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Peeps can ask "So what Faction are you?"
Mark
Granada sure has a negative connotation- but it was a wildly popular seller, and personally, I loved 'em. Especially the Ghia models. Great interiors!
NOpe, I still like Four Hundred best.
Regarding Chroma...that name has only been tossed around for a few days, and people on other message boards have already made the following jokes:
"Chroma-tose"
"Chroma-chroma-chroma-chameleon"
So I was thinking, that name should appeal to people who work with TV equipment. Because, of course, you start your Chroma with a Chroma key :-)
-Andrew L
~alpha
Now, whether the power that be absorb it, is another story....
FAIRLANE: Once the flagship of the Ford fleet, was downsized in 62, giving way to the Galaxie - went away in 72 I think, giving way to the Torino.
FAIRMONT: Designed as a midsize/downsize replacement for the Torino in 78 - a hearty little workhorse, known for chintzy interior parts and the goofiest horn button idea in automotive history. Gave way to the second generation Granada in the early 80's.
GRANADA: With a questionable reputation, although I don't know why, this "precision sized" near luxury car was a huge hit for Ford in 75, offering really nice styling, a Ghia interior package that rivaled Lincoln for "vinyl" luxury in a Ford/Mercury product. Why it took it on the chin in later years is beyond me, I always wanted to own one, but couldn't afford one back then.
FALCON: Personally, that's the Focus to me.
So, ANT, where does the Futura fit in the lineup? I can't see it as a Fairlane...don't want to see it as a Fairmont (owned one, a so so car IMO.) Granada would work for me, but evidently, that name bears a lot of negative baggage out there, and Falcon - they already have one.
Also, I don't see much brand equity in the Fairmont or Granada names, personally.
I wouldn't doubt it if some last ditch effort, Faction, or Fusion, or some other name (not used on a prior vehicle before) is used...
The Fairmont was a much better design, but the interiors were very plain. Maybe the perfect small family sedan would have been a Fairmont trimmed at the same level as a first-generation Granada Ghia.
Those ads damaged Ford enough to those who just heard them and said "Yeah, right." The damage was far worse for those who bought the cars and discovered, to their sadness, that they were balderdash.
Underpromise and overdeliver. Something the Asian manufacturers learned to do in the Seventies and Eighties, and their market share growth showed it.
Granada? Call the car formerly known as Futura that and those in my generation will snicker, dismiss it and tell all their friends, kids and grandkids...NOT a good thing.
Finalist; and,
Two Hundred
Three Hundred
Four Hundred
Six Hundred... see a trend here?
Also, wasn't it the job of the Lincoln Versailles to go up against MB back in the 70's. Shiver Shiver - all I remember is baby blue half vinyl roof, carriage lamps, and a continental kit. BLEEEEECCCHHHHH
1. The last year for the Fairlane was 1970. My father had a 1970 Fairlane 500 wagon which gave him almost 250,000 miles of service.
2. The Fairmont replaced the Maverick. The 1977 LTD II replaced the Torino. The Tempo replaced the Fairmont in 1983.
I loved the Granada Ghias from 1975 to 1977. I love the plush interiors that the domestic automakers had from the mid 1970's to the mid 1980's. I would have no problem seeing the Granada name be used again.
Ford pushed a smoother ride more than either GM or Chrysler, which often meant that its vehicles lagged in the handling department. Chevy, on the other hand, started pushing handling packages that included suspension upgrades with the revamped 1975 Nova.
With an I6, Granadas ran forever, like the Falcons and Mavericks before them. The Fox based Granadas with I6's lasted long, too. Too bad the 3.8 V6's weren't as durable.
Ford was all mushy handing in the 70's due to Hank II, but the Fairmont/Fox was a big break from sloppy handling cars.
Back to the new Futura/Falcon/Fairlane/Chroma/(insert stupid name here)
~alpha
It wasn't until the mid to late 80's that I found an Asian car decent enough to buy one. And the Civic I bought in 89 was finally good inside, but still, oh so thin and tinny on the outside.
The big 3 was still building fairly substantial cars back then, and the Fords ran quite well, I thought.
~alpha
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and I take it a Hybrid is more likely than a common rail option?
Sure hope the dealers have a big training budget? OBD II is still being mis-diagnosed at the expense of the owners. And today I read the government wants to standardize side-air bags? The cost of personal/freedom transportation has or is closing in on some level(economic) where public transportation gets implemented?
Paul
The Escape's Hybrid system will also be implemented as an option a year after it's introduction. Although I it would be interesting if they could implement Europe's 2.7L Diesel as well. Although the benefit of the F-named sedan will be it's base 4 cylinder engine, since majority of consumer's opt. for the smaller engine.
As for public transportation, too many cities, with too much mess, and not enough money makes it almost impossible to tame the beast of the american consumer.
I myself live in Miami where we have the 3rd worst traffic in the nation, and #1 in rudest driver's, and are public transportation system is a joke. A light rail system that hasn't paid off in 15+ year's since it opened. Going into neighborhood's no one would dare want to be in.
Mark
Just recently their was an article stating how Ford was looking for a diesel partner, possibly Cummin's. (guess they aren't too happy with International's diesel products).
Hybrid Diesels
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Actually a few factors will have to take place. How well the Hybrid Escape sells, question customer's (in these consumer clinics) what features they expect out of a Hybrid "F-named midsized sedan". If they go the way the Hybrid Escape is going, I'm guestimating around $24-26K.
Traditionally, these Hybrid vehicles were primarily economy cars (since that's who you expect would want to save gas), taken to a higher level of options and trim levels. And mainly you were always looking at vehicles under or around $20K.
Now Lexus, will be introducing the RX400, and push their hybrid techonology upon consumer's that CAN afford to pay it. Which is pretty nifty. The only reserve in that equation is, would someone in that price bracket, care to save a bit on gas...Although the equation of can they aoffrd it, is resolved.
Now you have Ford in the middle ground, offering it on high volume vehicles, right inbetween those 2 demographics/markets.
This is precisely why Toyota is introducing a new variable as a selling point for the Lexus RX-h: Performance- the hybrid RX will trounce the standard 3.3L in terms of acceleration (the base is still pretty quick- AWD at 7.8 to sixty by C/D's watch). So if the added MPG isnt enough for said consumers... more power just might be...
~alpha
Profit is what counts, not sales price without regard to cost...
Ford must be waiting for the 2005 Detroit Auto Show to announce the name for the CD338 "Futura".