fiesta-xr4-1-big.jpg

They aren't all that great dude. 150 ponies out of a 1.8 or something. They probably weigh as much as a Z.

[capitalcrew]

A falcon?

What about the GTP or the force(which doesn't seem to be made anymore...)? FEWLS. That is a car right there. Mmm.. fpv.

[Beodude123]

Yeah dude. 150 PS (148 ponies) in a 2500 car.

[TTFOWIA]

looks good tho...

[Beodude123]

Meh, they aren't too bad in person, but nothing I got too excited about. I did get to see them in person.

[PHeller]

Here is what they are expecting the 2009 Fiesta or the 8th Generation starting production this year.

"It’s likely to use a slightly uprated version of the ST’s potential 1.6-litre turbocharged engine – inspired by the hi-tech range of small cap-acity direct-injection EcoBoost turbo units revealed by Ford at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year. With that on board, the RS would develop about 200bhp and sprint from 0-60mph in only six seconds, on its way to a 140mph top speed. With its light weight, CO2 emissions and economy should be kept down.

It’s unlikely, however, that the Fiesta will follow the forthcoming Focus RS’s lead by having a clever front differential. But it could use Ford’s six-speed twin-clutch semi-auto gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle*shifters, giving the RS the feel of a Junior World Rally Car. Add wider tracks, stiffened springs, uprated dampers and thicker anti-roll bars plus fat, sticky tyres, and the RS promises to handle brilliantly.

While the new Fiesta will reach dealerships in October and the ST is due in 2009, the RS isn’t likely to arrive until 2010, with a potential price tag of around £17,000."

[TTFOWIA]

source? this is concerning EU I guess.

[PHeller]

Autoblog I believe.

Yes, concerning the EU, however, is known that Fiesta will be sold in the US by 2010 (along with the Mazda 2), so we'll easily be in the market for the Mk8 Fiesta RS, but whether it will be sold here is a different story.

[inis]

Here is what they are expecting the 2009 Fiesta or the 8th Generation starting production this year.

"It’s likely to use a slightly uprated version of the ST’s potential 1.6-litre turbocharged engine – inspired by the hi-tech range of small cap-acity direct-injection EcoBoost turbo units revealed by Ford at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year. With that on board, the RS would develop about 200bhp and sprint from 0-60mph in only six seconds, on its way to a 140mph top speed. With its light weight, CO2 emissions and economy should be kept down.

It’s unlikely, however, that the Fiesta will follow the forthcoming Focus RS’s lead by having a clever front differential. But it could use Ford’s six-speed twin-clutch semi-auto gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle*shifters, giving the RS the feel of a Junior World Rally Car. Add wider tracks, stiffened springs, uprated dampers and thicker anti-roll bars plus fat, sticky tyres, and the RS promises to handle brilliantly.

While the new Fiesta will reach dealerships in October and the ST is due in 2009, the RS isn’t likely to arrive until 2010, with a potential price tag of around £17,000."

33xxx usd, ya right!
No one in there right mind will pay that.

[potatoman]

ausie fords would be even better i.e. falcon xr8

hellz yeah. euro ford blows donkey bawls compared to ausie ford. falcon = omgz hawts!!!

[PHeller]

Remember, if and when these cars start being produced stateside, the global market will see a reduction in price. Global platforms normally allow cheaper cars. Maybe not immediately (retool costs are expensive), but by 2015 or 2020, we'll see the same cars as Europe at cheaper prices (provided they sell).

[TTFOWIA]

hellz yeah. euro ford blows donkey bawls compared to ausie ford. falcon = omgz hawts!!!

http://www.fordeumicrosites.com/focusmca/download/fourdoor/gallery_1_1024.jpg

>

http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/BlobServer?blobtable=DFYImage&blobwhere=1137384156214&blobnocache=true&blobcol=urlpicture&blobkey=id

Looks: EU > AU

[TTFOWIA]

well wait... I'll start over. New Kinetic (soon to be global) design > *