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While it's likely one of the most anticipated, the redesigned Ford Mustang will be just one of 23 new models the automaker plans next year, according to Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of the Americas.
The company also intends to add 5,000 jobs in the U.S. and another 6,000 abroad, while opening three assembly plants, Hinrichs said during a media briefing Thursday. Along with the new products — 16 of which are targeted at the core North American market — Ford aims to introduce two new versions of its high-mileage EcoBoost engine family.
The 2014 rollout will include more product launches "than in any other year in our history," Hinrichs said.
He declined to discuss the new products in detail, but Ford has already revealed or hinted at some. They include the redesigned Mustang, the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKC crossovers, and the Super Duty version of its F-Series pickup. Industry analysts said they think Ford may also unveil an all-new version of its light-duty F-Series truck before the end of next year.
The automaker is hoping to build product momentum in the coming year, especially as it challenges key rivals such as General Motors and Toyota, which have significant product plans of their own. Ford has gained a half-point of market share in 2013 — to 15.7 percent — but Toyota has been beating it in retail volume.
Ford has been trying to balance its desire to increase sales and volume with an equally strong push to build margins and overall profitability. That has led the company to take a week of downtime this month at its Fusion sedan plant, despite a surge in demand for the midsize model. It also is reducing its production target for first-quarter 2014 by 2 percent.
Nonetheless, Ford is upbeat about the coming year.
Ford plans 23 new models next year, including its redesigned Mustang.
Reuters
Ford plans 23 new models next year, including its redesigned Mustang.
After adding 14,000 U.S. jobs over the last two years, the company plans to bring on another 5,000 workers in 2014. Of those, 3,300 will fill salaried positions, many in research and development. Four hundred of those will be dedicated to powertrain development, with 100 focusing on battery-based technology. Because the U.S. and other key markets are rapidly tightening emissions and mileage standards, this could be a critical area for determining industry leaders.
Ford has been pushing to expand its position abroad, and two of its three new assembly plants will be in China. The automaker was relatively late to enter that market, especially compared with GM and German rival Volkswagen. But its heavy push there has yielded a 50 percent bump in sales this year.
During the Thursday news briefing, Ford officials also discussed some of the technologies under development.
Raj Nair, who oversees global product development, revealed a prototype autonomous vehicle that features a number of systems that could be incorporated into Ford vehicles over the next few years, he said.
"The Ford Fusion Hybrid automated vehicle represents a vital step toward our vision for the future of mobility," Nair said, adding that Ford will update its technology in 2014 to handle perpendicular as well as parallel auto-parking.
Executives said they also plan to make the stop-start technology more widely available. The system can automatically shut off an engine while a vehicle is idling at a stoplight, yielding as much as a 5 percent to 7 percent improvement in fuel economy, according to industry engineers.
Ford said it plans to offer it on 1 million vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2017.
It will "ultimately cover 70 percent of our North American nameplates," Hinrichs said.
My dad has a 05 Ranger its been pretty well problem free but the build quality is terrible and so is the interior materials along with being very uncomfortable to be in for more than an hour of driving and realistically not much better than an f-150 on gas as its the 4.0 v6
I never thought about trims being "new models" that could be what it is, the new Focus especially with the ST probably killed of any chance of that but who knows with 23 "new" models coming next year
small trucks arent the future, half tonnes with turbo gasoline and diesel engines are
Half tonnes are too big, and with the ever present urban environment, larger trucks are not ideal. I want what I need, and that's all I want in a truck, I don't live in Langley with a 12 acre farm.
Half tonne (as they are advertised) trucks are not small by any means, the S10, Ranger, 620, and B-series are all examples of small/sport trucks. Ram's, F150's, and Silverado's are not small, half tonne refers to load capacity, not size.
What I am referring to are the "trucks" that are more like cars with truck beds, but are split between the two. Ford currently makes the Ranger, and Chevrolet currently makes the Colorado.
Last edited by Yodamaster; 12-13-2013 at 08:29 PM.
Half tonne (as they are advertised) trucks are not small by any means, the S10, Ranger, 620, and B-series are all examples of small/sport trucks. Ram's, F150's, and Silverado's are not small, half tonne refers to load capacity, not size.
What I am referring to are the "trucks" that are more like cars with truck beds, but are split between the two. Ford currently makes the Ranger, and Chevrolet currently makes the Colorado.
Half tonnes are too big, and with the ever present urban environment, larger trucks are not ideal. I want what I need, and that's all I want in a truck, I don't live in Langley with a 12 acre farm.
If there was a big market for smaller trucks they would make more of them. Demand pushes supply, if there is a dollar to be made they'll go after it but unfortunately you and your needs are in the minority.
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Half tonne (as they are advertised) trucks are not small by any means, the S10, Ranger, 620, and B-series are all examples of small/sport trucks. Ram's, F150's, and Silverado's are not small, half tonne refers to load capacity, not size.
What I am referring to are the "trucks" that are more like cars with truck beds, but are split between the two. Ford currently makes the Ranger, and Chevrolet currently makes the Colorado.
You're missing my point, i'm being mildly sarcastic. I have a 1/4 ton truck and honestly length wise they aren't much smaller than a half ton, especially in a regular cab short box configuration. Personally I really start noticing the difference in the width of the truck.
Half tonne (as they are advertised) trucks are not small by any means, the S10, Ranger, 620, and B-series are all examples of small/sport trucks. Ram's, F150's, and Silverado's are not small, half tonne refers to load capacity, not size.
What I am referring to are the "trucks" that are more like cars with truck beds, but are split between the two. Ford currently makes the Ranger, and Chevrolet currently makes the Colorado.
They need to come up with a new small truck/sports truck, the Ranger is too limited in it's configurations, and it's build quality is sub par.
Seriously, what the hell happened to small trucks, our S10 is the perfect size for what we need, we don't need an F-150.
For starters, as mentioned, the last Ranger was discontinued 2011 (for many reasons.)
YOU may not need an F150 sized truck, but YOU are not everyone. In fact, you are the MINORITY truck buyer.
That VAST MAJORITY of truck buyers need an F150 sized vehicle. In fact, 3 of the top 4 vehicles sold in the USA are Full-Sized trucks - BY A HUGE MARGIN.
Small trucks like the Tacoma do not even make the top 20!!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by TOP 20 VEHICLES SOLD IN USA - 2013 YTD Sales Figures
Ford F - Series PU 688,810
Chevrolet Silverado PU 437,821
Toyota Camry 378,520
Dodge Ram PU 322,268
Honda Accord 333,804
Honda Civic 307,180
Nissan Altima 295,907
Honda CR-V 275,145
Ford Fusion 270,872
Toyota Corolla / Matrix 279,618
Ford Escape 271,531
Toyota RAV4 197,279
Chevrolet Equinox 220,980
Chevrolet Cruze 230,062
Hyundai Elantra 226,220
Hyundai Sonata 189,169
Toyota Prius 218,508
Ford Focus 219,001
Jeep Grand Cherokee 157,758
Chevrolet Malibu 185,101
The S10 or Ranger wouldn't do any of the things that I bought my F150 for, and I'm not a farmer!!!
Last edited by Rich Sandor; 12-15-2013 at 12:53 AM.
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