Showing posts with label Mondeo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mondeo. Show all posts
Ford Europe is waking up!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Today I was reading a news release from Ford Europe. It was mentioning about the future Focus, Mondeo and future technologies. I was really excited about this news. Since last five years, Ford was not able to offer very competitive cars. Yes, the Mondeo and S-Max are very beautifully designed but the technological features were not that competitive, especially when you compare with Germans. New Mondeo did not receive a new petrol engine or a new diesel engine or a new small turbo engine. There were some gossips about these engines but they have never revealed. Of course, we cannot ignore the fact about Ford's financial problems which always badly affected the Ford Europe. (A small info; unlike Ford America, Ford Europe is making profits.) Also Ford stuck on old automatic transmissions which are only offering four-speed and there is also a CVT transmission and a dual clutch auto for only 2,0 lt engines. They look nice on paper but when you compare with VW, VW is a decade beyond the Ford. I am pretty sure that, Ford has the know-how to produce, every technology VW is offering but Ford was reluctant to offer them. But after this news release, I am pretty sure that Ford will become competitive like old days. Why? Let me tell you some facts about the near future of Ford vehicles;
Torque Vectoring Control (I don't know what this is)
Blind Spot
Electric Power Steering
Adaptive Cruise Control for Focus, Mondeo, and other big boys
Lane Assistance
Auto High Beam
Road Sign Recognition
Low Speed Collision Mitigation System
Active Grille Shutters to Improve Aerodynamic Drag (This is available in BMW X6)
Dual Clutch Gearbox
And many more things. Most of these technologies are available in premium segment cars with high price tags. Eventually, we can have these in a Ford Focus or Ford Mondeo. I think Ford should have done these earlier. Even though, these technologies are proof of Ford ambition to become a very strong competitor to Germans!
Ford is taking off
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
One year ago, Ford was very close bankruptcy and trying to throw away the brands to prevent ship to be sinked. Hopefully Ford didn't vanish in deep layers of ocean. And now Ford managed to increase its market share in overall year and in every brand. This is first time since 1995! Actually this is a miracle for Ford which still has pointless inefficient V8 engines in current model range and people still wanted to buy.However in 2009, Ford made a ground breaking decision. For long years, Ford USA was offering boring cars and Ford Europe was offering stylish cars. As expected Ford USA was not that profitable. And Ford decided to introduce the new Fiesta to US market. This small step is a big achievement for a company which is good at making pick-ups as big as a small island!
However, Ford still offers a different Focus in US and it looks dull! And I don't know why, Ford USA resist to import european Focus and Mondeo to USA market. As I told many times, Ford import Mondeo to USA. It has everything! And think again; VW is offering same cars in US, Mercedes and BMW is producing in US and offering same cars. Why do you still offer two different Focus? And prevent Mondeo to swim atlantic ocean. And last; Ford has two Fusions; one in US which is a medium sized saloon and the other is in Europe and it is Fiesta Fusion. Stop producing fat Fusion in US and replace with Mondeo.
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