http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png http://jalopnik.com/tag/ford europe http://jalopnik.com/tag/ford europe Ford offices in Germany were raided in the wake of fraud and bribery allegations aimed at employees and an unnamed supplier. [Bloomberg] More »
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A Saturday Wall Street Journal report claims Ford is working up plans to retool its North American assembly plants to build a number of European models. Ford hasn't confirmed the report, but it is expected to announce the shift during its second-quarter earnings conference on Thursday. While the paper mentions only the Mondeo specifically, conventional wisdom has the Euro Focus and possibly a C-Max/S-Max joining it. We'll take one with a diesel and 6-speed stick, please. [WSJ via Automotive News (Sub. Req.)] More »
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The production model of the Ford Kuga ends up looking strikingly similar to the version we showed you at Frankfurt. The sporty crossover is yet another take on the "kinetic design" from Ford Europe that we continue to lust after and will feature the 2.0-liter Duratorq TDCi diesel engine. More »
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Hot on the heels of the outgoing special edition ST500, Ford Europe's readying an updated Focus ST for the continent. It's not quite witness-protection surgery, but the nips and tucks do edge the hoony version of Volvo S40's platform mate closer toward Ford Europe's "kinetic" styling ideal as expressed in the latest Mondeo. That by way of some clever sculptural details, including that yonic chasm under its license plate. Still, the 2.5-liter five-cylinder stays unmolested at 220+ horsepower. [AutoExpress via Autoblog] More »
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Playing the grass-is-greener game whenever Ford Europe puts out a new, high-performance variant of the Euro Focus is getting tedious. Perhaps Brits do the same thing when Ford North America sends out yet another Mustang derivative. Ah, screw it; here goes one more. It's the Ford Focus ST500, a spec'd-up Focus to be built in extremely limited number. Pick up your jaw from the floor; the ST500 has not a thing in common with the Mustang GT500, save a set of racing stripes (this, in 1966 LeMans livery of the legendary GT40). It's powered by the same, 225-horsepower 20-valve five banger as in the Focus ST, but comes with an accessory set including scarlet leather Recaro sports seats and matching upholstery, special badging, automatic Xenon headlamps, auto-dimming rear view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and solar-reflect windscreen. It comes complete for 20 British large, which with the falling dollar equals something like $37 billion. More »
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If you're following our drive time in the latest US-model Ford Focus, you'll be pleased to know Europeans will soon have another reason to gloat. It's the Ford Focus RS, soon to succeed the quick-and-agile (and none too ugly) Focus ST. It's the Ford Focus RS, a hot hatch powered by a 3.0-liter in-line six producing 300 horsepower. Note the large air intakes at the front, alloy wheels and rear wing. To make matters more trackworthy, Motorsports engineering firm Prodrive is working up the Focus's all-wheel-drive system, which along with the engine is likely from the Volvo parts bin. Look for the Fordian rival to the Subaru Impreza STI and Mitsubishi Evo X at the Geneva show next March. [World Car Fans] More »
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Overseas models continually pop up on US streets, often as the chosen rides for homesick diplomats, sometimes as cross-border jobbies from Canada or Mexico and frequently as test vehicles fielded by automaking engineers. Since there's been talk of Ford CEO Allan Mulally being quite hot to bring some of Ford Europe's finest kinetic designs to the US, spotting an S-Max MPV on the streets of LA may be enough to get tongues wagging. Of course the unfavorable exchange rate makes such a prospect of a Euro-built Ford import unlikely. Now, if FoMoCo sets up an S-Max werks in Mexico, LA will be maxed out inside a year. (Thanks to Rick Rubin for the def tip.) More »
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There's more chatter in the pipeline about Ford bringing models from its European division to the US. One day after the company announced it would show the upcoming Kuga crossover in Frankfurt this year, Germany's AutomobilWoche says boss Alan Mulally is hot to bring it and Ford Europe's much loved C-Max MPV to the land of burgers and fries. The economy-minded vehicles could give Ford a leg up on competitors if new fuel-economy regulations see the light of day, and a fresh set of designs from the boffins at Ford Europe would surely give the American line a B12 shot. That sound you hear prez Mark Fields' grinding a balance sheet, possibly in his teeth. [via Motor Authority] More »
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With Ford Europe's designs, products and profits soaring over FoMoCo's code-red balance sheet like a giant foam finger, CEO Alan Mulally was hot to set the division's halo atop the head of Lincoln. In particular, as Automotive News reports, he'd wanted to import a version of Ford Europe's new European crossover — based on the Iosis X concept shown in Paris last year — to be sold in the US as a Lincoln model. But according to AW, that plan is deader than Charles de'Gaulle's aunt Fanny. As we just learned during a trip to the old continent, where the US dollar is currently valued at a handful of paperclips, currency valuations can make or break a plan. The new crossover, which will be built at Ford's plant in Saarlouis, Germany for release in Europe next year, would have been too expensive to offer in North America. And we'll just have to buy our Italian shoes at Wal-Mart. – Mike Spinelli More »
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Ford Europe is going after a yet-untapped market with a new class of vehicle, the sport commercial urban delivery vehicle (SCUD), and it's created a squarish missile to represent. Unfortunately that van's been retired. But no worries, the company's just launched its new Transit SportVan at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham. It's just a reliable, old Transit spec'd up with 18" alloy wheels, dual exhaust (pipes), leather seats and an aero kit. It's powered by a TDCi Duratorq engine that gets all of 130 metric horsepower (128 hp). N rburgring frauline Sabine Schmitz reprised her "Top Gear" role of van pilot for the kickoff ceremonies. Ford also showed off a similar, though sportier Transit Connect minivan concept that may get a similar wide release. (Sorry, it's not the Transit with the Focus RS engine.) – Mike Spinelli More »
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Ford Europe released the latest on its redesigned Mondeo, which premiered in lights of lime during last year's Bond vehicle "Casino Real." It played an airport rental car, which won't necessarily different from the real European Mondeo. But the first manifestation of Ford Europe's "kinetic design" language is too well designed to be relegated to rental hell. It's debuting in Geneva in four-door, five-door and wagon models, ahead of sale this June. – Mike Spinelli More »
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According to Automotive News Ford Europe's new influence on the US brand could include an exported S-Max minivan/MPV, the well-considered hauler that snagged the European "Car of the Year 2007." New chief bossman, Alan Mulally declined to offer details on which new models from FoMoCo's profitable on-continent division will wind up on US soil, though the European Transit Connect small commercial van has already been confirmed as an over-and-comer. No word yet on the Mondeo, the Ford Europe product many Jalopnik readers want to see imported (second to the Focus, ST, natch). But the books aren't closed quite yet. – Mike Spinelli More »
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If you weren't already aware, Ford Europe is a vastly different animal than its stateside sibling. As a purely European construct, it's largely similar to VW, a fact sometimes lost on us Yanks until we happen to spot the blue oval on some wacky diesel minicar with EU plates (on a web site, of course). In fact, the FoMoCo division is following V-dub into one of its most successful margin-boosting strategies, that is, "individualization." Just as VW Individual adds millions to VW's bottom line by way of custom interior fittings and features, Ford Individual will offer similar accessories and packages, ordered from dealerships as part of the sales process. It's something Ford Europe's been doing modestly since the '90s, but the recent push reflects the importance of squeezing every drop out of a car's wholesale value. That and absorbing the aftermarket into the, er, before market. Next stop, USA? – Mike Spinelli More »
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The new European Ford Mondeo may be the most well-designed mainstream midsize wagon ever produced (at least since the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser). Damnation by the faintest of praise? Maybe. But Ford's European boys deserve their propers for creating a compelling form from the most banal parameters. There's talk one of Ford's Euro cars will be ported for US use. While we all want the Focus ST (judging from this poll), we might settle for the Mondeo Wagon if it comes with AWD and a Cosworth-tuned six. Priorities. – Mike Spinelli More »
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UK-based trade mag Just-Auto yesterday reported FoMoCo is considering bringing models from Ford Europe to the US market, a practice the company has employed in the past to fill holes in its stateside line. Among models it's considering are the Mondeo, Focus, S-Max, and Galaxy minivan, which many Jalopnik readers agree are more appealing than their counterparts (if any) in the US. So which ones should they bring? The much-coveted Euro Focus, which shares its underpinnings with the Volvo S40 and Mazda3? Maybe the S-Max, a higher-performance version of the Galaxy minivan? How about the Tourneo utility wagon (young, quirk-addicted parents call the front desk)? Maybe something else? Enough with the talk. Take our poll already. More »
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The boys at the Motor most Authoritative somehow procured more pre-release imagery — shot on location in the Bahamas — of the new Ford Mondeo sedan. They say the photos convey a special 5-door version of the new Mondeo, which was created for the first scene in the upcoming Bond movie "Casino Royale." Ford introduced a Mondeo wagon concept at the Paris show last week, and we expect the production model to go live within the year. [Gallery] More »
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