According to an insider in Dearborn, Ford will do a lot more with the next-generation Freestar, or whatever it eventually will be
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| According to an insider in Dearborn, Ford will pursue something more similar to the Fairlane concept wagon introduced last year in Detroit when redoing the Freestar. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
called, than clip new fenders, headlights, grille and front fascia to the existing van, but rather pursue something more similar to the Fairlane concept wagon.
Ford's "people mover", as they called it when introduced in Detroit last January, isn't that different from the Freestyle CUV in size and interior spaciousness, which offers minivan-like third-row seating, but its styling is much more dramatic.
If Ford followed this direction it would be an unorthodox move, having been one of the first to follow Chrysler into the minivan segment back in the mid-'80s, and being a significant player up until recently. Overall, however, the minivan segment is soft, with most buying crossovers, which offer almost as much functionality, at least in the case of the Freestyle, but with the benefit of a much stronger "cool" factor.
With
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| With U.S. sales of the Freestar down some 23 percent in 2005, taking the minivan into CUV territory might seem like the logical choice. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
U.S. sales of the Freestar down some 23 percent in 2005, and slightly more upscale Mercury division's Monterey faring worse with a 53 percent drop over the same time period, taking the minivan into CUV territory might seem like the logical choice.
As mentioned, the Freestyle is already the market segment leader, doing a good job in boosting Ford's overall sales. Now with the Edge, and the new Lincoln MKX crossover, based on the Edge, both to be built in Oakville, Ontario, a plant that currently builds the Freestar and Monterey minivans incidentally, walking away from what was once one of the most contested vehicle classes seems more likely than ever.
But it would seem redundant for Ford to bring another seven-occupant CUV to market alongside its Freestyle, no, it would have to be very different,
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| The Fairlane, actually, boasted a tumble under second row as well, similar in concept to Chrysler Group's class-leading Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country Stow 'n Go seating system. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
possibly incorporating more of the interior features that make the minivan segment popular with families, such as walk-through passage from the front row to those in the rear, a tumble under third row for optimal on-the-run storage, and at least removable second row seats, just like the Freestar minivan it would replace. The Fairlane, actually, boasted a tumble under second row as well, similar in concept to Chrysler Group's class-leading Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country Stow 'n Go seating system. The Fairlane's third row doesn't appear as appealing as the rear seats in the Freestar or the Freestyle, for that matter, but the vehicle was merely a concept, pulled together to show a possible future styling trend for the family hauler, and not necessarily
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The Lincoln brand, due to products like the upcoming 2007 MKX crossover, seems like it is perched for a turnaround. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)
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a workable prototype. The vehicle's basic formula is good though, and one that Ford might find successful for breaking back into a market segment that it has all but lost to rivals.
And while a future-think Fairlane might be the ideal response to lagging Freestar sales, and also while the Fusion, Freestyle, and, lest we not forget the mighty Mustang, are selling well, and the new Edge looks to boost sales even further, plus the Lincoln brand seems like it is perched for a turnaround, the automaker's current optimism from a product point of view won't be able to thwart the need to get lean and mean as a business, and in so doing axe plants while cutting workers by up to 25,000 in North America. Of course, the details of Ford's restructuring plan, said to be called "Way Forward", won't be heard until Monday, so any talk of just how many plants are being shuttered or the number of employees to be laid off, is pure speculation.
