In a recent press release, Ford Motor Company announced that the hatchback version of the new Fiesta will be added to the lineup when production begins in 2010. In Ford’s original plans, the hatchback wasn’t supposed to be available to North American customers.
With $4 per gallon gasoline, now is not the time to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic
As a result of higher than anticipated gas prices, all the automakers are scrambling to realign their model mix and the boys in the Glass House are no exception. Back in January of this year, Ford revealed the Verve concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. At the time, Ford stated that those of us in the U.S. of A. would definitely get this 4-door. Alongside the Verve sedan was the European-styled 3-door hatchback. During the show, Ford’s marketing people said the vehicle was only there to gauge consumer response.
Now it appears that Ford has received a response: truck and SUV sales are in the proverbial tank, while sales of the compact Focus – not what anyone would call a stellar design – are through the (sun)roof. The Wayne Assembly plant, where all Foci are built, is currently running 2 shifts, while the brass in Dearborn are, to be sure, contemplating adding a third.
But wait (and you’ll have to) there’s more (one more, to be exact)…
On May 30th, the PR department at FoMoCo issued the following press release: “Ford Motor Company today announced the new Ford Fiesta small car for North America will be produced at the company’s transformed Cuautitlán Assembly Plant beginning in early 2010 and a sporty European hatchback model is being added to the North American lineup alongside the popular sedan.”
Isn’t it amazing what happens when consumers vote with their pocketbooks?
Only the beginning
Ford Ka
Ford’s European subsidiaries have a history of producing amazing small cars. The original Focus was a brilliant example of what their designers and engineers – in both Britain and on the continent – were capable of. Unfortunately, it was the only vehicle, in recent memory, which Ford chose to bring over here. North American drivers, unless they travel to Europe, have never had the chance to drive a Ka, New Focus, C-Max or, for that matter, a Mondeo. We can only hope that with gas hovering at $4 per, the powers-that-be in Dearborn can be convinced to share with us more of what European drivers have been enjoying.
European Ford Focus
Ford Mondeo
Tags: Ford, ford c-max, ford fiesta, ford focus, ford ka, ford mondeo, ford verve
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