Ford performs facelifts to burnish U.S. brands

[billbuckhead]

Ford performs facelifts to burnish U.S. brands

Ford, Mercury, Lincoln to sport more distinctive grilles

By Eric Mayne / The Detroit News

DEARBORN - Ford Motor Co. is putting a new face on its cars, trucks and SUVs in a bid to give its three American brands more distinct identities.

The automaker's design teams led by J Mays have developed new grilles for Ford, Mercury and Lincoln vehicles that will be incorporated in the next few years. "You want to be able to look and see what's coming down the road and know what brand it is without waiting for the emblem to show up," Mays said.

Each new grille is designed to reflect key characteristics of the brand it represents. The Ford grille will be aggressive and tough looking with thick, horizontal bars. Mercury's waterfall-themed front end is designed to convey a touch of elegance, while Lincoln's egg-crate pattern is meant to suggest pure luxury.

It will take five or six years before all new vehicles feature the new grilles. Until then, Mays said, the brands "will have two faces."

A striking front end can give a vehicle a huge boost in the marketplace. The Dodge Ram's big rig looks and the Cadillac Escalade's huge chrome grille are two examples.

In recent years, Mercury in particular has struggled to attract attention because it lacked a readily identifiable design signature. While Mercury truck sales are up nearly 37 percent through August, its car sales are down 15.1 percent, dragging down total brand sales by 3 percent compared with the first eight months of 2003.

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<http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0409/21/c01-279950.htm>

Talk about rearranging the deck chairs of the Titanic.

[Sandpiper]

1. I've got a suggestion for Ford

If you want to boost your sales, stop making such shitty cars!

[trotsky]

2. But... but...

they've got such beautiful grilles! :eyes:

[TheDebbieDee]

8. I beg to differ with you, but...........................

my last 3 cars have been manufactured by Ford ('86 Escort, '94 Topaz and '02 Taurus) and I have been very pleased with the way that they run. The days of the F(ix)O(r)R(epair)D(aily)car has gone the way of the Do-do bird.

[Sandpiper]

10. My 98 Escort's transmission was shot after 1 year

Last Ford I ever bought.

[Eumenides]

3. Hurricane Ford

I live in Tampa and as you may, or may not, be aware central Florida was hammered by two hurricanes lately. Ford is now running commercials offering Florida residents $750 towards the purchase of a new Ford if their own vehicle was damaged. Of course, the vehicle they show in the commericial is a freakin' Mustang. I am so sick of these corporations milking a disaster and then pretending that they're here for us. </rant>

[mrboba1]

5. wow! $750!

Their rebates for walking in the door are higher than that...

How 'bout a real favor: at or $100 above cost????

[Sandpiper]

7. Post 9/11 commericials were the worst

"Show your love for America, and let the terrorists know they won't win..." by buying a fucking car.

Disgusting.

[mrboba1]

4. A new grille?

I hope it's charcoal...

:crazy:

[hatrack]

6. Let's not increase hybrid production; let's not improve quality . . .

NEW GRILLES!! Yes!! That's the answer!! :eyes:

[billbuckhead]

9. Here's the point. Ford said it couldn't increase hybrid production

Ford said it couldn't increase hybrid production because their were no suppliers for the hybrid parts in America. Henry Ford must be spinning in his grave. Whatever happened to American inguenuity?
Al Gore was crucified by the Rush Limbaugh crowd about hybrid cars, Rush said they would never sell. Reality sets in 4 years later and Toyota and honda are sold out of these hybrid cars, they even bring $5000 over sticker. Where are the American automakers in this hot market? GM and Dodge are trying to get US Army contracts to build a few thousand hybrid trucks and Ford is making a few thousand small SUV's. Maenwhile Lexus has 9000 orders for hybridluxury SUV's.

[Blue_Tires]

11. sadly, GM and FoMoCo have had hybrid

technology for awhile (wrote college papers on it in the late 90s), only to let it sit while the japanese reap the rewards...

on another note, you all can crack on Ford if you want, but that new GT is sex on wheels! 550 HP!