All-New Fusion Sedan on the Way??

[NCEcoBoost]

https://fordauthority.com/2021/05/next-gen-ford-fusion-mondeo-successor-spotted-testing-in-germany/

 

This is clearly a mid-size sedan and not the rumored Activ.  Although I'd love to see a wagon version too.  Maybe with the upcoming discontinuation of the Malibu, Passat and Mazda6, Ford (wisely, for a change) saw an opening in the marketplace.  If they get it right, it could give the Camry a run.

 

Edited June 1, 2021 by NCEcoBoost
Pics added.

[Waldo]

Nope, just for the China market only.  There is no point in Ford using up it's limited manufacturing capacity to produce a product that won't make any money.

[NCEcoBoost]

38 minutes ago, Waldo said:

Nope, just for the China market only.  There is no point in Ford using up it's limited manufacturing capacity to produce a product that won't make any money.

I don't totally disagree but questions have arisen such as 1) why is the name "Mondeo" being referenced and 2) why is it being tested in Europe?  Folks ARE excited about a return to North America, so maybe this CUV infatuation is waning.  Surely is from my interests- tired of seeing them.  But, I'd have one AND  a sedan in a perfect world.

[akirby]

Not an infatuation and not going away.  There is still a market for sedans but it’s crowded and the margins aren’t good.  You can also thank BEVs for diverting resources away from ICE car production and development.

[Ponyguy]

On 6/2/2021 at 8:07 AM, akirby said:

 You can also thank BEVs for diverting resources away from ICE car production and development.

Witness the F-150 Lightning, the F-150 Hybrid, the Mustang Mach-E, the Escape Hybrid & Plug-In, and the forthcoming Ford Maverick (with a standard Hybrid engine). Like it or not, the future is electric. 

 

As much as I abhor the guy's personality, Ellen Musk did wake the country (the world?) to practical electric vehicles.

If Ford had proposed their new battery-electric F-150 looking like the Tesla Cybertruck, they'd have been laughed out of business... but Musk, with his legions of adherent followers, has a claimed million of "reservations" for that 4-wheeled abomination.

[andyross]

5 hours ago, Ponyguy said:

As much as I abhor the guy's personality, Ellen Musk did wake the country (the world?) to practical electric vehicles.

Who is she? Any relation to Elon Musk?

[NCEcoBoost]

On 6/13/2021 at 9:26 AM, andyross said:

Who is she? Any relation to Elon Musk?

?. 

 

I don't know if Ford knows what it's doing any more.  Yesterday, they reduced the number of claimed "reservations" for the F-150 Lightning down to 36K, from over 100K (scared by the Lordstown matter, maybe?).  This week, Consumer Reports gave the Escape a reliability rating of "dreadful", so that's in the tank.  I'm thinking Ford should have kept the Fusion around to keep some plants running, if nothing else.

[akirby]

7 hours ago, NCEcoBoost said:

?. 

 

I don't know if Ford knows what it's doing any more.  Yesterday, they reduced the number of claimed "reservations" for the F-150 Lightning down to 36K, from over 100K (scared by the Lordstown matter, maybe?).  This week, Consumer Reports gave the Escape a reliability rating of "dreadful", so that's in the tank.  I'm thinking Ford should have kept the Fusion around to keep some plants running, if nothing else.

Ford was barely making any money on 500k+ focus and fusion sales.  Now those vehicles have been replaced by Ranger, Bronco, Bronco Sport and Maverick which will sell at least that many and probably a lot more for a LOT more profit.  But yeah, they do t know what they’re doing.

[Ponyguy]

On 6/18/2021 at 6:55 AM, NCEcoBoost said:

This week, Consumer Reports gave the Escape a reliability rating of "dreadful", so that's in the tank.  I'm thinking Ford should have kept the Fusion around to keep some plants running, if nothing else.

 

I know quite a number of knowledgeable people who would give Consumer Reports a "Trustworthy rating" of considerably worse than "dreadful," along with a "Biased rating" of definitely "Far Eastern."

[NCEcoBoost]

On 6/22/2021 at 4:12 AM, Ponyguy said:

 

I know quite a number of knowledgeable people who would give Consumer Reports a "Trustworthy rating" of considerably worse than "dreadful," along with a "Biased rating" of definitely "Far Eastern."

Uh huh.  And CR is constantly referenced in reliability studies.  You're full of it.  Their reliability info is based on OWNER FEEDBACK, so they can't be biased, unlike another well-known reliability organization with the initials JDP.

[akirby]

10 hours ago, NCEcoBoost said:

Uh huh.  And CR is constantly referenced in reliability studies.  You're full of it.  Their reliability info is based on OWNER FEEDBACK, so they can't be biased, unlike another well-known reliability organization with the initials JDP.

Owners can most certainly be biased even if it’s mostly unconscious.  Just the fact that two vehicles that are almost identical with different badges built in the same factory with the same parts can have vastly different reliability ratings should tell you they are not 100% reliable.

 

Also - they gave Tesla model S a rating of 103 on a 100 point scale (which shouldn’t be possible) even though 100% of the controls are on one touch screen, yet they berated the Explorer because SOME of the controls were on the touch screen only and it wasn’t safe to take your eyes off the road to find them.   That is hypocrisy at it’s finest.