2006 Lincoln Zephyr Preview
Motive can often play a key role in how a business decision is viewed by the public. In general, it's probably fair to say that choices made from strength are viewed as being better than those made from desperation.
Which is why the efforts of the struggling Ford Motor Company to take an existing product from one of its divisions and develop no less than 10 new models spread across three other divisions because it can't afford to develop product any other way is viewed with concern in some quarters.
I mean, are we supposed to believe that pretty much the only avenue of product development left to the cash-strapped firm happens to be the best one available, that turning the Mazda6 sedan into various Ford, Mercury and Lincoln models is the way to sales salvation for the Detroit firm?
As it happens, it may well be. You only have to look at the fabulous products for different applications and markets that GM is getting from what it calls its architectures to see that it can be done.
So you look at the Zephyr concept car unveiled at the New York auto show as the first of the 10 new models based on the CD3 platform and wonder if Ford's product engineers have successfully morphed the Mazda6, which has not been successful in Canada, into a premium-priced Lincoln.
The man in charge of supplying Ford's North American operations with products, Phil Martens, adamantly claims that they have. Ford's group vice-president for North American product development says there will be no mistaking the Zephyr for the Mazda6.
Other car companies have been doing this for some time, Martens correctly points out, so that means ''It's not an issue. It really is not an issue.''
In Martens' view, then, the 2006 Zephyr teaser ''illustrates how Lincoln can bring its hallmarks of elegant design and comfort to a new generation of customers.''