Ford_News
11-19-2012, 01:18 PM
Filed under: Car Buying (http://www.autoblog.com/category/carbuying/), Coupe (http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/), Performance (http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/), Europe (http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/), Plants/Manufacturing (http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/), Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/fordracingpuma1.jpg (http://www.insideline.com/ford/europes-woes-put-ford-coupe-proposal-on-hold.html)
Too often, we find ourselves pining for Europe-only versions of cars that will never be sold in the United States, but if a report from Inside Line is to be believed, this is a case in which The Continent's enthusiasts will have to watch from afar gets. Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/) of Europe is seeking a new coupe that would be smaller than the Mustang (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/mustang/), but be positioned as a halo car for the American automaker's European division.
Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/alan+mulally/) has reportedly given this proposal the 'thumbs down' for the time being, citing the current economic turmoil in the European market. Given the financial climate, the presumably lower-volume vehicle was deemed too much of a risk in these uncertain times. While there was reportedly a design on the works, based on an undisclosed global Ford platform, these efforts have since been shelved following word from the Ford boss.
For its part, the next-generation Ford Mustang is being designed as a global vehicle, opening up potential for sales in new markets. However, despite announcing that the next-generation Mustang will be headed for Europe (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/06/ford-mustang-headed-to-europe/) back in September, Inside Line says Ford of Europe officials are still apparently concerned that the Mustang will be too large and thirsty for their market. The thought is that a more fitting performance model would be smaller, with a potent yet fuel-efficient engine paired with the responsive handling of Ford's current European lineup (perhaps something like Ford's short-lived Puma, shown above).
If/when economic conditions improve in Europe, it will be interesting to see if Ford restarts talks about bringing a new smaller sportscar to market. While we would not disapprove, it would once again cause us consternation if the model was then kept as a Europe-only offering.Ford of Europe denied small coupe, Mustang viability questioned (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/ford-of-europe-denied-small-coupe-mustang-viability-questioned/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.mnfords.com/rss-term-of-use/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/ford-of-europe-denied-small-coupe-mustang-viability-questioned/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20382917/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/ford-of-europe-denied-small-coupe-mustang-viability-questioned/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/ford-of-europe-denied-small-coupe-mustang-viability-questioned/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/fordracingpuma1.jpg (http://www.insideline.com/ford/europes-woes-put-ford-coupe-proposal-on-hold.html)
Too often, we find ourselves pining for Europe-only versions of cars that will never be sold in the United States, but if a report from Inside Line is to be believed, this is a case in which The Continent's enthusiasts will have to watch from afar gets. Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/) of Europe is seeking a new coupe that would be smaller than the Mustang (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/mustang/), but be positioned as a halo car for the American automaker's European division.
Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/alan+mulally/) has reportedly given this proposal the 'thumbs down' for the time being, citing the current economic turmoil in the European market. Given the financial climate, the presumably lower-volume vehicle was deemed too much of a risk in these uncertain times. While there was reportedly a design on the works, based on an undisclosed global Ford platform, these efforts have since been shelved following word from the Ford boss.
For its part, the next-generation Ford Mustang is being designed as a global vehicle, opening up potential for sales in new markets. However, despite announcing that the next-generation Mustang will be headed for Europe (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/06/ford-mustang-headed-to-europe/) back in September, Inside Line says Ford of Europe officials are still apparently concerned that the Mustang will be too large and thirsty for their market. The thought is that a more fitting performance model would be smaller, with a potent yet fuel-efficient engine paired with the responsive handling of Ford's current European lineup (perhaps something like Ford's short-lived Puma, shown above).
If/when economic conditions improve in Europe, it will be interesting to see if Ford restarts talks about bringing a new smaller sportscar to market. While we would not disapprove, it would once again cause us consternation if the model was then kept as a Europe-only offering.Ford of Europe denied small coupe, Mustang viability questioned (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/ford-of-europe-denied-small-coupe-mustang-viability-questioned/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.mnfords.com/rss-term-of-use/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/ford-of-europe-denied-small-coupe-mustang-viability-questioned/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20382917/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/ford-of-europe-denied-small-coupe-mustang-viability-questioned/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/ford-of-europe-denied-small-coupe-mustang-viability-questioned/)