Ford’s OneFord product blitz stepped up sharply here in Amsterdam’s Ziggodome on Thursday (6 September) as the automaker rolled out a slew of mostly fully redesigned car and light commercial models at a breathtaking pace which drew applause from the 2,500 European dealers and media representatives present.
Here in Europe, we’re already well used to the OneFord Fiesta and Focus now built around the world – in Europe, Thailand, China, Mexico, the US and so on. But, as part of a plan to lift the number of vehicles built on global platforms sold across the continent from 43% now to 71% within five years, Ford, starting in 2013, plans a redesigned Mondeo shared with the North American Fusion launched in Detroit last January, the new EcoSport small SUV, redesigned Transit Connect and Transit light and medium van lines, including a new two-tonne ‘big’ Transit, plus additional Courier versions of both people and load-carrying variants across both model lines. North American Transits will replace the curent E-series and get exclusive engines such as a 3.5-litre V6, diesels, and a wider automatic transmission availability than in Europe.
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There’s more. The redesigned EcoSport small SUV, a model line previously confined to South America, is also on the way to Europe and the rest of the world and, a surprise, the US Edge ‘medium’ SUV (the Santa Fe-sized model is largish by European standards) is to cross the Atlantic though RHD or UK sales are not yet confirmed at the time of writing. Another surprise, the US Mustang sports car, is also coming, about 2015, and also to the UK, but, again, RHD is not confirmed. Thus Ford dealers gain a ‘halo’ muscle car (expect throaty V8 options and maybe also the V6 standard in the US) to compete with GM’s LHD-only Chevrolet Camaro coupe and convertible.
All this – plus details of an updated Fiesta line with LED day running lights in a new Fusion/Mondeo-like nose, a new tail and interior tweaks plus new driver aid options, was rolled out at a pace akin to being on the receiving end of one of those tennis ball shooters set to ‘max’. Also on the agenda: the European release of SYNC telematics and, for some models, MyFord Touch and MyKey. Whew!
Also coming: a complete revamp of European dealers with Ford suits promising to keep parlous profitability in mind and tailor demands to territory size and market.
