We wrote about it earlier, just as a rumor, but it looks like an announcement is imminent: the Wall Street Journal says that Ford is going to make European cars on this side of the pond. However, it isn't merely North American plants that will be changed over, but American plants. The Journal doesn't give any further indication of where those plants might be or what those cars might be, only saying that the strategy could be revealed during Ford's Q2 earnings announcement this Thursday. But we'll say again: come on, Mondeo! (And Focus and Focus Coupe and Ka and...)
There has been plenty of support for Ford to bring its rest-of-the-world products to the North American market, and with the truck market doing a Roscoe P. Coltrane E-brake turn away from profitability, the Blue Oval's global efforts are becoming increasingly important for its survival. The plan going forward is to utilize small and medium sized vehicles from Ford's European arsenal globally. In North America, the cars will be spiffy, though Ford will be robbing Peter to pay Paul on that count -- spreading the costs of America's premium cars over the breadth of the entire program's worldwide scope.
According to Automotive News, we're getting a big list of Euro-Ford based cars in the near future. The Fiesta will slot in under the Focus, and will share a new platform with Mazda. Also on the Fiesta's underpinnings could be a small crossover or minivan. The Euro Focus will finally get here in 2011, when the next generation drops. 2012 will bring the C-Max, a Mazda 5-ish people mover. The Fusion moves to the EUCD platform, though we hope it doesn't grow too much, lose its joyous demeanor, or come up short on fuel economy. It looks like Ford's going to try to stack the B, C, and D segments with sedans and MPV-type offerings, as well as seriously tweaking all of its offerings to match the new and looming reality.
The Ford Mondeo has been a well received car in Europe, and Ford says that there's so much demand for high-end models that it's decided to introduce a new top-of-the-line version called the Titanium X Sport. Dubbed "the most desirable Mondeo yet" by Ford, the Titanium X Sport will be available either as a saloon (sedan) or estate (wagon) and be powered by Ford's 2.5L turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine or its 2.2L TDCi diesel mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission. New 18-inch alloy wheels, side skirts and chrome dual exhaust tips add a premium punch to the visuals, while the interior benefits from red stitching on its leather seats, as well as a cow hide-covered steering wheel and shifter. You'll find no wood veneer on this car's instrument panel, as aluminum inserts and piano black inlays give the Mondeo's domicile a more stark and modern feel. There is a "sports suspension", but it appears that the Titanium X Sport is more show than actual go. Buyers will, however, get a nice long list of standard features to keep them company while accelerating to 62 mph in 8.4 seconds in the diesel-powered version.
