Igor2

CTS is better than this - BUT CTS is way more expensive ... this is ES / Acura TL competitor and will do perfectly well agains both. Ford's CTS competitor is the MKR - but that program is on hold - Ford is investing more into more proximal and crucial launches - namely: the april 2010 launch of the ne Focus platform with all its models (Focus, C-Max, Kuga/Escape, CC, Capri - all coming to US) and the 2012 launch of the new Fusion platform (Fusion/Mondeo, MKZ, Edge/MKX, S-Max, Galaxy, and some others - most will come to US, Edge will cross over to Europe). these two are #1 priorities for Ford Global - and everything else got pushed to the back burner - including the new GRWDP which is to span the new Mustang, and the MKR (and Mustang's Lincoln brother) and the Falcon. Igor

I wrote about that in the piece linked to this piece - the one announcing in more detail the XFE cobalt - it was also a thread here "Suddenly Cobalt Beats its Competition" Igor

MUCH MORE HERE Igor

MUCH MORE HERE Igor

MUCH MORE HERE Igor

the 5door hatch and the sedan are confirmed for US - 3door hatch is more and more of a possibility every day as well (Farley is pushing for it). Igor

what US is getting is the LWB, high roof version - for now the little Transit Connect will not be offered. Also the 7 seat Tourneo Connect (or the Tourneo Connect in general are not that popular - the heavy duty underpinnings of this van make it less space efficient and less smooth-driving than the IRS equipped competition. For commercial business owners that is not an issue, but for retail family hauling customers, it is .. Igor

The large transit is coming, but not yet Igor

those are amazing for drawings in Paint the most I did with MS Paint is a chop of a G5 into a much nicer little RWD coupe (original: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/iho...opyofc112or.jpg ) all done in MS Paint. Igor

most likely Ford will just do the 2 seater, maybe in both wheelbases and both roof heights .. but at this point everything is just a rumor or flat out speculation. Igor

Mustang will have a new interior within 2 months of Camaro going on sale. Expect new F150/Flex/Focus switchgear as well as the new SONY system (and faceplate): http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...c=22355&hl= Also expect SYNC and the new Next-gen Navigation. Finally, as with all recent Ford releases - expect vastly improved material quality. Igor

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120164387492426355.html After prolonged speculation and official denial from Ford in December, Ford will release US version of the small urban runabout commercial van called Transit Connect. Pictures of the current EU Version Embargo on this vehicle is over at 12:01am on Wednesday February 6th Igor

thanks to you all - We will probably go look at one of them today or tomorrow .. Igor

Dear all. My better half LOVES Saab - and she is trying to find a suitable SUV to replace her aging (180k miles) Expedition. We recently found out that there is up to $7,000 rebate on the 9-7x, which puts the car SMACK in the middle of Explorer and Equinox price range. It also allows her to have the best of both worlds - an SUV that can tow and is a real BOF SUV and a Saab (she is a Texan - do not question her on her love for BOF ) We have been looking around and all the models available are the 4.2l I6 models ... but that engine is fine as far as reliability and such goes - I had the impression that it is a bulletproof and smooth engine ... anyone wants to weigh on that? Should I look for the V8 as a better option? Anyone knows enough to point to options and features to make sure we have and options to stay away from? I am definitely looking for the "prestige" package - add Xenons and other little bits. Otherwise I have not cared much. Third, anyone has a sense of a fair price for the 97x? I though invoice less discount would be fine, but love to be able to go lower if I can. Anyone here could hook me up with a pin for the GM "family and friends" discount? (I know how it goes with Ford, and could get a pin easily, but am at loss with GM ... ) At this point I have 2 cars lined up for a drive one silver and one red 4.2i with the xenon package. Both for $32-$33k - as MSRP less rebate .. the red one is a former loaner car with 4,00 miles - how much rebate should I ask for for the mileage and the use? I would love to be able to get under 30k - that would make the deal perfect. Thanks Igor

yes - Ford revealed it too early - but this is not a CONCEPT .. this is the finished deal . .. there are no changes planned anymore ..Igor

NoMondeo and Fusion will .. eh. fuse in 2012 or so and become platform mates if not rebages. the new 2010 Taurus will use a new version of the D3 platform, with better proportions (lower roof line) and all new sheet metal (and the TwinForce GTDI 3.5l V6 (400hp) as optional engine). The NG Focus in US and Globally will be C2 focus - all new global Focus that will begin showing up in abut a year and half in prototypes ..look for a reveal in NAIAS 09. Ford will reveal a pre-production concept of a b-car (Fiesta) on NAIAS 08 - it will go on sale in 09 as 2010 model. 2008 will see new F150, Mustang MKS and probably the Lincoln Version of the Flex. It will also see the significantly reworked Fusion and Fusion hybrid. 2009 is also to see all new unit-body Explorer and all new Escape. Igor

yes, but will look nothing like the Flex.Igor

The standard roof is body-colored. Options include white or silver roof. The next step for Ford is 1) new F150, 2) MCE Mustang 3) MCE Fusion 4) MKS 5) B-car They will all be out by this time next year .. Interceptor has to wait for now - ford has a product invasion on their hands - even more in the year after that: 1) all new Explorer 2) all new Taurus 3) all new Focus Igor

it is one of the few Ford models left that are being fleeted away. Focus usually maintains about 30% fleet volume ... plus it is constantly under incentives. All Ford's new cars - Edge, Fusion, Mustang, etc are under 30% overall. The 500 broke to 28% last year, but it is being reeled back to prep for Taurus launch. SUV's are not doing that well with 20-30% fleet. Igor

I just want to ask ... because I know that Auto news is sometimes wrong ... anyone has any info to the contrary of the Autonews reports? After all, Autonews is notoriously CONSERVATIVE .. if they are not POSITIVE it will happen, they are quite likely to dismiss it as not happening. Igor

in 2008, there wil likely be no diesel in light truck ... unless Ford makes it with the 4.4l ... that is a possibility.by 2008 VW and DCX should be back, but in limited versions .. only the 1.9lTDI 4 from Jeta will be in VW, and DCX might only have their big V8's. Diesel rennesaince will not strat until 2009 or 2010 .. but then both Honda and Ford will have LD and car diesels. Igor

2006 Chevrolet Impala 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Auto(4), FLEX-FUEL, Gasoline or E85 Gas 21 31 E85 16 23 6 cyl, 3.9 L, Auto(4), Regular 19 27 8 cyl, 5.3 L, Auto(4), Premium 18 28 This is 2006 ...it seems that the gas only 3.5l is a new engine ... the FFV 3.5l stayed the same, while the 3.9 and the V8 went up slightly Igor

ROFL ... PS Mute - congrats .. I have had many dreams of creative careers - none panned out - ongrates you are making strides, even if you think you are not deserving them -others are usually better judges of your own talent than we are Igor

Ford never intended at this time point to be breathing down Accord/Camry/Impala sales - they only have one plant running the whole trio, and they are exporting the product all over north and south america... the plant - Hermosillo, Mex is running at 100% at al ltimes, and for now that is what Ford wants.. But i agree - they should ready up one more plant in the US, and build more Fusions there. I believe it is in the works, in as there are rumors Ford is readying up a Fusion Coupe and MKZ Coupe. Sidenote: Inventory level for FoMoCo was 49 days for Cars and 83 days for Trucks at the end of July 2006 - quite a bit less than in July 2005. Igor

OCNBLU .. I had headroom and legroom switched in my numbers.. and I copletely understand your position.. I do not have kids, so such though do not float around my head .... also as a Mazda3 owner and a huge fan of FoMoCo handling, I am simply biased ... ... HHR looks nice, but it is not a type of car I would like to be seen in - it is simply not my cup of coffee... Cheers. Igor