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Lincoln received the most attention among the various brands in yesterday's announcements from the Glass House. This fact should not be overlooked. Speculation is that the chorus of the many enthusiasts of the marque, ourselves included, must have struck a loud chord within the halls of Dearborn. This fact should not be discounted. Reprieve for the rwd Town Car, and the chance to bring on its replacement, or a top-line car above Mark S, is now in the offing. Very much like the reprise of the Continental in 1945, and the subsequent introduction of the Mark II in 1955. This fact should not be denied.
Aston's are history at Ford's. Dr. Bez wisely cashing in his chips. Mr. Callum at Jaguar may well get one more round at the table before Jaguar goes away in 2007 to form the new 'British Motor Corporation' under Mr. Nasser at the behest of UBS and Morgan Bank. The number of chips Ford Motor can place on the table diminished but not done. Ford was in far worse shape in terms of its products and market share worldwide in 1945 than it is today. Ford owned all of its assets in 1945, and its vertically integrated structure, especially steel production at The Rouge, saved it during the supply shortages of the Korean War. Today, with the exception of The Rouge, Ford has largely divested itself of many of those assets. Despite that reality, the resources it can draw upon are greater, at a far lower cost, thus giving Ford Motor a chance at revival, now needed.
All eyes are on the Glass House. ARM has the chance now to set the tone, pace, and grace at Ford Motor. We can be thankful, that even days after his arrival, and the very day of his debut, Ford made him a millionaire---receiving his $18Mn signing bonus---that Lincoln was highlighted to the degree that it was. There can be little doubt that ARM has already taken the wheel of Lincoln. With Lincoln now being made in three countries, can there be any doubt that overseas production is not far in the offing? Even if that does not come to pass, nor being considered, ARM will want to beat Lexus. If Jaguar will not become profitable, it will soon go---having left a very large deposit in the 'cat-box' among the cophers at Ford Motor.
Ford Motor is slimming itself down to compete against Toyota---and all other takers. In doing so, ARM has the chance now to checkmate the competition---Ford now being, in one sense, where Chrysler was in 1979, having the advantage of the underdog. Chrysler subsequently doubling its market share, and returning to its traditional position. Ford Motor has the chance to do the same in the next five years. Yet the effort will have to reflect the same attitude expressed by Mark II designer John Reinhardt---succeed at any cost.
That the Glass House has chosen to start with Lincoln is a harbinger of things to come. In this there is no denying. ARM must strike the same chord with his new team, that we ourselves may very well have struck with him.... The old "greyhound" may very well be back in the race. You can bet this upcoming week when he walks in the design studios and sees where Lincoln is going, he will tell Mr. Mays, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Horbury, along with Mr. Fields, "We can do better than this..."
Striking fast and furious, Lincoln is just an ARM's length away from the world.
DouglasR
No it's not a guess, the 3.7L V6 for the MKS was reported in the restructuring news yesterday (but I am too lazy to find the links), and it is the only engine reported for the MKS.
As for me the Best of Canada is their Canadian Rockies and the Best of The Rockies is their ski resorts. Although Whistler/Blackcomb is regarded as No. 1 in America.
Rocky
The article did not say - probably between 270 and 300 hp.
Is it Twin Turboed ?
No
http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_display.cfm?release=24284
In 2008, we further strengthen the Lincoln brand. In August, I confirmed plans for a new Lincoln flagship sedan the Lincoln MKS. We plan to build it in Chicago and equip it with more technology and features than any Lincoln before it, including all-wheel drive and a new, exclusive 3.7-liter engine.
Save the twin turbos for a 400hp AWD MKZZ :surprise:
No, the MKZ has the 263 hp 3.5L V6. At least Lincoln will keep one V8 powered car for a few more years.
Rocky
Town Car Lives
But I still think that CV/GM/TC won't be around for more than five more years, that Ford will make only very minor updates, and that the Mustang will be Ford's only RWD car by 2013.
Actually, I like the looks of the 500, as well as the roomy trunk. I hated all of the noise and vibration. I enjoy the quiet, smooth performance of my CV.
Wasn't it the Rover investment at BMW that nearly sank the company? Losing Billions? Yes.
Wasn't it Rover that BMW was equally pleased to get rid of? Yes. But it has now become a property the Chinese want to fight over...so Ford checkmated their move. Exporting Chinese made Rovers to Europe might have killed Ford's business prospects for mid-range cars. SO...Rover will become all the X range Jaguars. Paring the cat in half...and reviving a brand at the same time. Ford also gets the rights to many other British labels at the same time---so they can expand them if need be.
Wait? Isn't PAG losing money? Yes, but that is because the Jaguar expansion has handled poorly, not that the new Jaguars are bad cars. No one wants a cheap Jaguar, or see a smaller estate wagon carrying the same name as their more expensive $85,000 sedan. It's not Mercedes-Benz. In order to 'recover' their investment in the Big Cat, Rover comes rolling. And Ford of Europe Chief Designer and Engineer Richard Parry-Jones can revive a P5 Rover sedan.
So what does that have to do with Lincoln? Making a success from the Jaguar debacle would not only save the careers of many Ford executives (Mr. Fields?) it would place a marker within the public that Ford won't give up the ship---and it is not the "end of Ford" as we know it. As suggested by Mr. Lapham of Auto News, Rovers could also be paired with Mazda to provide a wide margin in the middle of the market below Jaguar and Lincoln---acting as the "Mercury" of Europe.
This would free efforts to revive Lincoln and place it far above where it is now in the market, plus consolidate its traditional position---now that Town Car will be built: "for a number of years" according to Mr. Fields. A 2010 Town Car is now a reality---and if sales start to pick back up once production starts at St. Thomas in the spring of '07, TC will receive upgrades for the '08 season---increasing the content levels as is now being done with Mark S. This leaves the door open for a fourth Lincoln---apart from the SUV/Truck based varients. Zephry/MarkZ-Town Car-Mark S-Continental?
Placed beneath its hood can be the 420Bhp 4.6 Litre engine---something Lincoln can easily use. The new 3.7 starts at 315Bhp, and perhaps can be massaged to hit 400Bhp for a top-line Lincoln or Continental. If it cares to do so, it can "buy" Aston engines from Koln, once Astons are spun off--though its a fair bet that Ford will keep the Astons engine plant and sell the motors to Gaydon as a supplier.
With the heat off Jaguar, a Rover revival at a cheap price, the British makes bundled together to form their own 'Division' within PAG (which should in all likelyhood be reformed itself), the top-line brands within Ford could thus become cash earners. This would make a tangible asset for development or sale. (Mr. Nasser is waiting) Yet Lincoln would be the beneficiary because more funds could be ear-marked for the division that would have gone to Jaguar. This is precisely the action that would reflect favorably on ARM. Ford of Europe remains profitable, and has provided much balm in the current storm for Detroit, which has also assiduously defended its turf, maintaining a consistent 10-12% share. Something Ford must do in America.
Chrysler stock sank to $4.35 in 1979, and if you had invested $10,000 then, you would have become a millionaire off the investment. The Ford family will not abandon their investment in the company, and even if they privatise it, the fortunes of the stock must go up, because they will not give up. One reason why the Ford-GM talks collapsed, they did not want to cede their influence. If Ford shares hit $15-20, buying now makes your investment worthwhile. Not bad for an 18 month investment! As the bond traders cut Ford's rating to Ba3, and Wall Street orders "sell" issues for Ford stock...amidst the gloom, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is called Lincoln.
DouglasR
(Sources: Reuters; NYT; FT; Automotive News; NBC Today Show)
I think those said "look at me" in a far different, and appealing way, than the chrysler 300 does today. The 500 looks like yesterday's Audi. Which is fine with me .
Buffett backs GM
Internet speculation.
People like fresh stuff not stale and failed marques.
I want something as impressive and stately and elegant as the classic 1961-65 Continental. I want no compromises in workmanship or quality of materials. I want RWD and a V-8. How dang hard is that? Back in the early-mid '60s Lincoln had two cars - the Continental sedan and the Continental four-door convertible and it was sufficient.
Rocky
This might indicate where their marketing is headed:Lincoln Lounge
I quote from Ford's website:
"On your Mark...
By the 1970s, Lincoln was the premier luxury car to be seen in. It was all about the Mark V, VII and VIII. These cars had a shape that was pure 70s, with a swagger in the back that was all attitude.
Back in the day, there were three hot cars for the African American community: the Mark, the Town Car and the T-Bird.
Up until that time, Ford had been generally perceived as a middle-class White car company. But Lincoln changed all that."
The ad copy makes me wonder what happened to the Mark VI?
Lemko, you also don't get your hopes up to high on the Eagles.
Rocky
Rocky
At least they seem to recognize they can't compete head to head
MSRP for the 07 Navigator are about 15% lower than the '06's
Wow, that would make them a pretty good deal then.
Rocky
Rocky
I'm not even sure I know what that really means, just as I never understood the "luxury for the bluejeans set" (which I found kind of condescending) but I disagree nonetheless. That's not what "Lincoln" once stood for, and it's not what Ford needs. Ford needs a luxury car to provide the same halo over the Ford lineup that Cadillac does for GM.
Well, it should be - the truck is at least 15% cheaper looking on the inside.... GRRRRRRRRRr
That's at best, the direction Lincoln is heading, but Mulally may try to reverse that trend. However, based on the Magic Johnson ad campaign, maybe not.
Well I thought that's why they baught Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin to take care of that problem ? :confuse: I'd see no point in moving Lincoln, further upmarket too ? I guess I didn't graduate Mises buisness 101' so that doesn't qualify me to comment on the obvious common sense I suppose. :P
Rocky
Does this idiot have any credibility ? Bill Ford made a comment about his (Mulally) Lexus being keyed. What a joke for a CEO, and it will blow up in Ford Jr.'s face. Buh Bye Ford Motor Co. :sick:
Rocky
Rocky