Ford Fiesta

[mfratt]

Depends on what engine choices they offer us. If we get the 4 cylinder diesel that gets something like 75 (euro) miles per gallon (which I think is like 60-65 us) then hell yea. But if they just throw us the same ole' gas engines, then its nothing new. I like the design though.

Maybe they'll follow it up with the Mondeo and Euro Focus....wishful thinking probably.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by mfratt

Depends on what engine choices they offer us. If we get the 4 cylinder diesel that gets something like 75 (euro) miles per gallon (which I think is like 60-65 us) then hell yea. But if they just throw us the same ole' gas engines, then its nothing new. I like the design though.

Maybe they'll follow it up with the Mondeo and Euro Focus....wishful thinking probably.

They've already said the euro deisel won't come over here. Same typical BS.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...pStories_ssi_5

The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can't Have
Ford's Fiesta ECOnetic gets an astonishing 65 mpg, but the carmaker can't afford to sell it in the U.S.

If ever there was a car made for the times, this would seem to be it: a sporty subcompact that seats five, offers a navigation system, and gets a whopping 65 miles to the gallon. Oh yes, and the car is made by Ford Motor (F), known widely for lumbering gas hogs.

Ford's 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic goes on sale in November. But here's the catch: Despite the car's potential to transform Ford's image and help it compete with Toyota Motor (TM) and Honda Motor (HMC) in its home market, the company will sell the little fuel sipper only in Europe. "We know it's an awesome vehicle," says Ford America President Mark Fields. "But there are business reasons why we can't sell it in the U.S." The main one: The Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel.

Automakers such as Volkswagen (VLKAY) and Mercedes-Benz (DAI) have predicted for years that a technology called "clean diesel" would overcome many Americans' antipathy to a fuel still often thought of as the smelly stuff that powers tractor trailers. Diesel vehicles now hitting the market with pollution-fighting technology are as clean or cleaner than gasoline and at least 30% more fuel-efficient.

Yet while half of all cars sold in Europe last year ran on diesel, the U.S. market remains relatively unfriendly to the fuel. Taxes aimed at commercial trucks mean diesel costs anywhere from 40 cents to $1 more per gallon than gasoline. Add to this the success of the Toyota Prius, and you can see why only 3% of cars in the U.S. use diesel. "Americans see hybrids as the darling," says Global Insight auto analyst Philip Gott, "and diesel as old-tech."

None of this is stopping European and Japanese automakers, which are betting they can jump-start the U.S. market with new diesel models. Mercedes-Benz by next year will have three cars it markets as "BlueTec." Even Nissan (NSANY) and Honda, which long opposed building diesel cars in Europe, plan to introduce them in the U.S. in 2010. But Ford, whose Fiesta ECOnetic compares favorably with European diesels, can't make a business case for bringing the car to the U.S.

TOO PRICEY TO IMPORT
First of all, the engines are built in Britain, so labor costs are high. Plus the pound remains stronger than the greenback. At prevailing exchange rates, the Fiesta ECOnetic would sell for about $25,700 in the U.S. By contrast, the Prius typically goes for about $24,000. A $1,300 tax deduction available to buyers of new diesel cars could bring the price of the Fiesta to around $24,400. But Ford doesn't believe it could charge enough to make money on an imported ECOnetic.

Ford plans to make a gas-powered version of the Fiesta in Mexico for the U.S. So why not manufacture diesel engines there, too? Building a plant would cost at least $350 million at a time when Ford has been burning through more than $1 billion a month in cash reserves. Besides, the automaker would have to produce at least 350,000 engines a year to make such a venture profitable. "We just don't think North and South America would buy that many diesel cars," says Fields.

The question, of course, is whether the U.S. ever will embrace diesel fuel and allow automakers to achieve sufficient scale to make money on such vehicles. California certified VW and Mercedes diesel cars earlier this year, after a four-year ban. James N. Hall, of auto researcher 293 Analysts, says that bellwether state and the Northeast remain "hostile to diesel." But the risk to Ford is that the fuel takes off, and the carmaker finds itself playing catch-up—despite having a serious diesel contender in its arsenal.

It pisses me off more than anything when an American automaker can't afford to sell one of their own cars in their own home market! And even more to see Ford's European lineup so much better than their HOME linup.

[thebarber]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

They've already said the euro deisel won't come over here. Same typical BS.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...pStories_ssi_5



It pisses me off more than anything when an American automaker can't afford to sell one of their own cars in their own home market! And even more to see Ford's European lineup so much better than their HOME linup.

the problem is that fords north american market (mainly americans) wanted trucks and suv's until about 6 months ago....its no surprise to me that they DIDN'T bring a lot of their cars from the UK to north america. i still dont think people here want to pay premium prices for 110hp cars that are good on gas.....

but maybe thats coming too, i dont know....

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by thebarber

i still dont think people here want to pay premium prices for 110hp cars that are good on gas.....

Bingo!


Gene

[specialeducator]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

They've already said the euro deisel won't come over here. Same typical BS.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...pStories_ssi_5



It pisses me off more than anything when an American automaker can't afford to sell one of their own cars in their own home market! And even more to see Ford's European lineup so much better than their HOME linup.

Will be made in Mexico- that says it all...

[PetersRedYaris]

Originally Posted by mfratt

Depends on what engine choices they offer us. If we get the 4 cylinder diesel that gets something like 75 (euro) miles per gallon (which I think is like 60-65 us) then hell yea. But if they just throw us the same ole' gas engines, then its nothing new. I like the design though.

Maybe they'll follow it up with the Mondeo and Euro Focus....wishful thinking probably.

Ford wont sell the econetic (diesel) version here. They claim it isn't cost effective. It's decisions like this that are killing them...

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by PetersRedYaris

Ford wont sell the econetic (diesel) version here. They claim it isn't cost effective. It's decisions like this that are killing them...

Well, the econetic would have to sell at $25,000 for Ford not to lose money on it. And a Fiesta in the US will NOT sell at $25K outside of a few.

That said, Ford should have designed and planned it from the start for the US then it would have made financial sense. But the US government is the real underlining problem here.

[PetersRedYaris]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Well, the econetic would have to sell at $25,000 for Ford not to lose money on it. And a Fiesta in the US will NOT sell at $25K outside of a few.

That said, Ford should have designed and planned it from the start for the US then it would have made financial sense. But the US government is the real underlining problem here.

Correct, there are several problems, all of which need to be remedied...