Just a heads-up on the Five Hundred/Montego, Freestyle, and Mariner:
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=100587

"Ford cars... now available with AWD"

 

Too bad all of those cars are duds. The 300C just made the Five Hundred's design 10 years old. The Freestyle and Mariner are not much better.

 

i wish honda offered a fwd and awd wagon for those of us who do not want minivans, mid size suvs or cute utes...those of us who still get our sh!ts & giggles driving a car for just pure fun

the accord estate in europe (tsx) is a good looking car and an almost duplicate of the sedan that is sold here...why can't they do some simple badge engineering and give us something we don't have?...even better offer it with SH-AWD

now i thought the new "fords" are mazda 6's that were slightly redesigned...just like the lincoln zephyr...anyone confirm this?

 

It can't compete with the 300C because it's still FWD based AWD and it still has a transverse engine.

 

The new Fusion, Zephyr, and whatever they call the Mercury version... those are based on the Mazda 6 platform, with maybe some Mondeo/Mondeo replacement influence. The Five Hundred/Montego and Freestyle are derived from the Volvo S80 platform. When the Focus is redesigned next for the US, it'll be on the Mazda/Volvo small car platform.

Ford car engineering ... it's really called Ford car design derivationeering.

 

Ford is already lost. The new direction of GM (see Pontiac and Cadillac) and Chrysler (already mentioned the 300, and how about the Crossfire?) is pushing Ford down into the ground. They don't have anything to make the automotive world go wow!....... Except for a car that is out of reach for 95% of America.

Ford shouldn't have invested all the time and money into the GT, and instead should have focused on revamping Lincoln to even have a chance with Cadillac and the rest of their lineup to even look half decently attractive. They offer nothing. Except bread and butter family sedans. (Sorry, the new Mustang doesn't thrill many people I know, either...... especially when they look at stuff at GM and DCX, Fords look downright plain)

 

The Lincoln lineup needs new sedans AND coupes. The Mark LT is a silly move to squeeze some more action out of the new F-150 and try to appeal to the people who want a luxury truck but not a Cadillac Escalade EXT. :? ... I know.

Mercury's Montego doesn't look as good in photos as the Five Hundred does.
The Mariner is long due... Ford didn't want to deflate ANY Escape sales earlier, or something. Really, Mercury could be something, but they just continue to sell different versions of Blue Oval products but then give few reasons, other than brand exclusivity (Mercurys are a little less common than Fords), to actually go to the Lincoln-Mercury dealership.

Then again, L-M dealers in large urban areas are undergoing upgrades. But who wants to shop with all the old people buying Lincolns!